Mom was talking on the phone in the kitchen when I arrived home. She sounded pretty involved, so I didn’t bother her. When twenty more minutes had passed, I went back downstairs and waved my hands in front of her face.
“Excuse me,” she said to the caller, then covered the receiver with her hand. “Holly, what is it?”
“I need to use the phone. It’s important.”
Mom’s eyes got squinty. “Well, Andie will just have to wait,” she insisted.
“It’s not Andie. I have to call Daddy.”
“Tonight?”
“Just some last-minute stuff about the trip.”
“Okay, well, I’ll be done in a few minutes.” She uncovered the receiver, and I could tell by the sound of things it’d be more than a few minutes before the phone was actually free.
Heading upstairs to my room, I located my journal and began to write.
Thursday, July 7: Today’s been a real eye-opener in lots of ways. I’ve discovered that Stan isn’t half the man I thought he was, given the circumstances. He’s got some weird friend named Ryan Davis, and the guy’s a total loser. I can’t believe what Ryan said to Andie. I mean, this is prejudice at its worst!
I just hope Andie can work through things. I don’t know what this rotten world’s coming to!
I continued to write, pouring out my woes. Then I glanced at my watch. If I didn’t get Mom off the phone, it would be too late to call Andie. Her dad had a rule that she wasn’t allowed to use the phone after ten o’clock at night.
I signed off in my journal and stashed it safely away in the bottom dresser drawer. Then I hurried down the hall to the stairs. Time to claim the portable phone.
Mom was yawning as I tiptoed into the kitchen, motioning to her for all I was worth. I made some hand signals to her. She nodded, smiling, catching my unspoken message.
Sitting down at the bar, I munched on a couple of snickerdoodle cookies. Mom had made a batch this morning in the cool of the day while we kids slept in. I glanced around for Carrie and Stephie. They were nowhere in sight, thank goodness.
Mom was still engaged in animated conversation with someone. I hadn’t figured out whom—so I slid off the barstool and headed downstairs to the family room. There they were, my five siblings, stretched out in various degrees of vegging out all over the carpet. Carrie and Stephie sat cross-legged in front of the coffee table, eyes glued to the TV. Mark and Phil, my younger stepbrothers. I called them brousins since they were really cousins-turned-brothers—were gobbling popcorn. Stan took up the entire sofa part of the sectional, reclining with his legs sprawled out across the length of the furniture.
“What’s on TV?” I asked.
“Shh!” they answered in chorus.
Inching into the room, I saw the reason for their interest. It looked like some sci-fi show, complete with weird music. Why Stephie and Carrie were fascinated I had no idea.
“What a waste,” I muttered, heading for the stairs.
That’s when Stan called to me. “Hey, Holly.”
I turned around to see him getting up. “What?” I said as he came over.
“How’s Andie doing?” His face looked serious. No…he was actually worried.
“Who wants to know?”
“C’mon, Holly, don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what? You’re the one who got all this garbage with Andie started.” I turned to leave.
Stan reached out and touched my arm. “Just tell me, is she okay?”
I pulled away. “If you’re so worried, why don’t you ask her yourself?”
“She won’t talk to me,” he said.
“Well”—I eyed him sarcastically—“I wonder why.”
“Okay, I’ll admit it, Ryan said some stupid things, but I—”
“You?” I wanted to scream. “You just stood by and let him go off like that?”
He frowned, concerned. “Is that what Andie told you?”
I nodded. “I heard it straight from her, and that’s not all. Paula and Kayla thought Ryan was bad news, too.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t mean to hurt Andie.”
“Okay, but what about
me
? What was all that at supper?” I turned around and ran up the stairs.
Stan didn’t follow me, and it was a good thing because Mom was just hanging up the phone. “Phone’s all yours, Holly-Heart,” she said. “You might want to use the hall phone upstairs. This one needs recharging, I think.”
For a long-distance call, I didn’t want to chance it, so I hurried upstairs, hoping the rest of the kids would stay put in front of their ridiculous intergalactic flick.
Quickly, I punched the numbers for Daddy’s luxury ocean. front house. The phone rang only twice. Saundra, my stepmom, answered. “Meredith residence.”
“Hey…uh, this is Holly. Is my dad there?”
“He’s on his way home from work,” she replied.
“Work…this late?”
