Most Precious Blood Read Online Free PDF

to have more babies, to give Daddy a son, and she was miscarrying or having trouble conceiving, and she thought going to the shrine could help. That’s all.”
    â€œIt just seems like a funny thing for Michelle to lie about,” Kit said. “And you said it yourself. She doesn’t lie. That’s half her problem, the way she hangs onto the truth and uses it over and over again. If she just lied, everything could be forgotten.”
    â€œYour mother sure made a mess of things,” Val said. “Can you really clean it up by yourself?”
    â€œI’ll do what I can,” Kit said. “The main problem’s my bedroom. She hacked at my mattress with some scissors. I don’t know how I can get a new one without telling Pop.”
    â€œHow can you stand it?” Val asked.
    â€œI need a new mattress anyway,” Kit said. “The old one was getting lumpy.”
    â€œI’m not adopted,” Val said.
    Kit rinsed out the sponge. “I think you’d better stop saying that,” she declared. “And really think about it.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to think about,” Val said. “If I were adopted, they’d have told me. Nobody keeps that kind of thing a secret anymore. Caroline O’Mara’s adopted, and she’s always known. That was practically the first thing she told people in kindergarten, that she was adopted.”
    â€œCaroline O’Mara’s parents are different from yours,” Kit said.
    â€œAnd what’s that supposed to mean?” Val asked.
    Kit started scrubbing egg yolk off the window. “It doesn’t mean anything,” she said. “It means everybody’s parents are different from everybody else’s. Caroline’s mother probably doesn’t have drunken fits where she smashes up the entire house. Your mother never did either. She got sick and died. Caroline’s mother plays golf. My father still thinks he’s going to write a novel someday. Your father likes to go sailing. Everybody’s different. Everybody handles things differently.”
    â€œYou really think Michelle was telling the truth?” Val asked.
    Kit nodded.
    â€œYou’re wrong,” Val said. “And I don’t want to stay here any longer.”
    â€œAll right,” Kit said. “Call Bruno and tell him to pick you up.”
    â€œI will not,” Val said. “I’m perfectly capable of walking home on my own.”
    Kit put down the sponge. “I’ll walk you home then,” she said.
    â€œWhy are you treating me like such a baby?” Val asked.
    â€œBecause you’re behaving like one,” Kit replied. “You know you aren’t allowed out alone. Now it’s either Bruno or me, or you stay here. Those are your choices.”
    â€œNo,” Val said. “Those are Daddy’s choices. Mine is to walk home by myself, and that’s what I intend to do.”
    â€œFine,” Kit said. “If Bruno isn’t your bodyguard, I’m certainly not. Thank you for helping me clean.”
    â€œYou’re welcome,” Val said. She stormed out of the kitchen to the living room, where she got her book bag and her jacket. The torn canvas of the painting flapped its farewell.

Chapter 3
    Five blocks away from Kit’s, Val spotted Bruno driving the car toward her. Kit must have called him the moment she left, Val thought. She used what remained of her will power not to stop, and kept on walking, as Bruno drove just past her. He used a driveway to make a U-turn, then followed her the ten or so blocks home.
    Connie was waiting at the door for her. “I have cookies,” she said. “Fresh baked. Want some?”
    â€œNot right now,” Val replied. Bruno and Connie had to know something was up, but not even Connie would think the disaster Val was in could be salvaged by cookies. “I have a headache. I’m going to my room.”
    â€œMichelle