Read Online The Proposal at Siesta Key by Shelley Shepard Gray - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Shelley Shepard Gray
Ads: Link
thought about asking her. He knew he was adept at talking to strangers about their problems, offering advice. Counseling them. But he wasnât comfortable doing thatnow. She obviously had her guard up. Furthermore, they were no doubt going to be in each otherâs company many hours over the coming weeks.
It was better to simply nod. Let her have her privacy.
Better to keep some distance between them. The last thing he wanted to happen was to form a true friendship with her.
If he did that, then where would that leave them?
CHAPTER 8
I t was almost seven by the time Penny walked up her five porch stepsâwhich her father carefully painted dark forest green every couple of monthsâand pulled the key out of her pocket to unlock the front door.
The moment she turned the handle, she braced herself. Ever since sheâd said good-bye to Miss Beverly and walked the four blocks home, Penny had been preparing how she would describe her first day to her parents. She expected them to be waiting in the entryway, nervously wringing their hands together, ready to pepper her with a thousand questions.
She was going to have to be sure to calm her mother down, first. No doubt Mamm had been driving her father crazy all afternoon, imagining what sort of terrible things had happened to Penny when sheâd ventured out into the world.
After reassuring her mother, Penny knew she was going to have to answer a number of her fatherâs questions. No doubt the only way to ease their worries would be to gloss over her insecurities and paint her day as a grand adventure. Then she could set her motherâs mind at ease by describing the nature of her jobat the Orange Blossom Inn. Though her parents didnât know many people, Penny felt sure they would have heard of Beverly Overholt and approve of her spotless reputation.
There was no need for her parents to hear anything about Michael Knoxx or the fact that Penny was going to be spending a lot of time with him. Besides, Penny was fairly sure she wouldnât be able to describe Michael in a disinterested way. They would probably guess her feelings about him in two seconds.
And then promptly refuse to let her leave the house ever again!
With a shake of her head, Penny returned to the present. She slipped off her flipflops, padded toward the living room, and braced herself for the upcoming conversation. But instead of being greeted by a flurry of questions, she faced an empty room.
Actually, the whole house was quiet. She didnât hear her parents chatting, didnât see them sitting in their chairs on the back porchâtheir favorite after-dinner pastime. She didnât hear her mother doing dishes, either. She was home alone.
She felt almost as if sheâd walked into the wrong house.
Suddenly, all the warnings and cautionary tales sheâd been told came to the surface. Maybe something had happened to them. Maybe one of them had been hurt?
She strode into the kitchen. It was spotless and empty. Sniffing the air, Penny couldnât discern what her mother had cooked for supper. Had she even cooked supper?
Just as her worry was starting to transform into something that felt a whole lot like fear, she saw a note on the kitchen counter.
Penny, your father and I decided to go out for pizza. We will be back later.
Two sentences.
She read it once. Then again. Then set the note back down on the counter. She felt confusion, dismay, and sadness. Followed by a burst of shock. She let the note drift to the floor.
Their family did not go out for pizza. They didnât go out for walks. They didnât visit Pinecraft Park. In a nutshell, they stayed safe.
For the life of her she couldnât imagine her parents going out for pizza on a whim.
Penny had just bent to pick up the fallen note when the front door opened. A moment later, her parents walked in.
âHi, Penny,â her mother said. âIt is good to see you home.â
âI got back a
It was better to simply nod. Let her have her privacy.
Better to keep some distance between them. The last thing he wanted to happen was to form a true friendship with her.
If he did that, then where would that leave them?
CHAPTER 8
I t was almost seven by the time Penny walked up her five porch stepsâwhich her father carefully painted dark forest green every couple of monthsâand pulled the key out of her pocket to unlock the front door.
The moment she turned the handle, she braced herself. Ever since sheâd said good-bye to Miss Beverly and walked the four blocks home, Penny had been preparing how she would describe her first day to her parents. She expected them to be waiting in the entryway, nervously wringing their hands together, ready to pepper her with a thousand questions.
She was going to have to be sure to calm her mother down, first. No doubt Mamm had been driving her father crazy all afternoon, imagining what sort of terrible things had happened to Penny when sheâd ventured out into the world.
After reassuring her mother, Penny knew she was going to have to answer a number of her fatherâs questions. No doubt the only way to ease their worries would be to gloss over her insecurities and paint her day as a grand adventure. Then she could set her motherâs mind at ease by describing the nature of her jobat the Orange Blossom Inn. Though her parents didnât know many people, Penny felt sure they would have heard of Beverly Overholt and approve of her spotless reputation.
There was no need for her parents to hear anything about Michael Knoxx or the fact that Penny was going to be spending a lot of time with him. Besides, Penny was fairly sure she wouldnât be able to describe Michael in a disinterested way. They would probably guess her feelings about him in two seconds.
And then promptly refuse to let her leave the house ever again!
With a shake of her head, Penny returned to the present. She slipped off her flipflops, padded toward the living room, and braced herself for the upcoming conversation. But instead of being greeted by a flurry of questions, she faced an empty room.
Actually, the whole house was quiet. She didnât hear her parents chatting, didnât see them sitting in their chairs on the back porchâtheir favorite after-dinner pastime. She didnât hear her mother doing dishes, either. She was home alone.
She felt almost as if sheâd walked into the wrong house.
Suddenly, all the warnings and cautionary tales sheâd been told came to the surface. Maybe something had happened to them. Maybe one of them had been hurt?
She strode into the kitchen. It was spotless and empty. Sniffing the air, Penny couldnât discern what her mother had cooked for supper. Had she even cooked supper?
Just as her worry was starting to transform into something that felt a whole lot like fear, she saw a note on the kitchen counter.
Penny, your father and I decided to go out for pizza. We will be back later.
Two sentences.
She read it once. Then again. Then set the note back down on the counter. She felt confusion, dismay, and sadness. Followed by a burst of shock. She let the note drift to the floor.
Their family did not go out for pizza. They didnât go out for walks. They didnât visit Pinecraft Park. In a nutshell, they stayed safe.
For the life of her she couldnât imagine her parents going out for pizza on a whim.
Penny had just bent to pick up the fallen note when the front door opened. A moment later, her parents walked in.
âHi, Penny,â her mother said. âIt is good to see you home.â
âI got back a
Similar Books
