Brooklyn Love (Crimson Romance) Read Online Free

plant them all year long.” Suri stood as if she had not a care in the world and looked Rachel up and down. “Nice sweater. Why aren’t you wearing any makeup, sweetie?”
    “What?”
    “Lipstick, darling. You look so pale.”
    “I’m on my way to school. But what were you doing?”
    Suri waved a muddy hand, appalled. “Terrible attitude, Rachel. Terrible. You never know who’s looking. You should always look your best.”
    “I’m not my best?”
    “Please, darling, why would you want to ruin potential matches because you looked plain? You have what you have to work with. Make the most of it! Why be vulnerable to the yentas?” She meticulously wiped her hand with a handkerchief, clucking at her chipped, earth-stained fingernails.
    “Vulnerable? Suri, what was that with planting the potatoes?”
    Suri’s smile froze.
    “Suri, you, like, weren’t there. You frightened me.”
    “Why all these questions about me? It’s you I’m concerned about.”
    Rachel gently kicked a rock in the garden. “Look, Suri, I have to be going. I’ve got to get to school.”
    Suri’s eyes widened in horror. “Seriously? Without any makeup? Are you insane?”
    Rachel rolled her eyes. “I’m the insane one because I’m not wearing makeup?”
    Suri sniffed. “No need for dramatics.”
    Rachel kicked the rock again, harder. What was wrong with this family? No wonder Leah tried to stay away from her aunt.
    Suri shook her head. “Really, Rachel, you must put your best foot forward.”
    “Suri, I really have to be going. I have a class at ten.” Rachel began walking toward the house.
    Suri grabbed her arm. “Look, I told your mother about this boy. He’s wonderful, a real catch! His name is Daniel Gold. He’s a brilliant lawyer from Columbia University. In fact, he’s friends with Yossie and — ”
    “I’ll look into it,” Rachel replied. She wasn’t sure what she would think of a friend of Yossie’s. If this Daniel were one of Macy’s friends or even Aryeh’s, Suri’s middle son, then she would feel a little better. Aryeh worked with Hindy at the import/export business of her parents’ associate Harry Green, and he always seemed like someone she could trust. Besides, she had to find out what happened between Daniel and Leah before she agreed to anything.
    “Daniel checked you out already. Your rabbi gave a lovely recommendation — though you should know your eleventh grade history teacher thought you were airy.”
    “I am airy. But my high school history teacher? I didn’t realize she even knew my name!”
    Suri sighed. “Fine. Call me when you’re ready. No guarantee the boy will still be available, though. A catch like him will get snapped up soon.”
    Rachel leaned over to kiss Suri’s cheek. “Thanks, Suri.”
    “It’s only because I love you, mamale. I wouldn’t care otherwise.”
    “I know.”
    Rachel went back into the house, passing by Suri’s ornate gold-framed hallway mirror. As she waited for the maid to let her out, Rachel observed her pale reflection. Was Suri right? Would makeup change her all that much? She enjoyed playing with makeup — but it seemed that everybody wanted her to paint on the same face every other girl was expected to paint, too.
    The maid walked over to Rachel to let her out.
    “Thanks, Marissa,” Rachel said and gave her Suri’s book. Then she nodded toward the backyard, where Suri had resumed planting her invisible potatoes.
    “What’s with Suri today?” she asked.
    “Sorry, no speak English.” The maid smiled, looking a little frightened, and showed Rachel to the door.

CHAPTER THREE
    The metal doors of the packed subway train opened. Rachel landed in Manhattan, geographically a bit over twelve miles from her home in Brooklyn, though otherwise light years away.
    “Sorry. Excuse me. Pardon me.” Rachel repeated the mantra while she bumped into the other passengers, packed like sardines in a can.
    She walked eight blocks from the station to her school on