Unraveling Isobel Read Online Free Page A

deal. “Nathaniel can show you where the linens are kept, Isobel, so you can make up your bed. Now, you get settled, and your mom and I will rustle up some sandwiches for dinner. It’s been along day. Later we can play a round of Scrabble together.” Dick clapped his hands like he was a kindergarten teacher and it was activity time. My mom was giving him a tearful smile like she couldn’t believe how brave and caring he was being by letting me have the bedroom.
    Nathaniel and I stared at each other. I wasn’t sure where things had gotten so off track between us. Actually, we’d never really been on track. When I met him, I thought he looked rich, like when he was a baby his diapers had been cashmere. He came across as the kind of person who would never hang out with someone like me, and so far, that had proven to be the case.
    â€œLook,” I began, but before I could say another word, Nathaniel turned around and left, slamming the door behind him.
    â€œI’ll talk to him.” Dick followed him out, treating the door more gently.
    Now that we were alone, my mom shot me a look.
    â€œI didn’t do anything. Dick told me to pick out a bedroom.”
    â€œWould you please call him Richard?” My mom paced the room and then stopped to gaze out the window. “I know you’re not happy, but is it asking too much that you try to make this work?”
    â€œMom, this is my senior year—” I began.
    â€œThis is the beginning of the rest of my life,” she cut in. “Do you know how many things I put on hold for you? How much I sacrificed over the years? Now I have a chance to start over. We have a chance to start over. Having Richard as a stepfather is going to open doors for you, too. Can’t you give me one year of your life when I’ve given you seventeen?”
    I loved how she had this way of making my entire existence a burden to her when I hadn’t asked to be born in the first place. “You don’t believe me, but I’m doing the best I can. I’m here. I’m trying, but it’s hard. I don’t know anyone.”
    â€œYou know Nathaniel.”
    â€œNathaniel hates me,” I pointed out.
    â€œHe doesn’t hate you. He’s just having a hard time with all of this.”
    â€œWelcome to the party.”
    â€œNathaniel is sensitive because of what happened to his mom and sister.”
    â€œWhat did happen? Was it a car accident?” My mom had always been vague about how Dick’s first wife and Evelyn had died. It didn’t seem like the kind of thing I could ask a lot of questions about without coming across like an insensitive jerk. For some reason, with all the wedding planning there had never been a good time to bring up the dead first wife.
    â€œNo, it was a boating accident.”
    My knowledge of sailboats and yachts was pretty sketchy. All I could picture was some kind of Titanic -type incident, but there weren’t even any icebergs out here. What else could happen to a boat? Did it run into another boat? Isn’t the ocean big enough that they shouldn’t run into anything else?
    â€œWow.” I was at a loss for anything else to say. How did Nathaniel stand this house, with the sound of the ocean in the background like a constant reminder? No wonder the guy was edgy.
    â€œRichard says Nathaniel hasn’t been the same since the accident. He withdrew from his friends, quit the soccer team, and won’t talk about it with Richard no matter how hard he tries. He won’t even step foot on the boat.”
    â€œDick kept the boat?” My voice came out a little screechy, and my mom raised an eyebrow. “I mean, Richard still has the boat? Isn’t that weird?” By weird I meant disturbing as hell, and morbid, but I was trying to be more balanced in my communication style.
    â€œIf it were just any boat, that would be one thing, but it’s a handmade wooden sailboat