A Mate for Lance (The Program Book 5) Read Free

now?” Her mother shook her head. “Maybe next year would…”
    “I have to do this.” She was twenty-seven and still lived at home. As terrified as she was, she needed to at least try.
    “I’m dropping you at the airport.” Her dad picked up his keys.
    “No.” She practically shouted it. “I mean, thanks for the offer but I’m a grown woman and can take care of myself. Besides, I called a cab. It’ll be here any second.”
    “Do you have your medication?” her mom asked in a sing-song voice.
    “Yes.”
    “Are there bees in Paris?” Her mom’s brows were raised.
    Amber had to laugh. “Yes, mom. I’m sure they have bees.”
    Her mom stiffened and she sucked in a breath. “You’ve got your EpiPens and will take your antihistamine? Don’t eat at any of those fancy restaurants. You know what could happen.”
    “Yes, mom. I won’t eat any shellfish or peanuts and I’ll be sure to stay away from bees.” She took her mom’s hand. “I’ll be fine.”
    “I’ve almost lost you four times.” Her mom’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re our only child.”
    Oh boy! Here we go again. “Mom, it’s only two weeks. I’ll be back before you know I’m even gone.”
    “You were a preemie and a sickly baby.” She’d only heard this a million, make that a billion, times. “You were only three years old. A tiny, little girl. I should never have given you peanut butter on your toast.” She shook her head, her eyes had that glazed over look as she thought back.
    “Mom…it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know I was allergic. Just like it wasn’t your fault when I was stung by a bee at seven and again at twelve.”
    Bees loved her. They gravitated towards her and it was like they could smell her fear because they would sting her with zero provocation. She’d been stung numerous times over the years. Thankfully she always had an EpiPen at the ready. Never left home without one. So far, so good. They’d tested her for allergies after that first incident at three. She’d never tasted prawns, crabs or oysters but that couldn’t be helped. On the up side, she was still alive. The only downer was that she had never outgrown her allergies like some people normally did when they reach adulthood. She could still remember being forced to endure months of allergy shots in the hopes of building an immunity. A fruitless endeavor.
    She looked her mom deep in the eye. “Please, don’t worry,” she said, squeezing her mom’s hand reassuringly.
    Her mom nodded, the older woman’s lip wobbled. “Okay, dear. Be sure to phone and to write.”
    “I’ll try...” She was not allowed to have contact with the outside world during the duration of her stay. Several planned abductions of some of the female participants had occurred and the organizers of The Program didn’t want a repeat. After hearing the full explanation, Amber could understand the precautions. “It might not be possible with the time difference.” It was a weak excuse but what the hell could she tell them?
    “Call anytime, sweetheart. Day or night,” her dad chimed in.
    “I’ll do my best,” she said, looking at the floor. Amber hated lying to her folks like this. They were smothering but they meant well.
    “Just promise us that you’ll look after yourself and that you won’t leave your hotel without your meds.” Her dad frowned so hard that his face shrunk.
    “I’ll be careful. You’ve got my list of instructions for the store?”
    Her father nodded. “Yeah and the temp you organized arrives tomorrow. We’ll be fine…just take care of yourself. We love you.”
    “I know, dad. I love you both very much. Please try and understand that I need to live my life. I need to do this.”
    Her dad huffed. “We’ll try even though we are still struggling to understand it all.”
    “We’ll miss you, honey.” Her mother pulled her into a hug.
    Amber hugged both her parents one more time and then walked away. Pulling the suitcase behind