Read You Knew Me When for Free Online Page B

lots of willpower for my brother, Grant, and me not to eat it for dessert last night.
    â€œI don’t think so, Lane. We should let them get settled in before we jump down their throats.” She took off her flowery apron, folded it neatly into the drawer next to the stove, and kneeled down in front of me. “I know you’re excited, but this is a big change for her. And for her dad.”
    â€œWhat happened to her mom again?” I knew the answer, at least part of it, but I wanted to hear it one more time. If I was about to meet my new best friend, I had to know everything there was to know about her.
    â€œLaney, I told you her mom passed away.” She shook her head. I heard her tell my dad it was a “real travesty.” I’m not quite sure what that means, but it can’t be good.
    â€œFrom what?”
    â€œLane. Come on. It’s not important.” She peeled one side of a peach and cut me a slice. “All I’m saying is that I think we should give them a little space and, once they’re settled in, you can go over with the pie. Okay?”
    â€œFine.” I sighed, though I still thought it would be nice to welcome them as soon as they got here. Who wouldn’t want a sweet girl like me with a delicious pie waiting at their door? I’d be happy to help them unpack boxes too! “Do you think she knows about me?”
    â€œI’m not sure, love, but I have no doubt she will soon enough.”
    The house two doors down from ours has been empty for three years now. Mom told me a really rich family from New York City used to use it as their ski home when I was little, but I don’t remember them much and it seems like forever ago. It’s similar to our house. Medium-sized, white on the outside, with black shutters and window boxes, where I hope they’ll plant some pink tulips. Pink tulips are my favorite. My dad buys them for me every Valentine’s Day. I’ve only been inside the house once. It’s nice. But nothing like Luella Hancock’s. Her house is enormous, and since it’s right between my house and the new girl’s house, it makes ours look kind of little, even though they’re not. I was beyond excited when Mom told me a girl exactly my age was about to move in. Jackpot, right? I’m sort of over most of the kids at school. They’re so boring. Now I’ll have a brand-new friend to do
everything
with. Plus, it’s a huge deal to have your best friend live practically next door. Best friends
and
neighbors. I hope her dad told her about me.
    â€œI’m just going to watch out the window, okay?” I hopped onto the window seat by the front door, leaning my back against one side and stretching my tanned legs down the blue-and-white-striped cushion. I look eons better with a tan, especially in the white Cavariccis I got for my birthday. Grant and I have been swimming at Luella’s pool almost every day this summer. He’s my older brother, but only by a year, and he can do a backward dive. I can’t yet, but I’ll have mastered it any day, and then I can teach the new girl. Unless she already knows how. Well, I’m sure there will be plenty of other stuff I can teach her. Summer is my absolute favorite time of the year, especially since winters are so cold and dark in Vermont. Mom always says, “Even when it’s cold and dark, our home has a sunny disposition,” but I still like summer best.
    â€œSuit yourself. I’m going to the supermarket. Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
    â€œYup.”
    â€œMight make the time pass more quickly. Maybe they’ll be here when we get back.”
    â€œNo, thanks. I’ll stay here.” I spotted their gray Chevy the day my mom met the new girl’s dad. Of course, I didn’t know whose it was at the time, otherwise I’d have been out there immediately to introduce myself. Anyway, they have to pass our house to