"Bennett, Cherie - Sunset Island 009 - Sunset Scandal" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bennett Cherie)

"Charmed," Molly said, her voice dripping sarcasm.
"Emma is collecting money for the poor people whose homes got destroyed by the hurricane," Darcy told Molly. "Want to make a contribution?"
"No," Molly said, "and I don't want company, either. Do you have a hearing problem?"
Darcy leaned against Molly's desk, seemingly unfazed by Molly's attitude.
"Oh, come on, Mol," Darcy chided her, "lighten up. Want to go outside on the widow's walk? We could all talk there. It's beautiful out."
"What's a widow's walk?" Katie whispered to Emma.
"It's that walkway outside, all around the
top floor of the house," Darcy explained, hearing Katie's question. "It was called a widow's walk because women would watch from there to see if their husbands came home from the sea. I guess sometimes they didn't."
Katie walked shyly up to Molly. "Why are you in that chair?"
"Because I can't walk," Molly snapped.
"Ever?" Katie asked.
Molly gave Darcy a look of disgust. "Excuse me, but this is not show-and-tell," she answered Katie, and to Darcy she added, "For once couldn't you do what I tell you to do?"
"Which is?" Darcy asked.
"Leave, and take them with you," Molly said bluntly.
"Okay," Darcy said easily, getting up from the desk. "See you later."
Emma and Katie followed Darcy back downstairs to the main hall.
"She's very angry," Emma ventured.
"Wouldn't you be?" Darcy asked, pausing on the bottom step.
"I suppose I would," Emma allowed, "but she still shouldn't treat you so badly."
"She's having a tough day," Darcy said. "Did you notice those trophies on her wall? She won those hi equestrian showsЧthat's horseback riding," she added for Katie's benefit. "Today is the annual Sunset Country Club Equestrian Competition. Molly won it two years ago."
"Couldnt she still ride?" Emma asked.
"The doctors say it's a long shot but I think she could," Darcy said. "But she won't even go out in public if she can help it."
"Well, we'd better be going," Emma said, taking Katie's hand. "Thanks for the contribution to COPE."
"And the ice cream," Katie added.
"Anytime," Darcy said. For a moment she looked down at the highly polished black marble floor. When she looked at Emma again, her expression seemed shyer. "You know, no one much comes to see Molly, and I don't really know any kids on the island. I mean, if you ever want to stop by again, well, I'd really like it."
"What happened to Molly's friends?" Emma asked with curiosity. "Surely she still has friends."
"Not really," Darcy said with a shrug. "I
guess she didn't have that many close friends to begin with, and the few she had she's chased away." Darcy twisted a few strands of hair contemplatively. "You'd think they'd understand, wouldn't you? You'd think they'd stand by her and help her work through her anger. But no one has."
"Except you," Emma pointed out.
"Like I said, I'm a hired hand," Darcy said. She looked upstairs. "But the truth is, I really like Molly. You'd like her, too, if you ever have a chance to get to know her."
"Say, I have an idea," Emma said. "Tomorrow I'm supposed to meet two friends of mine at the country club around two o'clock. They're au pairs, tooЧso we'll all have our kids with us. Why don't you and Molly meet us there?"
"That's a great ideal" Darcy said, her face lighting up. "I'll really have to work on Molly, though."
"Well, try," Emma said. "We'll meet by the main pool."
Darcy knelt down to Katie. "Will you be there?"
"Yep, I swim," Katie said proudly. "Kurt taught me."
"Kurt?" Darcy said. "Oh, right, the swimming instructor. I've seen him at the club a few times. He's gorgeous."
"He's my boyfriend," Katie said. She looked up at Emma. "Really, he's Emma's boyfriend," she admitted.
"Lucky you," Darcy told Emma, standing up.
"So, I hope we'll see you tomorrow," Emma said as Darcy opened the huge front door.
"Me, too," Darcy agreed.
Emma stepped outside and looked up at the skull-shaped doorknocker. "Extremely bizarre," she commented.
Darcy laughed. "What did you think of the doorbell?" she asked.
Emma looked puzzled, so Darcy leaned past her and pressed the bell. The same blood-curdling scream Emma had heard before echoed throughout the hallway.
Emma's eyes widened for a moment. Then it hit her. "The door bellЧit screams?"
Darcy nodded. "Didnt you hear it when the delivery person from the grocery store came to the back door?"
All Emma could do was shake her head. "Like I said, bizarre."
Darcy smiled. "Wait till you meet Molly's parents. Then you'll really know what bi-
zarre is."
Emma caught a glimpse of Simon, the butler, as he crossed silently through the hall. "He's not exactly your run-of-the-mill butler, either," she whispered.
"Frustrated actor," Darcy whispered back. "He watches reruns of The Addams Family on TV every afternoon." A startled look came to Darcy's face. "Uh-oh, Molly needs me. I'd better run. See you tomorrow.'"