Read When Darkness Falls for Free Online

little pale. “That’s very interesting,” she finally said. “What do you know about them?”
    “Not a lot,” Chloe admitted as a trickle of unease ran down her spine. “Why?”
    “Oh, nothing. I was just wondering.” She gave Chloe a strained smile before turning her attention to the dinner she was preparing.
    What was wrong with Marsh Interiors? What was Lila not telling her? Her stomach knotted. Her mother had found the advertisement for the job online and insisted that Chloe apply for it. “I have a good feeling about this one,” she said. At first, Chloe was doubtful that anything would come of it, but to appease her mom, she applied. Then, she got a call, requesting her to come for an interview. This job opportunity had been the one bright spot in her sordid life, and now it was being tainted like everything else. She just couldn’t seem to get a break. She felt something and realized that Lila had touched her arm. Unfortunately, Chloe had never been able to mask her feelings. Everything she felt blasted like a neon sign to the world.
    “I didn’t mean to upset you. Marsh Interiors does a great business in The Valley, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy working there. My qualm with them has nothing to do with their design services but is more of a personal nature.”
    “Okay,” Chloe said slowly. The words were meant to ease her fears. Unfortunately, they didn’t.
    Lila wiped her hands on a dishtowel. “I tell you what—I’m planning on getting new curtains for my living room in the next couple of months. Can you handle that for me?”
    “Well … sure … if I get the job.”
    “Of course, that’s what I meant.”
    Could this conversation get anymore awkward? Chloe tried to diffuse the situation by talking about the one thing she knew best—design. “What type of window treatments are you wanting?”
    Lila seemed to relax at that. “Oh, I don’t know. I keep telling Pete that the room’s too blah. You know, the trend is to do mostly white with pops of color. We need something to liven it up.”
    “I’ll design something that you and your husband will both like.”
    Lila frowned. “Why would you do that?”
    “I just thought …”
    “Pete doesn’t have anything to do with this. It’s none of his business what I spend on my design services.”
    “Oh … okay.” There seemed to be no winning with this woman.
    “Enough about that.” She handed Chloe four plates. “I could use some help setting the table.”
    “Of course, I’ll be glad to help.” She took the plates from Lila and looked at Darbie who shrugged and walked off.
    “Hey, one of you princesses get in here and put ice in the glasses,” Lila yelled.
    Darbie moaned, and Susan reluctantly got up off the couch. Chloe was surprised at how quickly they’d come in and made themselves at home. Undoubtedly, they’d been here many times before.
    When they were seated at the table, Lila looked around. Her eyes stopped on Chloe. “Would you ask a blessing on the food?”
    The request broadsided Chloe as a look of horror came over her face. She knew that everyone had seen it, hence the awkward silence that settled in the room.
    “Go ahead,” Lila said, her voice encouraging.
    Seeing no other alternative, Chloe bowed her head and mumbled her way through the prayer.
    “Amen,” Lila said heartily when it was finished.
    “Look at all of this food,” Susan said, “it looks delicious.”
    Susan was right. The food did look delicious. There was pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, fruit salad, and dinner rolls. Chloe was suddenly ravenous. She scooped a generous portion of mashed potatoes and gravy onto her plate. Were it not for the fact that Lila had mentioned her weight earlier, she probably would’ve gotten more. She didn’t consider herself fat, but she’d never been super skinny like Darbie either. Dan had called her shapely .
    “You must have cooked everything in the refrigerator, Lila,” Susan said.
    “Pete