Double Date Read Online Free Page B

we already have one problem child in the DG. You really think we should take on another?”
    Emma bit her lip as she gathered her bag. “I don’t know . . . maybe not.”
    â€œWant a ride to Costello’s later?”
    â€œSure.” Emma thanked her for the ride as she opened the door, and as she walked up to the house, she thought about what Cass had said about God’s grace being big enough.
    â€œThere’s my girl.” Grandma opened the door and happily hugged Emma. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day.” She led Emma to the kitchen. “I decided that we’d make pumpkin bread. How does that sound to you?”
    â€œYummy.” Emma dropped her bag on a chair and took off her jacket.
    â€œWe’ll make enough to freeze for Thanksgiving and for you to have some to take home.” She opened the oven door. “I already baked the pumpkin and it’s nice and cool now. You can do the scraping.”
    Emma was relieved that Grandma seemed to be in good spirits, but she was still thinking about Devon as she scraped the pumpkin meat into a bowl.
    â€œIs something troubling you?” Grandma asked.
    Emma told Grandma about Devon’s situation. Oh, she didn’t go into all the details—like how Devon had nearly poisoned herself with too much alcohol last weekend—but she did tell her about how Devon’s mom was acting pretty irresponsible. “This Rodney dude is a lot younger, and according to Devon, he’s a total jerk. She thinks they’ll get married in December, and I can tell from how she talks, he’s been spending the night at their house sometimes.” Emma tossed a big chunk of pumpkin in the bowl. “I can’t imagine how upset I’d be if Mom did that to me.”
    â€œNo, I can’t either. But I can’t imagine your mother doing something like that in the first place.”
    â€œNo . . . she wouldn’t.”
    â€œThat’s too bad for Devon. I really thought Lisa had bettersense. But she went through that hard divorce. I’m sure that took a toll on her self-esteem. I’ll bet that’s part of her problem now. Still, it’s not fair to Devon.” Grandma shook her head as she chopped nuts. “Having a mom’s boyfriend spending the night in their home . . . well, that’s just wrong. Especially with a teenage girl in the house.” She put down her knife with a clank. “And I’m pretty sure Dr. Phil would agree with me on that.”
    Emma couldn’t help but laugh. Grandma was a die-hard Dr. Phil fan. She had all his books and never missed a show—even if it was a rerun. “So I’ve been wondering . . .” Emma put the last of the pumpkin into the bowl. “Maybe I should offer to let Devon live with us. I’m sure Mom wouldn’t mind. Sometimes she gets along better with Devon than she does with me.” Emma frowned.
    â€œOh, honey, that’s so sweet that you’re willing to share your home with Devon, but do you really think that’s a good idea? I know you girls have been close off and on over the years, but I also know you can fight like cats and dogs sometimes too.”
    â€œThat’s true.”
    Grandma measured some flour, dumping it into the mixing bowl. “I hate to see you feeling like the odd man out—or odd girl out—in your own home. Especially with the holidays coming, when Edward will be home from college. It might be awkward for him having Devon as part of the household.”
    Emma hadn’t even thought about how her brother might react to Devon living with them, but she was actually relieved that Grandma’s thinking was taking this route. Because as much as she wanted to help Devon, the idea of having her full-time in their home until graduation was a little scary. “Yeah, those are good points,” she admitted. “I hadn’t even