Crazy Little Thing Read Online Free PDF

white tennis outfit, her sleek black hair pulled into a stylish clip at the base of her neck. The ice in her tea clunked when she set down the glass.
    “Sadie, what a surprise.” There was no move to embrace. Helene Harper considered physical displays of affection vulgar.
    “I just dropped off the kids with Richard. I wondered if you wanted to have dinner or lunch tomorrow or something.”
    “You should have called first. I’ve got the museum gala tomorrow. I’m the chairwoman, remember?”
    “The gala is tomorrow?” I smoothed back an errant strand of my own dark brown hair. People said I looked like her, but other than the coloring I really couldn’t see the similarity.
    “I don’t suppose you would remember if it’s not important to you.”
    First strike, Mommy .
    “Who’s the speaker this year?” My feigned interest wouldn’t make her forgive my oversight, but we had long been entrenched in this game. I leaned against the counter.
    “Some historian,” she huffed, dismissing his value. “Without Richard’s connections, we had a terrible time finding anyone interesting. Don’t slouch, Sadie.”
    I started to straighten, but caught myself and resisted. “Mother, you play golf with the mayor’s wife. Surely Richard is not your only connection.”
    “Did you come here to be sassy with me?” She sipped her tea and pointedly did not offer me any.
    “No, of course not. Sorry.” I wasn’t really, which was patently obvious. “You’re booked all weekend, then?”
    “Yes. Unless you want to play tennis with me right now. I’m late for my cardio league.” She looked at her watch, pushing aside a dozen gold bracelets to find it.
    I didn’t bother mentioning her backhand might improve if she took off some of that bling.
    “Nope. Still not any good at tennis. What’s Penny up to today?”
    “You’d have to ask her.”
    This was ridiculous, two grown women not able to say what was really on our minds.
    “How long do you plan to be mad at me?” I blurted out. Damn it. Fontaine’s big mouth was contagious.
    My mother set the glass down so hard tea splashed out. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “It seems like you’re still mad about Richard.”
    My mother sighed, deep and long. “I’m not mad at you, Sadie. I simply think you rushed into this divorce. Richard made one mistake and you threw eight years of marriage down the drain. And the children will suffer for it.”
    Heat started in my gut and spread in every direction. My heart pounded as if a gun were pointed at it. “You think I made this decision lightly? You divorced Dad for cheating and Penny and I turned out fine.”
    Her cheeks flushed carnation red. “What happened with your father and I has no bearing here. Your situation is completely different.”
    “How?” I had poked the sleeping bear. I may as well let her go full grizzly.
    My mother tugged at her Lycra tennis top, smoothing it over her trim torso. “I don’t have time for this, Sadie. I told you, I’m already late for tennis.”
    She picked up her Coach purse and started digging around for her keys. When she looked back up, her eyes were bright with moisture, and I nearly stepped backward from the surprise of it. I’d never seen my mother close to tears. It was jarring. I was suddenly nine years old, telling her about a shattered crystal vase and wanting with all my heart to somehow fix it.
    “You’re not really going to spend the entire summer with Dody, are you? The novelty will wear off, you know.” Her voice had softened. Hot tears stung my own eyes, though I wasn’t sure why.
    “It might. And when it does, I’ll come back.” I brushed imaginary crumbs from her spotless counter. “But for now, we’re having fun at the beach.”
    “Fun?” She flicked her wrist, as if fun were an insect to be shooed away. The almost-tears disappeared. Maybe I’d only imagined them. “Well, I’m late for tennis.”
    And that was that.

    I arrived at Penny’s house