The Summer Solstice ~ Enchanted Read Free Page A

catches my eye and her
smile immediately softens my mood. How does she do that? I give
Charlotte a silent nod and tight smile before turning back towards Rose.
    “You have a beautiful home.” The words are hard to
produce but I’m sure she knows that this is anything but a home to me. I
stumble to unfold my napkin and place it on my lap. If there’s one thing my mom
taught me well, it’s proper manners.
    “Thank you, Katrina. I do hope that you will make
yourself comfortable. This is your home now too.”
    I nod my head, and look around me. How can one
person afford such nonessential items?
    Charlotte hurries toward me with a glass of orange
juice and a pitcher of water. Does she sense an awkward moment? She fills my
drink glasses and we greet each other. There’s an unspoken understanding about
my gratitude for her comfort last night.
    She places a warm hand on my back and smiles before
retreating to the kitchen.
    “So,” Rose begins, her smile growing, “you will
have the summer to adjust to things here and maybe get to know some people
before school starts up in the fall. I sincerely think you will feel at home in
no time.”
    Feeling at home here doesn’t seem possible. Not in
this strange mansion of a home. Not without my friends. Not without my mother.
I wonder if I’ll ever feel at home anywhere again. I don’t respond with my
actual thoughts. Instead, I give her the best smile I can muster. “I am glad I
have some time to adjust. What is there to do around here anyway?”
    Rose seems to brighten during our conversation.
Maybe she expected me to give her a hard time. “A lot of the teenagers spend
their time at the community center down the street. I’ll take you there this
week and you can see for yourself.”
    A community center? The term didn’t make me think
of “teenage hangout.” “What is there to do there?”
    “Everything,” Rose says with a look that tells me I
will be impressed. I decide to not press her with more questions. She’s not
exactly forthcoming with information.
    Charlotte chimes in now as she floats back to the
table empty-handed. “I’ll give you that tour we talked about when I get back
from town today. I figure you’ll be unpacking until then anyway.”
    I’m distracted by the food. I can’t remember the
last time I ate a home cooked meal. My foster family fed the household only
canned and frozen foods. “Thank you,” I say as my stomach rolls.
    Rose doesn’t look at her, but keeps her examining
eyes focused on me. “The tour would be great, but leave the den and the library
alone. Katrina and I will spend plenty of time there in days to come.”
    Something in Rose’s voice changed with the last
comment but I know better than to think more on it. I get the strange feeling
that Rose has an agenda for me and I’ll soon find out what that is.
    Rose looks up to Charlotte who is still hovering
over us ensuring we’re okay with food and drinks. “Dear, will you fetch me the
morning’s paper? And then please, eat something. You’re withering away under
those old clothes.” She is speaking to Charlotte now, then looks between
Charlotte and me. “I was thinking that you and Katrina could head into town and
shop around sometime this week. I’m sure you both could use some new –
items.”
    I look to Charlotte and then back to Rose. The last
thing I wanted was to take charity from my grandmother. I brought my entire
wardrobe from back home and didn’t think that I would need to go shopping so
soon.
    “Oh thank you Rose, but I’m okay with what I
brought. You don’t need to buy me anything.”
    “Nonsense, dear. You are not on vacation. You’ll
need some things for summer. And you’ll need to go into town anyway to get to
know the place. I would take you myself but my week is packed with events.”
    The thought of spending my grandmother’s money is
unsettling. Maybe I need to get a job. I’d never had one before, but now seems
to be the perfect time. I