17

As much as Cassidy was trying to treat her friends more kindly and respectfully, it was hard to respect Devon. Something about that girl just got under Cassidy’s skin. Not only in regard to the Dating Games, although by now Cassidy felt sure that Devon’s primary interest in creating the club had been purely self-serving. Beyond that, Cassidy suspected that Devon was using Emma, and sometimes it seemed that Emma didn’t even notice or care. But seeing Devon treating Emma so callously today—right on the heels of Emma losing her grandfather—well, it seemed inexcusable. Yet at the same time Cassidy knew she had to forgive Devon. It was perplexing.

Cassidy was well aware that Jesus instructed his followers to love their enemies and to pray for them. She knew she couldn’t use her general dislike and distrust of Devon as an excuse to blow her off or treat her badly. But as she went to jazz choir practice after school, she remembered something else Jesus had said: “Be wise as serpents but innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16). Yes, that was how she intended to be with Devon. She’d treat Devon like a friend, but she’d be keeping an eye on her too.

Olivia Pratt stopped Cassidy as they were going into the choir room. “I hear that I have you and your friends to thank.”

“What?” She studied Olivia. Was she mad about something?

“Rolf Williams asked me to go to the homecoming dance today.” Olivia smiled. “He said it was because Lane had asked you and Isaac had asked Emma. Somehow you and your friends lit a fire under the guys. I don’t know how you did it, but thanks.”

“Uh . . . you’re welcome.” Cassidy wondered if anyone knew about their secret club. Probably not.

“I was so fed up with Rolf. I was about ready to say fish or cut bait, boy.”

“Huh?”

“You know, he was always hanging around and being friendly, but he’d never ask me out.”

Cassidy glanced around. “Didn’t you hear about the Worthington talk?”

Olivia waved her hand. “Everyone knows about that, but the guys don’t usually take it this seriously. Anyway, it looks like the spell’s been broken. I hear a lot of girls have been asked to the dance now.”

“Well, that’s a relief. I was afraid we might’ve been the only ones there.” Cassidy frowned. “It makes you wonder why the school would even bother to have a dance if they really don’t want us to date.”

“Exactly,” said another girl who’d been listening to them.

“I heard that even the faculty doesn’t agree on this,” Olivia confided to them. “It’s no wonder the guys are dazed and confused.”

The girls laughed as they took their places to start rehearsing. Cassidy felt relieved to hear others were going to the dance, but at the same time she felt uneasy too. Had the DG really undermined Worthington? And if they had, was it really something to celebrate? Fortunately, she didn’t have to think about that right now. Instead she said a quick prayer and focused on singing her part.

After practice, she was on her way to the parking lot when she noticed Emma standing by herself. It looked like she was making a phone call, and it looked like she was upset. Cassidy went over just as Emma closed her phone with a frustrated expression. “What’s up?” Cassidy asked her.

“Devon was supposed to give me a ride home,” Emma told her. “I stayed late to help mat pictures for the art fair, and Devon was supposed to pick me up here, but as it turns out, she completely forgot.” Emma looked close to tears.

“I’ll give you a ride,” Cassidy told her.

“Thanks.” Emma sniffed. “I don’t know why I had to fall apart like this.”

Cassidy put a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, you just lost your grandpa. It’s only natural to feel emotional, you know? It’s okay.”

“I guess.”

“I remember when our dog died, I was a mess for weeks. And Barkley was just a dog.”

Emma smiled. “Dogs can be pretty special.”

Cassidy sighed to think of the sweet golden retriever she’d grown up with. “Yeah. I loved Barkley more than some of my friends.” She laughed at herself. “But I’m learning to love my friends better . . . I think.”

“That was cool what you said the other day,” Emma said quietly. “At the DG meeting. About wanting to be a better friend and stuff. I know I didn’t say much at the time, but I thought it was cool.”

“Well, I took a little personal inventory.” She paused to unlock her car. “I had to admit that I was lacking. I’d gotten into the habit of being so negative.”

“I think it’s just because you’re careful,” Emma said as they got into the car. “You really think about things, Cass. That’s nice.”

“I suppose it’s good to think about things,” Cassidy admitted. “But not if it makes you worried and grumpy. In that case it’s better just to pray about them.”

“That makes sense.” Emma sighed. “My grandpa used to say something like that.”

“What?”

“He said worrying was like a rocking chair—it keeps you occupied but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”

Cassidy chuckled as she started the car. “He was a good man, Emma. You were fortunate to have him. My favorite grandpa died when I was little. The other one lives in Florida and I never get to see him much.”

“Well, at least you still have your dad.”

“Yeah.” Cassidy nodded. Sometimes she forgot that Emma’s dad left several years ago. That had to be hard. “I guess that makes it even more important for you to have God as your Father. Really, there couldn’t be a better father than God.”

“My grandpa used to tell me that same thing.” Emma brightened. “You know, it’s almost like God is speaking to me through my friends. It was like that with Isaac today too.”

