What Family Means Read Online Free PDF Page B

have a better idea of what you’re going through than you realize.”
    “ Really, Mom?” Angie tried to keep her tone neutral, but if she had a cookie for every time Mom said she “knew” what Angie was feeling, Angie would weigh three hundred pounds.
    “Seriously, Angie. I was younger, it was a different era, but I expected to raise you on my own.”
    “You were married, though.”
    “Well, after I was pregnant with you. As a matter of fact, it was after I’d had you.”
    “ After I was born?”
    Debra steadied her gaze on Angie. “Your dad and I were almost—” she shook her head “—no, we were high-school sweethearts. Or at least we were meant to be.”
    Heat rushed into Angie’s face as she stared at her mother. “Why don’t I already know this?”
    Debra flicked her fingers against her mug. “No reason to bring it up before. Do you really want to know the details?”
    Angie didn’t hesitate. “Yes. And start with the high-school stuff.”

CHAPTER FIVE

    February 1967
Buffalo, New York

    “Y OU HAVE A LOT of homework this weekend?”
    Will looked at Debra with what she thought were the most beautiful brown eyes on earth.
    “Not too much.” She felt suddenly shy as they stood on the sidewalk where the school bus had dropped them off minutes ago. Cars whizzed past on the busy street Kenmore Avenue had become as they’d grown up.
    “Trigonometry going okay?” Will always asked how she was doing. Deb was taking all advanced courses, so although she was only a sophomore she was well on her way to college-level credits by her junior and senior years.
    Just like Will.
    “Yeah. I did have a bit of trouble with this one problem, but I’ll get it.”
    “Why don’t I help you?”
    Deb smiled at Will and nodded. “That’d be great.” Truth was, she didn’t need any help. From the beginning, school had been her escape and now promised tobe her ticket out of the Buffalo neighborhood her entire family seemed to live in. College would be her passport to a better life.
    “Let’s go over to my house and I’ll get my notes from two years ago. Then we can work in Dad’s office.”
    “Great.” Although going to his house made her nervous, she fell into step beside Will, marveling, as she often did, at how well they spent time together. They were both excellent students and enjoyed a lot of the same literature.
    But she’d become aware of a tension between them over the past year or so. Nothing bad, just…different. She knew what it was; she’d had crushes on boys before. But they’d always faded.
    And Will always remained her best friend.
    “I’ll wait for you in the office while you get your notebook, okay?” This was their usual routine. Deb waited in Dr. Bradley’s office, while Will got what he needed from his house.
    Debra didn’t go over to Will’s anymore. They’d stopped hanging out in his house a few years back, when Will started high school. His mom wasn’t keen on it. Said their age difference was too great.
    Deb’s mom didn’t really know how many afternoons Deb spent studying with Will. Deb would never dare bring Will home. It was an unspoken rule that Deb’s mom and extended family wouldn’t go for her bringing a black boy to the house, even as a friend.
    Deb told her mother as little as possible. She still worked for Will’s dad in the doctor’s office and didn’t raise an eyebrow whenever Deb and Will came in anddid homework there the way they used to as kids. The office was neutral territory. Most days, though, they went to the public library.
    “I’d like it if you came with me to the house, Deb.” Will had a strange look on his face. Deb wondered if something had happened at school that Will needed to talk about.
    “Well, okay, I guess.” She trudged through the slush alongside him. The heavy snowfall from last week had melted into this mess, but would freeze up again by nightfall.
    “Thanks.” Will loped comfortably next to her, but she still sensed an