Page 60 of The House on Blueberry Lane

“That’s mine!”

Velvet looked up and stared at Lenny Bordeaux. “Lenny. You must have dropped it. I was just trying to figure out which of my students it belonged to. The sketches in here are great.”

She saw the surprised look in his eyes. “You think so?” he asked in an uncertain voice.

“Yes, I think so.” She handed the sketch pad to him. “You are very gifted.”

“Thank you,” he said, stuffing the pad in his backpack.

Curiosity made her ask, “Are you taking any art or drafting classes?”

She heard the words I wish muttered under his breath before he said, “No.”

She tilted her head to look at him. “May I ask why not?”

He shifted his feet and peered down at them a few times before looking back up at her. “My dad is depending on me playing professional baseball.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him if that’s what he wanted to do. She had a feeling that although he might enjoy playing baseball, art was another one of his passions. It showed in his sketches.

“Maybe if you let your father know which you prefer, then—”

“It won’t matter, Ms. Spencer. I am the last hope to restore honor to my family’s name.”

Honor to his family’s name? Again, curiosity made her ask. “How will you playing baseball restore honor to your family’s name?”

He hesitated a moment, and then said, “My dad was supposed to play for the Dodgers. He got hurt and now it’s all up to me. He says it was meant for a Bordeaux to play professional baseball.”

Velvet noticed the slumping of his shoulders. Shoulders that were carrying a lot of unjustified weight. Allen Bordeaux had missed out fulfilling his dream and now he was forcing that dream on his son instead of letting Lenny pursue his own passion.

“Ms. Spencer, promise you won’t tell my dad anything? I don’t want him disappointed in me.”

Velvet heard the despair in Lenny’s voice. It wasn’t fair; his father was placing a lot on him. That was why she appreciated her parents so much. They never forced her to enter the family business and let her pursue her dream of teaching.

“Please promise me, Ms. Spencer.”

She sighed. “Okay, Lenny, I won’t say anything to him but maybe you need to consider telling him yourself.”

“I can’t.” And then without saying anything else, Lenny quickly turned and rushed out of the classroom.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“SURPRISE!”

Velvet thought the looks on Vaughn’s and Sierra’s faces were priceless. It was evident neither had had a clue that the party given by Kaegan and Bryce was for them. And when Vaughn saw his sister, Zara, and Sierra saw her sister, Dani, they couldn’t help but laugh.

“We got them good, didn’t we?” Vashti said, coming to stand beside her with her camera in hand.

Velvet smiled. “Yes, we did. And I think the decorations are super.” She had arrived three hours early to help Bryce, Ashley, Vashti and Donna with the decorations. The men had been outside, helping Kaegan with the food, and from the aroma that had seeped into the house, it smelled delicious.

A half hour later, it seemed the couple had gotten over their initial shock and were mingling with the guests. Velvet thought Bryce and Kaegan had a beautiful home. Connected to the first level was what was called the party house, a spacious building where they hosted their parties.

Sierra approached her a short while later with a scolding grin on her face. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me anything.”

“I wasn’t supposed to,” Velvet said, grinning.

“You just wait. I’m going to find a way to pay you back.”

“You can try,” Velvet countered.

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