Cumberland (Not A Dream Book 1) Read Free Page A

place.”
                  “Sounds good, just follow me.”
                  We were about to leave and she pointed in my car, “You took Karate?”
                  I looked back in my car and seen my black belt, and smiled, “Yeah. How about you?”
                  “Ha-ha, no. I took Tae Kwon Do. My parents said it is a necessity in life for a woman to know how to defend herself in this day-and-age.”
                  “My grandfather says the same thing.”
                  We giggled for a bit and I noticed a guy our age walk over to the vehicle next to mine. He stared at me with his perfect emerald eyes as his brown wavy hair became soaked from the rain. His porcelain colored skin seemed to defy the wetness of the rain. He made my heart pound with the rain as he continued to eye me.
                  I didn’t want to break his gaze, but I couldn’t help but ask Olivia, “Who is that?” But I had to turn away so he knew I was not talking about him. She looked over my shoulder and said, “That is Mason Bridges. He started school here today.”
                  “I don’t remember seeing him,” I shook my head.
                  “He is in the same classes we are both in. Are you okay? I had seen you hit your head on the steering wheel, did you hit it that hard?” She laughed. I just shook my head as I turned back to face him, but his car was already gone.

Chapter Three
     
    Olivia had arrived at my house with me. I invited her in nervously, and she graciously walked in. She stopped and sniffed the air, “What is for dinner?”
                  I looked down at my folded hands and stammered shyly, “I am not sure. I have to cook dinner still.”
                  “Why don’t your parents cook instead?” she asked bluntly.
                  A pain of sadness stabbed me through my gut as I peered over to my parents’ wake invitations hanging up in two heart shaped frames that scribed, ‘ We Will Forever Love You’ . Olivia followed my gaze and immediately apologized, “Oh my gosh! I am so sorry. I didn’t… I mean, I…”
                  Stopping her from any more embarrassment, and while forcing a smile, I said, “It is fine. You didn’t know.”
                  I walked in the kitchen and quickly whipped up an Italian style dinner. Olivia must have been starving, because every five minutes she would ask, “Is dinner done yet?” Then I would answer back, each time, “Almost.”
                  Right as I finished prepping the dinner table, Carolyn and her twin daughters strolled in looking at Olivia as if she were a ‘ commoner’ . Carolyn quickly snapped at me, “Did I say you could have visitors?”
                  My grandpa walked into the dining room and matched her tone of condescendence, “I did. She needs to have friends at this age. They are the best you can find, when this young.”
                  Carolyn tilted her head back to chortle, “Friends? Ha.” She, and her daughters took their seats and Carolyn held out her hand towards Olivia, “Please, take a seat while Milly serves us our dinner.”
                  Olivia looked at me concerning and sat down with what seemed to be with hesitation. I nodded and said, “Thanks for joining us, Olivia. Dinner will be served shortly.”
                  I walked back into the kitchen and brought out the dinner. I walked around the table and served Carolyn first, then Holly and Molly, my grandpa, Olivia, and then myself. I took the seat next to Olivia and watched my grandpa look at her curiously.
                  He asked, “Olivia, right?” She nodded. “Do you like stories?” He grinned as she nodded again, but with excitement.
                  Carolyn, had then, rudely interrupted him, “No