Family Ties Read Online Free Page A

moved in to stop the cookie theft. “I don’t think so.”
    “But Andie---”
    Andie hunkered down in front of Chloe so she could look the child straight in the eye. “How was school today, honey?”
    Chloe eyed the cookie tray. “Okay.”
    “Did anything bad happen?” Andie pressed. After six months with Chloe she’d figured out that the little girl’s method of coping with stress was to eat.
    Chloe shook her head. “No.” She picked up a cookie and took a bite. “Except Gordon and Arnold wouldn’t listen to the story.”
    “Oh?”
    “No.” Chloe’s voice grew very soft. “Mrs. Sherwood had to yell at them to make them be quiet.”
    “I see.” Chloe’s background was something of a mystery, but there must have been some violence in it since raised voices and confrontation bothered her so much. “Well, too many cookies will give your poor dolls a stomach ache. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”
    Chloe’s little brow furrowed as she considered that. Finally she shook her head. “No.”
    “How about if they all share one big cookie?” Andie chose one of the larger cookies, ceremoniously broke it into three pieces and arranged them on Chloe’s plate. “How’s that?”
    Chloe studied it for a moment. “Okay, I guess.” She picked up the plate and toddled off, her blond curls bouncing behind her.
    Andie straightened and was just turning back to her baking when Bonnie clattered down the stairs and wandered into the kitchen. “Have you seen my science textbook?” she asked as she chose a cookie off the plate. “It’s blue with black lines and a picture of something exploding on the front.”
    Andie paused to consider it. “I don’t think so.”
    “Oh.” Bonnie didn’t look particularly concerned. “Well, I guess it must still be packed.”
    “If it is, then it’s in your room. I unpacked pretty much everything else today.” She’d accomplished a lot today, Andie decided with a small feeling of triumph. Not only had she managed to deal with most of the boxes, she’d also mixed up this batch of cookies, all with Jamie right beside her every step of the way. “I’m sure you’ll find it when you finish unpacking tonight.”
    Bonnie shrugged. “I can’t unpack tonight. I’m going out.”
    Chloe returned to the kitchen, carrying the empty plate. “Can we have just one more cookie?”
    “Okay but nothing more until supper time.” Andie broke another cookie into pieces while focusing on Bonnie. “Who are you going out with?”
    To her surprise Bonnie’s face colored. “Some friends.”
    Andie set the pieces on Chloe’s plate. “What friends?”
    “MY friends.” Bonnie snapped. “It is okay for me to have friends, isn’t it?”
    Andie’s temper rose in response to Bonnie’s belligerent tone. Teenagers can be difficult. Teenagers can be difficult. “It’s great that you have friends. But it is a school night, I’m sure you have homework—”
    “Not that much.”
    Jamie slid off the sofa and crossed the room to press himself against Andie. She put a hand on his head. “And there are exams coming up...”
    Bonnie’s voice rose. “They’re weeks away. What’s the big deal? Don’t you want me to have any fun?”
    From the corner of her eye, Andie saw Chloe following the conversation, her head turning as she looked from Andie to Bonnie, then back again. This conversation was upsetting both of the younger children. Hey, it was upsetting Andie as well. “Of course I want you to have fun but I want you to do well in school too. And as your mother...”
    “You’re NOT my mother.”
    Andie drew in a few deep breaths. She best get used to this. She had three other kids to get through teenagerhood. “No, you’re right, I’m not. But I am responsible.” The back door banged shut. Probably Billy coming in for more cookies, Andie thought distractedly while she searched her mental textbooks for advice on how to handle the situation. Choose your battles. Was this really