Heart of Gold Read Online Free Page B

schoolteacher.”
    â€œHello, Eli.”
    â€œHi, ma’am. You ever been to Henry Adams before?”
    â€œNo. Who’s Crystal?”
    â€œMs. Brown’s daughter. She ran away from home last night. Are you two ready to place your orders?”
    Diane gave him a smile. “Let me check out the menu for a minute.”
    He nodded and moved off. The smug triumph on Diane’s face warned Bernadine of the impending attack. Sure enough, her sister glanced up from the menu and asked, “Crystal’s the girl you adopted, right? And she ran away?”
    Bernadine nodded tightly.
    â€œI’m so sorry. You must feel like a terrible mother.”
    Bernadine turned her head to the booth side window and focused on the view of the street so she wouldn’t reach across the table and snatch her sister by the throat.
    Without looking up from the menu, Diane added, “All those foster kids are on drugs anyway, you know. Maybe it’s best that she’s gone. I certainly wouldn’t want that kind of drama in my home.” She picked up her water and sipped daintily.
    Bernadine decided a line needed to be drawn in the sand there and then. She asked quietly, “Is this the home that was foreclosed on, or the one-bedroom apartment Harmon threw you out of?”
    Diane choked and began coughing. Eyes frigid, Bernadine waited.
    Eli chose to return at that moment.
    â€œYou two ready?”
    â€œYes,” Bernadine replied, smiling falsely. “What are you having, sister?”
    Looking like a deer caught in poacher headlights, Diane quickly ordered a burger and fries. Bernadine had her usual. “The spinach salad with the house vinaigrette.”
    â€œComing right up,” he said, and left.
    Bernadine picked up her water. Everything about her body language dared her sister to say another word. Diane’s gaze went chasing off. Apparently she got the message.
    Bernadine’s phone buzzed. Praying it was Crystal, she quickly swiped it open. It was. Bordering on tears, her heart raced as she read: I’m ok. Don’t worry .
    Fingers fumbling excitedly, she typed, Please call so we can talk. I love you!!!
    Bernadine waited anxiously for a response. It never came.

C H A P T E R
    3
    A fter sharing a lunch of grilled cheese and tomato soup with Preston and Amari, Zoey helped the boys clean up and then remembered something. “Shoot. Devon and I are supposed to check the fish.” Each month their teacher, Mr. James, assigned a pair of students to maintain the school’s giant aquarium, and with all the drama surrounding Crystal, she’d forgotten. Technically Devon was supposed to help her, but apparently he’d forgotten as well. Since she’d had enough of his old-lady act for the day, she’d handle the task alone. While Amari turned on the big screen so the boys could resume their game, Preston handed her his lanyard with the key to the school attached on a ring, and she put it around her neck. “Are you going to be okay riding over there by yourself?” he asked.
    She nodded.
    â€œBe careful,” Amari added.
    Zoey laughed and drawled in her still-prominent Florida accent, “Y’all sound like my daddy.”
    â€œThat’s because if something happens to you, the first thing the adults are going to ask is, ‘Why’d you boys let her go by herself?’ “Amari pointed out. “Brain and I don’t need that.”
    â€œI’ll be okay. Promise.”
    â€œText us when you get done.”
    â€œGood grief. Okay.”
    Smiling, Zoey left to retrieve her bike. Since she and the rest of the kids pedaled to school every day, she knew the way with her eyes closed. Up the road that led out of the subdivision, and then a right turn onto Main. The school sat between Mr. Trent’s garage and the rec center. Using Brain’s key, she entered the building. She was always amazed by how quiet the school was when it was