Dared To Love by M. Jade Glock (book series for 12 year olds .txt) đ
Read free book «Dared To Love by M. Jade Glock (book series for 12 year olds .txt) đ» - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: M. Jade Glock
Read book online «Dared To Love by M. Jade Glock (book series for 12 year olds .txt) đ». Author - M. Jade Glock
Catherine didnât like the idea at all and she made her thoughts known to her parents.
âPlease donât make me go, I beg of you!â
She knew their reasons. She knew that the only reason why she was being put into a different school was to be closer to Phillip, a boy that her parents wanted her to marry. She had never met him, didnât even know what he looked like, but because of his high social status and wealth that he would undoubtedly inherit when he became of age they thought of him as a good prospect for their beautiful daughter. Despite these facts he was also successful and was to go into his fatherâs business once he was ready and finished with school. He was a young man that any girl would want, but not Catherine, she didnât love him and she was seventeen for Peteâs sake!
âCatherine, weâve been through this beforeâ Her mother said, exasperated. She held her thumb and forefinger finger against the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes, trying to sate the slight headache that was beginning to plague her âYou are going, this school recommended you personallyâ
Personally? More like they were bribed into it
Catherine thought. Her parents were far from poor, they were well known in England and had connections in high places, places that even Catherine didnât want to know about.
She lifted her head to look her daughter in the face âIt is a well-known school and will look good on a resume when you decide to go to collegeâ
Catherine didnât want to go to college, it wasnât something that she ever wanted to do. Her parents always assumed that she wanted to further herself with more schooling after high school but that wasnât it at all. She had told them several times that she wanted something besides more schooling but they always seemed to have a deaf ear when she spoke.
Frustration seeped into her next words
âWhat about me?â Catherine threw her hands in the air âDid you once think that maybe I wanted to stay in my school?â Anger rose just a little higher within her, her voice getting louder with each word.
She wanted her parents to understand that she didnât want to go to a different school. She wanted to be near her friends, she wanted to be accepted by people, not looked down upon by other rich kids and certainly not courted by some boy she hadnât the slightest inkling about.
âCatherine Jaqueline Miller!â Her father interjected. He never used her middle and last name unless he was furious âYou will not speak to us this way, we are your parents and you will treat us with respectâ Her father reprimanded.
Catherineâs anger at her parents unfairness didnât subside, but she apologized âIâm sorry for raising my voiceâ Her head lowered, she murmured the words. Shame added to the mix of her emotions. Why wouldnât they understand?
Her father continued, âNow, you will go to this school,â Her father crossed the room to her and took her into his arms âI know you will miss your friends Catherine, but it isnât like you canât still see themâ He rested his head on his daughters âYour Mother and I only want whatâs best for youâ He gently took hold of Catherineâs shoulders and held her out in arms reach âWeâre thinking about your future, Catherineâ
Catherine was at war with herself. She knew her parents thought that they were doing what was best for her, she didnât agree. Maybe she didnât want a life with this man that they had chosen for her. He may have the means to take care of a wife but what of love?
She pulled away from her father, tears coming to her eyes âCanât I have my own life?â She shook her head violently âCanât I love someone of my own choosing? Canât I go to college if I want to? When has my life ever been about me?â
Catherineâs father tried reaching for her but she stepped back âYou donât care about my feelings, whenever I tell you about something you donât pay attention. When have you ever thought what could possibly make me happy?â With that Catherine ran from the room, tears streaking her face.
Once Catherine had fled the room her father looked at her mother and shook his head dejectedly. âWhen will she understand?â
Mother stood and went to hold her husband âShe is young, she doesnât know whatâs best for her life just yetâ She weaved her fingers through her husbandâs hair.
He pulled away from his wife âItâs that pesky friend of hers, Feliciaâ He raked his fingers through his hair âShe has put modernized ideas in her headâ
She put a reassuring hand on her husbandâs arm
âItâll be alright. Felicia is no longer here to taint our daughters mindâ Her hand still on her husbandâs arm she reached up to cup his cheek with the other. âShe can no longer keep our daughter from having the most of lifeâ
Looking straight into his wifeâs eyes he pierced into her soul âBut what is the most of life?â
his wife let go of him and looked away, she didnât like that he could see through her. She said softly âI only want her happiness, just as much as you doâ
âBut is this happiness?â She couldnât answer him. Their marriage was arranged by their parents at birth, they were successful, had a beautiful daughter, and lived in a wonderful part of town. They werenât in need of anything yet she was still empty. Sometimes she thought that she was happy, just for a moment. She thought that she loved her husband, but more often than not the feelings would go away and she couldn't bear to be in the same room with him.
