Music in the Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

raving, movieactress beauty. I had to keep my feet on the ground and not let my ego swell like so many other girls I knew at school.
Everyone was just finishing dinner when I went downstairs. Mommy slapped her hands together and cried out as soon as I entered the dining room. Daddy sat back, nodding, and May was smiling from ear to ear. Cary wore a strange, dark look.
"You're beautiful, honey. Just beautiful. Isn't she, Jacob?" Mommy said.
"Vanity is a sin, Sara. She looks fine, but there's no reason to blow her so full of steam she explodes," Daddy chastised. However, he wore a very proud expression as well.
"Now you just wait right there," Mommy said, and she hurried out of the dining room.
"How do I look, Cary?" I asked him. I couldn't stand the fact that he wouldn't look my way.
"Fine," he said quickly and dropped his gaze to his plate. "I might have thought you'd be going to the dance, too," Daddy told him.
"It's stupid," Cary muttered.
"How's that?"
"I'm not interested in any old dance," he snapped. Daddy's eyebrows lifted.
"Well, it's a well-chaperoned affair, isn't it? Teachers are there, right?"
"What's that matter, Dad?" Cary said with a smirk. "Teachers are in school, too, but kids smoke in the bathrooms and do other things."
"What other things?"
"Other things," Cary said, realizing he was digging himself a hole he might not easily climb out of. He looked to me, but I said nothing. "Dumb things kids do."
"Laura's a good girl," Daddy said, looking at me. "She wouldn't do anything to embarrass this family."
Cary smirked and looked away.
"Of course I won't, Daddy," I said, my eyes fixed on Cary. Mommy returned, her necklace in hand.
"I wanted her to wear this tonight, Jacob," she said, looking to him for his approval. He nodded slightly and she put it on me, fastening it and then running her fingers over the garnets and sparkling diamond. "Doesn't it look nice on her?"
"Be careful with that," Daddy warned.
"I will. Thank you, Mommy."
We heard the doorbell.
"That'll be Robert," I said.
"Oh, she should have a shawl, don't you think, Jacob?" "Sure. It's getting pretty nippy these nights," Daddy said. Mommy went to the closet to get hers for me and I went to the door to let Robert in.
He looked terribly handsome in his jacket and tie, He was carrying a small box in his hands.
"It's a corsage," he declared.
"Oh, that's very thoughtful," Mommy said. Robert signed a hello to May, who beamed beside me. Then he opened the box and took out the corsage of red roses, my favorite. They matched the garnets perfectly.
"You'll have to pin it on," I told him. He looked at Mommy helplessly for a moment and then tried, but his fingers were clumsy with his nervousness.
"I'll do it," Mommy said, coming to our rescue. Robert smiled with relief and stepped back to watch her pin it on me.
"There, that's very pretty," Mommy said.
"Thank you, Mommy."
"We should get moving," Robert said. "Don't want to miss the opening dance."
"Have a wonderful time," Mommy said. Daddy came up behind her and looked at Robert.
"You look fine, boy," he said. "Now
remember," he added with a scowl, "I want her home before midnight."
"Yes, sir," Robert said.
I looked for Cary, but he hadn't come out of the dining room.
"Good night, Cary," I called. There was no response. I flashed a weak smile at Mommy, who nodded, her face full of light, her eyes brighter than ever, and then Robert and I stepped out into the night.
He opened the car door for me and I got in. He hurried around and got behind the wheel.
"Well, I guess I have the prettiest date at the dance tonight," he said and turned to me. "Laura, you look more beautiful than I ever dreamed."
"Thank you, Robert. You're very handsome yourself." "I guess we'll knock 'em dead then," he predicted and started the engine.
As we backed out, I looked toward the front door, half expecting to see Cary, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen.
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I Could Have Danced
All Night
.
"Oh, Robert," I said the moment we walked
    into the