Read Online The Perfect Blend by Allie Pleiter - Free Book Online

because of the look on Cathy’s face. She’s not sharing my distaste for Will Grey’s overprotective tendencies. Rather, she has thatdreamy-eyed fairy-tale look she usually gets when talking about her husband. “No. No, Cathy, it’s not a good thing. You’re not hearing me. I don’t like what he did.” I over-enunciate the last sentence because she doesn’t seem to be registering my meaning.
    â€œWell, it was a bit over the top. It’s not like the waiter called you a hag or anything.”
    â€œMy point exactly. If a thug with a knife comes up to me demanding my jewelry, then I don’t mind a little protection from someone bigger than me. But a tactless waiter? Please. I don’t need anyone coming to my rescue over bad manners.”
    â€œOh, yes, we all know all about how Maggie Bootstraps gets by just fine on her own.”
    I hate it when she calls me that. Dad calls me that when he wants to get all fatherly on me, when he doesn’t like the way I do something and he thinks he should come in and save the day and I won’t let him. Something about pulling myself up by my own bootstraps. Which, by the way, is a good thing. Independence is a good thing. The kind of concept strong enough, say, to found a country on. The United States, for example. No monarchs allowed here, mister, we value the self-sufficiency of every hardworking American. Opportunity. Enterprise. So stop trying to protect me and just give me my loan!
    Cathy touches my forehead, conducting a maternal assessment. “Speaking of doing fine, did you have Diane check that out? You didn’t need more stitches or anything?” Her eyebrows furrowtogether as she stares at my remaining collection of bandages and Steri-Strips.
    If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that question this week, I wouldn’t need a small-business loan. “Yes,” I moan, “I’m fine. Will had them X-ray me twice, even, just to be sure.
    â€œSounds like a nice guy, this Will.” She smiles as she rearranges the photos on the table. “And you said he asked you to say grace over dinner? Sounds really nice.”
    â€œDon’t.”
    â€œDon’t what?”
    â€œDon’t do that. I’ve had enough of it from Diane. He’s…” I stumble, realizing I can’t tell Cathy who he is. I’m not ready to tell my family I’ve gone out in search of a loan to open a business. Oh, great, Cathy’s taking my pause as a sign of hidden emotion. Like Will’s some kind of secret crush. “Look, I take a class with him, that’s all. We were working on a paper together and I was bringing it to him when I got hit. He’s just being nice because he’s totally guilty.”
    â€œYep,” she says, looking like she didn’t believe a word I just said. “Whatever you say.”
    â€œDon’t do that!” Lord, could I have a different family please? Just for the next seven weeks? There are four other kids—no one would even miss me.
    â€œFine. Change of subject. Are you coming to the mission potluck Wednesday? Charlie’s choir is singing.”
    â€œCan’t,” I say, happy for the first time in months tohave a reason to miss a family outing. “I’ve got a class.”
    â€œWhat kind of class is this, anyway?”
    I am not ready to talk about this. Even with Cathy. She may be the first to know when the time is right, but that’s not now. “A class.” I reply, imbuing the words with all the and-we’re-not-going-to-talk-about-it tone I can muster. “I’ve got to get going—it’s Diane and my night at the Closet.” Every other Monday Diane and I volunteer at the church’s clothing ministry, sorting used clothing to give to families who have hit hard times. It’s a great deal: we catch up and do good at the same time. “Tell Charlie I think he was adorable and he can be