Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“I took it from her when I visited her at lunch this afternoon.” Amelia’s frown lines ran deep, each one a symbol of how much she disliked the world. “I saw her reading it and asked about it. She shouldn’t have it at school. She shouldn’t have it at home. It’s the equivalent of watching television.”
Daphne grabbed the book from Amelia, shocked that she would take it from Lou. “That wasn’t yours to take. She can read what she likes in her spare time. She works hard, and she gets to relax, too.”
A brow rose over Amelia’s eyes. “I thought we were on the same page when it came to Louisa’s education. I know you can’t understand because you aren’t on the same level as your daughter, but she has special needs. I’ve raised one child with a genius-level IQ. You should listen to my advice. I would hate for Louisa to not reach her full potential.”
How many times had she heard this argument? Lou shouldn’t be allowed to watch television that wasn’t an educational program. Lou shouldn’t hang out at the bakery because she might eat too much sugar. Don’t go on a vacation that didn’t include historical and cultural enrichment. “Her potential goes beyond merely her education. There’s more to life than good grades.”
Amelia picked up her handbag again. “That’s not the agreement we’ve had for several years, and certainly not what Dennis would think. Louisa’s grades and education are paramount to her future. If we don’t agree on something as basic as this tenet, then perhaps we should reevaluate our relationship. Why don’t you think about it for a few days, dear.” She turned and started for the door. “I’ll have a list of approved free-time reading for Louisa next week. Don’t forget that this was what you signed up for when we agreed to pay for Louisa’s education.”
“She was five then. She’ll be a teen in a couple of months,” Daphne argued. “We can’t tell her what to do every minute of the day. How will she learn how to make decisions if she’s never allowed to decide?”
“She’ll learn to make proper decisions based on the ones we make for her. Her brain isn’t developed enough to understand what she needs. Perhaps you need to find a friend who is versed in neurology, or you should educate yourself, Daphne.” She started for the door. “By the way, I’m going to be chaperoning the trip to Austin since you feel you cannot.”
“I have to work.” She had two weddings that weekend. “There will be teachers there. We have to trust her at some point. She’s trying to fit in, and having her grandmother with her won’t help.”
She seemed to fit so well with the kids at the gulag.
She was never letting Amelia know she called her daughter’s after-school center the gulag because she found Kala Taggart strangely amazing. She was a fascinatingly weird kid who might end up being a supervillain. But hey, having a supervillain on one’s side couldn’t possibly be bad.
Lou was starting to find friends, and it wasn’t at the prestigious school Amelia paid for. But then she was sure Amelia wouldn’t think the Taggart kids and Brianna Dean-Miles were proper companions. She would never tell the woman that Lou was starting to think boys—especially one TJ Taggart—were worth her time.
Friends and boys were a distraction.
It had been a long time since Daphne had been distracted.
Amelia stared at her for a moment. “Well, I suspect she’ll learn to live with it. I’m certainly not going to send a twelve-year-old off alone to a strange city. Something’s going on with you, Daphne. Something I don’t like. You need to consider your daughter and what’s best for her or I will. Don’t forget who holds the purse strings.”
“You don’t ever let me forget that, Amelia.”
Sandy opened the door again, a worried look on her face. “A guy is out front. He says he’s from the city. An inspector.”
“I suppose you should deal with that.” Amelia turned and walked out the door.
Daphne took a long breath. Her day was far from over.
* * * *
“Okay, kiddo, I got to ask.” Boomer stirred the marinara sauce before glancing at the clock. Daphne had texted, and she should be up any time now. He’d put off the question as long as he could unless he was going to ignore Lou’s obvious upset. “Did something happen at school or did one of the kids do something they shouldn’t have?”
Lou’s head came up from her science homework. It was chemistry, and when he’d looked at the…whatever weird thing she was writing…he’d known his job tonight was simply feeding the child. If she needed help, he would have to call in another favor with Noelle. “No. They’re great.”
It seemed like it had been a rough day for the Carlton women. Daphne had called in tears, asking him to bring Lou back with him because she was stuck at work dealing with an emergency. Then Lou had been quiet the whole way back to his place. She hadn’t even smiled when she’d fed the pack their afternoon snacks.