Read Online The Second Heart by K. K. Eaton - Free Book Online Page A

I’ve just
had no appetite with this stomachache,” Meredith explained.
    Amelia swung her leg up over Meredith’s head
and stood up. “Well maybe you need to get something besides coffee
in your system, hon. I’m going to make you some toast.”
    “Okay,” Meredith agreed pathetically. She
turned her body and rested her forehead on one of the couch
cushions just as Vi came back with her full glass of wine.
    Vi scoffed at Meredith as she sat down.
“Milking it for all it’s worth, huh?”
    Meredith smiled abashedly into the couch
cushion; Vi was right. It was nice being taken care of by her mom,
even as an adult. Her voice was muffled as she replied, “You’re
just jealous.” Suddenly she remembered their earlier conversation
about Vi’s parents, and she looked up at her friend guiltily.
    Vi, understanding Meredith’s look, replied,
“It’s okay. I’m doing just fine.” She reached up and petted her
wine glass, making a purring sound.
    Meredith laughed, and then more seriously
said, “Promise me you’ll call your folks tomorrow if you haven’t
talked to them by then.”
    Vi’s face looked rebellious.
    Before she could say no, Meredith added,
“Whatever is happening in the world is bigger than your pride,
Vi.”
    A host of emotions played across Vi’s face as
she moved from denial to anger and then to reluctant agreement.
“Okay, fine. But only if you will shut up about it.” She smiled at
Meredith to soften her last remark.
    Meredith grinned and changed the subject. She
told Vi about Miguel’s message and how he hadn’t answered his
phone. Just as she finished talking, Amelia came back into the room
with the toast.
    Amelia handed the plate to Meredith as Vi
peered over and looked at the snack. “Uh oh,” she quipped. “You
forgot to cut the crusts off.”
    Meredith rolled her eyes and took a bite of
the toast, which was whole wheat with strawberry jam, her favorite.
The snack tasted delicious, and she realized that she actually was
quite hungry. She quickly devoured the toast, and then held the
plate out for Amelia. At Amelia’s irritated look, Meredith grinned
with a mixture of guilt and hope in her expression, lifting her
shoulders slightly.
    “I’m not a maid,” Amelia stated
disapprovingly.
    “I know, Mom, but I’m an invalid. Please?”
She wiggled the plate gently in her outstretched hand.
    Amelia sighed and took the plate, returning
to the kitchen.
    Meredith caught Vi’s eye as her friend
scoffed. “You disgust me,” Vi said with a soft chuckle.
    Meredith shrugged, unconcerned with her
friend’s evaluation, and returned to their previous conversation.
“Do you think Miguel is avoiding my call?”
    “How should I know? Maybe his phone is dead.
Maybe he can’t hear it because he’s busy walking home. In the rain.
Probably without a coat. Or shoes.”
    “Way to make me feel better,” Meredith
grumbled.
    Later, after a dinner of cold ham sandwiches
and promises to go grocery shopping tomorrow, the girls retired to
the guest room to keep the cats company. As they entered the room,
Meredith could see the silhouette of one of the cats on the
windowsill, and a dark blob was curled up next to the pillows on
the bed.
    Vi flicked on the light, and the cats blinked
at them in protest. Sabrina jumped down from the window and
scuttled under the bed, while Sammy remained where she was, yawning
widely. Meredith sat down on the bed next to Sammy, who meowed
sleepily in welcome. “Hi sweet kitty,” Meredith crooned, stroking
the cat’s glossy black fur.
    Vi crouched down on the floor and lifted up
the dust ruffle, peering into the darkness under the bed. “Come on
out, cat,” she commanded, matter-of-factly. Sabrina lay down
against the wall under the center of the bed. Vi reached an arm
under and tried to grab her, but she was just out of reach. The
large cat tapped her tail impatiently, as Vi continued, “Come on
you worthless sack of fur. I’m going to pet you!”
    “Wow, you