Read Online The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause - Free Book Online Page A

her father came back out. He put his arms around her. “She’s a bit better now,” he said. “She might be able to sleep.” He sounded drained. She hugged back, relieved that the decision had been taken away from her, hungry for comfort, but he pulled away too fast.
    â€œCome on,” he said. “I’ll drive you both home.”
    â€œI’ll stay, Harry,” Carol said. “I want to stay.” She smiled tentatively at Zoë. “Zoë, hon. Call me, okay? If you need something. You know you can.”
    Zoë nodded vaguely—Carol meant to be kind—then followed her father, eager to get away, and ashamed of it.
    On the silent trip in the car she began to feel guilty. I could have helped her, she thought. He didn’t give me a chance to get myself together.
    â€œAre you going back?” she asked.
    He nodded.
    â€œI thought so.” It was like he wanted to keep her all to himself. Carol got to stay. She slouched in the seat beside him and dug her hands deep into her pockets. I’m sulking, she thought. Then, I don’t care. But she was being silly, and she knew it. He’d always been a wonderful dad, and he loved her too. But we never do anything together now, she thought, not even be unhappy together. He makes decisions without asking me, like I’m a little child.
    Her hand found a small object in her pocket. She had discovered it on the back steps this morning when she took the garbage out, lying there spiky and shiny. Zoë the bird, the magpie, had picked it up, attracted by its sparkle. But she was late for school, and had shoved it into her coat pocket while she ran to gather her books, then forgotten it. She pulled it out to look at it again, rolling it between her fingers. Little points jabbed her. It looked like a star, a sort of stud. Funny how things get around, she thought.Go on, ask me what it is, she dared her dad silently, but he didn’t notice, so she shoved it back into her pocket.
    â€œDrop me at Lorraine’s, please,” she asked as they pulled into the neighborhood. She tossed her notebook into the backseat before she got out of the car. She hadn’t even had a chance to read anything to her mother today, and her mother was her truest critic. “I’ll get it later,” she said. “Bye.” He smiled vaguely and pulled away, his mind already back at the hospital.
    Lorraine looked pleased to see Zoë. “Hi, Zo. Just in time. I was thinking of going out.”
    Lorraine will understand, she thought, and that triggered the tears, because she wasn’t sure. She collapsed on the couch, and Lorraine crouched in front of her, one hand lightly on Zoë’s knee, waiting for her to stop crying. Zoë pulled herself together. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I couldn’t help it.” She told Lorraine what had happened at the hospital, briefly, simply. She didn’t mention the embarrassment, or the shame of not being able to respond.
    Lorraine squeezed her knee. “You’ll go again. It’ll be better next time.”
    â€œYeah.” Zoë wiped her eyes with an offered tissue. “I’m such a wimp,” she said. “I always seem to be crying.”
    Lorraine smiled and punched Zoë’s shoulder gently. “Listen, Dad sent me some guilt money. He said to buy some clothes to impress my new friends with when I get out there.” She made a face. “Want to go shopping?”
    â€œI’m not sure.”
    â€œOh, come on. You deserve an outing.”
    Zoë swept the hair from her face with short, tense movements as she thought about it.
    â€œWell, I’ve got to get out anyway, before Diane comes back,” Lorraine continued. “She’s pissed she didn’t get any money. She was clomping around like a madwoman all morning. Please, please, please!”
    â€œAll right,” Zoë said, and stopped frowning. She felt a