Free Best She Ever Had (9781617733963) by Shelly Ellis Page A

grabbed the pink sheet of paper and read it.

    Mama,
    I wish I could make you understand how I feel. All my li fe you’ve tried to teach me about the ‘family rule book,’ but I don’t know how many times I have to tell you: I don’t care about those rules. I don’t care about money either. I’m in love with Jared, and we want to be together. We’re going away for a while. When I come back, I’ll be Mrs. Jared Walker. If you love me, you’ll accept him!
    Love,
    Clarissa

    Cynthia brought a hand to her mouth. Warm tears spilled onto her cheeks. She’d never felt so powerless in her life. Her baby had run off to God knows where, was getting married, and there was no way she could stop it.

Chapter 8
    â€œH oney, just take a deep breath,” Lauren said, rubbing Cynthia’s back. “We’re going to find her. Don’t worry.”
    Cynthia sat on her living room sofa between her sisters Lauren and Dawn. She was still wearing her robe, nightgown, and fluffy bedroom slippers. She was too distraught to change into real clothes. She sobbed uncontrollably onto Lauren’s shoulder, clutching Clarissa’s teddy bear against her chest. She hiccupped.
    When she had called Lauren to tell her that Clarissa had run away, the Gibbons emergency network instantly mobilized. Lauren called Dawn and left Cristanto Jr. in the care of his father before rushing to Cynthia’s side.
    Dawn, who had been enjoying a bit of Sunday morning nookie with Xavier, immediately stopped mid-coitus (to her man’s great consternation), threw on some clothes, and sped to Cynthia’s colonial soon after. Dawn called Stephanie during her high-speed drive to Cynthia’s house.
    Stephanie left a message with their mother, who was on vacation in Nantucket.
    Now Cynthia, Lauren, and Dawn were putting their heads together while they waited for Stephanie to arrive. They thought of ways to track down Clarissa. Well, Lauren and Dawn did the thinking. Cynthia was too busy crying her eyes out to form a plan.
    Dawn held Clarissa’s letter in her hands. She read it for the umpteenth time and slowly shook her bobbed head. “I wish she’d said where she went.” She gazed at
    Cynthia. “Do you have any idea where she might have gone?”
    â€œNo! She didn’t tell me anything! She just snuck out of the house in the middle of the night, and it’s all my fault!” Cynthia cried. She wiped her runny nose with the back of her hand. “I drove her away! Now she’s going to marry some boy I don’t even know! She’s ruining her life just to get back at me!”
    Lauren pursed her lips. “I don’t think she’s trying to get back at you, Cindy. I read the letter too. It sounds like she really thinks this is what’s best for her.”
    â€œOh, what does she know?” Cynthia spat. “She’s nineteen years old! She’s still a baby! And no one will help me get my baby back! Not even the police would help!”
    â€œWhen did you call the police?” Dawn asked, lowering the letter back to her lap.
    â€œAs soon as I found her note! I tried calling Clarissa about a half dozen times. She wouldn’t answer, so I called the police instead. I told them she’d run away and she wasn’t returning my phone calls. They said because she’s not a minor, legally she’s old enough to leave the house if she wants. She doesn’t have to answer the phone either. And she can get married if wants to!”
    Cynthia closed her eyes and flopped back onto the couch cushions. She held the teddy bear over her face. Her sisters watched helplessly as she sobbed. Of all the Gibbons sisters, usually Cynthia was the least likely to become an emotional wreck, but Cynthia couldn’t turn off the waterworks now. Thank God Chesterton wasn’t near any cliffs! She probably would have hurled herself off of one by now.
    The doorbell rang and