“Well, you have to remember it’s only eight-fifteen here, dear,” she crooned into my left ear.
“Oh, I forgot.” Time zones aside, I wondered why Daddy was working so late.
“Is there a message I may give him?” Saundra asked, pouring on her not-so-subtle charm.
“I guess not.” I hesitated, thinking about the time crunch involved in getting Andie’s plane ticket. Hmm. Maybe I’d better go ahead and chance it and get Saundra’s opinion on the matter. “Well, actually, it’s about my trip out there,” I continued. “I was wondering if you and Daddy would mind if I brought a friend along.”
“A friend?” she said. There was a delicate pause. “Sure, since Carrie’s not coming, there’ll be plenty of room.”
“Are you sure it’ll be okay with Daddy?” I asked politely. It didn’t hurt to make points with the woman who pretty much ran my father’s social life.
“I think your dad will be delighted to entertain you and your friend.”
“Her name’s Andie—short for Andrea,” I said. “She’s going to try and work things out on this end with her parents. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s definite, okay?”
“That’s fine,” Saundra said. I could almost see her perfectly manicured nails wrapped around one of their expensive telephones.
“Tell Tyler I can’t wait to see him and that Carrie says hi,” I said, referring to Saundra’s son.
“He’ll certainly miss seeing her this time,” she added.
“Well, I guess I’d better get going. But tell Daddy I called.”
“He should be home any minute. I will.”
“Okay, thanks. Good-bye.”
“Good-bye, dear,” she said.
I hung up, hoping Daddy wasn’t becoming a workaholic or something.
Quickly, I surveyed the stairs behind me. I didn’t want Stan or anyone else listening in on my next conversation—with Andie. Our plans were going to be kept private, at least for now.
“Hello?” she answered on the first ring.
“Guess what? It’s all right with California,” I said, excitement rising in my voice.
“Really?” She sounded ecstatic. “Your dad said it’s okay?”
“My stepmom will fill him in, but she’s all for it.” I heard the steps creak behind me. I spun around. “Just a minute, Andie.” I left the phone dangling on its cord. I crept toward the stairs and peered down. Stan was there, all right. “What’re you doing?” I said.
“I need to talk to you, Holly,” he said sheepishly.
“Not now. I’m busy.”
Stan turned away, leaving me alone with Andie, who was waiting impatiently. “What’s going on there?” she asked. “I thought I heard Stan’s voice. Does he know anything about this?”
“He knows squat,” I said, laughing.
“I’ll talk to my parents and call you back tonight…before ten,” she said. “Thanks, Holly, you’re terrific!”
We hung up, and I danced a jig through the hallway and into my bedroom. What a fabulous trip we were going to have!
Mom and Uncle Jack came upstairs just as I finished another set of twirls and spins. “Everything okay?” Mom asked, peeking into my room.
“Everything’s perfect.” I grinned at Uncle Jack, who had a long piece of celery hanging out of his mouth—complete with leafy green ends.
“We’re tired,” Mom said, eyeing my stepdad. “Jack’s been working long hours.”
“Sweet dreams,” I said. “I’ll make sure the crew doesn’t stay up all night.”
“And don’t you, either,” Mom said with a grin. “You might want to think about packing pretty soon.”
“I’ll start tomorrow.”
“Good night, kiddo,” Uncle Jack called, still munching on his celery stick.
“Love you,” Mom said and closed their door.
Inside my room, I undressed and found my favorite pair of pj’s in my drawer. The rosy pink tank top had a matching pair of pink-and-white heart shorts. I curled up in my canopy bed with a brand-new Marty Leigh mystery, wondering how long before Andie would call.
Nearly a half hour passed. I couldn’t believe it was almost ten when I looked at my watch. That’s how it was with this incredible author. She could keep you spellbound, make you forget real life even existed.
I put the book down and went into the hallway, listening for sounds from the troops below. Surely the sci-fi movie was over.
I reached for the hall phone and was surprised to hear Stan’s voice on the other line. No wonder I hadn’t received Andie’s call.
He
was hogging the phone.
“Excuse me, Stan,” I interrupted. “I’m waiting for an important call.”
“Uh, is that Holly?” another voice came on the line. It sounded familiar.
“Who’s this?”
“Ryan Davis,” he said. “Remember, we had supper together?”
Was this guy pushing it or what!
