The Summer of Our Discontent Read Online Free Page A

that the bearer of that gift didn’t have Leblanc blood pumping through her veins.”
    Bev looked at Rachel with disapproval. “You’re a grown woman. It’s time to put childish things aside. You need to let the grudge you have against Faith go.”
    “She’s still a tool. Today, she puffed up on me and demanded that I be nice to her sister. She’s lucky I didn’t tase her until the hair flew off the top of her head.”
    Bev rolled her eyes and removed a magnet from a piece of paper holding it to the fridge. “This is the camp confirmation. Kaycee wanted me to give it to you the minute you walked in. It’s all she and Sophie talked about while they had their snack. It would be nice if Sophie’s mom allowed her to go with Kaycee. Maybe if you told her that you were one of the chaperones, she’d let her go.”
    Camp Summer Sun was the highlight of Kaycee’s previous two summers. Two weeks of crafts, swimming, canoeing, and campfires were what she looked forward to all year. To have the new best friend along would be a slice of heaven. The confirmation form was still in Rachel’s hand when a woman walked into the backyard. It was easy to deduce that she was Faith’s sister. They both had the same hair color and build. Rachel hoped that they didn’t share the same personality.
    “Well, it’s time for me to meet Sophie’s mom. Wish me luck.”
    Bev kissed Rachel on the cheek. “I’m going. I still have your father’s dinner to prepare.”
    “Thanks, Mom.”
    “Remember, you’re an adult,” Bev said as she patted Rachel’s face.
    “With a Taser.”
    Bev laughed and tucked her purse under her arm. “Kiss Kaycee for me.”
    When Rachel walked into the backyard, Kaycee had the frog and was holding it up for Patty to see. Patty apparently was not a tomboy and shied away from the dangling legs of the brownish hostage. Her nails were painted coral to match the dress she was wearing. Shoulder-length brown locks barely moved at all because they’d been hair-sprayed into position. Rachel smiled. So far, Patty didn’t appear to be anything like her older sister.
    Kaycee spotted Rachel and raced over. “Momma, look at Kip. Isn’t he big? Sophie caught him in the ditch, and she says there’re more. Can I go with her to get a friend for him?”
    Rachel knelt down and took Kip with a smile as she kissed Kaycee. “He looks lonely and very hot. Could you imagine being taken out of your favorite ditch away from your friends and tadpoles, then being put in a stuffy old box?”
    “We put in some grass and a whole lot of bugs,” Sophie said as she joined them.
    “Hi, Sophie,” Rachel said with a grin. “A girl has to be super-fast to catch a fine frog like this. I’m really impressed.”
    “I got down like this.” Sophie squatted in a pounce position. “And I sat there for a long time until his head came out of the water, then I just jumped in.”
    “Yeah, I can tell,” Patty said as she walked up. “I’m Patty Cambre . I hope you don’t mind that I just walked over.”
    Rachel handed the frog back to Sophie and stood, wiping her hand on her pants. “I’m glad you did, it’s very nice to meet you. I’m Rachel Chauvin, and I’m thrilled that Kaycee finally has someone to play with who shares her common interest in dirt and bugs.”
    “She did not get that from me,” Patty said as she watched the girls. “Kaycee is all Sophie has talked about. Mrs. Roland, her sitter, said it was all she could do today to keep her from coming over here before Kaycee got home.”
    “I assure you that Kaycee is equally enamored. Sophie’s welcome anytime.”
    “I’m so relieved she has someone close by to play with.” Patty met Rachel’s eye when she said, “She’s my only one, and I’m very protective. I grew up here, but I’ve been away for a long time, I don’t really know who we’re surrounded by. Faith doesn’t have kids, so she’s not really mindful of threats if you know what I mean.”
    Rachel