Read Online When the Music Ends (The Winter Rose Chronicles) by Simone Beaudelaire - Free Book Online Page A

for
fun, too.
                "Danny?"
                "Hi,
Erin. I didn’t know you were coming over. How are you feeling?"
                "I’m
feeling fine. I can see that you’re busy, but I need some advice."
                "Erin, I’m never too busy for you, sweetie. What’s up?"
                "Mom’s
moving."
                "Where?"
                "To
Motley, to live with Bill. She wants me to come with her."
                "When?"
                "Next
week."
                Sheridan stared. "You can’t move now! What about….everything?"
                "I
know. I don’t want to go, but what am I going to do? I can’t afford
an apartment on my salary from the symphony, and I don’t want to get a
better paying job. I don’t have time to ring up groceries or wait tables.
I have so much practicing and homework to do."
                "And
you’re pregnant," Sheridan added softly, "So the last thing
you need is this kind of stress."
                "Right.
Can you help me think? I’m all in a panic."
                "Actually,
the solution is easy. Come with me."
                Sheridan led Erin back through the house to the family room, where her parents were sitting
on a set of matching tan faux suede recliners, watching the news together on a
large screen television set in a built-in entertainment center Roger Murphy had
constructed. It had rows of shelves and two huge doors to cover the device when
it was not in use.
                "Mom,
Dad?"
                "Yes,
darling? Mrs. Murphy said, pressing the mute button on the remote.
                "I
need to ask a favor of you. Erin’s mom is moving and wants to take her
away. I can’t have that. I need Erin too much, and besides, she has a ton
of stuff going on here that she has to do in order to get ready for college.
She can’t afford to live alone, so I thought, can she just live with us
until the fall? With Sean and Jason both moved out, there’s plenty of
room, and it would be really nice to have her around all the time."
                "Hmmm."
Mrs. Murphy hummed, considering it. "I don’t mind having Erin here. That would be fine. But dear, would your mother agree?"
                "I’m
eighteen. It’s not her decision."
                "I
see. There’s some tension between you, isn’t there?"
                "Not
tension exactly," Erin said, not wanting to sound disrespectful, "I
just don’t think much of her choices these days."
                "I
hate to say this, but I agree with you. Roger, what do you think about Erin moving in with us?"
                "I
don’t see it as a problem. Would you like that, Erin? Sheridan has done
most of the talking."
                "I
would. You’re both so kind." Erin struggled not to break down. She
hoped that they would still be welcoming when they found out she was pregnant,
and by their own son no less. It wasn’t a secret that could be kept for
long.
                "All
right then, why don’t you pack up and move in this weekend?"
                Erin smiled a little. "Wonderful. I’ll do that. Bless you both."
                As
the girls walked away, Sheridan grinned hugely. She had the best smile of
anyone Erin knew, but it was so rare to see it these days.
                "I’m
so excited. I can’t wait for you to get here. Where do you want to sleep?
I bet Sean’s old room would be appealing."
                "You
have no idea. I don’t know if I would dare. Isn’t there a guest
room?"
                "It’s
too small for more than a few nights. Besides, I think he would like knowing
you’re there."
                What
a sweet thought. "You might be right. Okay, I’m going back
to…the house and start packing