Holly's Heart Collection Two (63 page)

Her eyes suddenly seemed sad. “What
did
you say to my mom?”

“That you’re breaking every one of her rules. That you’re going crazy out here; you’re totally out of control. And if you don’t get your act together, I’m shipping you home on the very next plane.” I studied her as I eased myself back down into the lounge chair. “Is that what you wanted me to say?”

Andie sat down. “Is that how you feel? That you want me to go home?”

I inhaled and held my breath for a moment. “Well, I think it might be a good idea, especially if you’re going to lose your head over a guy who can’t get a date with girls his own age.”

“Holly!”

“C’mon, Andie, face it. You’re only fourteen. What could he possibly want with a girl your age?”

“You don’t even know Rico.” She folded her arms. “Listen, I don’t want to hurt your feelings. Is that what this is about? Are you mad because we’re not doing very much together?”

Sure, that was part of it, but I was tired of taking the rap for the rift between us. Jealousy was becoming less and less of an issue. I’d seen the lusty look in Rico’s eyes. “Don’t you remember the lunch we had at the Soda Straw, all of us together? What was the point of telling your mom you were going to follow her rules when the minute you get out of her sight, you go nuts?”

“Okay,” she agreed. “I need a break. What am I doing that’s so bad? I mean, we’ve all been together…most of the time. And nobody’s going out on dates or anything, not really.” Her face was red and angry. She was fighting too hard for Rico.

I looked away, letting my eyes roam over the beach to the boulder where she had sat with Rico. “You’re in way over your head, Andie,” I said without looking at her. “If you have any sense, you’ll cool it.”

“You’re getting preachy.”

I sighed. “I’m sure you’ve heard this stuff many times from your mom, at church, from our youth pastor.”

She looked at me like I was from some other planet. “Holly, save your voice,” she said. “We’re not doing anything wrong.”

“Maybe not yet, but things lead to, you know, other things.” I was having a hard time getting this out. “You can’t fool around physically without getting hurt…eventually.”

“I can’t believe you’re saying this,” she said, standing up. “Everythings under control with Rico, if that’s what you mean.” She walked to the sliding door. “I have to make a phone call.” Picking up her long skirt, she stepped inside and slid the glass door shut.

Reaching for my soda, I thought of the stress I’d endured back home with Carrie and Stephie constantly in my face—how I couldn’t wait to get away from them. Away from their snooping. Away from Stan and his constant stupidity.

Peace and quiet—what a joke. So far, the past two days had been nothing short of total chaos. How ignorant of me to think I was finally going to have a real vacation.

The word
stress
hung in my mind as I tiptoed inside and hurried downstairs to my room. I found my journal and began to pour some of the tension onto the lines of the notebook paper.

Tuesday, July 12: I think Andie and her friend Rico are not only freaking me out, they’re turning me into a watchdog. Tonight when I talked to Andie about her spending time with him, I honestly sounded like somebody’s mother! I hate this role, yet I agreed to take it. In a way, it’s Andie’s mom’s fault for asking me to “watch over” her daughter. I’m turning into someone I don’t like.

If Andie would take more responsibility for herself, I could relax. Relax. Hmm, that’s something I think my dad oughta do, too. He sounded so exhausted when he called from the office this afternoon. Here it is already 8:30, and he’s still not home.

I’m beginning to worry. And I don’t think I’m the only one. Saundra isn’t herself. I can see it in her eyes. She’s worried, too.

After I finished writing, I knelt down and began to pray for Saundra. And for Daddy. Then I felt compelled to pray for Saundra’s salvation. “Make her want to know you,” I told the Lord. “And let me be more open to her during this visit. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

I was surprised how quickly the time had passed. It was nearly dark outside when I stood up. I reached for the green lamp on the table next to the bed. Turning it on, I sat there on the floor in the stillness of my empty room, reveling in God’s peace.

The quiet moments spent there were the calm before the hurricane. When I went back upstairs, I didn’t really mean to eavesdrop, but as I was turning into the kitchen, I heard Saundra talking to her neighbor lady. It sounded as if they were standing at the door, saying good-bye to each other. “Do take care of that husband of yours,” her friend said.

“Doing my best,” Saundra answered. “But he’s not slowing down enough, I’m sorry to say.” I heard her sniffle. “I’ll know more when Robert gets home later.”

I strained to hear. Saundra was saying that Daddy had to stop and get some lab results. I held my breath, afraid to breathe. So
that’s
why he’d called this afternoon.

I didn’t like the sound of this. When Saundra came into the kitchen, I stuck my head in the fridge, pretending to look for something to eat.

“Hungry already?” she asked.

Slowly, I withdrew from the refrigerator. “Not really,” I whispered.

“What is it, dear?” She put her hand under my chin and lifted my face to meet her gaze. “What’s wrong?”

“I heard what you were saying just now,” I muttered, tears coming fast. “What’s wrong with Daddy?”

“Oh that.” She waved her hand as though there was nothing in the world to worry about. “Your father’s a workaholic, that’s all. His doctor wants him to slow down, but—” she sighed—“you know how your father is.”

“So he’s not sick, then?”

She pondered the thought. “I think he’s a little stressed, that’s all.”

I honestly didn’t believe her. The answers she’d given sounded like white lies to me. Which made me even more concerned. What was she hiding?

