Free Asking for Trouble by Anna J. Stewart Page A

you let your so-called friends talk you into cutting class.” Her phone chimed
Für Elise
, letting her know the bank opened in fifteen minutes. “Do you want a ride to school?”
    â€œI’ll walk.”
    Heaven save her from the hostile two-word teenage answer. “Okay, then. Don’t forget to check your numbers before lunch. Kids, now!” Footsteps pounded overhead like a fleet of reindeer on the roof.
    â€œWhatever.” And with that, Drew grabbed his backpack and slammed out the door.
    Morgan slumped against the washing machine. She knew how hard it was for him, a new school, dealing with his diabetes diagnosis, having to leave class every few hours to go to the nurse and be tested. It was hard enough to be a teenager these days without adding a medical issue to the mix.
    There had to be some way to get through to him. At least he’d bonded with Brandon. The little guy was Morgan’s savior when it came to dealing with Drew, as the teen was incapable of staying mad with Brandon anywhere nearby.
    She heard the zoom of Lydia’s motorized wheelchair as the little girl buzzed into the kitchen, big brown eyes spinning like King Arthur’s Carousel at Disneyland, her frail body swimming in the baggy jeans and Tinker Bell T-shirt she wore.
    â€œHey, kiddo.” Morgan pulled herself together and dropped a kiss on the top of her thinning fawn brown hair. Her color was good, her eyes less cloudy. Hope that Lydia may have turned a corner battled against the reality of her illness. Today, however, Morgan chose to cling to hope. “Where’s Nico? I thought you guys were going to make homemade pasta today.”
    â€œHe’s fixing the sink in the boy’s bathroom. Brandon said there’s something stuck in the drain. Nico started swearing so I thought I’d better leave.” She grinned up at Morgan, chasing the aftereffects of Drew’s attitude away. “You swear better though.”
    â€œThank you very much.” Morgan curtsied. “You hungry?”
    â€œGot any bananas?” She stretched her chin up, searched the counter.
    â€œOf course.” She grabbed one out of the fruit bowl, started it for her, and handed it over. Not so long ago Lydia had been on a feeding tube because she couldn’t keep anything down.
    Morgan’s phone chimed again, this time Beethoven’s Fifth.
    â€œYou going to the construction site today?” Lydia’s eyes widened as she peeled the banana and bit in.
    â€œI’m meeting with Kent in about an hour.” Morgan looked at her watch as Nico came in, stopped in front of Morgan, picked up her hand, and plopped a soggy orange plastic fish in her palm. Morgan peered closer. “Is that Nemo?”
    â€œHe was supposed to make it to the ocean,” Brandon cried as he ran into the room, then he took Nemo into his possession and stuffed him to his jeans pocket. “How far did he get?” He turned excited eyes on Nico, who was putting the wrench in the toolbox.
    â€œAs far as the u-bend.”
    â€œPut it in your journal,” Morgan called as they ran out to the car, managing not to laugh until they were gone. “Need me to check the sink?” Morgan asked him, knowing Nico wasn’t as comfortable with plumbing issues as he was with other repair work.
    â€œIf you could, great.” Nico washed up. “Lydia and I will take care of dinner. Angela and Kelley are going to make fruit salad for dessert. Will you be home in time?”
    â€œUmmm.” Morgan skimmed her schedule, added a note to double-check the sink. “I doubt it. Late meeting with Vanity Cleaners—I’m thinking they might be a good local source for linens and cleaning services once the center opens. Be nice to get more local businesses on board. So save me a plate?”
    â€œIt’ll have your name on it.”
    â€œGreat. I’m off.” Morgan grabbed her purse from the kitchen table