Dream Weaver (Dream Weaver #1) Read Free Page A

credit. At least he waited until after dinner to start in on me.
                  “So, how is school going?” he asked, nonchalant, as though he had no other agenda. More of his head-shrink coming out.
                  “I’m doing my classes online, Uncle Adrian,” I said, and struggled not to sound too snarky. “I take a PE class in town at Shadle with Ivy and I’m almost caught up from the classes I missed after…” I choked on the words—after Mom and Dad died. Everyone was silent for a few moments. No one really wanted to talk about the crash and how much we missed them. Adrian and Celeste both knew how I felt; that I cornered the market on the most profound grief.
                  “I know the courts have legally granted you an Emancipation of a Minor…” Adrian began.
                  “Then don’t go there,” I warned him. The least he could do was give me some credit; at least I wasn’t throwing wild parties in my home or sleeping with boys, taking every advantage of my freedom. At least, despite my depression, I wasn’t slipping into the world of drugs. I’d even flushed the ‘good’ drugs he brought me.
                  “With everything going on at work with you—and that house is so far out, so secluded…we worry, Emari.”
                  “‘That house,’” my words were low and clipped, “was willed to me. It was the last thing Mom and Dad gave me.”
                  “That doesn’t mean you have to live there now,” he protested. Celeste sighed, painfully aware of the outcome of this conversation. “Maybe in another year, six months,” he amended when the protest formed on my lips. “Once you’ve graduated and all of this stuff with this stalker has blown over…We’d just feel better if you were here with us. You’re so far away. We can’t keep you safe.”
                  “The truth is, Uncle Adrian, you can’t keep me safe anyway,” I rebutted. In my mind, that was almost true. My craftsman cottage, a half mile from my parents old home, was equipped with some of the best security alarms on the market. Not to mention the pastel pink stun gun/taser hidden beside my bed. I pushed off from the couch. “I’m tired. I have to drive ‘so far away.’ I’d better get going.” I’d lost my battle with the snark.
                  The Rovnikovs followed me to the door, biting back protests, knowing, legally, there was nothing they could do to stop me.
                  When my parent’s will was read, the Rovnikov’s were designated as my legal guardians, and I inherited all my parent’s assets to dispose of how I chose. All their worldly possessions; a significant bank account, valuable collections in their home and safety deposit box, a more-than-sufficient life insurance policy and investment properties that spanned the Eastern half of Washington state, were under my command. My cottage in Mead was the only thing specifically that wasn’t to be liquidated; they’d intended it to be a graduation present for me.
                  But, Adrian had forced my hand, and insisted I return to school. I just couldn’t face a ‘normal’ life with mean cheerleaders and cookie cutter kids yet. Besides, I was close enough to eighteen that the few short months didn’t matter.
                  So, I filed the paperwork and gathered my proof that I could take care of myself financially, set up my residence, insurance and online schooling to finish my diploma.
                  Adrian argued against me in court, but, much to his dismay, Celeste testified on my behalf. The disagreement still hovered over our relationship but my father had trusted Adrian with his life. The least I could do was entrust him with my mental health.
                  I pushed up on my tiptoes and kissed Adrian’s cheek. His arms engulfed me. “I