The next day was Wednesday. Daddy stayed home from work, which was fabulous. He lounged around in his silk pajamas and robe most of the morning. Maybe he and I would have a chance to talk. Maybe not an intimate heart-to-heart talk, but a good, solid one would do.

We sat outside on the deck, where Saundra served Andie, Tyler, and me a breakfast of bacon and eggs. Dad got granola and an orange without his usual coffee. My stepmom played the energetic hostess, rushing in and out of the house, bringing more platters of jelly toast and bacon.

Tyler seemed to enjoy himself, chattering on and on about the sand creations he was planning to make.

“What are
your
plans today?” Daddy asked me, including both Andie and me in his gaze.

“Sean and I are going for a walk after lunch.”

Andie jumped on that statement. “Sean Hamilton’s coming over? You mean I finally get to meet him?” She was too eager. Or maybe she didn’t really care at all about meeting Sean. In her mind, maybe my having a guy around would get her off the hook with me about Rico.

Before I could answer her, Daddy spoke up. “That Sean…he’s really terrific.” He smiled, leaning back in the sun, like he was remembering a fond moment. “I can’t think of a nicer fellow for my daughter to be seeing.”

“Daddy!” I blushed. “I’m not
seeing
anyone. I’m too young to date, remember?”

“Oh, sure,” he said. “But if you ever decide to do such a thing, well, Sean’s my first choice.”

Andie’s eyes danced with glee. She was obviously delighted that the subject of boys had come up.

Then I did something I’d probably live to regret. I asked Daddy about Rico Hernandez. “Do you know him?”

Andie’s eyes shot warning signals.

“Rico, you say?” He shielded his eyes from the sun. “Now, there’s an interesting kid.” He didn’t say Rico was a
good
kid.

Andie must have read more into his statement, though, because she sat up straight in her chair, sporting a huge grin.

“So you
do
know Rico?” I asked.

“I certainly do,” Daddy responded, holding his glass up for more ice water. Saundra hopped to it and got him some fresh water. “Rico lives up the beach. I’ve known his family for a number of years; in fact, his dad’s a brilliant doctor—one of mine.”

Andie’s eyes did a complete flip.

“What kind of doctor?” I asked, but Saundra didn’t give Daddy time to answer. Instantly, she changed the subject.

Exactly what was she hiding?

LITTLE WHITE LIES

Chapter 13

My walk with Sean that afternoon took us several miles down the beach. Tropical palm trees dotted the bluffs jutting high above the coastline, making the setting seem all the more exotic.

“I was going to send you an email before you came,” he said cautiously, “but the timing didn’t seem quite right.” His light blond hair rippled in the breeze. “I’ve been thinking about you, Holly.”

I swallowed. This wasn’t supposed to happen. “Look, Sean,” I said, realizing now was as good a time as any to lay down my ground rules, “I wanted to tell you on the phone about something, but it was—” I paused—“shall we say, inconvenient at the time.”

Sean looked puzzled.

I continued. “Last month, after church camp, I came to the conclusion that I’m not happy with the way things have been going for me with boys. I mean, I don’t have a problem with being friends or anything.”

Sean nodded enthusiastically, like he could see my point one hundred percent.

“I won’t be fifteen for another seven months, but it’s not really the age thing so much as the pressure most boy-girl relationships involve. Know what I mean?”

He said he did.

“So, for that reason, I’m going to level with you. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I’m not interested in dating while I’m here. Besides, my mom wouldn’t approve anyway.”

“That’s cool. I respect that.”

We found seashells at the high-tide line, packed close together in the sand, as we walked leisurely toward Daddy’s house. Sean was nice enough to fill his pants pockets with my beach souvenirs. He told me about the secondhand car his folks were helping him buy and his summer job at a Christian radio station.

“Sounds like fun,” I said. “Do you want to become a disc jockey after high school?”

“Nah, it’s just one of my hobbies.” He ran his fingers through his short, thick hair. “I’m actually thinking about going to med school.”

This was news to me. “What kind of medicine?”

He turned to look at me, smiling. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been interested in hearts.” His smile broadened. “I’m not talking Holly-Heart here, so relax, okay? But ever since sixth grade, when Dr. Hernandez came to school for Professional Day, I’ve thought about being a cardiologist.”

Dr. Hernandez…a heart doctor?

“Rico’s dad’s a cardiologist?” I blurted.

He nodded. “So…you’ve met Rico?”

“Well, actually, he’s Andie’s friend,” I said quickly.

“Rico’s a little old for her, don’t you think?”

I could hardly make sense of things—my brain was clouded with the fact that Daddy’s heart needed help. That’s why Saundra had been covering for him. She didn’t want to worry me. Daddy’s heart…what could be wrong?

I wasn’t doing very well carrying my end of the conversation.

“I’m sorry, what?”

Sean repeated himself. “Rico’s been out of high school for a year. He ought to be dating girls his age.”

“No kidding!”

“Does Andie know he’s not a Christian?” he asked.

“Well, she says she wants to witness to him,” I explained, letting Sean know in no uncertain terms that I was opposed to their friendship. “It’s kinda touchy, though, because Andie had problems with a couple of guys back home. They, well…
one
of them made fun of her for being Hispanic, and because of that I think she’s more vulnerable to Rico right now.”

Sean nodded. “Prejudice is widespread around here, too. It’s everywhere, really.” He seemed to understand my concern for Andie, and I felt instantly better for having confided in him.