The Other Child Read Online Free Page B

had convinced her she could do it alone?
    “It’s ours, Mom,” Leslie breathed in her ear. “Isn’t it beautiful? I can hardly wait to pick out my room and start putting everything away!”
    Something in her daughter’s voice made Karen smile in spite of her ill humor. Leslie was so eager to get started. She wasn’t a bit worried about all the work that had to be done. They had a house. That was all Leslie cared about.
    Karen’s smile grew wider. Leslie had a point. They did have a house and it was beautiful. It wouldn’t be that difficult to get settled if they all pitched in. Leslie would be a big help and she could count on Mike to lend a hand, because he’d be working at home. And think of what they’d have when they finished! Leslie was absolutely right—the house was a dream, and it was all theirs. They had signed the papers for $23,500, and it was on a Contract for Deed. All their friends told them they had made a really good deal.
    “It really is beautiful.” Karen grinned at her daughter. The house was lovely . . . just waiting for her to restore it to its full beauty, inside and out. She’d take it room by room, and before she knew it, everything would be just fine.
     
     
    Two hours later Karen still hadn’t found the aspirin. She knew it was in a box somewhere, but they all looked the same. If she had to look through one more box, she’d scream. Her headache was pounding and her stomach rumbled uneasily.
    “Is there anything to eat, Mom?” Leslie stepped over cartons of cooking utensils to peer anxiously at her mother. “I’m starving and Mike says he is, too.”
    Karen pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead and sighed. The last thing she wanted to do right now was tackle the stack of boxes containing the foodstuffs. How on earth was she supposed to unpack everything and get lunch together on top of it?
    “I guess I’ll have to go to the store and pick up some sandwich fixings.” Karen gave Leslie a wan smile. “I think I need a little break anyway. I swear these boxes are multiplying faster than rabbits.”
    “I’ll drive you there,” Mike offered, appearing in the doorway. “Come on. Leslie can hold down the fort while we’re gone.”
    “I’ll pick out my room, Mom,” Leslie volunteered. “I’m through helping Mike unload the truck. Can I have any room I want?”
    Karen nodded. “Any one on the second floor, except the master bedroom. We’ll be back in a couple of minutes, kitten. Then we’ll both help you with your room.”
     
     
    Karen pushed the cart down the narrow aisles and picked items off the shelves at random, two bottles of aspirin to be on the safe side, a can of sardines for Mike, some peanut butter and grape jelly for Leslie, tuna packed in water and alfalfa sprouts for her. Now all she had to do was find the aisle with the bread and she’d be through.
    There were two women standing at the meat counter and Karen smiled in her friendliest manner. She could feel their eyes on her back as she passed by and snatches of their whispered conversation reached her ears.
    “Just bought the Appleton place . . . from Minneapolis . . . .”
    “Imagine appearing in public dressed like that! I don’t think they’re the kind of people . . .”
    Karen’s face felt prickly and hot as she hurriedly ducked down another aisle. She looked down at herself, perplexed. Her brief sundress was fashionable and her sandals were comfortable. The two women were wearing stockings and heels, but that was no reason to criticize her. There was nothing wrong with the way she was dressed. In the Cities a sundress on a hot day was standard attire.
    The woman at the checkout stand was friendlier. “You must be Mrs. Houston,” she said, smiling as she started to ring up the items in Karen’s basket. “I’m Janet Wilson and we own this supermarket. I hear from Rob Comstock that you folks are moving in today.”
    Karen smiled back. “That’s right, we are. And please call me