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I think he would have stayed with her forever, trying to figure out the mystery He was a puzzle solver, the kind of person who likes theore It couldn't just be X

To me, my mother wasn't that mysterious She was my mother Always reasonable, always sure of herself To lass of water She knehat she wanted; she knehat she didn't want And that was to be married to my father I wasn't sure if it was that she fell out of love or if it was that she just never was In love, I mean

When ere at Granna's, o to far-off places like Hungary or Alaska She alent alone She took pictures, but I never asked to look at them, and she never asked if I wanted to

Chapter thirteen

I was sitting in an Adirondack chair eating toast and reading a azine when my mother came out and joined me She had that serious look on her face, her look of purpose, the one she got when she wanted to have one of her hter talks I dreaded those talks the sa today?" she asked me casually

I stuffed the rest of et started on your su over and brushing so on it," I said, even though I hadn't been

My s?" she asked s?"

I al me anyway? Conrad doesn't talk to me Ask Steven"

"I already did He doesn't know He wouldn't lie," she said, peering at hed "I know Beck's worried He's been acting differently

He quit football "

"I quit dance," I said, rollingaround with a crack pipe"

She pursed her lips "Will you pro?"

"I don't know," I said teasingly I didn't need to pros A beer was one thing, but he would never do drugs I would bet my life on it

"Belly, this is serious"

"Mos When'd you turn into such a narc, anyway? You're one to talk" I elbowed her playfully

She bit back a smile and shook her head "Don't start"