Casteel 04 Gates of Paradise Read Online Free PDF

too much."
She kissed me again and then I hurried off to put the diamonds safely in my jewelry drawer. When I went downstairs, I found Drake, Luke and my father in a serious discussion about the economy. They were arguing about the trade deficit and the need for protective legislation. I listened for a moment, admiring the way Luke held his own against the two of them. Then I burst into the study to announce rides in my Mercedes would begin.
"We'll do it by age," I said diplomatically. "First Daddy, then Drake, and then Luke. Three times down Main Street and back."
Daddy laughed.
"Can you imagine what the residents are going to be saying?" he_ asked. "They'll think we're just parading our wealth."
"If you've got it, flaunt it," Drake boasted. "I don't see the point in being ashamed of wealth. It's a phony, liberal attitude."
"I'm just talking about a ride," I protested. They all turned to me and then suddenly, the three of them broke out into laughter because of the expression on my face and the way I was holding my hands on my hips. "Men," I said, and started to turn away.
"Oh Annie," Daddy quickly said, and rushed to put his arms around me. "It's just that you're so cute when you're angry. Come on, let's see if that car is worth all the hullabaloo."
I took them each for a ride. Drake insisted I stop at the luncheonette so he could visit with some old friends for a few minutes, but what he really wanted to do was show off the car. Luke was reading a magazine on the gazebo when Drake and I returned. Drake decided to complete one of his college assignments so he could have the rest of the day off and go out to dinner with all of us later.
"I'll be right there," I called to Luke and ran into the house and up the stairs to my room to get his gift. Mommy and Daddy looked up surprised as I rushed by the sitting room.
"Slow down!" my father called. "Or you'll be eighty before you're fifty." I heard him laughing at his own joke as I closed the front door behind me and flew around to the gazebo, my heart pounding. Flushed with excitement, I bounced up the steps and plopped down beside Luke.
"Happy birthday," I said, and thrust out my hand. He studied the small package a moment and then plucked it out of my palm.
"Might be keys to another Mercedes," he jested. He opened the package and then lifted the cover of the small box to display the black onyx, solid gold pinky ring. "Wow!"
"Look inside the band."
He turned it to read the tiny inscription that said, "Love, your sister Annie."
It was the first time either of us had written anything that acknowledged our true relationship. Luke's eyes moistened with feeling, but he kept the tears imprisoned within their lids, not wanting to seem unmanly by shedding them, even out of happiness. I saw him try hard to close off his emotions and clamp down hard on them.
"Put it on," I said quickly. He slipped it over his finger and held it up in the sunlight. How the stone sparkled.
"It is so beautiful. How did you know I liked this jewel?"
" I remember you said so once when we were looking at a magazine."
"You're amazing." He stared down at the ring and ran the tip of his right forefinger over it and over it. Then he looked up quickly, his eyes bright with mischief. He reached behind himself and brought forward a flat, thin box in pink gift wrap. First, I opened the card.
Amazingly, as if we had both agreed that our eighteenth birthday should end all pretense, his card was "To a Sister on the Occasion of her Eighteenth Birthday." Whenever he gave me a card, he often wrote his own, more personal lines next to the printed ones.
.
The years may come and go, and time, like the magical maze we've dreamt about, might separate us. But never fear my ability to solve the puzzle and find you wherever you might be.
Happy Birthday,
Luke
.
"Oh Luke. These words are gift enough. More precious to me than even my new car."
His smile was small and tight.
"Open the gift."
My fingers trembled as I tried to tear away the