Little Blackbird Read Online Free PDF Page B

floors. The past spring Kate’s daddy helped build a gazebo in the Hamiltons’ backyard, which he said was immaculate and bursting with colorful flowers.
    Geoffrey chuckled. “No, cool it. You make me nervous. Let me restate it.”
    Kate shook her head. “ I make you nervous? How is that possible?”
    “You’re just so different from other girls. You’re so…honest.”
    “And other girls lie?”
    Geoffrey shook his head. “Nah, not exactly. They’re busy trying to make sure everything they say and do is perfect and classy and proper. And you say whatever you want.”
    Kate’s shoulders sagged. She looked toward the river. “And that means I’m not perfect or classy or proper?” Add more to the list of why it’s no good to be me.
    “No, now, you’re taking my words and twisting them all around. What I’m trying to say is that I like it. I like that you talk to me and it doesn’t seem fake.”
    “Believe me, if I could fake anything, I wouldn’t choose this.”
    Geoffrey laughed again, and she turned to look at him, at the way his eyes closed and his nose scrunched up. She smiled.
    “See, that’s what I mean. You don’t talk like other girls. I bet your biggest news isn’t about your hair or your new dress or what Denise Maloney is wearing.”
    “Why would my biggest news be about Denise Maloney’s clothes?” she asked.
    “That’s my point.” He picked up a river-washed pebble and tossed it into the water.
    The moon’s reflection burst apart into crystals of light, sending messages up to the sky. Slowly, the moon’s light rippled across the water and put itself back together.
    “To answer your question,” Kate said, “my mama doesn’t prize material possessions. She doesn’t care about things . She loves nature and people and plants and animals. That’s what matters to her. She’s never wanted a big house full of breakable stuff to stare at or dust. We like our cottage out here. We have enough space for us. And my daddy says he wouldn’t care even if they lived in a box as long as he could be with Mama.”
    Geoffrey fell silent for so long that Kate turned around to look at him. His gaze was cast far into the trees.
    “My dad would probably be fine if my mom lived in a separate house.”
    “Why?”
    “Have you met my mom?”
    Kate shook her head. “Not directly.”
    “She’s difficult. Demanding too.” He circled his forefingers around and around each other. “She’s wound way too tight, like a spring ready to blast out of here.”
    “And your daddy?” Kate asked.
    “A perfectionist all the way. I’m not sure he’s ever stepped out of line in his life. That’s probably why we—me and my brothers—are always pushing way past the boundaries. Well, except Matthias. He’s the good son.”
    “And you’re not?”
    “I dunno,” he said with a slow smile. “I’ll let you decide.”
    Her fingertips tingled, and the prickle spread up her arms, searing her skin as though she’d been in the sunlight too long. Deciding whether or not Geoffrey was a good son would require her to spend more time with him, to get to know him, to decide whether or not he was safe, whether or not she could trust herself around him.
    He must have sensed her hesitation because when he spoke again, his voice sounded urgent, like one in need of a quick fix, one in need of reassurance.
    “Can I see you again?” he asked.
    “I can’t keep sneaking out like this. Sooner or later my mama is gonna find out.”
    “How? She’s asleep.”
    Kate pulled her fingers through her hair. “You don’t know her, so you’ll have to trust me. She’ll know .” Because if I keep rattling the dishes and trembling like an autumn leaf, she’s going to see right through me.
    “My parents are going up to the lake for the weekend,” Geoffrey said, leaning forward, propping his elbows on his knees. “Dad is meeting a medical school friend up there. Why don’t you come over?”
    The crickets stopped chirping, and