Family Ties — читать онлайн бесплатно полностью

”

“I wish I could’ve too. But I’ll be honest, he probably would’ve intimidated me.”

“I don’t think so. He wasn’t like that. He was a lot like Danny, except he knew when to be serious.” She laughed. “And if you think Danny is good-looking, I’ll have to show you pictures of Laurence sometime. He was, like, oh my gosh!”

I heard something in her voice and shot her a covert look. Was it more than just sisterly affection? Like Erin and me?

“You remind me of him,” she said. “Not your face, but the rest of you, your general shape.

You’re sort of like him in other ways, like how you’re really optimistic about things. You’re a lot moodier than he was, though. But I think he’d’ve liked you.”

“Like you,” I said, “when you were talking about my buildings and how you thought it was easy until you tried to draw them?”

“Yeah, exactly! I did the same thing and didn’t even know it! I must’ve learned it from Laurie.”

“If I had to guess, you both learned it from your mom.”

“I dunno,” she said. “Our mom’s pretty positive, but she’s more behind the scenes.

Our dad’s the one who’s in-your-face about things. But you made me think about what Laurie used to do, so lemme see if I can answer your

“Ah, right. I did ask that.”

“So, first, you totally fit with us. You’re going to be a famous architect one day, like Brunelleschi or Frank Lloyd Wright or Eero Saarinen.” She grinned. “See? I’m always paying attention when you tell me stuff.”

“You’re going to be famous like them,” she continued. “I just know it.

Maybe not tomorrow—I mean, seriously, you’re still in school—but one day.

I’ve seen your talent. You don’t think it’s all that special ’cause you live with it. Like me and my sculpture. Or Sabrina and her looks. And oh my gosh, Paul! You have no idea how insecure she is sometimes.”

“But you know what I mean. You have this amazing talent, and other people see it even if you think it’s just normal.”

“You’re welcome. And you asked what you bring to the party? That’s easy.”

She slipped from under my arm and danced ahead of me.

“You’re not going to, are you?”

“Going to what?” She pirouetted and grinned at me over her shoulder.

I jogged to catch up but she danced out of reach. I knew I couldn’t catch her so I didn’t try. She did a couple of scissor-kick leaps followed by a twirl.

Then she ran toward me and leapt into my arms. She wrapped hers around my neck and kissed me.

Jim and family left early the next morning to fly back to Florida.