Read Online The Splendour Falls by Unknown, Rosemary Clement-Moore - Free Book Online Page A

himself from by moving to New York? Another picture solidified in my head – a scrawny preteen, standing in the same place, looking up at the same painting and making the same connection. This time I was torn. I wanted to push away the vision before it got too real, before it passed beyond what were normal imaginings in an evocative old house. But if it linked me to my dad, I wanted to grab it tight. Though not if it meant I was crazy.
    I realized Paula was beside me, looking worriedly into my face. ‘Are you all right, honey?’
    My laugh was, fortunately, more ironic than hysterical. ‘People keep asking me that.’ I smoothed the strands of hair that had escaped my bun, hiding the shaking of my hands. ‘It’s a good thing I’m not vain or anything.’
    She patted my arm – the one on the far side of Gigi– and said tactfully, ‘You look fine, dear. But if you’d like to freshen up before meeting—’
    A pair of doors opened behind Paula, interrupting her and startling me. They were set in, so they looked like the rest of the panelling, and I hadn’t noticed themuntil they slid back to frame a sandy-haired young man. He was big and athletic, all-American handsome.
    â€˜Hi there!’ His welcoming smile hit me like an afternoon sunbeam after a wet and chilly morning.
    â€˜Hi,’ I answered stupidly.
    He turned to include my cousin. ‘Sorry we didn’t hear you come in, Miss Paula. We had the music on.’
    â€˜Hello, Shawn.’ Paula didn’t sound surprised to see him. In fact, she sounded more genial than she had since she found out I was foisting a canine houseguest on her. The smile seemed to affect her, too. ‘Are y’all almost done studying?’
    â€˜Not hardly.’ There was something old-fashioned in his phrasing, a fifties television nicety that matched his Wheaties-box smile. It struck me as funny, since I’d joked to Rhys about the Leave It to Beaver -ness of the Teen Town Council.
    Then Shawn’s gaze returned to me, taking in the details in a way that wasn’t dated at all. His pleasantly appreciative attention tugged at something in my chest, pulling me off balance. A warm bloom of curiosity replaced the first jolt I felt at his appearance. It spread through parts of me that had been cold for a long time.
    â€˜So, is this the famous Sylvie Davis?’ he asked.
    Corny, yes, but with a slight self-awareness that made it charming. I wrinkled my nose and answered, ‘Infamous, maybe.’
    Holy crap. I’d wrinkled my nose. For me, that was borderline flirtatious. I was clearly beyond tired and on to drunk with exhaustion. That would explain a lot.
    Paula made the introductions, per Emily Post.‘Sylvie, this is Shawn Maddox. He’s a friend of the family and president of the Teen Town Council. I told you about them, didn’t I?’
    Shawn’s smile widened. ‘So we’re infamous, too. You want to come in and meet the gang?’
    Not really. All the handsome charisma in the world couldn’t make the pain in my leg go away. I wanted a bath, a bed and a book. But Shawn stepped back from the doorway with a gesture of welcome – despite the fact that it wasn’t his house, I noted – and I had no graceful way to decline. I tightened my grip on Gigi’s shoulder strap, and entered the cosy den.
    There were six or seven young people my age, lounging on couches and on the floor, surrounded by textbooks and cans of soda. The scene was set for a marathon study session, but it was a little too affected, a little too staged. They were carefully not staring as I crossed the threshold, but I felt spotlit by their curiosity nevertheless.
    â€˜Everyone,’ said Shawn, ‘this is Sylvie. Sylvie, this is everyone.’ Only he didn’t actually say ‘everyone’. He rattled off a list of names that ran through my brain but didn’t stick.
    â€˜Hi,’