Winter's Tide Read Online Free PDF

sent me to open today.
    When I was young, I was so excited to open my presents. I could remember one year I just knew I was going to get a horse or a pony. And I
had
gotten a horse—only it was a plastic toy horse with a toy barn. I could remember my disappointment. It had felt like a stabbing in my heart.
    Now I knew that I was probably never going to get a horse unless I bought one for myself when I grew up. But I had figured out that there were things in life a lot more important than the presents you got. Like someone caring about you.
    And now this Christmas. At Norm’s house. Well, Norm and Mom wanted me to think of it as “our” house. Or maybe Norm had changed his mind since I had gotten suspended.
    Last year, Stephanie had been living with her mom but spent Christmas Eve and day with us. I hated to admit it, but having Stephanie here did make it more worthwhile to jump out of bed. But I remember feeling jealous of Stephanie, because having her here was what made it exciting for Norm and Mom. Whereas I was just the resident troublemaker with a mood disorder that they probably wished they could ditch somewhere.
    I punched my pillow and turned it over. I heard Mom and Norm downstairs in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher. The phone rang, and Norm answered.
    â€œHi, Vicki, Merry Christmas. What’s up? Is Stephanie okay?” The sound of dishes stopped. “Oh, that’s awful!” Norm’s voice rose in intensity. He said a few more things that I couldn’t hear and then hung up, and I heard the buzz of voices as he and Mom urgently discussed something.
    Curious, I got out of bed and went to the landing where I could look down and see Norm and Mom in the kitchen below. Norm was putting on his jacket. Their voices floated up clearly now.
    â€œSo she wants you to come to the hospital?” Mom asked.
    â€œYes. She and Barry are going to stay there. Vicki says Stephanie is exhausted, so she wants me to pick her up and swing by Barry and Vicki’s to get her stuff, then bring her back here,” Norm said.
    â€œOh, that’s just terrible. I hope he’s okay,” Mom said. “And Diana’s supposed to take drivers’ ed next semester. I wish it wasn’t so soon.”
    â€œThat’s the truth.” Norm got his keys from the hook by the door. “Okay, I’ll be back in about an hour, I guess.”
    He went out.
    I headed downstairs. “What happened?”
    Mom, who was getting coffee cups out of the dishwasher, looked up. I could tell from her face thatsomething bad had happened. “Morning, sweetie. Stephanie’s stepbrother, Matt, was in a bad accident last night. They’ve been at the hospital for most of the night, and they want Norm to come pick Stephanie up so she can get some sleep.”
    â€œStephanie can’t stand Matt.”
    Mom put the coffee cups in the cabinet. “Oh, Diana, don’t say things like that.”
    â€œIt’s true! He treats her like dirt.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. It’s still horrible that he’s been hurt. I just hope it’s not too serious.”
    â€œOnce Stephanie told me she’d like to scratch his eyes out.”
    â€œDiana! Now you’re just trying to shock me. Stop it. The poor boy is lying unconscious in a hospital bed. Show a little sympathy.”
    â€œI’m just saying.”
    Mom got a stack of bowls out of the dishwasher and put them away. “In all the excitement, I forgot to say … Merry Christmas!” She came around the counter and gave me a hug.
    â€œMerry Christmas.”
    Mom squeezed me tight and gave me a kiss on the forehead. “Well, it will just be you and me for Christmas breakfast. I got a cinnamon coffee cake. Want some?”
    â€œOkay.”
    When Norm brought Stephanie back from the hospital, she had big dark circles under her eyes and her hair was messier than usual. She curled up in the La-Z-Boy and pulled