Breath of Scandal Read Online Free PDF
Author: Sandra Brown
already made up her mind to leave him when she got pregnant with Jade after six years of barrenness. Velta had then clung to the hope that a baby would prod her husband into doing something worthy of his previous success as a soldier. But after Jade's arrival it was Velta who had gone to work in Ivan Patchett's factory.
The last ten years of Ron's life had been studded with jobs acquired and jobs lost, big dreams that never came to fruition, promises that were diluted by ever-increasing amounts of liquor.
One day when Jade was at school and Velta was at work, he died while cleaning his rifle. Mercifully, Sheriff Jolly had ruled his death accidental. The local VFW had donated the money for Velta and Jade to travel to Arlington National Cemetery to give Ronald Sperry a hero's burial.
Looking at his photograph now, Velta didn't feel a whit of yearning for him. Ron had been handsome and sweet and ardent till the day he died, but what good had he done her?
Jade, on the other hand, missed him to this day. Velta resented the girl's fond attachment to his memory, just as she had been jealous of their mutual, blind admiration while he was alive.
26
Sandra Brown
He had often pulled Jade into his lap and said to her. "You'll do all right, little doll. You've got my looks and your mama's backbone. Don't ever be afraid and you'll do all right."
Jade was going to do better than all right. If Velta had anything to do with it, Jade was going to make a better marriage than she had.
"Neal Patchett called a while ago," she said, smiling for the first time since Jade had come in. "He's a charmer, thai one. "
"He's slime.
Velta was taken aback by Jade's vehemence. "That's an ugly thing to say."
"Neal is ugly."
"Ugly? Why, half the girls in the high school would give their right arms to have him calling them."
"Then half the girls can have him."
"I'm sure it's not too late for you to return his call." Jade shook her head. "I've got to read a chapter in history before tomorrow. "
"Jade," Velta called peremptorily when Jade headed for her bedroom. "It's rude not to return a telephone call, especially from someone like Neal."
"I don't want to talk to Neal, Mama."
"You spend hours on the phone with that Parker boy Jade rolled her lips inward and held them for several seconds before saying, "I've got to study. Good night."
Velta switched off the TV and followed Jade into her bedroom, catching the door before it closed. "You spend too much time studying. It's unnatural."
Jade removed her skirt and sweater and conscientiously hung them in her narrow closet. "I have to keep my grade point up if I want to get a scholarship."
"A scholarship," Veltahissed. "That'sall youeverthink about.
"Because that's the only way I can afford to go to college. "
"Which in my opinion is a big waste of time for a pretty girl like you. "
Breath of Scandal
27
Jade turned away from her closet and faced her mother. "Mama, I don't want to have this argument again. I'm going to college, whether you approve of it or not."
"It's not a matter of approval. I just don't think it's necessary."
"It is if I want a career."
"You'll waste all that time and money and then wind up getting married anyway."
"Women nowadays can do both."
Velta crossed the room, pinched Jade's chin between her fingers, and angled her head back, exposing the faint red mark on Jade's neck and showing contempt for both the mark and her daughter. "What chance will you have of marrying somebody decent if you get pregnant by that Parker boy?"
"Gary isn't going to get me pregnant. And he's the most decent person I know. It's Gary I'm going to marry, Mama. "
' 'Jade, boys talk girls into doing things they shouldn't by telling them they love them. If you give it to this boy, nobody worth having will want you."
Jade sank down on the edge of her bed and, looking up at her mother, shook her head sadly. "I haven't given 'it' to anybody, Mama. When I do, it'll
The last ten years of Ron's life had been studded with jobs acquired and jobs lost, big dreams that never came to fruition, promises that were diluted by ever-increasing amounts of liquor.
One day when Jade was at school and Velta was at work, he died while cleaning his rifle. Mercifully, Sheriff Jolly had ruled his death accidental. The local VFW had donated the money for Velta and Jade to travel to Arlington National Cemetery to give Ronald Sperry a hero's burial.
Looking at his photograph now, Velta didn't feel a whit of yearning for him. Ron had been handsome and sweet and ardent till the day he died, but what good had he done her?
Jade, on the other hand, missed him to this day. Velta resented the girl's fond attachment to his memory, just as she had been jealous of their mutual, blind admiration while he was alive.
26
Sandra Brown
He had often pulled Jade into his lap and said to her. "You'll do all right, little doll. You've got my looks and your mama's backbone. Don't ever be afraid and you'll do all right."
Jade was going to do better than all right. If Velta had anything to do with it, Jade was going to make a better marriage than she had.
"Neal Patchett called a while ago," she said, smiling for the first time since Jade had come in. "He's a charmer, thai one. "
"He's slime.
Velta was taken aback by Jade's vehemence. "That's an ugly thing to say."
"Neal is ugly."
"Ugly? Why, half the girls in the high school would give their right arms to have him calling them."
"Then half the girls can have him."
"I'm sure it's not too late for you to return his call." Jade shook her head. "I've got to read a chapter in history before tomorrow. "
"Jade," Velta called peremptorily when Jade headed for her bedroom. "It's rude not to return a telephone call, especially from someone like Neal."
"I don't want to talk to Neal, Mama."
"You spend hours on the phone with that Parker boy Jade rolled her lips inward and held them for several seconds before saying, "I've got to study. Good night."
Velta switched off the TV and followed Jade into her bedroom, catching the door before it closed. "You spend too much time studying. It's unnatural."
Jade removed her skirt and sweater and conscientiously hung them in her narrow closet. "I have to keep my grade point up if I want to get a scholarship."
"A scholarship," Veltahissed. "That'sall youeverthink about.
"Because that's the only way I can afford to go to college. "
"Which in my opinion is a big waste of time for a pretty girl like you. "
Breath of Scandal
27
Jade turned away from her closet and faced her mother. "Mama, I don't want to have this argument again. I'm going to college, whether you approve of it or not."
"It's not a matter of approval. I just don't think it's necessary."
"It is if I want a career."
"You'll waste all that time and money and then wind up getting married anyway."
"Women nowadays can do both."
Velta crossed the room, pinched Jade's chin between her fingers, and angled her head back, exposing the faint red mark on Jade's neck and showing contempt for both the mark and her daughter. "What chance will you have of marrying somebody decent if you get pregnant by that Parker boy?"
"Gary isn't going to get me pregnant. And he's the most decent person I know. It's Gary I'm going to marry, Mama. "
' 'Jade, boys talk girls into doing things they shouldn't by telling them they love them. If you give it to this boy, nobody worth having will want you."
Jade sank down on the edge of her bed and, looking up at her mother, shook her head sadly. "I haven't given 'it' to anybody, Mama. When I do, it'll
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