Chapter Twenty-Three

 

Friday was a beautiful autumn day. The air was cool and crisp, perfect football weather. When Katie got home from school, she spent time in her room deciding what to wear to the game. She tried on a few outfits and then finally collapsed on her bed. She felt like she was a million miles and light years away from Drew. She wanted to see his face because it was fading from her memory. She concentrated until she pictured him again. Katie closed her eyes and then opened them again quickly. Sitting in her desk chair, gazing at her with a little smile on his face, was Drew.

“Come back to me, Kate. I’ll be there.”

She blinked, and he was gone. Tears filled her eyes. I will be there too, she thought.

Katie had the confidence to get ready. She decided she would have fun, and enjoy the weekend.

Tyson showed up at Katie’s front door with car keys dangling from his hand. “I’m driving...no more mom.” As they drove to the game, the sun was setting and glowing through the autumn leaves on the trees.

“Do you know how you glow in this light?” Tyson grabbed Katie’s hand. “You’re beautiful.” He kissed her hand.

Ty and Katie joined Matt and Jordyn and Brian and Lindsey at the game. There was so much going on, Katie was relieved she didn’t have to talk to anyone. She was still concerned over Tyson’s comments and this wasn’t the place to talk to her girlfriends about them. They watched the festivities and cheered for everything. Homecoming queen and her court were announced before the game and there was a wonderful marching band performance at halftime.

The guys left for a short time and Katie was finally about to talk to Lindsey. “Ty wants me to tell him I love him,” she whispered.

Lindsey looked at her and said, “You are so not doing that. Do you want me to talk to him?”

“No, I can handle it. Let’s just keep busy tonight.”

After the game they went for burgers, and sat in the restaurant for a long time.

“I think Katie should run for Homecoming queen next year.” Ty put his arm around her.

“I think I’ll let the Erins of the world do that.”

Erin was part of the Homecoming court and was in her element. She seemed to love all the eyes on her and the special attention that came with it. Maybe it was a good thing Katie didn’t make the cheer team. She could do without all that.

“Oh, come on, Katie. Can’t you picture you, me and Lindsey in the convertibles waving to the crowd?” Jordyn joked.

The rest of the evening was light and everyone was in a good mood as they left the restaurant. When Ty pulled into the Roberts’ driveway, Katie jumped out of the car.

“See you tomorrow, Ty.” She waved and smiled as she ran into the house. One down, one to go, she thought.

It was late and her parents were reading in their bedroom when Katie went upstairs.

“Have fun?” her mom called out to her.

“Yes, Mom. Good night you two.” Katie stood outside their door.

“Close our door now that you’re home, sweetie,” her mom blew her a kiss.

Katie went down the hall to her room. As she got ready for bed, she thought she heard voices coming from her parents’ room. Her parents sounded like they were fighting again. She tiptoed down the hall to see what she could hear. By then the voices had calmed down but it still seemed like a serious discussion.

“Shhh! She’s going to hear us! I told you everything would work out. Katie has a boyfriend. In the here and now. She’s distracted. Isn’t that what you wanted, Jackson?”

“I just want to make sure it stays that way. You have that book under lock and key, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. You are such a worrywart, although I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Joanna, as I have said before, and I will say again, you don’t take all this seriously enough. I don’t understand that book at times. I don’t want to expose Katie to something I’m not completely sure about.”

There was silence for awhile and then the light went out under the door. Katie slowly walked back to her room. Little do they know that I know what they are talking about.

That fight they had in the summer was not over the Mustang. It was over the trip she took back in time. Her mother must have told her dad about it when he first got home. Or maybe Jack Woods did see her and was really her father. She would find out all the answers eventually. For now, she decided she would work on worrying about the dance the next day.

When she got back to her room, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Lindsey to call if she was still up.

“Of course I’m still awake,” Katie said after Lindsey answered. “What’s up? Must be important if it can’t wait until tomorrow.”

“I know this is short notice but do you think you’ll be allowed to go to my aunt’s ranch in Arizona next weekend? It will be Columbus Day weekend and we’ll get an extra day off from school. Plus my mom is going to let me miss an extra day of school, too. I have been begging to go back because it will be my great-grandmother’s 100th birthday. I promised her I would come back for it. The rest of my family can’t go because my brother is in a soccer tournament. My mom really didn’t want me to go by myself, even though I go in the summer alone. I asked her if she would let me go if you came too, and she agreed. So?”

“Wow, I’d love to go. I’m sure my parents will let me. I’ll ask them in the morning. Everyone is meeting here at five, right?” Katie was more excited about going to Arizona than the dance.

“Yes, I’ll see you then.”