Free Shooting Stars 01 Cinnamon by V. C. Andrews

chest and up into
my mouth. It seemed like minutes flew by and still,
they were holding hands.
"Maybe it's just a client," Clarence offered
charitably. My eyes clashed with his hopeful look. "You don't hold hands with your clients," I
managed to reply.
We both stood there, gazing through the
window. Whatever they were saving to each other
pleased Daddy. His smile widened and then he leaned
over the table to meet her halfway so they could kiss
on the lips,
I look at Clarence.
"Still think that's a business meeting?" He let his eyes drift down and shook his head. "Sorry." he said.
"Me too." I replied and turned abruptly. I walked as quickly as I could. Clarence had to
jog to catch up. "It might still be something innocent:' he offered.
    "As innocent as Cain's murder of Abel," I replied. The tears in my eyes felt like they were frozen, stuck against my pupils, making the world appear foggy around me.
    Mommy's lying sick and broken in a hospital room, was all I could think. It made my throat close.
I crossed the street quickly, nearly running toward the parking lot now.
"It's amazing that you decided to come into the city and be down here just at the right time," Clarence said trying to slow me down.
I stopped abruptly, so abruptly he almost stepped into another pedestrian.
"No, it's not really."
"What do you mean? You knew about this?"
"No. The spirits in the house made me go. The moment I woke up this morning, it was as if someone had whispered in my ear during the night or just before I woke up telling me to go. I felt pushed along."
"You're kidding, Aren't you?"
"No. I'm not. They look after me," I said. I walked on. Clarence hurrying to catch up again.
"You really believe there are spirits in your house? I thought that was just something you wanted people to believe, something we had fun spreading around."
"It is fun. but I do believe it now. Yes." I said. I paused at the entrance to the parking lot. "You'll come over one night this week and go up to the attic with me and decide for yourself."
"Really?"
"Unless you're afraid," I said.
"No," he said shaking his head. He looked back in the direction of the coffee shop and then looked at me again. "No." he repeated, but this time. he didn't sound as confident.
"I've got to stop by the clinic to see my mother," I said. "Will you be all right waiting in the car?"
"Sure."
"Thanks," I said.
One of my frozen tears broke free and trickled icily down my cheek, but I had turned away in time to hide it from Clarence.
I didn't want anyone to see me crying over what Daddy was doing. Sometimes sadness had to be kept as secret as love.
Sometimes, they were one and the same.
"Don't worry about me," Clarence said after I parked the car at the clinic. "I'll read what I was supposed to read for today's social studies class."
    He smiled to give me some warm
encouragement. All the way back from the city. I was quiet and didn't respond to any of his attempts to make conversation. I kept seeing Daddy kissing that woman in broad daylight, in a public place, unafraid or unconcerned. Maybe he thought no one knew him there anyway, or maybe he thought what if someone did? What was he or she going to do, call Mommy in the mental clinic to report it?
    I nodded at Clarence and stepped out of the car. The partly cloudy day had turned into a nearly overcast sky with a much colder wind blowing into my face. I could feel winter crawling up my spine, its icy fingers sliding over my neck and shoulders. Zipping up my jacket. I started toward the building, not knowing north from south, east from west. I moved like someone in a trance, as though the upper part of me was being carried forward against its wishes. Glimpsing myself in the window of another car I passed in the parking lot. I saw how I was holding my shoulders and my head back.
    Now, I was sorry I had eaten so much for breakfast. I ate more out of nervousness than hunger, and after seeing Daddy with that woman, all the food in my stomach had turned