Read Online The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White - Free Book Online
Authors: Karen White
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it?”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Don’t you have, oh, I don’t know, a pair of skinny jeans or something? Something that would make you look young and hip, maybe a little sexy?”
I tried to pretend that my mother hadn’t just used the word “sexy” in a sentence directed at me. A thumping beat began to reverberate throughout the house, followed shortly by two slamming doors and then the sound of water being forced through old pipes.
I raised my voice slightly so I could be heard over the noise. “Why would I want to look sexy in my own backyard?”
She lifted both eyebrows.
“What?” I really had no idea what she was getting at.
“Isn’t Jack coming tonight?”
I pretended that my pulse hadn’t just skittered at the mention of his name. “Of course. The party’s for his daughter. But what’s that got to do with what I’m wearing?”
She closed her eyes again, as if summoning divine strength. “Mellie, sweetheart, I think that Jack would appreciate seeing you in a nice pair of well-fitting jeans. Especially if he’s bringing Rebecca to the barbecue.”
My hand stilled with the coffee cup halfway to my mouth, and I could see little ripples in the surface caused by the thumping noise from upstairs. Carefully, I replaced the cup in its saucer and sat back. “Mother, in case you haven’t noticed, Jack’s seeing Rebecca. Not me.”
“Yes, well, we all know the words to that song ‘Love the One You’re With.’ If you ask me, she’s his second choice, because you’re too high-strung to let yourself go and see that the two of you were made for each other. Really, Mellie. It’s time you listened to your heart for a change.”
I stared at her for a long moment. “Have you been speaking with Grandmother?”
“No, why?”
“Because she called earlier this week and told me the same thing.” I decided not to mention that I’d been dreaming about Jack right before the phone rang.
“Good. Then maybe you’ll listen.”
“Mother, you know as well as I do that Jack and I couldn’t be together for any length of time before one of us killed the other.” The thumping sound from upstairs reminded me of another reason. Before she could say anything else, I said, “I asked you over this morning because I have a favor to ask.” I smiled benignly. “I have to move out for about three months while my foundation is being repaired, and I was hoping that I could move in with you.”
She actually looked genuinely pleased. “Sweetheart, you know you don’t even have to ask. Your father and I would love to have you.”
I skipped over the “father and I” part and went straight for the next part of the favor. “I won’t be alone. I hope that’s not a problem.”
“Well, of course you’ll need to bring your adorable General Lee. He’s part of the family.”
I kept smiling as the noise from upstairs escalated. The bathroom door and then the bedroom door were thrown open, followed by a slam.
“What is that, Mellie?”
My smile didn’t falter, but I was surprised my teeth didn’t rattle. Living with a teenage girl for three days had left me feeling as if I’d been run over by a truck and then left in the middle of the road. We’d moved past the point of polite strangers and were now testing boundaries like a pin to a balloon. “That’s Emmaline Amelia Pettigrew. Otherwise known as Nola, Jack’s daughter.”
Her left eyebrow rose, Scarlett style. “I see. Amelia’s been telling me about her. And she’s living with you because . . .”
“Because she and Jack keep butting heads. Apparently Nola’s mother told her that Jack abandoned them both and she believed her.” I glanced toward the foyer, afraid that Nola would sneak up and overhear. “I’ll tell you everything later. But for now Nola’s with me, and where I go, she goes.” I perked up. “Besides, you always say how you regret not being there for my teenage years. Here’s your chance.”
My mother dabbed
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Don’t you have, oh, I don’t know, a pair of skinny jeans or something? Something that would make you look young and hip, maybe a little sexy?”
I tried to pretend that my mother hadn’t just used the word “sexy” in a sentence directed at me. A thumping beat began to reverberate throughout the house, followed shortly by two slamming doors and then the sound of water being forced through old pipes.
I raised my voice slightly so I could be heard over the noise. “Why would I want to look sexy in my own backyard?”
She lifted both eyebrows.
“What?” I really had no idea what she was getting at.
“Isn’t Jack coming tonight?”
I pretended that my pulse hadn’t just skittered at the mention of his name. “Of course. The party’s for his daughter. But what’s that got to do with what I’m wearing?”
She closed her eyes again, as if summoning divine strength. “Mellie, sweetheart, I think that Jack would appreciate seeing you in a nice pair of well-fitting jeans. Especially if he’s bringing Rebecca to the barbecue.”
My hand stilled with the coffee cup halfway to my mouth, and I could see little ripples in the surface caused by the thumping noise from upstairs. Carefully, I replaced the cup in its saucer and sat back. “Mother, in case you haven’t noticed, Jack’s seeing Rebecca. Not me.”
“Yes, well, we all know the words to that song ‘Love the One You’re With.’ If you ask me, she’s his second choice, because you’re too high-strung to let yourself go and see that the two of you were made for each other. Really, Mellie. It’s time you listened to your heart for a change.”
I stared at her for a long moment. “Have you been speaking with Grandmother?”
“No, why?”
“Because she called earlier this week and told me the same thing.” I decided not to mention that I’d been dreaming about Jack right before the phone rang.
“Good. Then maybe you’ll listen.”
“Mother, you know as well as I do that Jack and I couldn’t be together for any length of time before one of us killed the other.” The thumping sound from upstairs reminded me of another reason. Before she could say anything else, I said, “I asked you over this morning because I have a favor to ask.” I smiled benignly. “I have to move out for about three months while my foundation is being repaired, and I was hoping that I could move in with you.”
She actually looked genuinely pleased. “Sweetheart, you know you don’t even have to ask. Your father and I would love to have you.”
I skipped over the “father and I” part and went straight for the next part of the favor. “I won’t be alone. I hope that’s not a problem.”
“Well, of course you’ll need to bring your adorable General Lee. He’s part of the family.”
I kept smiling as the noise from upstairs escalated. The bathroom door and then the bedroom door were thrown open, followed by a slam.
“What is that, Mellie?”
My smile didn’t falter, but I was surprised my teeth didn’t rattle. Living with a teenage girl for three days had left me feeling as if I’d been run over by a truck and then left in the middle of the road. We’d moved past the point of polite strangers and were now testing boundaries like a pin to a balloon. “That’s Emmaline Amelia Pettigrew. Otherwise known as Nola, Jack’s daughter.”
Her left eyebrow rose, Scarlett style. “I see. Amelia’s been telling me about her. And she’s living with you because . . .”
“Because she and Jack keep butting heads. Apparently Nola’s mother told her that Jack abandoned them both and she believed her.” I glanced toward the foyer, afraid that Nola would sneak up and overhear. “I’ll tell you everything later. But for now Nola’s with me, and where I go, she goes.” I perked up. “Besides, you always say how you regret not being there for my teenage years. Here’s your chance.”
My mother dabbed
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