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EMMA
The end of term came and except for a few easy exams, I was free of school. My worry now was the Walker Christmas party. Genie had convinced me to spend an extra day at her parents' home before the big party. We'd go Friday night, have a spa day Saturday, and then attend the Walker Christmas party that night before I grabbed my things and took the bus home on Sunday.
And on the subject of getting home, Dad was highly suspicious. He asked a hundred different ways why I wasn't going home with Jake. That prompted me to send Jake a text, our first correspondence since Thanksgiving, when he’d decided to spend it with Bianca and not return to Pine Falls. We had to come up with something, otherwise all I had left was the truth.
As I packed the last of my things for the weekend at the Walkers', my phone rang Jake's familiar bullhorn tune. I stared at my screen, Jake's name popping up. My hand shook. Why was I so nervous?
"Hello," I said.
"Hi, Emma, I got your text. Instead of texting back and forth, I figured I'd just call. It's quicker that way."
"Well, you read my text so you see the dilemma."
"Tell your Dad that I'm staying through my exams and that's why I'm not coming home right away."
I knew he wanted to rush me off the phone, but I wanted to talk. I loved hearing his voice again even though it had an edge to it, like I'd been bothering him from something really wonderful like a hot steamy bath with horrible Bianca.
"You know that Dad is going to ask me more questions when I get home. I'm going to have to tell him something soon."
Jake cleared his throat. "Haven't we already been through this? You said you'd tell him Zach is your boyfriend and you moved in with him."
His words hit me like a hammer. "I never agreed to that. And Dad won't believe it anyway."
"Then you need to convince him. I think he needs to know you're living with Zach now." I could hear bitterness. Was he mad that I was living with Zach, or did he just dislike Zach in general? I couldn't read him.
"I don't like that idea at all."
"It has elements of truth to it."
He was so smug and it pissed me off. The old me, the girl from six months ago, long before the cabin incident, would have gone along with Jake's BS, but in those short few months I'd grown up a lot, and my epic punch to Bianca's face had a lot to do with it.
"Why should I protect you?"
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Why should I protect you? In your scenario you and Bianca come off unscathed while I have to explain to Dad why I not only didn't tell him about my imaginary boyfriend, but now I've moved in with said imaginary boyfriend. How does that work? Maybe I should just tell Dad everything, right down to all those nasty texts."
Jake let out a huff. "Yeah, why don't you tell Paul the truth? Tell him how you ruined my girlfriend's face by breaking her nose and knocking out her teeth. I'm sure he'd be really impressed."
"If he knew what kind of bitch she was, he might be."
"You know what, do what you want! Sounds like Zach has been a great influence on you. Does he feed you what to say?"
"What are you talking about?"
"This isn't you, Emma. It's not you talking. You go ahead and let Zach manipulate you because I don't give a shit. Goodbye."
He hung up and I slammed the phone down on the nightstand. I wanted to throw it against the wall, but the phone didn't deserve the abuse.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but that was awesome."
I jumped at hearing Zach's voice. "I didn't know you were there."
"I heard you talking and I figured it was to Genie. Now I'm guessing it was the asswipe."
I plopped down on the bed and air-punched an invisible Jake. "He really wants me to go with this lie about moving in with a new boyfriend. That way he comes off smelling like roses."
"I still think the truth is a better option."
"I'd rather not think about it and focus on this weekend instead."
"I'm waiting for Genie to call and then we'll go pick her up. Speaking of lying, don't mention that Genie is living with Steve."
"This web of lies..."
I zipped up my overnight bag and set it near the front door. Zach was on the phone with Genie and he gave me the thumbs up that we were ready to go. When we pulled up at Steve’s, my jaw dropped at the assortment of designer bags and luggage on the curb.
"I have way too much stuff," she said.
"And half of it is still back at my place," Zach said.
"Are you looking forward to the weekend?" Genie asked me, ignoring her brother. I'd taken the backseat, insisting Genie sit up front.
"I'm a bit nervous. What if I say or do anything stupid?"
"We have Steve for that," Zach said.
Genie beamed. "And I have my little brother to thank for making it happen."
"Just make sure he doesn't say anything too stupid."
Genie waved him away and turned to face me. "I thought tonight we'd have a nice relaxing evening. After dinner we'll have a soak in the Jacuzzi and a quick swim in the pool. We don't want to stay up too late because our appointment at the spa is at eight a.m."
