Tale of Life (Essence Series #2) Read Free Page A

awkward silence stretched for a long time and became more uncomfortable the longer Beatrice sat at the table. Calloway waited for her to address the reason why she was here but she remained silent.
    “So, are you enjoying To Kill A Mockingbird ?” Calloway asked. He knew it was a lame question but he didn’t know what else to say. It was his greatest fantasy to talk to Beatrice but now that it was happening, he didn’t know what to do.
    “Well, I already read it and I really enjoyed it. I don’t mind reading it again.”
    “Do you read as a hobby?” Calloway asked.
    “Yes,” she said. “Other than taking photographs, it’s my favorite pastime.”
    “It’s not shopping with your girlfriends or driving around in Hawk’s jeep?” Easton asked coldly.
    Calloway glared at Easton then turned back to Beatrice. “Just ignore her—she’s just in a bad mood.”
    “And I wonder why,” Easton said.
    Calloway ignored her. “How were your holidays?”
    “Good,” she said. “How were yours?”
    “Great,” Calloway said. “The holidays went by too fast.”
    “I’ve had enough of this,” Breccan said. “What’s going on? Why are you here, Beatrice?”
    She shifted her weight and looked uncomfortable by the question. “I just wanted to have lunch with Calloway,” she said. She stared at him for a moment then glared at him. “If that’s okay with you, Your Highness.”
    “Yes, it is,” Calloway answered before Breccan could speak. “You are welcome to sit with us.”
    “Thank you,” she said. “What are you doing today after school?”
    “I have to work,” Calloway answered. “You know, save the world one sandwich at a time.”
    Beatrice laughed and Calloway was mesmerized by the sound. He never heard her laugh before. “You feed the hungry and the poor,” she said.
    “Well, I don’t know about the poor part.” He laughed. “Those sandwiches are pretty expensive. The only reason why I eat them is because I work there.”
    “Yes, they are pricey,” she said. “I like their food though. It’s my favorite sandwich place.”
    “Of course it is,” Breccan said sarcastically.
    Calloway took a deep breath and ignored his cousin. Beatrice reached into her backpack and withdrew a bag of cookies. She ate one then put the rest on the counter. “You are welcome to have some,” she said.
    Breccan’s eyes widened as he stared at the chocolate chip cookies on the table. “Are those homemade ?”
    “Yes,” Beatrice said. “My grandma makes them—they are really good.”
    Breccan grabbed the bag and ate one. Easton glared at him. “You are such a traitor.”
    Calloway smiled at his cousin then turned back to Beatrice. “That was well played.”
    “I didn’t realize your cousin was such a lover of cookies,” Beatrice said as she watched him shovel the food into his mouth.
    “He isn’t,” Calloway said. “He’s a lover of food . He’ll eat the food right out of a homeless man’s hand.”
    “Now you’re just lying,” Breccan said as he wiped his mouth.
    Calloway turned back to Beatrice and shook his head. Beatrice laughed as she watched him. When the bell rang overhead, Breccan had eaten all the cookies in the bag—there were a dozen.
    Beatrice smiled at him. “Did you like them?”
    “Is your grandma a master baker?” Breccan asked.
    “No.” Beatrice laughed. “She’s just a grandma.”
    “I thought you liked my cookies,” Easton said to him.
    “I do,” Breccan said. “But those were Christmas cookies. These are chocolate chip cookies.”
    Easton shoved her belongings in her backpack then stormed away, leaving the library without a backward glance. Breccan watched her go with a confused expression. “What just happened?” He rose from his chair and followed her out the door.
    “Are they an item?” Beatrice asked.
    Calloway shrugged. “I don’t know what they are. Sometimes I think they might kill each other and other times they are sweetest couple in the world. I