Chapter Eighteen

 

<><> Miriam <><>

 

“Bay, why’d you have to be so frigid? The guy’s falling all over himself for a bit of your attention. Give him a break.”

“Jacinta, I have a boyfriend, remember?”

“Still,” I say with scorn, “you didn’t have to make him feel bad.” I know this is unusual territory for Bailey. Yes, she receives plenty of attention from guys, but never one with such 'in-your-face' tactics. He really went for it.

“I didn’t mean to, but he should relax a little.”

Jacinta giggles and pulls back my bedroom curtain to inspect the backyard boys. “He obviously knows what he wants. Take it as a compliment. Hey, Miri, you should ask Chris when his friend’s birthday is and I’ll look up his horoscope, see if Bailey and him are a perfect match.”

“Don’t waste your time. What’s his name again?” Bailey asks nonchalantly. Something tells me she already knows.

“Casper.”

“Casper?” Jacinta croaks. “As in the Friendly Ghost? That’s…different.”

“I like it. Chris calls him Cas.”

Bailey pulls back the curtain and sneaks a peek too. They’re standing with their backs to me assessing the scenery.

“Okay, so maybe he is a beautiful boy, but I refuse to be with someone who does drugs. No way. Out of the question.”

“Why do you think he does drugs?” asks Jacinta, her eyes scanning from Cas to Kyle. “Mmmm, check out the younger Loman. Now that’s a fine piece of…”

“Jacinta!” Bailey squeals.

“What? Just look at him lifting those bricks.” She fans herself with a hand. “My, my, my. Can’t get enough of that!”

Jacinta may be totally consumed by the view, but my mind is still on Bailey’s comment. “Assuming Cas does drugs is a little presumptuous, even for you, Bay.”

“Maybe, but he probably does. You have to admit, he’s acting stoned right now! Did you understand what he was saying to me, because I sure didn’t.”

“Not nice, Bay.”

She ignores me. “Besides, I have a boyfriend.” Crossing her arms defensively, I catch her peering through my window a couple more times and I know exactly whom she’s spying on. I also know this is our cue to drop the subject. Bailey is sensitive and I respect that. She feels everything deeper than most people, which makes her the perfect candidate for acting. Still, even with all the expected drama, I’ve never seen her so thrown off her game by a guy before. Cas has placed himself in a league all his own, having broken through her barrier of pristine restraint. I wonder what kind of internal dialogue she’s got going on in that head of hears. I bet it doesn’t involve Halton.

 

~ ~ ~ ~

 

After the girls leave, I run around doing errands for my mom like going to the pharmacy, the grocery store, and the post office. She’s resting today, the fatigue preventing her from driving, so I take charge of the situation. When I get home, the work trucks are all gone except for one — the old Bronco. Seeing Chris’s truck makes my heart skip since I’m so excited to see him.

Unloading the shopping bags on the kitchen counter, I see him gathering up shovels through the window. As I slide the glass door to the back patio open, he turns.

“Hi,” he says, tossing the shovels aside and striding toward me with purpose. I suspect he’s been killing time until I got back.

“I thought you would have left by now.”

“I wanted to see you, to say goodnight.”

“Thanks.”

We stand facing each other, the space between us charged. I want to reach out and touch him, to pull him into me and kiss him, but I resist. He must be thinking the same thing because he does just that. I close my eyes as his lips press against mine and his hand rests on my hip. “I’ve been waiting to do that to you all day.”

“Me too.” I smile and go in for another one, since I’m already here.

Chris takes my hand and holds it, all the while holding my stare. “I was hoping to ask you something.”

“Oh yeah?” I say, suddenly feeling nervous. Maybe it’s the nervous vibe I’m picking up from him.

“A bunch of us are going to a concert at Artpark in two weeks and then camping overnight in Canada. I was wondering if you wanted to come too.”

Gulping, I poke myself in the chest. “Just me?”

“You could ask Jacinta and Bailey if you want. We have room.”

“Who’s going?” I panic.

