Head Over Heels Read Online Free PDF Page B

stipulated, Veronica and Lizzy had grown particularly close this past year. They’d developed the ritual of counting off the days and weeks since their last timetogether, then regaling each other with the knowledge as soon as they met up again.
    â€œI’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner.” Veronica brushed Lizzy’s soft hair away from her face. “But I’m here now, and we’re family, you and I, so never doubt that I’ll take care of you. We’ll start by moving you back into your own room this afternoon.”
    She looked up in time to see Dessa’s stricken face and gave the little girl a reassuring smile. “Would you like to come along and help us?” she asked. “Because you do understand, I hope, that you’re welcome to visit Lizzy anytime you want. And on the weekends, if your mama agrees, you girls can plan sleepovers.” Then she shot a glance at Riley, who was busy making sure everyone knew he was too cool to show an interest in the proceedings. “You’re always welcome, too, Riley.”
    He rolled his eyes, stuffed another cookie from the cookie jar into his mouth, and grunted. Swallowing audibly, he grabbed a plastic jug of milk out of the fridge. “Like I wanna play with a coupla dumb girls.” He drank straight from the container, then lowered it and said, “Brad Marshall lives over by you, though. I s’pose I might could do stuff with him while the girls play with their dollies .”
    Marissa got up and plucked the milk bottle from her son’s fingers. “Get a glass,” she said, then shook her head. “Might could . If this is an example of our school system at work, I may have to rethink the way I cast my vote come levy time.”
    Riley gave his mother a big, unrepentant grin, and looked so amazingly like a male version of Marissa when she was the same age that Veronica had to bitethe inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. Her lips must have twitched, though, because Marissa gave her a stern look.
    â€œDon’t encourage him.”
    â€œI’m not. I wouldn’t.” She straightened her face and looked down at Lizzy, still in the circle of her arms. “Do you need any help packing your stuff?”
    â€œNuh-uh. I did it last night. It’s all upstairs; should I go get it now? Don’t go away—it won’t take me any time at all.”
    Veronica hated the sudden anxiety in her niece’s voice, but she merely smiled and assured her she wasn’t going anywhere. Lizzy pulled out of her embrace and turned to her friend. She seemed on surer ground when she said, “You can come help me bring it down, Dessa.”
    All three kids tramped out of the kitchen and Veronica turned to Marissa. “Oh, man, it’s just starting to sink in that my status has been upgraded from aunt to mom . It’s such a huge responsibility, and Lizzy seems so fragile. What if I screw it up? Oh, God, Rissa—what if I mess her up?”
    â€œTake a deep breath,” Marissa instructed and rubbed comforting circles between Veronica’s shoulder blades. “Now blow it out and listen to me. You’re not going to screw anything up.”
    â€œHow do you know that?”
    â€œBecause you’re good with Lizzy. Because you’re crazy about her, and you’ll do your best by her.”
    â€œI’ve never been totally responsible for her for more than a week at a time; what if my best’s not good enough?”
    â€œIt’ll be more than enough. Look at what you’ve already accomplished this afternoon—you managed to settle her insecurities with a hug and that how-long’s-it-been thing you two share. And you’ve arranged for reliable help to take care of her while you’re at work. And that, toots, is pretty much the way it goes—you simply take things one day at a time.”
    So that’s what Veronica determined to do for the rest