TALK TO HER

We can have a proper conversation without a book in the way.”

“Okay.”

Regina disappears, and I hear her footsteps move through the house and into the kitchen. At least while she’s laying the table, we have a few minutes. I fold my arms and glare at Mom.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Taking Regina to Lucia’s store. Why would you do that?”

Mom raises her eyebrows.

“You’ve always wanted Regina to get into books. You were frustrated that if you told her to read, she would outright refuse to. Now she’s pouring into them so fast I can’t keep up, and you’re telling her you want to stop?”

“Don’t give me that crap, Mom. You know what this is about.”

“I don’t, actually. How about you give me a clue?”

She is going to make me spell it out; I know it. And I’m not about to tell her the truth about me and Lucia. I try to take it slower so I don’t end up blurting out what I actually did.

“You’re trying to match me up to Lucia, aren’t you? You go there under the pret