The Lake (The Lake Trilogy, Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

digest this realization. This is perhaps going to be the biggest adjustment. I don’t think I can recall a single time Gram gave me a choice.
    Luke smiles so big that his eyes almost disappear. “Great! We don’t need to leave until 5:30, so if you want to go out, I know Claire is dying to show you around.”
    “That’s ok. I think I’ll just hang out here for now…if that’s ok,” I answer, testing the waters of their flexibility. Do I really have the ability to choose? Am I allowed to say no?
    “Really? I was hoping to take you shopping, maybe get some new summer or school clothes , but if you don’t want to go today, we can go another time…whenever you want. No pressure.” Claire is disappointed. I must have looked terrified when she said shopping . I can be just as girly as the next girl, but shopping is definitely not my thing. Mainly because I wore a uniform to my old school, and Gram and Gramps never had an excessive amount of extra funds for things like new clothes. Gram was handy with a sewing machine so she mended anything that started to get worn. I didn’t have time for a job, so I never had the money either, except for what I squirreled away from Gramps.
    “Oh…er…thanks, Claire. You don’t really have to do that. I’m sure I’ll find something to wear when school starts.” I haven’t soothed Claire’s disappointment so I quickly amend my statement. “But I know I don’t have any winter clothes, so maybe we can go then?” I really will need winter clothes and Claire’s willingness to let me decide certainly deserves a good deed in return.
    Claire smiles and I swear I can see her eyes actually sparkle. “That’d be great. It’ll be nice to have a new shopping partner, someone with a fresh perspective!” She’s in for more disappointment because my perspective on fashion is anything but fresh.
    I eat my Pop Tart and enjoy every morsel of this breakfast that was five years in the making. Even after Gram died, I felt like I would be disrespecting her in front of Gramps if I totally abandoned all that she had done. I push down the twinges of guilt that begin to emerge and I decide that part of my clean slate will be to do my best not to compare anything. It’s not like I have an old life that I could go back to, so any comparison would be completely unfair. This is my life now and, while it is only hours old, I am optimistic.
    “So, Luke,” This is the first time I’ve called him by his name since the funeral and I wonder if he’ll correct me to call him Uncle Luke now that we’re here, on his turf. He doesn’t. He just lowers the newspaper again and gives me his full attention. “You said there’d be chores. Did you have anything particular in mind?” I’m not sure I’ll know how to exist here without something to do.
    “Well,” he says, putting the paper completely down. “Now that you mention it…”               “C’mon, Luke! She just got here!” Claire says in cute protest.
    I really want, no, need, something to do. If they don’t give me some chores, I know I will spend every waking hour of the next eight weeks upstairs reading in the loft, which , I guess, really isn’t the worst thing.
    “It’s ok, Claire, I really want to help.” My insistence is followed by her chagrin , which is followed by her sweet smile. With every passing moment I feel like I’m diving deeper into this parallel universe. I was met by Gram’s harder expression at any hesitancy in my obedience, but here I get quasi chastised for wanting to do chores.
    “Well, as I was saying…” Luke continues, winking at Claire. “Yes, I did have something in mind. How do you feel about handling the dinner dishes?”
    “That’s great. What else?” I say, agreeing to the start of his list.
    “Well…uh…” Luke stumbles having clearly not thought of anything else for me to do. “What did you do…at home…in Florida?” He has a hard time finding the words that will be