Damaged: A Violated Trust (Secrets) Read Online Free Page B

your girl for dinner.”
    He nods. “Well, I suppose you’re right. But there’s more than two, Estelle.”
    “But they roll up the sidewalks by eight. And there’s only one movie theater and — ”
    “At least it’s a quad,” he shoots back.
    “With pathetic movies.”
    “Well, I’ve heard good things about the schools in this one-horse town. Haley should appreciate that.” Dad glances at me.
    Estelle gets a slightly wistful look now. “Yeah, Mitchell High is pretty good for a high school.” She sighs as she forks into her eggs. “I had some good times there.”
    “When did you graduate?” I ask, hoping I’m not too obvious. But, seriously, I want to know — how old is she? In some ways, she doesn’t seem much older than me.
    She narrows her eyes slightly, like she’s summing me up or perhaps offended by my question. “About ten years ago,” she tells me evenly, almost with a challenge in her tone.
    “Oh. Do you think it’s changed much since then?” Hopefully this will smooth over my slightly impertinent question.
    She shrugs. “I doubt it. My little brother goes there, and whenever I attend an event, it seems pretty much the same.”
    “So did you get all your classes online like I told you to do?” Dad asks me.
    “I think so.”
    “I took care of all your fees and things,” he says. “So you should be all set for Monday.”
    “Are you nervous about a new school?” Estelle asks.
    Now I shrug. “I guess so.”
    “Hey, I should introduce you to Buck.”
    I frown. “Buck?”
    “My baby brother.”
    Dad laughs. “Baby brother just doesn’t sound right when you’re describing Buck Anderson.” He looks at me. “Buck is six foot four and outweighs me by a long shot.”
    “He’s a defensive linebacker,” Estelle explains. “And Mitchell has a really good football team this year.”
    “This town is big into football,” Dad tells me.
    I let out a groan.
    “Hey, you were acting like you liked it last night when we watched the Raiders game from last week.”
    “Wasn’t that a great game?” Estelle says.
    With them discussing the Raiders game, I take my empty plate to the sink, rinse it, and place it in the dishwasher. I consider offering to clean up, but they seem to be lingering, and suddenly I feel even more out of place. “Thanks for breakfast, Estelle. It was nice to meet you, but I want to go catch up on some e-mails. Excuse me.”
    She smiles. “Someone raised you right, Haley.” She elbows Dad. “I guess it wasn’t you.”
    Dad lets out a moan.
    “Actually, Dad was around for most of my life,” I tell her. “It’s only been three years since the divorce.”
    Estelle looks surprised. “Just three years?” she questions Dad.
    “Well, the marriage was over long before that. But, yes, the divorce was about three years ago.”
    Now I excuse myself again and this time I leave. As I walk to my room, I realize that Estelle is probably closer to my age than to Dad’s. And math isn’t even my strong subject. I close the door to my room and sit at my computer, but the truth is I don’t have e-mail to check. Most kids my age don’t use e-mail. They text. But then they have cell phones. And that reminds me of something. So after about thirty minutes, I go back out and find them cleaning up. I offer to help, but they’re nearly done.
    “Dad?” I begin carefully.
    “Yeah?” He’s pouring himself a last cup of coffee.
    “I don’t have a cell phone and I’m wonder—”
    “You don’t have a cell phone?” Estelle looks shocked. “Seriously?”
    I shake my head no.
    “Haley’s mom is, well, shall I say a bit conservative.” “
    You’re sixteen, right?” Estelle is looking at me like I’m an alien.
    “Yes.”
    “Have you ever had a cell phone?”
    Again with the shake of the head.
    “Do you know how to drive?” she asks.
    “My mom wasn’t comfortable with that either.”
    Estelle gives my dad an incredulous look. “What is wrong with your ex-wife,