Blended Hearts #2 (An Interracial Stepbrother Romance Book) Read Free

stomach stapled before the end of the year.

 
    CHAPTER
3
    Going home that night, I
chose to walk part of the way until I saw the regular bus drive past me. I
caught the next one and was glad to have made it after Daniel got home.
    Mom was in the kitchen
preparing dinner when I opened the back door.
    “Hi, sweetie,” she said
loudly to make sure I heard her. “How was your day?”
    Much against my desire to
run up to my room, I made a ninety degree turn into the kitchen and plopped
down at the table.
    “I have to say it wasn’t
too bad. Really. I’d wish they didn’t cram all of the classes I hate most on
Monday morning, though. Can you imagine three hours of math, physics and
political history?”
    Mother turned around from
the sink, wiped her hands on the nearest dishcloth and came to sit across from
me. “I can’t imagine, no. Those are a little out of my league, truth be told
dear, but I suppose if you want to get to college or anywhere in life – that’s
to say if you want to have a choice – you need to be exposed to these courses.
So you’d know which you hate and which you might enjoy when it comes to a
career choice.”
    My mother was a wise
woman. I always had to admire her for that sagacity of hers. I don’t really
know where she got it from, because she just went to high school (and nothing
as sophisticated as it is today) and then went to work for a department store.
Her paycheck wasn’t bad and she really had no more education afterward. Yet,
she was the one with the owl on her shoulder – the Wizard of my OZ. And today,
although I still had no intention of revealing what happened over the weekend,
I was glad she was there for me.
    I got up, smiled at her
and went to plant a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll remember that next Monday.
Thanks for the pep-talk, Mom,” I added, taking my bag off the table and making
my way up the stairs.
    I felt better.
    It was only when I got to
the upper landing that I realized I was no longer alone with my mother in this
big house – Daniel lived next door to me.
    He must have been
studying with his earphones on because I didn’t hear a sound coming out of the lion’s den , for which I was glad.
    I plopped down on my bed
as soon as I had dropped my books and bag on the desk. I was tired. Going to
sleep at 2:00 a.m. after a session like the one Daniel and I had the previous
night was taking its toll on me.  

 
    After an hour of
reviewing my notes, I felt as if someone had opened the tap somewhere in my
brain and had emptied it from its content. I needed to get some food in me
before I passed out. Fortunately, it was nearly six o’clock and dinner would be
on the table in a few minutes. Even when there was only mother and me; we
always tried to have dinner at six. It was a time to talk, but no more. Not in this family , anyway. It was a time for
me to shut up, grin and bear it. I didn’t really care if Daniel was downstairs
already; I was not to care what he did, was I? Easier said than done,
unfortunately.
    As I opened the door of
my room, guess who was waiting for me standing by the banister?
    “Hungry?” Daniel asked. A
smile was plastered on his lips.
    “Yes,” I answered,
stepping in front of him and rushing down the stairs.
    As we reached the dining
room, Richard was standing by the head of the table, looking at us both.
    “Come on, guys, let’s sit
down,” he said, as Mom came in with a large dish of what looked like lasagna. I don’t believe it! Is she trying to sweeten
the pot so I talk to her? She knows I love Italian. And lasagna is way up
there on top of my list of favorites.
    “Wow honey, that’s smells
like another winner,” Richard said taking a seat, same as we did.
    “Yes Janice, that looks
like it will hit the spot,” Daniel rejoined, smiling at Mom.
    “Would you mind getting
the salad, Madison?” Mom asked.
    I nodded and got up from
my seat as Mom sat down and began cutting squares out of the dish for everyone.
    When I got