Free Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game) by Jamie Hill Page A

time?”
    T hey both nodded.
    “ Your mom have anything to say?”
    David motioned to the foyer. “Ask her yourself.”
    Steve cringed , and looked around the corner. “Barbara, you’re still here.”
    Barbara Naughton gazed at her husband stiffly. “Of course. I wouldn’t drop them off without speaking to you. So, did you buy a new car already?” She looked out the foyer window at the Jaguar.
    “ No. It belongs to a friend.”
    Dana must have just made the connection, and came to the doorway. “Catlin! Hi!”
    “ Hi Dana.” Catlin smiled at her. “How was your weekend?”
    “ It was great! Wait ‘till you see the new boots I got.” She started rummaging through her shopping bags.
    Steve walked up behind her. “It looks like you got a lot more than boots.”
    Barbara stepped into the living room, and peered around the corner to see who Dana was talking to .
    Dana beamed. “Yeah, isn’t it great?” She started pulling things out to show them.
    David grabbed his backpack and his one shopping bag, and said “I’m outta here. Thanks Mom. Love you.” He kissed Barbara on the cheek, and went up the stairs.
    “ I love you too, sweetheart.” She watched him go, then turned to Catlin. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Barbara Naughton. Steve’s wife.”
    Catlin ’s gut clenched. Wishing like hell she’d left earlier, she murmured, “Catlin McCall. Dana’s teacher.”
    Barbara continued to stare . “Her teacher, yet she calls you by your first name? Odd.”
    Steve cleared his throat. “Dana, why don’t you show your things to Miss McCall, while I see your mother out.”
    “ Okay!” Dana said excitedly. “‘Bye Mom! See you next time.” She gave her mother a quick kiss, and then went back to Catlin.
    “ Goodbye, dear.” Barbara told her daughter. “Miss McCall.”
    Catlin nodded, and watched Barbara turn on her heels.
    Steve whispered to Catlin, “One minute.” He followed Barbara into the living room, closing the French doors behind him.
    Dana hopped up “Ooh, he never shuts those doors! This could be good!” She went to the door and cracked it open a bit, just enough to hear her parents arguing.
    “ Dana,” Catlin scolded. “That isn’t polite.”
    “ Come on.” Dana waved her over. “They’re talking about you!”
    Catlin slipped in next to Dana and eavesdropped on Steve and Barbara.
    Barbara was screeching in a whisper “How old is she, nineteen? What could you be thinking, Steven? Obviously, you’re not thinking! Not with your brain, anyway—”
    Steve ’s voice was angry but hushed. “This is not your concern anymore Barbara. You left me, remember? I wanted us all to move to Marshall, but you weren’t having any of it. Well, you chose your life, and I’m choosing mine.”
    “ I was angry, Steven. I didn’t want to move to a small town. But I didn’t leave to split up our family, I just needed some time to think. I made a mistake.”
    “ You sure as hell did,” he scoffed at her. “And the things you said to me on that last day will not soon be forgotten. You weren’t going away ‘to think’. You left me and our kids.”
    “ No!” She was pleading with him now.
    Catlin tried to step away, but Dana held on to her arm. “Wait!” Dana whispered. They listened some more.
    “ Barbara,” Steve’s voice was calmer now, but he spoke with steely resolve “You made your choice first. You knew what you were doing. So please don’t act so surprised that I’ve gone ahead with my life.”
    She turned her back on him and said sarcastically , “Well, every day comes with its own surprises, doesn’t it?”
    He shook his head. “What, New York didn’t work out for you? Is that what this is about?”
    She turned back around. “I didn’t want to go to New York by myself. I wanted to go with you.”
    He laughed and shook his head incredulously. “My life is in Kansas, Barbara. My company is here, my roots are here. Why would you think I would ever move to New