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High Schools > Nevada > Las Vegas > The Goodman School
First Post :) Posted on Sunday 07/03 at 12:51 AM Its about time campusbuzz got a high school forum. Im sure well have lots to talk about. Were young, were beautiful, and Vegas is our personal playground. But lets save the whole whos the hottest girl/guy in the school stuff for later (although I fully expect to be mentioned in that discussion), because I just discovered something much better to talk about. You know how the school started building a new (and much needed) gym in the beginning of summer? Its going to be named the Diamond Sports Center. And yes, by Diamond I mean Adrian Diamond, the owner of the new Diamond Hotel and Casino, along with a bunch of other hotels on the Strip. An anonymous source told me that three new girls with the last name of Diamond will be starting at the Goodman School in the fall. My guess is theyre somehow related to Adrian and the school let them in because of the money he gave for the gym. Makes sense, right? Except that I checked online and couldnt find anything about Adrian Diamond having a daughterlet alone three of them! Anyone got any info? 1: Posted on Sunday 07/03 at 01:31 AM the internet says nothing about adrian diamond having

any kids. sounds like your sources dont know what theyre talking about. maybe you can find something on facebook? 2: Posted on Sunday 07/03 at 01:47 AM Facebooks got over 165,000 people on it with the last name Diamond. Dumb idea. 3: Posted on Sunday 07/03 at 06:20 PM i dont go to goodman but my mom works at the diamond and said their getting a 3 bedroom condo on the top floor ready for some special guests who will be staying there for an extended period of time 4: Posted on Sunday 07/03 at 06:40 PM Poster #3interesting to know. But you should consider applying to Goodman. If you manage to get in, then you can learn the difference between their and theyre. Just a suggestion :)

chapter 1:

Savannah

Youre definitely coming to the movies with us tonight, right? Savannahs best friend, Evie, asked as Savannah got out of the car. And sleeping over again? Of course. Savannah shared a conspiratorial smile with Evie, knowing that movies was code for pretending to walk into the theater while Evies mom was watching, then having Evies current boy toy pick them up and drive them to the unsupervised party five minutes away. They could only stay at the party for three hours, but it was better than not going. Thanks for driving me home from volleyball, Mrs. Brown, she said, waving to Evies mom. She was always glad Mrs. Brown didnt mind dropping her off, because Evie was the only friend of hers who had seen where she lived. If the other girls on the volleyball team saw the ramshackle apartment building where she lived with her mom and two older sisters that looked more like a run-down motel than a home, they would probably laugh about it behind her back.

MICHELLE MADOW Its no problem, Savannah, Mrs. Brown said from the drivers seat. She had the same strawberry-blond hair as her daughter, and the two could almost pass as sisters. Are you sure you dont want me to pick you up tonight? Ill get one of my sisters to drop me off. She didnt want to make Mrs. Brown come out of her way twice in one day. It was already more than enough that Evies mom drove her home every day after practice during volleyball season, and that she didnt mind when Savannah stayed the night for two or three days at a time over the summer. Anyway, her sisters owed her after making her come home now, when she was supposed to have stayed the rest of the day at Evies before they went out for the night. Life would be so much easier once she got her license. Of course, she would have to figure out how to borrow Peytons car. Convincing her sister would be difficult, because Peyton had saved up for years for that beat-up piece of crap whose engine sounded like it could die any day, but the possibility was better than nothing. See you soon, S! Evie called as her mom pulled away from the curb. Bye, E, Savannah replied, and they both made the signlanguage letter for C with their hands. Savannah and Evie called themselves S.E.C., which stood for the Savannah/ Evie Club, and the letter C was their special symbol. See you tonight! She walked down the sidewalk to the door with the peeling blue paint, wondering what was up. Her sisters never made her come home when she had plans, but Courtneys voice on the phone had sounded so strained that Savannah knew something was wrong. She let herself inside and found Peyton and Courtney standing around the stained kitchen table, their grandma and a man

THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS Savannah didnt recognize sitting in the two chairs. He wore a fancy brown suit that probably cost more than everything in Savannahs wardrobe combined, and his expression was so solemn that he looked like he was at a funeral. Her grandma and sisters looked equally upset. Whats going on? Savannah dropped her sleepover bag on the cracked linoleum f loor. She hadnt been home since yesterday morning, and had an awful feeling this had to do with the one person who wasnt hereher mom. Hi, sweetie. Grandma always looked younger than her seventy-so years, but her eyes were so sad right now that her age shined through. Sorry for making you come home early. I wouldnt have asked unless it was serious. Wheres Mom? Savannah swallowed and leaned against the arm of the living room couch, expecting the worst. Her mom had always drunk a lot, but after shed lost her job as a secretary last year, she had spiraled out of control. Her sisters tried to shield Savannah from seeing what went on, but Savannah wasnt stupid. She knew her mom was drinking all day, so much that she got physically sick at night and in the morning, and that she couldnt hold on to a hostess or waitress job for longer than two months. They could barely keep enough food in the house anymore, since Mom blew all the grocery money on alcohol. Thats what we needed you here to discuss, the man cut in. He looked like he would fit in better in a fancy office building than their crappy apartment in Fairfield, California. Whos he? Savannah asked Grandma. This is Mr. Webster, Grandma said. Hes a lawyer who works for your father. What? Savannahs heart pounded. That couldnt be true. Savannah had always been warned that her father was dan-

