Pulse Read Online Free PDF Page B

that!”
    “Oh, yes, I can.”
    “Mom said it wasn’t my fault. You heard her.”
    “But it was my car you wrecked after taking it without permission. I’m not your mom, I’m your father and I’m still in charge.”
    Shandi looked to her mother for support and saw none. Kathleen avoided both their eyes.
    “I’m a grown woman, in case you hadn’t noticed. You can’t just, just put me under house arrest!”
    “My house, my rules.”
    She started to respond but didn’t. “When does this start?” she finally muttered.
    “As of now.”
    “No way!” she yelped indignantly. “I have a date tonight.”
    “Call and tell him it’s postponed.”
    “I can’t do that!” She checked her watch. “He’s already on the way. Mom, do something!” she demanded.
    “Perhaps there could be a compromise,” Kathleen suggested, slowly folding her napkin. “Since this date was preplanned, perhaps Shandi could start … house arrest after this evening.”
    What the hell was going on? He felt bewildered and a bit betrayed. They had always backed each other up on discipline. On the other hand, perhaps canceling this date would be unfair to the boy.
    “That’s doable, I guess. Who is this boy?” he asked.
    Casey giggled.
    “Someone new,” Kathleen said casually, and began to clear dishes from the table as Shandi dashed upstairs to get ready.
    After a short time, the bell rang at the front gate and Shandi scampered downstairs. “That’s him,” she sang out. “See you later.” She headed for the door.
    “Hold on,” Frank said. He pushed the buzzer that opened the gate. “I’d like to meet him.”
    “Daddy!” Her tone was exasperated.
    “Sit.”
    She sat nervously on the arm of a chair.
    “Remember,” he said. “I always meet your dates.”
    “Not for more than a year.”
    “From now on, we’re back in the habit.”
    She sighed audibly.
    He answered the door. The visitor was not who he expected. Frank stared. They had met before. Shandi’s high school drama teacher, Jay Bowden.
    Bowden stepped confidently inside. Kathleen rushed forward, took his arm and turned to Frank with a bright smile. “You remember Jay, don’t you?”
    “Bowden, isn’t it? Jay, what brings you by?”
    “I’m just here to pick up Shandi,” Bowden said. “Good to see you again, Frank.”
    Shandi whisked him away as Kathleen told them to have a good time. “Drive carefully,” she called after them, then closed the door.
    “That’s her date?”
    Kathleen nodded, expression resigned, expecting his reaction.
    “Jesus Christ! The man is nearly as old as I am! He’s thirty-nine if he’s a day. His goddamn hairline is receding and he’s got a ponytail. Was that an earring he was wearing?”
    “I knew it wasn’t a boy,” Casey trilled, from a front-row seat on the wide staircase. “He’s an old guy.”
    “Baby, I want you upstairs. Now.” He watched as sheobeyed, a pout on her face. He wanted to hug her. Was she the only one in this household who wasn’t hiding something from him?
    “We need to talk,” Kathleen said softly.
    “Damn straight. You knew she was seeing this guy? You went along with it? She’s been out almost every night lately. Is it with him? How long has this been going on?”
    They sat in the Florida room, knee to knee in wicker chairs.
    “Sweetheart, I’m sure you know it wasn’t easy trying to keep everything under control all that time you were sick.” She sounded hurt, eyelashes lowered. “They’re both spirited girls, Frank. I had to make you my top priority.”
    “But you had to know that dead or alive, I would not approve of that guy,” he said, less vehemently. “Something is obviously wrong with a man that age who is interested in nineteen-year-old girls.”
    “But that’s exactly the point, Frank, she is of age. She’s nineteen. If we try to ground her or forbid her to date a particular individual, she is perfectly capable of moving out, or even marrying inappropriately, because