Damaged: A Violated Trust (Secrets) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Gordon?”
    “It’s a long story.”
    “Well, someday I’d like to hear it.” She tosses the wadded dish towel on the counter. “But I think it’s high time you got this little girl a cell phone, Daddy.”
    Now my preference would’ve been for just Dad and me to go cell phone shopping, but instead I find myself in the backseat of Dad’s SUV, listening as Estelle goes on about some scandal going on in their workplace. I’m really trying to like this woman, but something about her sets my teeth on edge. Still, I’m determined to act civilized and hide my true emotions.
    Estelle takes over at the cell phone shop, telling me what I want and why I want it. She even pushes me to get a hot pink phone — and I hate hot pink. But when we leave, there is a hot pink phone in my bag. I wonder if I can paint it. Maybe if I sanded it a little, my acrylic paints would stick. I study the phone and imagine how I can make it look really cool. Estelle continues to chatter away at my dad. As she goes on about a fashion-challenged coworker, I make a mental list of all the things I hate about this chick:
     
She is too young for Dad. if he’d been a teenaged father, she could easily be his child.
She is superficial.
She thinks she’s hot. I caught her checking herself out in the mirror several times, and she always seems pleased with what she sees.
She’s catty.
Even worse than catty, she’s a serious gossip. If her boss could hear her right now, she’d probably be out of a job.
She isn’t very smart. Already she’s misused or mispronounced at least three words.
She treats me like a child. I think this is what I hate most of all.
     
    I’m just finishing my list when I see that we’re on the freeway. “Where are we going?”
    “Didn’t you hear Estelle saying she wanted to do some shopping?”
    “Uh, no …”
    “You don’t mind, do you?” Dad glances at Estelle uneasily.
    “You might want to do some shopping too.” Estelle turns around in the seat and peers at me. “I mean, you are starting at a new school tomorrow, and from what I’ve heard, your mom isn’t big into fashion, right?”
    “Not much.”
    “I thought Estelle might be able to help you out, baby doll.” Dad sounds hesitant. “She’s pretty fashion conscious and tuned in to younger styles.”
    I look at her tank top and wonder.
    She laughs. “Oh, I don’t always dress like this, but it was hot today. And to be honest, I only thought I was coming over to make breakfast.”
    “Uh-huh.” I just nod. I’m fully aware that I’m acting like a brat — totally unlike what I’d planned to be like.
    “But if you’re not interested” — Dad is moving into the right lane — “there’s an exit ahead. I can turn around and take you home.”
    “Oh, come on, Haley. Admit you need some clothes and maybe even a little fashion advice.” Estelle laughs. “For Pete’s sake, your dad is offering you clothes — what girl passes up an opportunity like that?”
    Her reasoning registers with me. “Yeah, you’re right. I could use some things. Sure, let’s go shopping.”
    We end up at this chic little outlet mall where Dad immediately bows out. He hands me a gold credit card and grabs his iPad. “I’m off to Starbucks for a mocha and to check the stock market. See you later.”
    Estelle acts like this is perfectly acceptable. Then, practically taking me by the hand and acting like she knows this mall like the back of her own hand, she drags me to her favorite shops, and something tells me this whole “spur-of-the-moment” shopping trip was totally premeditated.
    However, when I see my image in a full-length mirror at the Gap, I realize that perhaps I really did need a style intervention. There’s no denying that Mom was not only “not into fashion” but vehemently opposed to most trends, especially if she deemed them provocative. If she could’ve dressed me like a nun or Laura Ingalls, she wouldn’t have hesitated.
    I stand here taking