MICHELLE MADOW gerous, that he didnt want anything to do with her and her sisters. She hated that he felt that way, but it was how her life had always been, so shed accepted it and moved on. Am I missing something? We all are. Peytons eyes blazed. Weve been lied to for our entire lives. That was becoming clear to Savannah, but it was Courtney who caught her up on what had happened while she had been having a sleepover at Evies. Last night, Mom was pulled over for drunk driving on her way to work, Courtney said, somehow managing to stay calm as she relayed the story. They brought her to the station, and she lost her license and job. Was that the fifth or sixth job shed lost in the past year? Savannah had lost count. I called Grandma to get Mom out of the station, and then Courtney shrugged and looked at Grandma, as if she wanted her to continue. I hoped your mom would be able to keep a job and get her life back on track, but enough is enough, Grandma said in her matter-of-fact manner. I know its never been easy living with her, but Ive seen what the three of you have gone through in the past year, and I cant sit back and watch anymore. I would take you in myself if I didnt have so much on my hands with your Aunt Sophies chemo treatments. Her chin quivered at the mention of her twin, who had been staying with Grandma in her one-bedroom apartment since her cancer diagnosis a few months ago. So I did the only thing I could think to doI called your father for backup. Savannah couldnt believe she was hearing this right. But our father wants nothing to do with us. She turned to her sisters for support, but Peyton looked angry enough to shoot

THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS fire from her eyes, and Courtneys expression was blank, as though she was fighting to hold on to an inkling of control. Mr. Diamond has been aware of your living situation, and was about to take action himself when your grandmother called him, Mr. Webster said. He made some calls last night and arranged for your mother to receive inpatient treatment at a rehabilitation facility in Arizona. She was f lown there this morning and is settling in, but the facility has given strict orders that your mom not contact anyone from outside until her doctors feel she is healthy enough to do so. They hope shell be ready to switch to outpatient status in a few weeks, but they warned it could be longer. Savannahs head spun. How had all this happened while she had been having a sleepover at Evies, gossiping about which girls at school they wanted to try to become friends with next year and what guys they thought were hot, while experimenting with daring makeup looks? You didnt let me say goodbye? She looked at her sisters, unable to believe they could betray her like that. None of us were able to say goodbye. Courtney came over and wrapped an arm around Savannahs shoulders. Mom didnt want us to see her like that. She said it would be easier this way, and you know she hates goodbyes. We just need to focus on being thankful shes finally getting the treatment she needs. She was probably ashamed, and afraid we would ask her questions she wasnt ready to answer, Peyton said. And she would have been right. But with Mom not here, where are we supposed to go? Savannah wiped away a tear that had slid down her cheek. She was grateful her mom was getting help, but they still needed

MICHELLE MADOW her around. Sure, she wasnt always the best at taking care of them, but she was all they had. You know I love you and your sisters, and would be happy for you to live with me if there were no other options, Grandma said. But you deserve more than sleeping on the couch and air mattresses in the living room, and I worry about the stress the changes would cause Aunt Sophie. Luckily, your father has generously offered for you to move in with him. Are you serious? Savannah didnt believe this. She and her sisters had never met their father. And now he was offering for them to move in with him? Why now? I thought it wasnt safe for us to be around him? And where does he even live? Mr. Webster was the one to answer. Mr. Diamond asked me to provide as little information as possible, because he wants to personally answer your questions, but I can assure you that your safety is his top priority. Hes sending a driver to pick you up tomorrow morning who will take you to the airport. I know this is short notice to give you girls to pack, but do what you can and Mr. Diamond will arrange for the rest of your belongings to be brought to your new accommodations at a later date. A plane. Which meant if it took her mom longer than a few weeks to get better, Savannah would start her sophomore year at a new school, with people shed never met. How was she going to break this to Evie? And how would she get through school without her best friend by her side? What if we dont want to go? Peyton crossed her arms and glared at Mr. Webster. Im almost eighteen, you know. I should have a say in this. Peytons birthday was in March,

THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS which hardly made her almost eighteen, but Savannah kept her mouth shut. As it is now, youre still a minor, so you have no choice, Mr. Webster said. With your mother unfit, it is in your fathers rights to insist you live under his care. You will pack your bags and be ready to leave by ten oclock tomorrow morning. What about the apartment? Courtney asked. What will happen to it while were gone? Mr. Diamond will make sure its maintained, Mr. Webster said. Im sorry to throw this on you all at once. I know this wont be easy for the three of you, but he will answer all your questions when you arrive. Now, I imagine you need time to pack. Is there anything more you want to ask? I think you have it covered, Mr. Webster. Grandma spoke for them. Now if you wouldnt mind, I would like some time with my granddaughters. Of course. He nodded and let himself out. You cant expect us to do this, Peyton said to Grandma once he was gone. All my life youve said our father is dangerous and he doesnt want us around. Now were expected to forget all that and move in with him? I wont do it. I refuse. Your mother has her reasons for wanting to distance herself from your father, and while being around him can be dangerous for those close to him, hes not a bad man, Grandma said. Hell explain it all to you once he meets you. Just remember that your mother loved him once, and while it wont be easy, I hope the three of you can find it in your hearts to give him a chance. Can you promise to do that? For me? When she put it like that, it was impossible to say no. Okay. Savannah nodded, trying to swallow away the lump in her throat. Ill try.

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ISBN-13: 978-0-373-21109-8 THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS Copyright 2014 by Michelle Madow All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at CustomerService@Harlequin.com. and TM are trademarks of Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its corporate affiliates. Trademarks indicated with are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

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