He reached down and lifted her chin to look at him. âAre we really happy?â She jerked away from him and quickly left the room. She couldnât look at him anymore; she couldnât tell him the truth.
He stood there his head hung and his eyes closed âThis family is falling apartâ he whispered.
She went straight to her bedroom, closed the door and flopped on the bed. She cried into her pillow, trying to calm herself. She wanted so badly to take control of her own life, if not her whole life then at least her love life. Was that so much to ask for? Catherine barely had a minute to herself when there was a knock at her door. She brought her head up from the bed and glared at the door âSo much for wanting to be aloneâ She thought.
âWho is it?â Catherine sighed, burying her head back into the bed. She heard the door open and Catherine jerked her head up to see who had entered, fully expecting it to be her parents. She was surprised when she saw that it was Felicia, her best friend. âFelicia!â Catherine said in a loud whisper. Catherine quickly jumped off of her bed and stealthily, but speedily, closed her bedroom door. Once the door was closed she whirled around, her back against the door, her hand still on the knob. âWhat are you doing here?â Catherine mouthed
âYou canât speak now?â Felicia said casually. Felicia shrugged and put her package that she had been carrying on Catherineâs bed, Felicia then made herself comfortable by sitting on it next to her package.
âShhhh! donât talk so loud, someone might hear you.â Catherine whispered again as she crossed the room to her friend
âOh, let them hear meâ Felicia waved a hand âI was never trying to hide in the first placeâ
âWho let you in?â Catherine asked
âSurely not your parentsâ Felicia gave Catherine a wry smile.
âAudrey?â
âBingoâ Felicia winked while pointing her finger at Catherine in a shooting motion.
âThat womanâs going to get herself dismissed if my parents find you hereâ Catherine said, looking back at the door, a worried expression plastered across her face.
âYouâre such a great friend Catherine, I sneak up here, past your parents, your nurse may get fired and all you can worry about is getting caught. Arenât you going to ask me what Iâm doing here?â
âYou said you werenât trying to hideâ Catherine gave Felicia a lopsided grin
âI liedâ Felicia said matter-of-factly âNow ask me what Iâm doing hereâ
Her mouth agape and eyes wide Catherine feigned surprise âWhy Felicia! You have graced me with your presence? What do I owe for this honor?â
âI donât appreciate your sarcasm, but Iâll tell you anywayâ Felicia pushed the package
that she had been carrying a few minutes ago towards Catherine. âHappy early Birthdayâ Felicia smiled sincerely
âYou know, you could wait until my actual birthdayâ
âYeah, well, your present was impatientâ
Now curious as to know what was in the box Catherine eagerly tore at the paper âHey hey! Be careful, itâs fragileâ Now bursting with curiosity Catherine carefully opened the box. She heard a small sound coming from inside of it, in another instant her eyes met with the cutest yellow eyes she had ever seen. a smile lighting her face she gingerly took out a small kitten. It could easily fit in both of Catherineâs hands. Catherine held it against her, stroking the little animal.
âI took the liberty of naming her for youâ Felicia handed Catherine the adoption papers
âThey wouldnât let me leave without giving her oneâ
Catherine took the pages from Feliciaâs outstretched hands and read the name put so boldly on them.
Juliet
Catherine thought of how ironically her life played out like that of the Shakespearean play âRomeo & Julietâ. All that was missing was the Romeo in her story. She hugged the kitten close to her, putting the adoption papers on the bed, tears formed in her eyes again.
âCatherine, whatâs the matter?â Felicia wanted to comfort her friend but didnât really know what to do
âIâm switching schoolsâ
âYouâre what?â Felicia exclaimed âIf this is another one of their schemes to keep you away from me I wonât have it. Iâll-â
âNo, they are doing it because thereâs a boy there that they want me to marryâ
âA what? Youâre seventeen for peteâs sake!â
âThatâs what I was thinkingâ
âDo you even know him? Do you know what he looks like?â
âNoâ
âGeez! Your parents have really gone nuts this timeâ
âThey only want whatâs best for me. If I marry him I will be well offâ
âCatherine, people donât marry for security anymore, they marry for love. We are not stuck in the Renaissance anymoreâ With every passing second Feliciaâs anger rose at the whole situation. Who were they to plan out their daughterâs life like this without even giving her a choice?
âIâm going to agree to goâ
âYouâre what?â
Catherine gave her friend a sad smile âThis is something my parents want me to doâ
âWhat about what makes you happy?â
âMaybe I wasnât meant to be happyâ
Comments (0)