The Great Peach Experiment 1, Erin Downing [books to read romance .TXT] 📗

named after—lived in a giant mansion across town, and she had the Peach kids over sometimes to play cards or eat brunch with her and her collection of small, naughty dogs. Aunt Lucinda was kind and fun and one of Lucy’s favorite people on earth, but she was also old, so it’s not as if she could do much to help. So Lucy had toughened up and dealt with the day-to-day stuff as best she could.

“Has it been that long? Not since your mother died? Really?” Dad blanched as this fact hit him square on. “Well, as you know, work has been crazy. But the thing is, I’ve been due for a sabbatical for quite some time now.”

“What’s a sabbatical?” Lucy asked, grabbing a container of strawberries out of the fridge. She washed them, then began to slice them into a bowl for the morning. Herb and Freddy loved having fresh-cut strawberries to put on their cereal. It was a sneaky way to get them to eat more fruit.

“Every few years, I’m granted a leave of absence from the university,” Dad explained, “to work on my research and writing and take a break from the everyday things that come up with teaching and my graduate students and so forth.”

Lucy looked up from the cutting board and cocked her head. “So let me get this straight: In theory, you could have taken a leave of absence from work anytime over the past two years? To have more time at home, and maybe take one of the fun family trips you promised, or even just be around for dinner a few nights a week?”

“I suppose, well…yes, I suppose that’s true,” Dad said, not seeming to notice Lucy’s tone of voice. “But I guess the good news is, I have that time now.”

Lucy nodded. That was something at least. It had taken nearly two years, but their dad finally realized how much he was missing. “I’m glad you finally decided to take the time.”

“To be totally honest, Lucy”—Dad cleared his throat—“I’m going to tell you something that I’d prefer you not share with your brothers. I—well, I wouldn’t want them to worry.”

Lucy stood totally still, strawberry in hand, waiting for whatever it was her father had to say. She hated secrets, but she’d found it was usually better to be in on one than to be the one left out. Though she wasn’t sure that was going to be true in this case.

“You see,” Dad said, refusing to make eye contact with her, “the head of my department felt now might be a good time for me to take a short break. She and I agreed that there’s never a good time to be away, but this is as good a time as any. She thought it would be best for everyone if I take this summer off to figure some things out.”

“So,” Lucy began carefully, as she tried to understand what her dad was telling her, “this is a forced sabbatical? Your boss made you take this summer off?” She paused and stared at him. “Are you still getting paid?”

“I am getting paid.” Dad nodded slowly. “And yes, I was asked to take some time off, but…” He shook his head, looking like he was at a loss for words.

Lucy set the knife on the counter and considered this new piece of information. The so-called Great Peach Experiment that Freddy and Herb were so excited about? It had only come up because their dad had basically been told he wasn’t allowed to go to work for the summer.

Dad hadn’t chosen this. A summer spent together, working toward a fun family goal, had been forced on him.

“So you didn’t have any choice in the matter?” Lucy asked. “You’re only spending the summer with us because you literally don’t have anything else to do?”

Dad winced. “Now, Lucy, that’s not entirely fair. Don’t think of it like that. Let’s think of this trip as a kind of serendipity. I got the summer off, and I’m trying to make the most of it.” He sighed, dropped his elbows on the table, and rested his forehead in his palms. “The thing is, I realize we haven’t had much fun time together as a family these past few years. I see this summer as a chance to change that. And in the process, we can fulfill one of your mother’s dreams.”

Lucy heard what her dad was saying, but she was struggling to believe it. She was trying to be positive about this trip; really, she was. But it was very difficult to watch her brothers getting so excited about something, knowing full well that her dad was sure to abandon ship when the going got rough. As soon as he had the chance to disappear again, he would. She’d seen it happen, over and over again for the past two years. All the choir concerts he’d promised to be there for, the family walks on weekends, the weekly dinner as a family…none of it had worked out at all the way he’d promised it would. When it was Mom-and-Dad they had always been there, but now that it was just-Dad, there was always some excuse.

Still, she didn’t have much choice but to go along with this very risky whim. And if she really had to be a part of this family experiment, the least she could do was try to make the most of it. Maybe what Freddy told her and Herb earlier that night was true. Maybe, Freddy had said, if this experiment goes well, Dad will decide he wants to spend more time with us. Lucy could only hope her brother’s wish would come true.

She plucked a berry slice out of the bowl and chewed it thoughtfully. “Okay.” She sighed. “Fair enough. But here’s another question: Do you honestly think we can learn everything we need to know about running a food truck in the next few days? And be ready to compete in the Food