Chapter 35
Grandma’s garden became chilly as the clouds rolled in from the bay and shut out the afternoon sun. The woman wrapped herself in a Navajo Indian blanket and relaxed on one of the canvas lawn chairs reading Robert Frost as she burned more sage in a clay pot.
Emma watched Grandma through the French doors in the kitchen.
“Just go ask her, love.” Olivia said.
“It’s not as simple as that,” Emma said. “My grandma despises everything about The Authority and she doesn’t trust Grandma Laura…I mean, Mrs B.”
“Grandma Laura?” Miyuki asked.
“You’re related?” Nadia asked.
“Hold on,” Olivia said. “You’re messing with us, right?”
Emma hesitated. “You guys can’t tell anyone. Seriously. I don’t think Mrs. B wants you to know.”
“You’re flipping serious? You and Mrs. B are relatives?”
“Tell us everything!” Miyuki said.
“To be honest…even I don’t know the whole story yet so stay tuned for further updates.” Emma turned her attention back to Grandma and scoffed. “I can’t do this now.”
On the other side of the glass, Snoopy ran up to the French doors and barked at Emma. His tail wagged with excitement.
“Puppy!” Miyuki said as she waved.
Outside, Grandma leaned forward in her chair to look. She smiled and slipped a bookmark into her novel.
Emma rolled her eyes. “Thanks puppy.” She opened the French doors and stepped out into the garden. The chill in the air made Emma wrap her arms around her mid-section before making herself comfortable on a lawn chair next to Grandma.
“It’s cool today,” Grandma said. “You’ll need a blanket if you want to stay out here.”
“It’s fine,” Emma said. “Can I talk to you?”
Grandma placed her book on a side table and folded her arms across her chest. She raised her eyebrows to imply that she was ready.
“Think I understand now why my mother and dad joined The Authority. It felt…good to stop the bad guys. When Dad met Mom, didn’t he believe in what The Authority was doing? If Dad was as high in the organization as Grandma Laura said he was, it must have meant very much to him, didn’t it?”
Grandma hesitated. “It did…until your mother’s death broke him. Like your death would break me.”
Emma saw it in her eyes. Her grandmother’s worst fear. “Life isn’t a guarantee is it? I could be driving to school one day. Flying on a plane. Standing at the wrong place at the wrong time. Death is everywhere. I can’t let it stop me from doing what I want to be doing.”
“You should be a vet like you wanted. A person who saves living creatures, not destroys them.”
“I want to be a spy. Like mom was.”
Grandma’s wrinkled hands played with the ends of the Navajo blanket. “Is this goodbye, young one?”
“What? No way. I’m staying here with you and going to public school, just like you wanted. I talked it over with Grandma Laura and she agreed.” Emma got up from her chair and sat next to Grandma, wrapping herself inside the same blanket, leaning against her like she did when Emma was young. Grandma’s hand brushed back Emma’s hair as the two just sat there a moment. Enjoying each other’s company.
“Why are those girls here?” Grandma finally asked.
“Grandma Laura would like you to take them in.”
Grandma chuckled. “Of course she does. What does she think this place is? A youth hostel?”
“These three girls are my friends and they’re far away from their families. They need a home and we have plenty of room here. I think it’s a great idea.”
“Let me take a stab at this. If I don’t take these girls in, Laura will insist on keeping you away from me?”
“Nope. It’s a request, not a threat,” Emma said. “And I’m making the request because they’re awesome girls. Seriously, you would like them, Grandma”
“If I allow them to live here, then I would be contributing to Laura’s fascist organization.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “Oh my God. You’re so stubborn. They’re not fascists. You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“I’ve never trusted them, Emma. Even when your father was a member. I never trusted them.”
“Do you trust me?”
“You know the answer to that.”
“So when it comes to my friends, you know I’m telling you the truth. This isn’t for Grandma Laura. This is for me.”
Grandma sighed and thought about it. “For you, huh?”
Emma flashed her the cutest little-girl-like smile ever. “Please?”
Grandma didn’t answer.
“I can’t do any of this without you.”
“Well, I won’t do it for Laura.” Grandma combed her finger thorough Emma’s hair. “But…I’ll do it for you. And only you.” Grandma’s face hardened. “If these girls live under my roof, then they’ll have to follow my rules. Even if Laura disagrees with them.”
“I think it’s safe to say that Grandma Laura already anticipated your terms and will reluctantly accept them.”