“That’s very cool, Emma.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty comforting too.” Emma sighed. “It’s really good to have friends. I mean good friends.”

“For sure.” Cassidy wondered if Emma meant that some friends, like Devon, were not particularly good, but she was so not going there. Not anymore—not if she could help it. And she could.

“When is the memorial service for your grandpa?” Cassidy asked as she pulled up to Emma’s house.

“Wednesday morning at the church. At 10:00.”

“I’ll see if I can get out of class,” Cassidy told her.

“Really?” Emma sounded surprised. “You’d come?”

“Absolutely. Your grandpa was a sweet, godly man, and I’d like to honor his memory.”

“Thanks.” Emma gave her a sad little smile. “And thanks for the ride . . . and everything. I really, really appreciate it!”

“I’ll be praying for you,” Cassidy promised. “Your family too. I know it’s got to be hard to lose someone you love that much. Even harder than losing Barkley.” She made an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I know that doesn’t even compare.”

“That’s okay. Sounds like Barkley was a sweet dog.” Emma waved as she closed the door.

Cassidy kept her promise as she drove home. She prayed for Emma and Edward and Emma’s mom and Emma’s grandmother. She prayed that God would comfort all of them in a big way.

Cassidy attended the memorial service on Wednesday, along with Abby, Bryn, and Devon. It was a good service with a good message, but Cassidy wondered if her friends had even listened to it, because afterward it seemed that the only thing they had on their minds was their “big weekend.” Or maybe that was just because Devon was monopolizing the conversation as they were leaving the church. Sometimes it was like the entire universe revolved around this self-centered girl. Did she not even care that her supposedly best friend was burying her beloved grandfather today?

“I keep assuring Jason that the dinner is going to be okay,” Devon said to Cassidy as they got into Cassidy’s car. She’d driven the girls to the church and was taking them back to school now. “He’s still not convinced. I’m afraid he thinks it’s going to be hokey.”

“It won’t be hokey,” Bryn said defensively. “I got my aunt’s recipe for this yummy Greek salad. It’s to die for.”

“And my dad’s grilling us his special surf and turf,” Cassidy told them. “Tri-tip sirloin and wild salmon.”

“My mom’s flourless chocolate torte is better than most restaurants’,” Abby told them.

“Emma’s bringing baked potatoes with everything to go with them,” Cassidy told her. “Plus there’ll be other things too.”

“Well, you just need to do everything you can to make sure it’s not a flop,” Devon said in a slightly snippy tone. “I don’t want Jason to be disappointed.”

“Hey, he’s getting a free meal,” Abby declared from the backseat. “What’s up with complaining about it?”

“That’s right,” Bryn added. “He could’ve been stuck shelling out a hundred bucks at the Cove. That’s where most of the kids are going, and trust me, it is not cheap.”

“Maybe he wanted to shell it out,” Devon said. “And maybe I wanted to let him.”

“Well, why not let him take you to the Cove?” Cassidy suggested a bit sharply. “You guys don’t have to come to our little dinner.” She almost pointed out that their dining table would be more comfortable with eight people anyway and that no one would miss them, but she knew that was crossing the line.

“Maybe I will,” Devon said.

The car got quiet, and Cassidy wondered if she’d hurt Devon’s feelings. “I mean, I’m not telling you we don’t want you at our dinner,” she backpedaled. “But if Jason’s not into that, why not just do what you want? What’s the big deal?”

“Yeah, it’s not like we have DG rules about that,” Bryn interjected.

“Although we were all going to ride to the dance together,” Abby reminded them. “The guys were going in together for a limo. Jason was supposed to chip in for it.”

“I’m sure he still will,” Devon said. “Maybe the limo can pick us up at the restaurant. That’d be cool to come out and have it waiting there. Kinda like celebrities.” She giggled. “I wonder if the paparazzi will show up.”

“Yeah, right,” Bryn said sarcastically.

It seemed settled. Devon and Jason would do their own thing for dinner. Since Devon had only offered to bring bread and soda for her contribution, it wouldn’t be difficult to cover for her. Really, it was probably for the best. Cassidy felt certain that the four couples would have a better time without Devon and Jason there.

Hopefully Emma wouldn’t be dismayed by this news. That is, if Emma had even made up her mind about going to the dance. She hadn’t said anything for sure yet, but Cassidy thought she might be leaning toward going. She sure hoped she was—Emma needed something to cheer her up. And really, Isaac was good medicine. What would be the harm in going to the dance? Emma’s grandpa would probably feel bad if he thought she was missing out because of him. Maybe Cassidy would tell Emma that.

Besides, she realized as she parked at school, with Devon and Jason bowing out of the dinner party, if Emma and Isaac didn’t come either, that would shrink their “big” dinner party considerably. It would probably feel like a definite letdown to everyone. Especially her parents. Already they’d both gone out of their way, being so helpful with planning and preparations. Mom was acting like it was going to be such a big fancy occasion, planning for flowers and buying candles, and she’d even suggested they should polish the silver. She might be disappointed if only three couples showed.