The Family Read Online Free PDF Page B

a doll.
    “Don’t forget to make it look like you haven’t had breakfast yet at call.” Sophie looked around nervously. Her hands were shaking.
    “I won’t. Promise. I’ll eat another whole breakfast.” Twig cut a piece of cheese and smiled at Sophie.
    Sophie was suddenly silent. Twig watched as she tossed an orange up and down, seeming deep in thought.
    “Hey, congratulations,” Sophie finally said, quietly.
    “Thanks,” Twig replied modestly.
    “How do you feel?”
    “I’m kind of in shock, to be honest.”
    “But you’re okay?”
    “I guess so,” Twig said. She didn’t want to lie to Sophie, but she couldn’t talk to her the way she talked to Ryan. She had to keep it simple.
    “Can I ask you something, Twig?” Sophie suddenly whispered.
    “Sure,” Twig answered. “Anything.”
    “Well, I know things will be different now, but before last night, did you ever think of…well, of leaving?”
    Twig froze. “What?” she asked in surprise. She tilted her head toward Sophie, waiting for some kind of explanation. This was not something you talked about. Sophie had never said anything like this before. You didn’t sneak out to the rainforest alone and you didn’t paint with nature either, but talking of leaving? It wasn’t even a consideration. It was one of the worst crimes you could commit against Adam.
    “Well, I mean, did you ever think that maybe this isn’t the life for you? Did you ever want to live the life we hear about in people’s lore?”
    “Where is this coming from, Sophie? Are you unhappy? Can I help you?”
    “Me?” Sophie put her hand to her chest in surprise. “No! I’m not unhappy, I was just wondering.”
    Twig was suspicious. This kind of talk was absolutely forbidden. Had Adam and Doc sent Sophie this morning to test Twig? To see if she had been infected after all? Sophie wouldn’t have a choice. She’d have to do it and report back.
    “Sophie, really, why are you asking me this?” Twig tried again.
    Sophie just shrugged her shoulders. “Forget it. Forget I asked.”
    “Okay,” Twig said. She was happy to let it drop. Maybe she was being too paranoid. Maybe Sophie was just making conversation. Sophie never got a chance to talk like this.
    “But you never answered me, Twig,” Sophie pressed. She obviously wasn’t going to let it drop.
    “No, no, I’ve never thought of leaving, Sophie.”
    She hadn’t. Twig certainly wasn’t perfect, but she had never thought of leaving. Besides, it really was the only answer she could give. Even to her best friend.
    The air between them was heavy. Twig felt bad, but it felt very unnatural to have Sophie there. She wanted to wrap up their breakfast and get back.
    “Maybe you should be more careful, now. Now that you will be Adam’s wife,” Sophie said suddenly.
    “You’re right,” Twig said thoughtfully. She wasn’t sure why Sophie had come this morning, but she could tell Sophie’s warning was genuine. Twig felt depressed. Sophie was right. Once she was married to Adam, moments like these simply wouldn’t be possible. She would no longer be able to sneak out here and paint. And painting was like oxygen to Twig.
    As they walked home, Twig unpinned her dress and let her hair spill over her shoulders and down her back. Neither one of them said a word.
    “Do you want to go straight to breakfast?” Sophie finally asked, breaking the silence between them.
    “I want to make sure my mom is up,” Twig said.
    Sophie nodded in understanding. She smiled warmly at Twig.
    For the moment, Twig had to push everything else aside. Her only priority right now was to get her mother to breakfast call on time.

8
    Unfortunately, when Twig went back to her cabin, Avery wasn’t there any longer. Twig sighed. Avery had struggled to be a part of the Family for as long as Twig could remember. Throughout Twig’s childhood, Avery had been constantly humiliated and assigned impossible tasks requiring hard labor.
    It’s her own fault.
    That