***
The school’s auditorium stage was bathed in colors. White for the actors. Orange for the wooden set representing the faraway pyramids of Egypt. Blue to emphasize the painted sky backdrop above it all. It was the Sunday matinee and the last school performance of The Spy Who Loathed Me.
Emma stood on stage in her floor-length dress. Once again, she played Olga Tetrovich the Russian spy. And once again, M16 spy George Bond hid behind a fake tree, waiting for Olga to show him the location of the microfilm.
Emma picked up the clay model of the pyramids from a souvenir stand, smashed it against the table once again. Held up the microfilm for the audience to see. But this time Emma sneaked a peek at them.
Grandma’s white hair with two ponytails was easy to pick out. But there were three other girls with her…Olivia, Nadia, and Miyuki. Their eyes captivated by what happened on stage, like they were totally into it. That’s what fascinated Emma about live theater. The hold an actor can have on an audience. It was powerful. And so wonderful.
As Emma turned to face Bond, she noted a tall man standing in back of the auditorium. He was quiet and hovered near an older woman gripping a cane. Emma smiled to herself and went on with the scene without a second-thought.
That afternoon’s matinee performance went off without much of a hitch. Even Lewis pushed himself and turned in an awesome performance that earned him a few extra claps at the end. After their curtain call, Emma and the rest of the cast came out to the lobby to greet the audience, a custom their drama teacher encouraged.
Emma received a lot attention, especially from the old ladies who would hold her hand and say she had talent. Emma finally was able to break away from all the strangers and join Grandma and her friends. There was no sign of Mrs. B or Aardvark, perhaps she had to leave early to plan some future operation.
“Please quench my curiosity,” Grandma said. “Is this play based on the James Bond movie or the Ian Flemming novel?”
“It’s based on all the spy movies,” Emma said. “The playwright mashed together scenes from the movies and created a storyline to match. It’s more of a loving tribute to James Bond. That’s why Bond is named George. It was a big hit on Broadway a couple years ago.”
“I see. Well, you elevated the material up to a point where it was entertaining.”
“What’s your co-star’s name again, love?” Olivia asked.
“Lewis. He was good tonight, wasn’t he?”
“He’s easy on the eyes.”
Miyuki clapped her hands together. “You have a crush!”
“Just said the bloke was handsome. That’s all.”
Nadia poked Olivia’s shoulder. “Tell him how much you liked his performance.”
Olivia cocked her head and checked out the boy standing on the other side of the lobby…alone. “Maybe I will.”
Olivia stuffed her hands in her jean pockets and nonchalantly moved in the boy’s general direction. Lewis made eye contact with her and smiled. This caused Olivia to veer away from him and pretended to get a drink at the water fountain.
The girls all laughed.
“Emma?” It was Mrs. Tuttle, her drama teacher. She held a bouquet of twenty-four roses. “These were just delivered with your name on them.”
“Thank you.” Emma took the bouquet and marveled how beautiful and fresh the roses were, from a first-class florist for sure. She found a gold envelope and popped open the seal. Inside was a fancy card with crisp edges. Emma slipped it out. There was a note handwritten in ink…
Congratulations. You were so beautiful on stage that I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you. Glad I spared your life. Heading off to Egypt myself to see the real pyramids. I’ll send you a picture.
Unless you’d like to join me?
Ryan
THE END
GET BOOK #2
Because reviews are so important to help spread the word about books, I humbly ask you to leave an honest review on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, or your bookseller of choice if you enjoyed Spies Like Me. Thank you so much!
FREE GEMS PREQUEL NOVEL: Get the exclusive* Gems prequel novel Dr. Yes along with classified dossiers of all four Gems, Spies Like Me deleted scenes, plus a special Gems Q&A when you sign up for this special offer. (*not available in stores)
BOOKS BY DOUG SOLTER
The Gems Spy Series
Young adult spy thriller series centered on four extraordinary teen girls who save the world and still must be home by curfew.
The Skid Series
Young adult contemporary sports drama set in the world of Formula One auto racing.
About The Author
Doug Solter began writing screenplays in 1998, then made the switch to writing young adult fiction in 2008. Doug has worked in television for over twenty years. He has also directed rap music videos and short films. Doug lives in Pennsylvania.
So far in his life, Doug has enjoyed wine on the streets of Barcelona. Hiked the mountains. Loved a cat. Rang up vanilla lattes at Starbucks. Enjoyed a Primanti's sandwich in Pittsburgh. And one summer he baked pizzas and crazy bread for money when Michael Keaton was Batman.
Doug is also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Connect with Doug on…
Booksprout App * Facebook * Bookbub * Instagram * Goodreads