To Protect and Serve Read Online Free Page A
couch.
Nancy actually would have loved more color in the house, but Jonathon wanted all white. He called it “minimal.” She called it “boring.” However, he’d always had the last say in the house décor, mainly because she didn’t want to fight with him. She always
felt like she’d lost a couple of IQ points after an argument with Jonathon. She thought something made perfect sense, but he’d convince her otherwise and by the end of the fight, her head was spinning.
Nancy sighed as she sipped on the water. Oh, well. Maybe after she got her own place she could spruce it up a bit. She’d definitely add more color and texture. And some pictures on the walls!
Jonathon only allowed pictures on one wall in the upstairs hallway.
However, Nancy had persevered and gotten Jonathon’s agreement that the girls’ rooms were theirs to do with as they wanted. His only stipulations were “no paint other than white” and “no nails.”
So Nancy took the girls shopping and they found armfuls of posters that covered every square inch of wall space, attached by miles of tape.
The girls also had brightly colored bedspreads, pillows and throw rugs that accented the light beige Berber carpet that covered most of the floors in the house. The rest of the floors were done in light wood and white tiles. Clean, but uninspiring.
“When did I change?” Nancy tried to think back on if the change in her was subtle or if it happened overnight. Being a drama teacher, Nancy was anything but staid. For gosh sakes she used to belly dance at the Renaissance Faire! She loved color in her clothing and surroundings. She used to have tons of jewelry. Her ruby ring and pearl necklace used to be jumbled in her jewelry box right next to a huge assortment of costume jewelry. Nancy didn’t care if the jewels were real or not. She bought jewelry if it was bright and artistic. Now her jewelry consisted of a pair of pearl and gold stud earrings, her wedding band, and her grandmother’s ¼ carat diamond necklace. Much more in line with Jonathon’s approval.
Her shoes had gotten more conservative, too. Nancy kept one pair of rhinestone studded ballroom dance shoes in the back of her closet and sometimes would pull them out and put them on just to see if they still fit. She’d given her toe shoes to Kate and all the rest of her collection to the Goodwill when they’d moved into this house. Jonathon didn’t want boxes and boxes of shoes cluttering the closet. Nevermind that they had separate closets and he didn’t have to see inside Nancy’s. “A cluttered house is a cluttered mind.”
Big sigh. Well, at least I’m definitely getting more oxygen .
Nancy finished her water and took the glass to the kitchen where she placed it in the top rack of the built in dishwasher. She took a paper towel and wiped down the counter – whether it needed it or not – and went upstairs to pack for her folk’s house. She hoped she and the girls would be gone by the time Jonathon arrived home.
CHAPTER 2
“It’s only been one week and already I feel like the typical kid of a divorced family!” Kate exclaimed as she jumped into the front passenger seat of Nancy’s 8-year old mini-van.
Nancy hid a grimace of guilt.
Their older girl, Kate was trying very hard to make the best of the situation. She sure
Nancy actually would have loved more color in the house, but Jonathon wanted all white. He called it “minimal.” She called it “boring.” However, he’d always had the last say in the house décor, mainly because she didn’t want to fight with him. She always
felt like she’d lost a couple of IQ points after an argument with Jonathon. She thought something made perfect sense, but he’d convince her otherwise and by the end of the fight, her head was spinning.
Nancy sighed as she sipped on the water. Oh, well. Maybe after she got her own place she could spruce it up a bit. She’d definitely add more color and texture. And some pictures on the walls!
Jonathon only allowed pictures on one wall in the upstairs hallway.
However, Nancy had persevered and gotten Jonathon’s agreement that the girls’ rooms were theirs to do with as they wanted. His only stipulations were “no paint other than white” and “no nails.”
So Nancy took the girls shopping and they found armfuls of posters that covered every square inch of wall space, attached by miles of tape.
The girls also had brightly colored bedspreads, pillows and throw rugs that accented the light beige Berber carpet that covered most of the floors in the house. The rest of the floors were done in light wood and white tiles. Clean, but uninspiring.
“When did I change?” Nancy tried to think back on if the change in her was subtle or if it happened overnight. Being a drama teacher, Nancy was anything but staid. For gosh sakes she used to belly dance at the Renaissance Faire! She loved color in her clothing and surroundings. She used to have tons of jewelry. Her ruby ring and pearl necklace used to be jumbled in her jewelry box right next to a huge assortment of costume jewelry. Nancy didn’t care if the jewels were real or not. She bought jewelry if it was bright and artistic. Now her jewelry consisted of a pair of pearl and gold stud earrings, her wedding band, and her grandmother’s ¼ carat diamond necklace. Much more in line with Jonathon’s approval.
Her shoes had gotten more conservative, too. Nancy kept one pair of rhinestone studded ballroom dance shoes in the back of her closet and sometimes would pull them out and put them on just to see if they still fit. She’d given her toe shoes to Kate and all the rest of her collection to the Goodwill when they’d moved into this house. Jonathon didn’t want boxes and boxes of shoes cluttering the closet. Nevermind that they had separate closets and he didn’t have to see inside Nancy’s. “A cluttered house is a cluttered mind.”
Big sigh. Well, at least I’m definitely getting more oxygen .
Nancy finished her water and took the glass to the kitchen where she placed it in the top rack of the built in dishwasher. She took a paper towel and wiped down the counter – whether it needed it or not – and went upstairs to pack for her folk’s house. She hoped she and the girls would be gone by the time Jonathon arrived home.
CHAPTER 2
“It’s only been one week and already I feel like the typical kid of a divorced family!” Kate exclaimed as she jumped into the front passenger seat of Nancy’s 8-year old mini-van.
Nancy hid a grimace of guilt.
Their older girl, Kate was trying very hard to make the best of the situation. She sure
Readers choose
Donna Fletcher
Meggan Connors
Theodore Taylor
Brenda Hiatt
Cheryl Bradshaw
Carol Firenze
Thomas Randall
Marlo Hollinger
Paul Tremblay