The Dreamstalker Read Online Free PDF Page A

the car warmed.
    â€œOkay, Kerr, what’s eating you? Just tell me.” She didn’t want to accuse him of being jealous. It was too silly.
    Kerr took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then he shrugged. “Oh, life in general, and girls, and the price of gasoline and—”
    â€œStocks and bonds going down, the world economy. You sound like Dad.”
    â€œI don’t want to do that, do I? Poor guy. Whatta you want to bet he gets stranded in Denver tonight? Just can’t make it home—again.”
    Their father did stay over in Denver quite often. More and more, it seemed. Did he hate coming home to a wife who did nothing but watch television and read romance novels? Or was there someone more interesting to be with in Denver? Or was he just a workaholic? Karen didn’t figure it was their problem or even any of their business. He hadn’t been a very active part of their life for a long time, unless you counted paying the rent and buying groceries.
    She didn’t think Kerr cared, and she found she didn’t, really. She had never gotten to know her father very well. All he ever talked about was business. When he was in Evergreen he spent most of his time in his home office with his home computer. She’d heard of a home away from home. Their dad had an office away from office. She had never once heard him say, “Sorry I had to bring this all home to do,” or “Sorry I can’t make it home for dinner or the night or the weekend.”
    The phone was ringing as they came in the back door. Kerr answered it, listened for a minute. “Yeah, I’ll tell her. But I don’t know why you keep pretending you have a home here. Why you ever bother coming back. And, Dad, tell her I said hi.” He hung up without listening for a reply on the other end.
    â€œKerr! That was an awful thing to say to Dad.”
    â€œYou told me to get real.”
    â€œI didn’t mean for you to be rude to Dad.”
    â€œWhat’s the difference in being rude and being honest?”
    â€œA little bit of discretion, or sympathy for him. Maybe he really can’t get up here tonight. Have you forgotten the road is closed?”
    Kerr laughed and went to find his ice skates. Karen looked for her mother. She was already watching television. The man on the newscast was saying how bad the storm was, and that Denver was almost shut down.
    â€œThat was Dad on the phone, Mom. He can’t make it home.” Karen sat on the couch beside her mother for a minute, snuggling the way a child would.
    â€œI figured that.” Her mother circled Karen’s shoulders and hugged her. “You two going to the football game?”
    â€œIt was cancelled. The other team can’t get here. We’re going ice skating and then to Kaziah Cole’s for pizza and maybe a video instead.”
    â€œYou could have come here. Especially now that your father isn’t coming home.” There was a note of loneliness in her mother’s voice, but even at that, Karen was surprised by the invitation. She had brought Alysia home with her a lot, but never a whole group of people. She should have called and asked. A party might be good for her mother.
    â€œThanks, Mom, but Kaziah is already planning on our coming there. Her parents are used to us. It would be too hard to change everything now. Another time?”
    Her mother nodded and got interested in the news again.
    â€œWhat will you eat for dinner?” Karen asked.
    â€œI’ll find something. Don’t worry about me.”
    Karen wouldn’t worry, but she did feel sorry for her mother. She had so little in her life. She must be unhappy.
    â€œTen minutes.” Kerr yelled from the kitchen.
    â€œHey, give me a break. I want to change clothes and—”
    â€œPut fresh goop on your face and make yourself beautiful. It’ll take hours.” Kerr came into the living room, holding a Coke and a bag of potato