“The preacher talked about how important it is to forgive like Joseph did his brothers, and we discussed the different attitudes of his brothers in Sunday school,” Raelene said. “I enjoyed being in that church. If I was staying in Devine, I might even change my membership.”
Audrey’s head raised a little, and she shot a look across the table. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I have a full two-year scholarship to this little junior college in Oklahoma.” Raelene took the platter from Grace and loaded her platewith pot roast, potatoes, and carrots. “I get to live in the dorm, and I’ll have enough grant money to even pay for my cafeteria-meal ticket.”
“How did you get that?” Audrey’s tone had changed very little.
“Lose the attitude or pay the price. You really are acting like a mean girl, and that’s not acceptable in this house,” Grace said in a low voice.
“I applied for it and sent them a demo tape. The choir director helped me make it,” Raelene answered.
Audrey took the platter when it came her way and scooped a few potatoes and some pot roast onto her plate. “What if I don’t care about living in this house, Mama?”
Raelene blushed. “Maybe it would be best if I moved out.”
“You will not,” Sarah said. “Audrey, you’re being a mean little snot. This girl was your friend until last fall, and she’s done nothing to warrant you treating her like dirt.”
“You’re not my mama,” Audrey countered.
“Yes, butIam,” Grace said, “and this is going to stop. You can be civil, or you can suffer the consequences.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Audrey said, but her tone was far from sweet.
“What kind of demo tape?” Sarah asked.
“Songs. I will be singing in the choir,” Raelene said. “In addition to my scholarship, I get a small stipend for living expenses, and I get to travel with the choir on out-of-state trips. I’ve never been anywhere outside of Texas, so that’s pretty exciting.”
Sarah’s heart felt a little lighter just thinking that this kid was finally getting a lucky break. She would get out of the small town where she’d been branded as weird—a tech weenie, as Audrey had called her.
“But the nursing program is what I’ll be enrolled into. In two years, if I pass my state tests, I will be an RN,” Raelene said. “It’s the only place I know that I can finish in that time and be able to get a job and support myself.”
“That’s fantastic,” Grace said. “I hope that someday Audrey can get a good scholarship like that. Right now, she’s failing algebra.”
“I’d be glad to help you, Audrey,” Raelene said. “Math and science are my strong points. If you want, I might be able to catch you up over spring break.”
“Not in a million years,” Audrey said with a sneer. “I’d rather flunk.”
“If you do, you get to repeat all the classes that you’ve failed, and it might even keep you from having enough credits to graduate,” Sarah said.
“Raelene’s offered you free tutoring lessons,” Grace added. “You should take her up on that.”
“Well, maybe,” Audrey agreed, “but that doesn’t mean we’re friends. I don’t know why I have to take algebra, anyway. When I inherit the doughnut shop and this house and all the land we own, I’m going to sell it to the highest bidder. Then I’m going to travel the world. I’ll shop in Paris and Rome and London, and send gifts to Crystal and Kelsey.”
Raelene looked across the table at Audrey and didn’t even blink when she said, “I don’t want to be your friend, Audrey. Why would I want to hang out with someone who treats me like you do?”
Audrey looked like she had been hit by a streak of lightning. “But... everyone wants to be popular,” she sputtered.
“Not me. Popularity is overrated,” Raelene said.
Sarah chuckled for the first time that day. “Good for you for figuring that out, Raelene. And, Audrey, I would like to know: What will you do when the money runs out? It won’t last forever with that lifestyle.”
“I will marry a rich man,” Audrey said with half a smile.
“Good luck with that,” Grace muttered.
“Amen!” Sarah agreed.
Chapter Four
