No Way Out, Fern Michaels [korean ebook reader TXT] 📗

on a dining-room chair. “That is such a relief. Thank you so much.”

“From what I gathered, they’re a decent, hardworking family. The father’s an accountant and the mother a librarian. So you have something in common. Books.”

Colleen almost started to cry from the news.

“You still with me?” he asked into the void.

“Oh, yes. Yes. I’m trying to absorb this. I was so worried.”

“I know you were. But you can relax now. Sometimes, there’s a road to redemption.”

“You are so right.” Colleen took in a gulp of air. “How can I thank you?”

There was a moment of silence. She thought they might have been disconnected. “Hello?”

“Yes. I’m still here. Listen, this may be a little unconventional, but after all this is over, the trial and all, and once you get yourself settled, would you consider having dinner with me? I’ll understand if you don’t want to, after all you’ve been through. But it would be nice to have a dinner partner. Someone to talk to and share a meal.”

Colleen was speechless. She couldn’t remember the last time she and Mitchel had “shared a meal” in a nice, quiet atmosphere.

“Are you still there?” Pedone asked.

Colleen laughed softly. “Yes. Yes, I am, and I would be delighted to have dinner and enlightened conversation with you.”

Pedone chuckled. “I can’t guarantee ‘enlightened,’ but I’ll try for entertaining. How does that sound?”

“Sounds good. It may be a while, but it will be something to look forward to.” Colleen was beaming.

“Me too. Remember, if you need anything in the meantime, give me a call.”

“Thanks Officer Pedone,” she teased. “I mean Bob.”

“Anytime, Colleen.” They ended the call, with both of them feeling good about the future. Even if it was only dinner.

When she hung up, there was a spring in her step as she made her way into the kitchen, where Jackson was doing his homework. “Honey? I thought about what you said, and it would be nice if you went over to say hello and introduce yourself. We need to be good neighbors. Do you want me to go with you?”

“Sure. Then I’ll go to Buddy’s.” Jackson was working on his homework—math problems—that day. “Hey, Mom? Did I tell you about how Mr. Chadwick helped me with the solar-system stuff? Which planets are where?”

“No. Tell me about it.” Colleen pulled up a chair.

“He showed me a trick to remember things by using letters. It had a funny name I can’t remember.”

“What was the trick?”

“First, I write the names. I have to remember them first, but I know them. Then I underline the first letter of each name. Then I remember by saying Most Valuable Earth. My name is Jackson. Then S.U.N. for Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. And Pluto is P for the period at the end.”

“That’s terrific. And you remembered everything?”

“Yep. At first I was a little confused, but I figured it out.” Jackson was wiggling his pencil.

“Well, you did a great job. And Mr. Chadwick, too!” She leaned over and gave him a hug from behind.

“Yep. He’s pretty smart.”

“Yes, he is,” Colleen concurred.

“He told me that he was kind of a teacher.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. When he was in the military, he had to teach guys how to do stuff.”

“I bet he was really good at it,” Colleen said.

“Prob’ly.” Jackson continued to work on his multiplication tables.

“How are you doing with your math?”

“OK, I guess. I don’t know any tricks, so can you check it for me?” Jackson looked over his shoulder at his mother.

“Of course. Anything in particular you’re troubled about?”

“Nah. But it does seem hard. I gotta memorize a lot of junk.”

“It’s not junk, but you are correct. It’s a lot of memorization.”

Jackson repeated the word “Mem-o-riz-ation. That kinda sounds like a word Mr. Chadwick used yesterday when he told me about the letters and the trick.”

“You mean mnemonics?” Colleen asked.

“Yeah! That was the word.” Jackson’s delight was evident.

Colleen knew that further explanation would only confuse him more. But she was happy he understood the concept and was grateful for Frank’s assistance.

“You almost done?” she asked.

“Yep.” He handed her his paper.

Colleen checked it for errors. He had gotten all the answers correct. “Great job.”

“Mom? How come we have to memorize all this stuff when we could use a calculator?”

“Because we can’t always depend on having access to machines, computers, or our phones,” she explained carefully. “They say that knowledge is power, so the more you know on your own, the more powerful you become.”

“Like a superhero?” Jackson was intrigued.

“In a way, yes.” Colleen handed him his paper. “Now, go change your clothes.”

Jackson packed up his backpack and headed to his room. A few minutes later, he returned with his usual jeans, sweatshirt, cap, ball, and glove. “Ready?”

“Give me one more second. I want to wrap one of the zucchini breads I made.”

“Yuck. Zucchini.” Jackson made a face.

“Bet you’ll like this.” She handed him a piece from another loaf. He took a bite and nodded.

“Yeah, but I don’t like zucchini.”

Colleen smiled. “Well, you’re liking it now!”

Jackson held the piece in front of him. “This?” He looked at it suspiciously.

“Yes, honey. That is zucchini bread.”

“I wish you hadn’t told me.” He took a sniff and made a face.

“Come on, Jackson. You have to admit you like it.” Colleen smiled.

“I guess,” Jackson reluctantly agreed. “Just don’t tell me when you trick me.”

“I wasn’t tricking you, sweetheart. Just a lesson in good eating.”

He shrugged and munched down the rest of the fragrant slice.

He resisted asking for another. He was still miffed his mother had tricked him into eating a vegetable.

“Wash your hands.”

“But I just did.”

“Yes, but now they have grease from the zucchini bread all over them. And wipe your mouth, too, please.”

A few minutes later, he appeared from the bathroom, holding up both hands for inspection.

Colleen laughed at her son’s attempt at humor. She picked up her phone and called Jeanne.

“Hey, Jeanne. Jackson and I are about to greet the new neighbors. Want to be part of the welcoming committee?”

“Sure. I have a pan of ziti cooling on the stove.