“So far it’s Simon, me, and maybe you. My brother Kyle is coming too with his friend Travis and Travis’s girlfriend Hannah. Hannah is bringing her friend, Mia. Should be fun.”

“And Bettina?”

“Maybe. Kyle hasn’t confirmed her yet.”

“Who’s playing?” I ask, wondering if his music and my music repertoires will be compatible. Deep down, I already know the answer. We’re quite different; Chris is hard (as in metal) while I’m soft and mellow.

“Alice Cooper.”

Can you say disappointed? “Oh. I don’t think I know any of his songs. Wait, isn’t he, like, seventy?”

Chris laughs. “He’s a legend, come on, it’ll be fun. Besides, it’s only one night.”

“I don’t know, Chris. What about my mom? I don’t feel comfortable leaving her.”

“Do you want me to ask her permission?”

The comment surprises me. “No, you don’t have to do that.”

“Maybe she thinks you need a night out to be young and take a chance.”

I feel a little baited, but it’s working. “I’ll ask her, but if she says no, I’m not going.”

“That’s fine...but I’d love you to come with me. Just think about it.”

Chris guides me in for another long kiss, but my mind is already swirling with excuses on how I’m going to get out of this. Part of me does want to go, but another huge part of me is scared. An entire night away with Chris can only mean one thing, and I don’t trust myself one bit.

 

 

“Are you comfortable?” I ask, tucking Mom in and replacing the stale water beside her bed with a fresh glass.

“Honey, don’t worry, I’m fine.”

I crawl onto the bed beside her and snuggle close, resting my head on her shoulder. She looks so frail lately, like she’s losing weight.

“Did Doctor Tanzer weigh you on Tuesday?”

Mom hesitates. “Yes.”

“And?”

“I’m down a bit, but that’s to be expected.”

“You’ll have to eat more of the cookies we’ve been making.”

She laughs and snuggles down under the covers more. She’s shivering despite the heat, despite having turned the air conditioner right off. I opened all the windows to allow the humidity in, but she’s still complaining of being cold.

“How’s the backyard looking? I think I slept for most of the day so I missed the action.”

“Great. The guys are over halfway done.”

“And what about Chris?”

“Chris?”

“Yes. You said dinner went well, but you haven’t talked about him much. You can tell me anything, you know that, right?”

“I know. Things are going well. He kissed me.”

She elbows me from under the covers and gasps. “Fantastic! Was he a gentleman?”

I roll my eyes so she sees. “Yes.”

“I knew he would be. I like him.”

“Me too.”

“What happens now? Are you going steady?”

“Going steady? What is this, 1980?”

“Your Dad and I used to go steady, back in College. That’s what we called it. Heck, even my parents went steady back in the day. Why, what do you call it now?”

“I don’t know, but not 'going steady'. That sounds hokey.”

“Hokey – now who sounds old fashioned?”

“We’re seeing each other.”

“Seeing each other. That sounds the same as going steady to me.”

“In fact, Chris asked me to go to a concert with him at Artpark.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“Here’s the catch. He then wants to go camping across the border for the night.”

“Just the two of you?” Mom actually sounds hopeful. She must be the most liberal parent on earth.

“No, with a group of friends. Girls and guys.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“I’m not sure I should go.”

“Why not?” Mom tries to sit up a little and then slumps right back down.

“Mom, I can’t leave you like this. What if you need something? No, I’m not going.”

“You are.”

“Maybe I’ll go to the concert and then come home. Everyone else can go camping.”

“You’re going, Miriam. Nunny or Holly can come over and spend the night with me. Besides, I need a break from you and your teenage sulking.”

I shoot her a look of surprise and she smiles. “Joking. You know I love having you around, but you need a break from me, and this sounds like the perfect opportunity.”

“Maybe.”

“You’re so much like your dad, Miriam, straight-laced and by the book. It always took effort to get him to do anything spontaneously. You have to live a little, let your hair down. I know I’ve said this before, but I want you to travel, make mistakes, and have some fun! Please, will you do that for me?”

“Fine,” I say, sensing deep down her need to live vicariously through me now. It breaks my heart.

“Good. You’re going and that’s final.”