Capital Wives Read Free Page A

her twin. Jack was kind, gentle, but easily misled. He’d been arrested so many times for petty crimes that the local sheriff would lock him up for his own safety. Although Jack hadn’t been able to stay out of trouble he had become Bethany’s voice of reason. Whenever she needed someone to listen without passing judgment, Jack was there. Whenever she felt as if she was at her wit’s end, Jack was able to give her another perspective. When he’d told her that nothing or no one was worth her losing her freedom she’d thought about what he had gone through whenever he was locked up. The one time he’d admitted that another prisoner had sexually abused him, Bethany had cried for days. Then she’d called the sheriff to tell him if he had to lock up her brother, to please not put him in a cell with another prisoner. If the sheriff had been anyone but the boy who’d been homecoming king while she was his homecoming queen he would’ve hung up on her. She and Lenny Mortimer had dated during their last year in high school, and although many thought they would eventually marry Bethany knew differently. She’d sworn an oath when she’d received notification that she had been granted an academic scholarship to attend the University of Virginia that she would never return to Parkers Corner to live.
    â€œAre you serious about wanting to be homeschooled?” she asked Paige, who’d eaten half her omelet before setting down her fork.
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œHave you spoken to your father about it?” Paige nodded. “What did he say?” Bethany asked, continuing with her questioning.
    â€œHe said I would have to talk to you.”
    Pale eyebrows lifted a fraction. “Why me?”
    A hint of smile played at the corners of Paige’s mouth. “Because you would have to be my teacher.”
    Bethany’s mouth opened and closed several times. “You’re kidding.”
    â€œNope. Who else did you think would teach me?”
    â€œI’m not a teacher, Paige.”
    â€œBut you did graduate college, didn’t you?”
    â€œYes, I did. But that still doesn’t mean I would be the best candidate to teach you chemistry, algebra and trigonometry.”
    Paige smiled. “That’s what teachers’ guides are for.”
    â€œThat’s where you’re wrong, Paige. I have enough to do when I check and help Abby and Connor with their homework. There’s no way I’m going to spend five hours a day teaching and tutoring you.”
    â€œWhat the hell else do you have to do all day?” Paige shouted. “You have someone come in twice a week to clean the house and do laundry. Miss Rodgers does everything else. So why can’t you become my teacher?”
    â€œBecause I am not a teacher.” Bethany had punctuated each word. “I majored in English and communications, not math and science.”
    â€œMaybe I should tell Daddy that you don’t want to homeschool me because I’m not your daughter.”
    â€œI don’t give a damn what you tell him. I’m not going to homeschool you when you’re enrolled in one of the best private schools in Virginia and—”
    Paige put up her hand, stopping Bethany’s tirade. “Daddy told me he’s going to talk to you about it.”
    Rising to her feet, Bethany glared down at the manipulative girl. There was nothing to talk about. She had no intention of homeschooling Paige when Damon spent what amounted to a small fortune for her tuition. If Paige had planned to come between her and Damon, then she wasfighting hard to make it a reality. As much as she loved her husband, Bethany had made up her mind to risk her marriage rather than be manipulated by a malcontent, rebellious and jealous adolescent.
    Leaning closer, she narrowed her eyes. “There is nothing to talk about.”
    Reaching over, Bethany picked up Paige’s plate and emptied the