The Limit Read Online Free Page A

phone.
    “Here, I’ll do it,” I said, taking it from her. “Who called you earlier?”
    Mom opened her mouth, as if to say something, then closed it again, shaking her head.
    “It was about the limit, wasn’t it? Someone called because we went over. There are lots of options for people who go over, right?” I couldn’t control my voice, and it got high and a little squeaky. “Supervised spending can’t be as bad as everyone says.”
    She couldn’t even look at me. “Call your father.” Her voice shook as much as her fingers.
    I tried Dad’s office and got a busy signal. He didn’t answer his cell phone.
    “That probably means he’s golfing,” I said to Mom. “He always turns off his phone when he golfs.”
    “I need him,” she said.
    “Maybe he’s golfing with Mr. Dupree right now,” I said, trying to make myself feel better. “Maybe he’ll land that project today. He’ll get so much money we’ll laugh about going over the limit. By tomorrow it won’t even matter.”
    Mom looked at me. As she tried to smile, she choked on a sob.
    Don’t cry, Mom. Just tell me that everything’s going to be all right. Please!
    “Are we going to Dad’s office?” asked Lauren. “Will he fix what’s wrong?”
    That must’ve been where Mom was headed. I couldn’t think of a single other place in this section of town where we’d want to go. Mom wiped a tear from under her eyes every few seconds and drove, both hands clutched high on the steering wheel until we pulled into the parking lot of Dad’s office. She stopped in one of the handicapped spaces near the front door.
    “Stay here,” she ordered the three of us as she jumped out of the car. She didn’t bother to close the door behind her. I’d never seen Mom run in her jeans and heels before. She could go fast.
    A sob came from the backseat. I looked over my shoulder. Abbie had stuck her thumb in her mouth again, and Lauren was crying.
    “What’s happening, Matt?” she asked as tears dripped down her cheeks.
    Abbie pulled her thumb out of her mouth long enough to say, “I don’t like it.”
    “Mom’s upset because we went over the limit, isn’t she?” asked Lauren. “Can Dad fix it?”
    “I don’t know,” I said. “I hope so.”
    “I’m scared,” said Lauren. “At school the other day—when we heard about that Lakeview girl who got taken—some kids were talking about families who go over their limit. They have to do all sorts of terrible things like sell their clothes and move out of their houses. And then the moms and dads have to go to jail.”
    “No one’s taking Mom and Dad to jail,” I said. At least I didn’t think so. I’d never heard of people going to jail because of the limit.
    “What’s going to happen to us?” asked Lauren.
    What could I possibly say—without lying—that would make it sound as if it wasn’t a big deal?
No sweat. Our family’s just about to fall apart. Don’t worry.
Nope. Didn’t quite cut it. It was like trying to explain away the danger of an F5 tornado barreling down on your house. Since scaring the girls wasn’t my goal, I kept my mouth shut.
    Lauren pouted her lips. “I hate the limit.”
    Mom walked very slowly out of the building and slumped into the car. “Karlene’s the only one in theoffice. She said he’s at the country club.” Mom stared out the front window, three fingers pressed against her trembling lips. “I just don’t know what to do.”
    She looked at me, as if I might have the answer. It was backward. Parents are supposed to know how to fix things, not kids.
    “Let’s go find Dad,” I said.
    A hint of a smile lifted one corner of her mouth. “That’s a good idea. You’ve always been such a smart boy.” She leaned over and pulled me to her with an arm around the back of my neck. “I love you, Matt.”
    “I . . . love you too.” Her shoulder muffled my words. Why, exactly, were we saying this right now? I tried to pull away, but she clutched me tighter and