Jacuzzi? Pool? "I don't have a bathing suit and isn't it a little cold to go swimming?"
"Oh, it's an indoor pool. I thought you knew. As for a bathing suit, I have a million of them. I haven't even worn half of them. You can take your pick."
"Thanks." To say I was a bit overwhelmed would be an understatement, but I kind of appreciated that Genie had everything planned out.
"Zach, you going to join us?"
"We'll see."
We chatted about nothing really for the next forty-five minutes. We drove into Forest Park and I took in the huge estates. I'd driven through Forest Park when Dad had the odd delivery to drop off, but I'd never been in any of the homes, or even on a front doorstep—I’d always just waited in the car for Dad to finish the transaction. All I knew about this area of town was that the richest of the rich lived here in multi-million-dollar houses.
Zach pulled up to a tall metal gate. I couldn't see beyond it, but when he put in the pass code and the doors swung open, my mouth gaped open in awe. The house was magnificent, the kind you see on television that celebrities lived in. Lights illuminated the stone face and as we drove up the long driveway, I wanted to yank out my phone and take pictures to show Dad and Grandpa.
"This house is so beautiful," I managed to get out.
"Wait until you see the inside. I'll warn you now," Genie said, "don't touch anything. The party planners and decorators are setting up and if you move a thing they get really pissed off."
Zach parked the truck and I followed them inside. The house was filled with people looking busy, but I looked past all that. The house was even more amazing on the inside. The winding staircase, the marble floors, the priceless works of art adorning perfect walls, the antiques and all the collectables. Dad and Grandpa would fall all over themselves to see them. And the indoor pool? I couldn't wait!
"I don't get why you'd want to live in an apartment near campus when you could live here every day," I said, doing a three-sixty turn.
"I like living five minutes from campus and not with my parents."
I couldn't wipe the awestruck look from my face. I wanted to dance around the main entrance which was nearly the size of our apartment. And then the kitchen. The thought of all the fancy appliances that called that room home. To have a few hours alone in there would be pure nirvana.
"We better find Mom and Dad," Genie said.
I followed them down various hallways, but my attention kept getting diverted by artwork and antiques, some of which I recognized from the books Dad kept around. He'd never had any of these artists in the shop and would salivate just to see them in the proverbial flesh. I snapped some pictures and quickly caught up to Genie and Zach whenever I fell behind.
We travelled to the back end of the house to a large family room that was untouched by party planners. There we found Genie and Zach's parents. I recognized them because I'd googled them. Mr. Walker was reading the paper and Mrs. Walker was on the phone, an iPad in front of her. Mr. Walker glanced up and smiled at the sight of his children.
"Look who's finally here," he said, setting down the paper and rising.
Genie gave her dad a big hug while Zach just nodded. Mrs. Walker continued her conversation about the upcoming party, but smiled and waved. She put her finger up, indicating it would only be another minute, then left the room to finish her call.
"Daddy, this is Emma," Genie said.
Mr. Walker extended his hand. Like Zach, he was tall, easily six foot two, and had Zach's same chocolate-colored eyes and strong jaw line.
"A pleasure to meet you, Emma," he said with a firm handshake. He sounded like a politician with his strong confident voice. "I hear you will be joining us this weekend."
"Yes, and thank you so much for the invitation."
"We are happy to have you."
I had to ask about the Grant Wood in the hallway. My meek little self didn't want to, but if Dad knew I'd seen it and not asked, he'd kill me.
"Mr. Walker, the oil painting, is that a Grant Wood?"
He looked at Genie and Zach then back at me. "Why, yes, it is. Very impressive. These two wouldn't know a Grant Wood if American Gothic was hanging right in front of them."
"My dad and grandfather have an antique shop in Pine Falls, so I've been around antiques and art my entire life. I saw the oil painting and hoped it was a Grant Wood. It's gorgeous."
Zach whispered to Genie asking who Grant Wood was. She shrugged.
"Well, thank you. My wife is more of the art connoisseur. She's also been to her fair share of antique shops, so I'm sure she'll want to have a chat with you."
I glanced over at Zach, not quite able to read his expression. Was he proud of me?
"I'm going to show Emma to her room," Genie said. "I'm guessing we have access to the Jacuzzi and pool?"
"Yes, but don't make a mess. Zach, don't disappear. I want to talk to you about a few things."
Genie and I set off, leaving Zach behind.