Authors: V.C. Andrews
“It takes only one foolish time,” Papa warned me. “You go a little bit farther and farther out on this weak branch until it snaps and drops you in one pool of muck. That’s what teenagers frolicking in sex do, swim in muck.”
Although he didn’t add them, I could hear the words,
Just ask your sister.
“Norton,
s’il vous plaît
,” Mama pleaded.
He gave me one more look of warning and returned to his breakfast.
I had yet to bring a boy home to meet my parents because I was terrified of how Papa would make him feel. It would surely be like a CIA interrogation. I once told Chastity that my father would probably waterboard any boy I had been out with more than once, let alone twice.
And all because of Roxy!
Under these circumstances, who wouldn’t expect me to be more and more interested in whom and what she had turned out to be? I had every reason to hate her. Look how she was affecting my life. She was like someone who had died but wouldn’t stay buried. She could be thousands of miles away and not only blocks away, but it wouldn’t matter. Papa would always look past whatever I had done to see if Roxy had a hand in it, if her influence was in my blood. There were many nights when I raged to myself about it. I wouldn’t dare rage at Papa, but I could mutter and think my protest aloud when I was alone.
If you’re going to forget her, Papa, forget her. Don’t keep looking in me to find her! And don’t dare deny that you do!
I even imagined his guilty, remorseful face, but none of this fantasizing really helped to make it easier.
I would look out my bedroom window at the street below, especially whenever I had these thoughts. I could see the corner from where I stood. I knew Roxy was just a little north of us.
“Why didn’t you go farther away?” I whispered. “Did you stay here just to spite Papa? Or did you stay close because you were so sorry and really do miss us?
“I’m going to know the answers to all my questions about you, Roxy. I swear.
“I’m going to force you to look at me. And I’m going to make you do what I have done too often because of you.
“I’m going to make you cry.”
V.C. Andrews Books
The Dollanganger Family Series
Flowers in the Attic
Petals in the Wind
If There Be Thorns
Seeds of Yesterday
Garden of Shadows
The Casteel Family Series
Heaven
Dark Angel
Fallen Hearts
Gates of Paradise
Web of Dreams
The Cutler Family Series
Dawn
Secrets of the Morning
Twilight’s Child
Midnight Whispers
Darkest Hour
The Landry Family Series
Ruby
Pearl in the Mist
All That Glitters
Hidden Jewel
Tarnished Gold
The Logan Family Series
Melody
Heart Song
Unfinished Symphony
Music of the Night
Olivia
The Orphans Miniseries
Butterfly
Crystal
Brooke
Raven
Runaways (full-length novel
The Wildflowers Miniseries
Misty
Star
Jade
Cat
Into the Garden (full-length novel)
The Hudson Family Series
Rain
Lightning Strikes
Eye of the Storm
The End of the Rainbow
The Shooting Stars Series
Cinnamon
Ice
Rose
Honey
Falling Stars
The De Beers Family Series
Willow
Wicked Forest
Twisted Roots
Into the Woods
Hidden Leaves
The Broken Wings Series
Broken Wings
Midnight Flight
The Gemini Series
Celeste
Black Cat
Child of Darkness
The Shadows Series
April Shadows
Girl in the Shadows
The Early Spring Series
Broken Flower
Scattered Leaves
The Secret Series
Secrets in the Attic
Secrets in the Shadows
The Delia Series
Delia’s Crossing
Delia’s Heart
Delia’s Gift
The Heavenstone Series
Heavenstone Secrets
Secret Whispers
The March Family Series
Family Storms
Cloudburst
The Kindred Series
Daughter of Darkness
Into the Darkness
My Sweet Audrina
(does not belong to a series)
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Flowers in the Attic
copyright © 1979 by the Vanda General Partnership
Petals on the Wind
copyright © 1980 by The Vanda Partnership
If There Be Thorns
copyright © 1981 by The Vanda General Partnership
Seeds of Yesterday
copyright © 1984 by the Vanda General Partnership
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First Pocket Star Books ebook edition December 2012
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ISBN 978-1-4767-0417-3