Sleeping with Anemone Read Online Free Page A

suit, making me wish I still had some of those hot beans in my possession so I could slip them into the bowl.
    Mom gazed at both men in astonishment. “The right to free speech is guaranteed by the Constitution, gentlemen. Surely you know what the First Amendment says.”
    To show they didn’t much care, both guards made a noisy show of chewing their candy.
    Ignoring their rude behavior, Mom began to quote, “ ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press—’ ”
    I glanced at the men to see how they were taking Mom’s impromptu lecture and spotted bright red dribble leaking from the corner of one guard’s mouth.
    Oh no. Not the jelly beans.
    “ ‘—or the right of the people peaceably to assemble—’ ” Mom paused, her eyes widening as she, too, caught sight of the red drool.
    Then I noticed the other guard’s lips had turned cherry red. Neither man had glanced at the other to realize what was happening, but Tara apparently knew, judging by the giggles she was trying to suppress.
    Mom continued quickly. “ ‘—and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.’ Thank you.”
    The crowd burst into applause. The guards smacked their lips and reached for more candy. Tara clapped both hands over her mouth to stifle her laughter.
    “Okay, I think my work here is done,” Mom said hastily. “Tara, let’s skedaddle.”
    She wasn’t going to leave me holding the bag—or bowl, as it were. “Mom, may I speak to you for a moment?” I motioned for her to join me behind the table.
    “I really need to go pick up your father at the dentist’s office, Abigail.”
    I locked my arm through hers and took her with me, whispering frantically, “What did you put in the candy?”
    “Nothing harmful. Just a little beet juice.”
    “Beet juice!” Tara snorted, doubling over with laughter.
    “You told me I’d have amazing results with that candy,” I whispered furiously to my niece.
    She nodded in agreement, wiping tears from her eyes. Clearly, we had differing definitions of amazing results.
    Suddenly, from another aisle we heard a scream, followed by “My teeth are bleeding!”
    At that moment, the security guards caught sight of each other. “Hey, man, what’s wrong with you?” the first one asked in an alarmed voice. “Your mouth is all bloody!”
    “Yours is, too!” The second guard wiped his lips with the back of his hand, then stared at the scarlet stain. “What the hell is going on here?”
    “I think I’m gonna puke,” the first guard said, then loped off.
    Tara held her ribs as she laughed harder.
    His partner pointed at me. “You’re in big trouble now.” Then he ran off, too, holding a hand over his mouth.
    When another horrified wail shattered the air, uneasy murmurs began to spread through the crowd. Hearing whispers of “poisoned candy,” I called, “Everyone please calm down. The candy is colored with beet juice. Nothing to be nervous about.”
    Mom sank onto a chair, a look of extreme mortification on her face.
    “Where is she?” a woman cried. Then the two older ladies who’d declined to sign the petition came hurrying up to the table. “Look what your candy did to us!”
    They bared their teeth, revealing decent sets of chompers, except for their vivid crimson color. Others followed close behind the women, having also partaken of the sweets.
    “It’s nothing harmful,” I assured them. “All natural, totally washable, beet juice.”
    After promising ten percent discounts at Bloomers to the irate bunch and sending them off at least partially soothed, I picked up the glass bowl and handed it to my chagrined mother. “We won’t be needing this anymore.”
    “I feel just awful,” Mom said. “I’m so sorry, Abigail.”
    “You were awesome the way you handled those big apes, Grandma,” Tara said.
    “Thanks, sweetie,” Mom said. She sighed