Found and Lost Read Free Page A

snarky? Who did Khloe think she was talking to, her mother? Violet jumped up and planted hands on hips. And gosh, she must look kind of motherly.
    â€œI’m not stupid, Khloe.”
    Khloe tried to glare but instead ducked her head. She scooted back on the bed and pressed against the wall.
    â€œSo?” Violet said. “Where was he really?”
    â€œI wish he was cheating on her. I wish he was cheating and lying and … and robbing banks.”
    A chill breathed over Violet. She crossed the room and reached for Khloe’s right hand with her left. Their charm bracelets clinked. Together.
    â€œOkay.” Khloe sucked in a breath. “Vi, you know Dad goes to our church.”
    Of course she knew. He drove them every Sunday.
    â€œWell, um, Elysium isn’t the only church he goes to.”
    For a stupid moment, Violet didn’t get it. Having two churches was a little weird, and there weren’t many others in the area, but there were a few. Maybe he liked to hear various speakers. Then understanding smacked her in the face.
    Clay’s other church wasn’t a real church.
    â€œYeah,” Khloe whispered. “That’s where he was. One of their meetings. Dad’s … a Christian.”
    No way. He wasn’t.
    Or maybe he was. Maybe knowing him for two-thirds of her life didn’t mean Violet really knew him. Her legs rubberized. Maybe she should sit.
    Oh, come on. Of course she knew him, and he wasn’t dangerous or violent or even harmlessly demented. “Khloe, are you sure?”
    Khloe scuffed her small foot along the bed frame. “He’s been bugging Mom to go with him. And me.”
    Uncle Clay. Not related by blood, and usually just Clay in her head now (though she’d probably always call him Uncle to his face). He couldn’t be a Christian. He was too normal. Too safe.
    Khloe buried her face in her knees. “They meet on Thursdays. Eleven at night. They can’t meet in daylight like a real church, of course. And Mom says … we, um … we’re going.”
    Violet’s spine prickled. “No way, Khloe, you have to tell her no.”
    â€œShe used to worry about him, but he’s been going for like a year now and nothing’s happened. She says if we go one time, maybe he’ll get it out of his system.”
    Wait a minute. A year? “You haven’t reported him in a year ?”
    Khloe’s gaze snapped back up. “Report him? Why in the world would I?”
    â€œHe needs help. Good grief, Khloe, he’s your father.”
    â€œExactly.”
    â€œWhat, re-ed? You can’t just ignore—”
    â€œCall me selfish, but I’m not going to re-ed. So he’s not, either.”
    Violet’s thumb found the silver bracelet around her left wrist and rubbed her starfish charm like a genie lamp. Khloe had a point. She was a minor. She’d get slapped with automatic re-education, as if she were seven, not seventeen. As if she couldn’t recognize dangerous beliefs.
    Re-education would destroy Khloe’s senior year. Her GPA. Her life.
    And good grief. It was Clay. Violet didn’t need to report him. He was harmless.
    Christians aren’t harmless.
    â€œOkay, at least tell me you’re not going to that meeting.”
    Khloe’s lip wobbled. “Trust me, I’d rather have a hundred MRIs. If I get caught … gosh, can’t you just hear me? ‘My dad dragged me here, I’m not a Christian, honest.’ The con-cops will be like, ‘Yeah, right, little girl.’”
    â€œWould your dad take me with you?” The words popped out of Violet’s mouth before she tried them on, but yeah, they fit. Khloe shouldn’t be stuck in this alone.
    Khloe’s green eyes lit. “Really?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œOh, Violet, I’d owe you … my life, or something.”
    â€œNah. Besides, you’d come with me. If it was my