My Life as the Ugly Stepsister Read Online Free PDF Page A

keep her from taking you out of the state.”
    Well, that was news to me. Could he actually save me from this catastrophic move? “You can?”
    He nodded. “I can, but I haven’t decided if I will. You could always choose to stay here with me.”
    I didn’t really want to head down this road. He knew some of the reasons I’d probably say no to living with him. “Would Mom agree?”
    “I don’t know.” His serious expression indicated he’d put a lot of thought into this. “I do know that it wouldn’t solve your problem entirely. You’d be thousands of miles away from one of your parents either way. And I don’t expect you to make this decision yet. As I said, I haven’t even decided what I am going to do.” Dad shook his head. “I guess I’m just hoping that this doesn’t work out and Karen comes back here.”
    How much did he know about Mom and her plans? “Did Mom tell you that she had him investigated?”
    “Yes. As a matter of fact, I insisted on a copy of the report.” He stood up and went over to one of the tall filing cabinets. He opened a drawer and pulled out a file folder. “He looks like an average guy, and I think your mother has enough sense to keep out of trouble.”
    That surprised me. I didn’t think he’d admit to Mom having a brain. “So you think she’s safe out there?”
    Dad sighed. “I think so. Relationships are hard, though. She may decide to come back to Charlotte.”
    I hadn’t expected my father to have a file on Mom’s boyfriend. And I hadn’t really thought he’d care if I moved across the country. I didn’t see very much of him.
    Dad put the file back in the drawer. “I’m exhausted. How about you put on ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and I grab a beer?”
    “Works for me,” I said, relieved to have the tension level drop. I wasn’t giving up on the Mojo situation, but I knew there would be no point angering him until I had a new strategy. “Let me grab my phone and a coke.”
    “Ask Diane if she wants to join us,” Dad said. “Where’s Caroline off to tonight?”
    I shrugged. “Out with her friends. I think one of them was having a sleepover.” Actually, I think she just wanted out of the house. I didn’t blame her.
     
     
    When your mother decides to ruin your life, she goes all out. When Mom called the Monday morning and told me to shower and put on fresh clothes, I should have known I was in trouble. Even though she is a mom, she usually doesn’t remind me to put on clean underwear. I pulled a blue miniskirt and striped top out of the closet and dressed. Maybe she was taking me somewhere really cool.
    “Is this okay to wear? Where are we going?” I demanded after I got into the car. “What’s going on?”
    “It’s nothing terrible. I promise.” The fact that she wasn’t driving and wasn’t looking at me should have told me to run. “I made an appointment for you at the doctor, Ally.” She kept her eyes on the steering wheel as she spoke. “I’ve been meaning to for a while, and now that I’m going away I didn’t want to put it off.”
    “Oh no,” I said shaking my head and reaching for the door handle. “I’m not going to a therapist.” I thought they’d given up on a shrink two years earlier. The doctor had declared me to be functioning and not in need of counseling. Of course, I’d told the guy how everything was fine and I didn’t want to talk about anything.
    “No, Ally.” Mom finally turned my way. “I want you to be comfortable with this process in case you need to go. I think you’ll like Dr. Peeden.”
    Dr. Peeden? Wasn’t that her… My jaw dropped in horror.
    “Yes, Ally. My gynecologist.”
    I crossed my legs. “Mom! No! Why? What did I do?”
    “Nothing. It won’t be bad. You’ll like her, and if you need her over the next few years you’ll be able to call her.”
    “You aren’t going to be gone for years.”
    “No, but my mother took me when I was twelve. For my cramps. I want you to go before you