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

up. Finish your homework. I’ll see
you tomorrow, okay?"
                "Sure
sweetie. I’m so glad you’re not leaving. I don’t know what I
would do without you."
    ******
                It
only took Erin a short time to box up all her possessions. She informed her
mother of her decision, coldly, not listening to any arguments. Valerie did try
to argue, a little, but gave up far too easily. And then she left, driving to
Sean’s apartment.
                "Guess
what, Sean?" she said, cuddling up against him on the second hand pull
out couch he had rescued from the curb. It was gray and a little threadbare,
but it had been free.
                "What,
baby?"
                "I’m
moving in with your parents."
                "With
my parents? Why?"
                "My
mom’s leaving. I can’t move away now."
                "Of
course not. You could move in with me, you know." He kissed her forehead.
                "Don’t
you think that might look kind of bad?"
                "Erin, at this point looking bad is the least of our concerns."
                "You’re
right. But still."
                "Have
you thought about what you want to do?"
                She
thought for a long silent moment. "I haven’t come to any
conclusions. I think on Monday, after school, I’ll stop by the local
university, and, you know, check out their music program."
                "Lakes?
You never wanted to go there."
                "I
know, but everything is different now. If I have a baby this summer I
can’t very well take off to Texas or even to State in the fall. I have to
stay here."
                "I
hate this," Sean said, his face mournful. "My carelessness is
having such a terrible impact on your dreams."
                "I
was just as careless as you were. Dreams can be modified Sean. Besides, staying
close to you doesn’t sound that bad to me."
                "We’ll
need to get married you know. I’m Catholic. I can’t let you have my
baby when we’re not married."
                "I
know. Does that bother you?"
                "Only
to the extent that it limits your options. Marriage is what I wanted from you,
but not like this. I meant someday, when you were ready." Sean sighed.
"Poor Erin. Being with me hasn’t been that good for you has
it?"
                "Are
you kidding? I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I love you,
Sean."
                "I
love you too. And I hate that you look so stressed. You know something? You
look like a girl who needs to be made love to."
                "Yes
please."
                Sean
kissed his girlfriend deeply and led her to the bedroom where he proceeded to
erase the memory of every stressful event she had endured in the last several
weeks.

***Chapter 9***
     
                In
the end, the move was quick and rather painless, and by Saturday afternoon, Erin was ensconced in Sean’s old room. First she set up her music stand and a small
chair in the corner between the bed and the window. Mrs. Murphy had asked her
if she wanted some of Sheridan’s bedding, but the green and blue
geometric comforter suited her much better than the satin and lace monstrosity
she had seen in the linen closet. Besides, Sean had slept under those covers,
and that was appealing. She carefully lifted her pictures from the box, setting
them next to his on the dresser. She liked how that looked, like the two of
them lived there together, like they were a family. At last, she placed her
clothes in the empty dresser, before heading downstairs to seek out Mrs.
Murphy.
                Erin adored Ellen. She was the kind of mother the girl had always wished for, attentive,
strict, and involved. She would have thrived in such an environment. Anyone
would have really. She believed it was