“Hey, I really wanted to see that magazine of yours,” he went on, sounding way too eager for my liking. “You know, the one with your story in it?”
I wanted to say “forget it” but bit my tongue. “Look, I’m leaving for California in a couple days,” I told him. “I’m real busy. Sorry.”
“Maybe we could talk about it over a Coke before you go.”
I nearly choked. Who did he think he was—insulting my best friend, putting her down in front of me at supper, and now asking me out? This was outrageous!
“I’m not allowed to date,” I answered. Hopefully that would change his attitude about me.
“Oh, it wouldn’t be a date,” he went on. “Stan could come, too, if that would make you feel better.”
Nothing would make me feel better about you,
I thought.
Not now, not ever!
“I’m waiting for a call,” I said, dying to hear from Andie.
“Hey, cool,” Ryan said. “Anything the pretty blonde says.”
I tried not to gag. Andie was right. This guy was a total night-mare!
I hung up, waiting a few seconds for Stan to do the same. Unfortunately, I could still hear him downstairs yakking with Ryan, and it really bugged me.
Finally I could stand it no longer. I grabbed my bathrobe off the back of my door and dashed downstairs.
“Get off the phone,” I told Stan.
“Deal with it,” he shot back, waving me out of the room.
Wanting to cut the phone cord, I stood just outside the kitchen, waiting in the dining room where Stan couldn’t see me. As I expected, he took his sweet time and eventually hung up a meager three minutes before ten o’clock. He sauntered out of the kitchen, heading toward his bedroom without even speaking to me. Just as well.
Within seconds, the phone rang, and I flew to get it. “Hello?”
“Very bad news,” Andie moaned. “I’m stuck in Dressel Hills forever.”
“You mean you can’t go?”
“Mom says no.”
“What about your dad?”
“He’s not home yet,” she said tearfully. “Besides, he won’t agree to something Mom’s already vetoed.” Sounded familiar.
“Well, maybe another time?”
“Probably not,” she said, exhaling into the phone. “I was really living for this.”
“I know,” I said, trying to soothe her disappointment. “Maybe they’ll change their minds.”
“Dream on.”
“See you tomorrow?” I said.
“Yeah, see ya.”
I hung up, feeling lousy. Andie was stuck here in town. And in three days she’d be without me to protect her from that rotten Ryan Davis. Not to mention my own stepbrother.
LITTLE WHITE LIES
The next morning I woke up earlier than usual. I heard Mom and Uncle Jack talking quietly in their bedroom, down the hall from my room.
Yesterday’s events came flooding back. The ethnic slurs Ryan had made to Andie…the way Stan hadn’t spoken up to defend her…and the latest blow: Andie’s mom had put her foot down about California.
I crept out of bed, found my journal, then crawled back into bed. Time to tell all.
Friday, July 8: Here I am, wanting something so badly, and BAM, the wish bubble pops right in my face! Translation: I was hoping Andie could go with me to visit my dad, but things got changed around way too fast. Her mom said no. It’s no good to tell Andie to talk to her dad about it. That would just make things worse in the long run.
I laid down my pen, thinking. What if
I
were to talk to Andie’s mom? Just sorta wander over there today and test the waters…find out why she’d decided against letting Andie go. Maybe it would open the door for some discussion. Maybe I could put her mother’s fears to rest. No doubt she had some.
With a renewed sense of urgency, I bounded out of bed and headed for the bathroom. When I was dried off from my shower and wrapped in a towel, I hurried to my room again, anxious to get over to Andie’s.
When I made my kitchen appearance, Mom was already scrambling eggs and frying bacon. “How’d you sleep?” Mom asked. It was her standard line.
“Morning, sweet toast,” Uncle Jack said, shuffling through the newspaper. He had such weird nicknames for all six of us kids. And I mean
all
of us. Uncle Jack was cool that way. (The uncle part came from the fact that he’d been married to Daddy’s sister before she died.) So even though he wasn’t really related to Carrie and me, it felt good knowing that he loved us enough to dream up individual nicknames.
“What do you have planned for today?” Uncle Jack asked, studying me as I settled down onto the barstool next to him.
“Not much.”
“Well, I hope whatever it is, you won’t forget your mother here. I think she could use some help around the house.” He winked at me and reached for a glass of orange juice. “What do you think? Can you squeeze a chore or two into your social schedule?”