The Keeneston Roses Read Free

bloom.”
    Daisy rolled her eyes and tugged Lily’s arm, but Lily felt her heart kick into overdrive. He called her his bloom. He must like her!

     

CHAPTER TWO
     
    Lily, Daisy, and Violet cut through the courthouse parking lot, climbed over their neighbor’s fence, and slipped through the hedge into their backyard. They raced to the back patio, set their books down, and breathed in deeply.
    “Hurry! I see her in the kitchen,” Daisy whispered.
    The girls sat down, opened their books, and tried to wipe the sweat from their foreheads before their mother opened the backdoor.
    “Oh, here you girls are,” their mother said sweetly. “What are you up to?”
    “Just doing our reading for school tomorrow.” Lily smiled up at her.
    “Well, we’re having lamb for dinner tonight. After all, you must be tired from running all the way from the drive-in after sharing a milkshake with that hooligan, Frank Shilling.”
    The three girls’ eyes went wide, and Lily felt her breathing stop. “Frank?” she asked innocently.
    “Yes, you know, the boy next door who is a vandal and always up to no good.”
    “Mom,” Lily said, “Frank is a nice boy.”
    Her mother made a noise that sounded something like a snort. “Lily, at some point you will need to wake up and realize your mother may know a thing or two about the world. Frank Shilling is bad news. If I thought you would do as I say, I would tell you to stay away from him. But, I know you better, and you would just sneak off behind my back and see him anyway. And that, young lady, is when you get into serious trouble. No, if you want to see him, you can. But it has to be here where we can keep an eye on the two of you.”
    “Mom, I’m almost eighteen. You can’t do this to me. It’s so embarrassing. Are you trying to ruin my life?” Lily cried as she jumped up to face her mother.
    “No, I’m trying to make sure you keep your good reputation. I know times have changed, but not that much. If he’s really the good boy you say he is, then he won’t mind doing it.”
    “Can I at least go to the dance with him on Friday?” Lily asked through clenched teeth. She couldn’t wait to make her own decisions.
    “Of course. Invite him over for dinner beforehand though. Maybe you’re right, and he really is a nice young man.” Her mother smiled as if that was the furthest thing from the truth.
    “Fine. I will, and I’ll show you that I am right.”
    “Lily Rae, it’s not about being right. It’s about doing anything you can to ensure the happiness of those you love. I’ll be thrilled if you are right and Frank falls in love with you. After all, true love is the greatest gift in the world.” Their mother smiled at them and turned back into the kitchen to unload the groceries.
    Lily looked out over the yard shaded by large maple trees and lined with colorful flowers. It was peaceful, bright, and happy. But all those fuzzy feelings were crushed as Violet spoke up.
    “Lil, what if Mom is right? He does run with a pretty bad crowd. Rex is repeating his senior year because he was suspended for half of last year. Is that really the kind of guy you want to go steady with?”
    “It’s not like Frank was part of what Rex did. He didn’t spray-paint the school. I won’t hold him accountable for something his friend did,” Lily said stubbornly.
    “I guess his dreaminess can make up for any deficiencies his friend has,” Daisy joked to break the tension.
     
    That Friday night Lily slid on her baby-doll shoes and tied a matching scarf around her ponytail—perfect for the dance. When the doorbell rang, she took one last look in the mirror and then raced down the large curving staircase.
    As she rounded the curve of the banister, she looked into the large square entranceway at Frank handing her mother a bundle of roses.
    “Thank you for inviting me to dinner, Mrs. Rose. I’ve smelled your cooking for years and have dreamt of this many nights, that’s for sure.”
    Lily