SVH01-Double Love Read Online Free PDF

with a bunch of the kids and zoom off without me! You should have told me you were going to do that. What would have happened if Mom saw me driving the car? Do you want to get me into trouble? I think it was sneaky and rotten of you to leave me like that when it was your responsibility to bring me home in the car!"
    "Jess, I didn't leave without you--I got held up in The Oracle and didn't get out until late."
    "Oh. In that case, I forgive you. And I'm sorry I suspected you of trying to get me into trouble. I must have been mistaken about you getting into that other car. Now, let's talk about
    Steve. He's up to something, and I think you know what it is."
    "Whoa, Jess. Let's back up a bit. Jess? Jess!"
    Jessica, her head in the refrigerator, didn't answer. Finally she turned, holding a plastic bag full of green grapes. "I was sure we had grapes! Now, about Steve."
    "No, Jess," said a determined Elizabeth. "Let's talk about what happened after school. I saw you drive off in our car with Todd Wilkins." Please let there be a reasonable explanation, she prayed.
    "Oh, that! I was just helping Todd." Jessica sat at the table popping grapes into her mouth while Elizabeth's world crumbled around her.
    "Helping him?" Helping herself to him was more like it.
    "He had to pick up some decorations for the dance, so I offered him a ride into town. He's so sweet, Liz."
    I know, I know. Elizabeth moaned inwardly. "Jess, did he say anything about meeting someone--or waiting for someone after school?"
    Jessica rested her chin on one hand and thought for a moment. Putting her other hand behind her back, she crossed her fingers and finally answered, "I don't think so."
    When it comes to being unforgettable, I have to be a minus ten, Elizabeth thought with disgust.
    "Now can we talk about Steve?" Jessica said impatiently.
    "What about him?"
    "I don't believe you, Liz, I really don't. Our only brother is involved in a flaming love affair, and you don't care at all!"
    "Steve? Flaming love affair?" Elizabeth shook her head in amazement. Was her sister trying to get off the subject of Todd, or did she know what she was talking about?
    "It's totally obvious to anyone with half a brain that, one, Steve is involved with someone; two, that he hasn't said who it is; and three, that it must be someone we wouldn't like. And I'm going to find out what's going on!"
    "Look, Sherlock," Elizabeth snapped, "has it ever occurred to you that, one, it's Steve's business; two, it's not our business; and three, you'd better butt out before Steve takes you apart?"
    "You can do whatever you want, Elizabeth Wakefield, but it's just not in my nature to be cold and selfish when it comes to the happiness of a member of my family!" With an expression on her face that would make an angel envious, Jessica picked up her books and sailed out of the room.
    In a rare display of temper, Elizabeth threw a sponge across the room, narrowly missing her
    mother, who stepped through the back door at that moment.
    "Elizabeth, what in the world is going on here?"
    "Oh! Mom. Nothing's going on. I was cleaning the table and the sponge just--just slipped out of my hand."
    Alice Wakefield lowered the two grocery bags she was carrying onto the counter and gave her daughter a knowing look. "Something's wrong, honey, isn't it? Do you want to talk about it?" She walked over to Elizabeth and put her arm around her daughter's shoulder.
    Elizabeth suddenly wished she were five years old again. Then she could cry and pour out all her troubles to her mother, who would make everything right. But that was then, and this was now.
    Elizabeth shrugged off her mother's arm and walked over to pick up the sponge. "Mom, nothing is wrong!"
    "Don't tell me nothing's wrong, Elizabeth. You're not acting like yourself at all. Now, talk to me, please. I have to meet a client, and I don't want to be late."
    Count to ten, Elizabeth told herself. Don't take your anger out on Mom.
    "Elizabeth, I'm waiting!"
    And then she