That night, I can’t fall asleep. Not only do I keep thinking I can hear the ground groaning under my bed—a sinkhole brewing under the building, waiting to slurp me up—but I can’t help wondering if coming to Florida was a huge mistake. Maybe Dad is right. He doesn’t have time for me, and my dream of going to Disney feels like it’s never going to come true. We’re practically down the road from Epcot, and I might never actually see it. Even if we do go, how can I enjoy myself and find a way to reconnect with my dad when Ellie keeps getting in the way?
Finally, even though it’s late, I call Marisol, hoping she’s still up and that her phone ringing won’t wake up her parents.
“Rachel? Are you okay?” she whispers when she answers it.
“I…I don’t know,” I whisper back. “I tried to talk to my dad about stuff tonight, but he got all defensive and said me coming to visit was a mistake.”
I hear Marisol suck in a breath. “He said that? That doesn’t sound like your dad.”
“None of this sounds like my dad! I don’t know what happened to him. I’m not even sure he wants me here.”
Marisol chuckles. “Are you kidding? He’s been saying for months how much he wants you to come visit.”
“That’s the thing. He’s been saying it, but he hasn’t been acting like it. He’s barely spent any time with me, and when he and I are together, it’s like we don’t know how to talk to each other. He’s not the same person he was a few months ago.”
“Or maybe you’re not,” she says.
“What do you mean?”
“Think about everything that’s happened since your dad left. There’s no way you’re the same person that you were then. And maybe he’s been through stuff that’s changed him too. You guys just have to get to know each other again.”
“If he marries Ellie, that might never happen. You should have heard him today, Marisol. If Ellie proposes, I know he’ll say yes.”
“I’m sorry,” she says, and I’m shocked to realize that even she’s stumped by the whole situation. The fact that Marisol, who always has an encouraging word or bit of advice, sounds defeated makes me feel even worse.
“I wish you could have come down here with me,” I say. “This vacation would have been a ton better with you around.”
“But then you’d be working all the time and I’d be lounging by the pool all day. I’d be so bored.”
“Oh yeah,” I say with a snort. “That sounds horrible. Poor you.”
She laughs. “Anyway, if talking to your dad didn’t work, maybe you should try talking to Ellie.”
“That won’t be awkward. ‘Hey, Ellie. Can you get your claws out of my dad so I can hang out with him?’”
“It’s either that or things stay the same,” she says.
Ugh. She’s right. I guess I’ll have to swallow my mortification and give it a try.
•••
When I get to Ellie’s office in the morning, I’m about to knock on the half-open door. Then I hear her voice inside, sounding surprisingly angry, and I freeze.
“But what about Caleb?” she says. “What am I supposed to tell him?” She’s quiet for a minute like she’s on the phone, and then she says, “He doesn’t want to be here. He wants to be with you. And now I’m supposed to tell him that his father would rather take on a new project than spend time with him?”
Another long pause and finally she sighs and says, “All right. I’ll think of something to tell him. But I hope you realize what you’re doing. That boy idolizes you, and you’re just throwing him away the way you threw away our relationship.” Then she slams down the phone.
I stand there like a statue for a minute, digesting what I heard. Caleb seems convinced that his father is an amazing guy, but maybe Ellie is the one who’s really on his side.
As I’m trying to decide if I should run away or knock and do what I came here to do, I hear Ellie get out of her chair and cross the room. If she takes one more step toward me, she’ll see me standing here. So I quickly pound on the door, like I can’t wait to talk to her.
“Oh, Rachel!” she says in surprise as she appears in the doorway. “Come in. Sit down.” She shows me into her office, which is tiny and littered with empty iced-coffee cups. Not exactly the neat and perfect workspace I was expecting.
“What an interesting necklace!” Ellie says when I’m slumped into the chair opposite hers. The anger in her voice is gone, like it was never there.
“Um, thanks.” I finger the horrible horse necklace that’s somehow even heavier and more terrifying than it was yesterday. I really didn’t want to put it on this morning, but I was afraid Taylor would be offended if I didn’t.
“So what can I do for you?” she asks.
Just be Ava, I tell myself. No, I haven’t developed multiple personalities, but Ava is a whole lot better at talking to people than I am. I could use her boost of confidence right now.
“I wanted to talk to you,” I squeak. I go to spout the words I rehearsed in the shower this morning, but instead I find myself saying, “It’s about me working so much.” Wait. Where did that come from?
“Ah.” She leans back in her chair. “I was afraid this might happen. You know, when I first started working here, I had a hard time fitting in too. But eventually, I made some friends and it all started to come together. Just be yourself and people will realize how lovely you really are.”
I stare at her. “Actually,” I say, “the people here like me just fine. In fact, I think this is the most popular I’ve ever been.” I realize as I say it how snotty that sounds, but come on. Why did Ellie have to assume that the other girls think I’m a loser?
“Oh,” she says. “So what’s the problem?”
“I wanted to make sure you’re looking for someone to take my job. You said I’d be at the café for a couple of days, and it’s been three.”
“Well, to be honest with you, Rachel, it’s been hard to find someone. But I’m looking, I promise. And if we can’t find someone by next week, the café will just manage without you, okay?”
I let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank you.” If I have to spend my whole vacation working, not only will I never have time to reconnect with Dad, but I’ll feel even more cheated.
Ellie looks at her watch. “Do you mind if I send you off to the café? The morning rush should be starting soon.”
“No, wait!”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “What’s the matter?”
Just say it, I tell myself. Just casually bring it up and see what she says. “I need to ask you something else…about my dad.”
Her face relaxes. “Of course. I could talk about your father all day.” Since I’ve heard how much she talks, I don’t doubt it.
I clear my throat. “Well, I’ve been trying to convince him that we should go to Disney for a few days, but he never has any time.”
“He’s been so busy at work—”
“It’s not just that! It’s…it’s you!” I blurt out. “With your date nights and your pizza and stuff. How am I supposed to hang out with him when you’re taking up all his time?” So much for being casual.
Ellie gives me a long look. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Rachel. Of course I don’t want to come between you and your father, but we’re going to be family soon. Don’t you think we should get used to sharing him?”
But I don’t want to share him! my brain screams. Not all the time, anyway. “I’ve been planning this trip to Disney with him since I was little,” I say. “I’ve come all this way. It has to happen.”
I can hear how desperate my voice sounds, and I guess it must get through to Ellie because she finally says, “You’re right. If you want to go to Disney, then we’ll go to Disney.”
Oh my goldfish. Why does she have to always assume that she’s invited to everything? Can’t I have even one day alone with my dad?
“Wait!” Ellie adds, sitting up in her seat. “It would be the perfect spot! Why didn’t I think of it before? I mean, Disney is supposed to be the most magical place on earth.”
“Perfect spot for what?” I say.
“For me to propose to your father!” she says.
All I can do is stare at her, my breath frozen in my chest like it’s been glued there.
“Don’t say a word to him, okay? I want it to be a complete surprise.” She checks her watch again. “Oops! It’s getting late. We don’t want to leave Carrie and Taylor all alone during the rush, do we?” She shoos me toward the door. “Don’t worry, Rachel. Just leave all the planning to me,” Ellie adds, giving me a little wink before she shuts the door in my face.