Read Whisper Beach for Free Online Page A

the boys climbed the fire escape and saw Dana naked. She screamed so loud the neighbors called the police.”
    â€œI think it was Gigi who screamed. They were sharing a room that night.”
    â€œWell, that would make more sense.” Suze looked over the plate of hors d’oeuvres. “Dana probably basked in the attention.”
    â€œProbably. They were a little put out.”
    â€œThe cops or the neighbors?”
    â€œThe cops.”
    â€œYou have to admit it was pretty funny.”
    â€œI remember,” Van said. But she didn’t want to. She didn’t want to be beguiled into reminiscences. Not about Gigi, Suze, or Dana, especially not Dana.
    â€œThe next day Dorie went out and got those ugly beige shades. After she let us have it for causing a scene.”
    â€œWe didn’t cause a scene. It was Gigi.”
    â€œSome things never change. Poor thing—she was always such a wuss.”
    Van rolled her eyes. “I know. She was sweet. I always thought she was too wishy-washy, but she came through when I needed her.”
    â€œOr maybe she just didn’t have the guts to say no to you.”
    Van thought about it. “I didn’t ask for the money. Gigi offered it. I didn’t want to take it at first, but she insisted. So I did.” Van had gratefully accepted it. For all the good it did either of them.
    â€œPush that plate of crab puffs over here, will you?” Suze said. “With all the drama at the pub, I hardly got a chance to eat anything but a couple of miniquiches. Both at the same time. So gauche. Not that that crowd would notice. They were lined up three deep at the bar.”
    â€œHmm.” Van reached for her glass of wine. What she really wanted was a big glass of water. She drank, but not often and not much. Tonight, though, she was tempted to break her own rules and enjoy a glass or two.
    She could feel the past tugging at her memory. She fought it. There had been fun times. But most of her teenage years, especially after her mother was killed, was one long desperate attempt to stay housed and clothed and fed. What she remembered most was hard work, grief, and anger.
    Best not to go back even in conversation. She put down the wineglass.
    â€œWhat, don’t you like cabernet?”
    â€œSure, I just— Like you said, I’m a stingy drinker.”
    Suze looked concerned and a little uncomfortable.
    Van didn’t want to go there, but she knew she had better set things straight. “Don’t worry, I’m not my father. I can drink without falling down and yelling profanities and letting people— I’m just so busy I rarely have time to enjoy good wine.”
    â€œVan, it’s okay. You don’t need to talk about that stuff. I told Dorie it might be rough on you to come back. She didn’t understand. It hurt her that you left without a word.
    â€œAt first we all thought you ran away, which it turns out you did, but no one knew why. Gigi never told. Then when you didn’t come back or let anyone know where you were, Dorie was afraid something had happened to you.”
    It had. “You set her straight though, right?”
    Suze closed her eyes, opened them. “Eventually, but at first I didn’t know any more than she did. But after you called me . . . well, I did call her once I knew you’d be all right. I didn’t tell her anything, just that you were okay and that you didn’t want anyone to know where you were. That’s all, I swear. But I think she deserves to know why you left. She took good care of you, of all of us. And it really hurt her that you didn’t come to her with whatever was hurting you.”
    Van leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes, opened them. “I’ve made a good life for myself. I own a successful business, and I’m thinking about opening another branch. I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to be reminded of where I came