Page 63 of Into the Garden (Wildflowers 5)

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Jade's mouth dropped open. She looked at me

and then at Misty. Neither of us would dare contradict

Star.

"Fine," Jade said, rising and sobering quickly.

She wiped her cheeks as if to wake up her face and

then she headed out to the kitchen. We watched her

saunter along mumbling about washing dishes and

ruining her brand- new manicure.

"We'll bring her down to earth yet," Star

declared with a smirk. "We'll bring her right down to

earth with the rest of us."

Misty called home to tell her mother she was

going to spend the night with me, but her mother had

still not re- turned from the movies.

"She must have gone someplace afterward with

her friend," she said. "I just left a message with her

answering service. It's actually easier this way. Half

the time, we talk to each other through that answering

service anyway. I'd feel strange not having it between

us." She looked around and then turned to me. "Where

will I sleep?" Before I could suggest anything, she

declared, "Not in your half sister's room!'

"I'll sleep on the sofa and you can sleep in my

room," I said. Her eyes darkened with thought. She

glanced up the stairway and shook her head. "No, it's not fair to take your bed. I'll sleep on

the sofa."

"You're just afraid to sleep upstairs," Jade said,

laughing. "Well, it's all right for you to sound so

brave. You're not sleeping here tonight. I am." "It would be easier for Cat to avoid going up

the stairs," Star said. "Didn't we tell her that?" she

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