She's No Angel Read Online Free Page B

happy and positive about the engagement, and that made Charlene feel confident that he was as sure about this as she was. She had wondered once or twice since the proposal if he had been pressured by his father. However, seeing his demeanor at the party convinced her that the proposal was from his heart. Isaac seemed to be in a great mood, and so was Charlene—until Paige caught her alone for a minute in the kitchen.
    Charlene was pouring herself a glass of her aunt’s fresh-fruit punch. She looked up and could see Paige coming toward the kitchen entrance through the screen door. Charlene decided to drink her beverage in the kitchen and take a moment away from the crowd. Paige pulled back the screen door and stepped in, and then walked to the edge of the kitchen to glance inside the living room. Charlene watched her as she did all this, and continued sipping on her drink. Once Paige walked back to the kitchen, she stood next to Charlene.
    â€œDid you tell him yet?” Paige asked.
    â€œWhat?” Charlene asked.
    â€œDid you tell him?” Paige repeated, giving her the “you know what I’m talking about” face.
    â€œNo,” Charlene replied in somewhat of a snappy tone. “Why would you bring that up now?” she asked as she placed her drink in the sink and began to end her moment away.
    â€œI’m just asking. You better hurry and tell him now, don’t you think?”
    â€œPaige, go somewhere with that right now ... dang.”
    â€œExcuse me, I was just asking,” Paige said with a slight attitude back.
    Charlene had already begun opening the screen door by then and was walking out. Just like most older sisters, sometimes Paige really got on Charlene’s nerves. Always thinking they know everything, or that because they’re older they can do whatever they want. Paige’s intentions were in the right place, but she definitely didn’t consider the concept of bad timing. Paige was good for blurting something out in front of the wrong person, or bringing up something touchy at the most inopportune times. So it didn’t surprise Charlene that Paige didn’t consider that just maybe she didn’t want to think about anything negative on the night of her engagement party. Most people would understand that she had waited for this for so long, she just wanted to enjoy it. Charlene couldn’t blame Paige for wondering, though. Paige, being one of the only people who knew, was curious about what was on Charlene’s mind, now that this time had come and she hadn’t mentioned it to Isaac. Charlene honestly didn’t even know what she was thinking herself.
    As much as she tried to brush off Paige’s question, she walked out of the kitchen with a different facial expression. Charlene had really tried not to think about any of the issues that she knew were going to arise eventually. The regular stuff, like the size of the guest list, was nothing compared to the real issues that she expected to occur as the engagement moved forward. Charlene figured the real drama was going to come from truths revealed, true colors being shown and of course her uptight mother losing her cool. It was to be expected with all weddings and relationships, but Charlene knew that hers was going to have some additional elements.
    Speaking of the drama, as soon as she stepped outside into the backyard, there she was. Lacy was just coming in the gate holding a gift box in her hand.
    Oh, great, Charlene thought to herself. All at once, the event had hit its downside for Charlene. First Paige’s question, which had dampened her mood, and now having to be in pretend mode ’cause Lacy showed up. As she headed toward Lacy, Charlene noticed Isaac a few steps ahead of her, en route to greet Lacy. She walked up beside them as they were hugging, and chimed in.
    â€œDon’t mean to interrupt here, but just came over to say hello,” Charlene said as Isaac and Lacy