Sally Singletary's Curiosity (The Sally Singletary Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

She rose without saying a word, offering up a spot as she retreated into the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returned with steaming mugs of hot cocoa and handed one to Sally. They sat together with the view of the city at their backs, sipping the creamy warm beverage for a while without a word.
    “I started smoking again.” Her mother’s voice broke the silence like the crack of a whip.
    Sally jumped slightly. “I could tell.”
    “I’m sorry,” her mother replied.
    “It’s your life, Mom. I just had hoped that you’d be around long enough for me to enjoy it with you.” Sally sipped her hot chocolate.
    Her mother nodded. “I’ll quit again.”
    “You said that the last three times.” Sally sighed. She didn’t mean to be dismissive of her mother’s efforts; she just didn’t have much patience after everything that had happened.
    Her mother lowered her mug. “If you visit more, I promise I’ll quit for good.”
    Sally’s mug cracked against the glass table as she set it down. “Is that how it works now? You’re bribing me?”
    Her mother stared into her beverage as if she could pull words from its midst. “I just meant…”
    Sally sighed. “No, I’m sorry, Mom. I shouldn’t have said it like that. I’m just a bit on edge.”
    Her mother gave her a worried look.
    Needing to change the subject, Sally pulled the acceptance letter from her pocket.
    Her mother looked at it, slightly confused. Sally motioned for her to open it. She unfolded the piece of white paper, her eyes moving back and forth as she read the words on the page. “Oh, my goodness! Honey, I’m so proud of you!” She immediately leaned over and hugged Sally.
    They talked for a time about graduation plans, preparations for college, and visiting the campus, until a news story came on the television that distracted the conversation. A Republican senator had been chosen as running mate for the frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election.
    Sally rolled her eyes with disgust. “He’s actually going to be our vice president?”
    “The election is still a few months away,” her mother commented. “No matter what he’s done in the past, he’s still your father.”
    Sally scoffed. “Some father!”
    Her mother gestured around the apartment. “We have all these things because of him.”
    “What good are all these things when I don’t even know the man and can’t tell anyone who he really is?” Sally crossed her arms. “I wish I’d never found out about him.”
    Because of her obsessive curiosity as a child, Sally had discovered a letter that revealed the truth about her father and mother’s affair, the result of which was Sally. Her mother had been working as his secretary at the time, and after his wife found out, he fired her mother, but in exchange for their silence he made sure they were well taken care of; it was what allowed Sally to go to Hidden Lake School.
    Sally stared at the man on the TV with an angry expression. “If it weren’t for him, maybe things would’ve been better.”
    “Don’t say that,” her mother pleaded, her tone changed. “You’ve got a good life and a good education.”
    “Sometimes a kid needs more than that.” Sally changed the channel.
    Their conversations drifted on to other topics, lasting into the morning hours until Sally could hold her eyes open no longer. She told her mother goodnight and headed to bed. Her mother, as usual, turned up the television and took up residence on the couch. Sally yawned and dragged herself to her room when she noticed there was a message on her phone.
     
    [6:02PM: Hope ur doing okay. No news yet. I’ll try to get into Billy’s room tonight and hit up Lamb in the AM. Sleep tight.]
     
    Sally smiled, reading the words a second time until a new text appeared on her phone. Then her smile vanished.
     
    [2:45AM: You’re not gonna believe what I found.]
     
     

CHAPTER SIX
    YASIF WATCHED THE STATUS BAR slowly drift to the right as his text was