Deep Blue Secret (20 page)

“Okay,” he chuckled. “It’s a date.”

Once I was inside the house, I couldn’t help but peek through the window blinds to watch him walk away. I watched until his figure disappeared through the white door of his house.

I didn’t stay up long. Every moment awake was one more moment aware of his absence. I got ready for bed quickly—aside from the full five minutes I took to admire my crystal necklace in the mirror. Then I laid the necklace gently on my grandmother’s vanity, next to the orange daisy Rayne gave me at the hospital. I was afraid if I wore the necklace to bed, I might roll over and crush it in my sleep somehow. I held the flower to my nose one last time to smell the petals before turning off the bedroom light.

As soon as my head hit the pillow, a tiny purple light glowed through the dark room. It was my diary. I hopped out of bed like a child on her birthday and opened the book.

My eyes lit up as I read Rayne’s message:

SWEET DREAMS…

Concerns hovered in the back of my mind as I lay in bed, but I was too tired and overwhelmed to think about them anymore. It was the first night back in my own bed since the hospital and it was nice to be home again. I also felt a sense of security knowing Rayne was close by. He was right across the street, and I would see him again first thing in the morning.

I hugged the diary to my chest for a few minutes, imagining Rayne whispering in my ear—
Sweet Dreams
.

The next thing I knew it was morning. Memories dangled in my mind of romantic interludes conjured through the night; hopeful visions in my subconscious of Rayne and the two of us together without complication.

Reality wasn’t so simple. But I did have a car ride to school to look forward to and a dance on Saturday. I tried to focus on the positive.

I felt a renewed sense of energy for the day. It was nice to return to my normal morning routine, which helped me come back to reality. Instead of my watch, I clumped a large selection of bracelets on my left wrist to cover my birthmark. It still looked dark today, but I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

I was ready for school fifteen minutes early but my mom was still up and about before me, as usual. At least now—thanks to Rayne—I knew
why
she was so energetic. I started to see her in a whole new light. It was like I never really knew who she was until now.

As I came down the hallway from my room I tucked my new necklace under my shirt. If my mom were to see it she would have questions for sure. Questions I wasn’t ready to answer.

I sat in the kitchen while she moved around busily with breakfast. I couldn’t help but observe her every move with affection. I didn’t even greet her when I walked in; too busy admiring her and how she bounced happily about the room.

She must’ve noticed my gaze. “Honey, is everything all right?”

“What?” I shook my head. “Oh. Yeah, I’m good.”

“For a minute it seemed like you were acting kind of funny.”

“I’m just really glad to be home,” I said.

“Me too, sweetheart. Doesn’t this just feel like it’s going to be a wonderful day? I think I’ll go for a bike ride down at Huntington Beach while you’re at school.”

“You totally should, Mom. That sounds nice; I’m jealous.”

“Well, why don’t I wait for you then? It
is
girl’s night tonight, remember?”

I’d forgotten actually. Hard to believe a tradition we’d had for years would suddenly slip my mind this week.

“Of course I remember,” I said. “Finally we’ll get to spend some time together. It feels like it’s been forever.”

She started pouring pancake batter onto the griddle. “Should we start the afternoon off with a bike ride then?”

“Sure. It’ll be nice to get outside.”

I noticed the shapes she was creating on the griddle. “Hey, are those birthday bears?” I asked. She was pouring batter into little teddy bear shapes, something we usually reserved for breakfast in bed on special occasions. The tradition started when I was young, but neither of us were willing to grow out of it.

“Those are supposed to be for birthdays, Mom.”

She smiled her contagiously charming smile. “Well, I declare today a special occasion.”

I shrugged. “No complaints here.”

She handed me a plate of pancake bears. My mom knew how to make every day feel special. As if, even though the world could be hard and confusing, it was all going to be okay; like the sun would continue to shine as long as my mom was there to point my face toward its brilliant rays.

“Sweetheart, what happened to your car?” she asked, sitting next to me to enjoy a few pancake bears herself.

“It’s at the shop getting new tires. A friend helped me drop it off.”

“Oh okay,” she said. “That was nice of Heather’s dad to tow it over here. Are you catching a ride with her to school today?”

“With Heather? No, I’m…”

I had to think about it. Was it okay to tell her what I was really planning? I hadn’t mentioned anything to her about Rayne before. He was always supposed to be a big secret. Although, last night he offered to come pick me up here at my house this morning and he knew my mom would be around. I figured as long as I left out all the crazy parts it would probably be okay.

“Actually, I’m getting a ride from the boy across the street, Rayne.” It felt odd to say his name with my mother in the same room.

Her brows pinched together. “What boy?”

“He lives across the street in the house with the iron fence around it.”

“In Dorothy’s old house?” she said with surprise. “I didn’t realize someone had moved in. She just disappeared one day. I’ve never seen anyone there since.”

I should’ve known my mom would be friends with the old tenant. “Yeah, I just found out too,” I said hoping she would believe I didn’t know much more than she did.

She leaned in close to me with interest. “So who’s this boy then?”

 “Oh, you know, we’ve just hung out a couple of times,” I said. “We’re going to the Sadies dance together this weekend.”

She perked up immediately. “There’s a dance?”

I realized I just gave more information than I meant to. She always made such a big deal about my dating.

“It was sort of a last minute thing,” I said, playing it down.

Her tone was animated. “Well, do I get to meet him at least?”

“If you want,” I said, hesitating. “But we’re not dating or anything, we’re just friends, so don’t say anything…embarrassing.”

“What, me? Of course not.”

“You’ll have to wait until Saturday,” I added. “Right now I’m supposed to meet him over at his house, and I need to leave soon or we’ll be late.”

“Oh no…I have to work this Saturday,” she pouted. “It’s my weekend at the hospital. What about after school, is he giving you a ride home today too? You could bring him to the house before we go on our ride.”

I couldn’t say no to her big, hopeful eyes. “I’m not sure, but I’ll ask him when I get over there.”

She smiled. “Great. Then I’ll see
both
of you this afternoon.”

I shook my head at her, but had to smile. “Okay, Mom.”

I left the kitchen and crossed the newly remodeled living room to the door. It was going to take some time to get used to. Every time I walked in the room I was surprised it didn’t look like I remembered, but that was the least of my interests at the moment. Just a short walk across the street and I would see Rayne.

His dark house greeted me as soon as I opened the door, but it didn’t look that dark to me this time. How could it, when I knew what waited for me inside its walls.

I tried to suppress the wide grin forming on my face with anticipation. I wondered if he could see me walking across the street towards him.

I didn’t have to wonder long. As I neared the front gate, just as I was realizing I didn’t know the code to open it, the gate swung open on its own.

I pressed my lips together again, but the smile kept breaking through. He knew I was here; he was waiting for me. I made only a few steps up the path when the front door swung open.

Rayne stood looking debonair in the doorway. “Morning, Sunshine.”

Nerves fluttered in my stomach. “Morning,” I said. It was amazing every time I felt it—the rush of energy, like a magnet pulling me towards him.

He motioned with his arm, leading me into the house. “How are you today? Feeling okay?”

I hadn’t thought about it really. “Uh, yeah, I’m fine.”

“That’s good.” He looked me over, examining, as if he wasn’t sure he could believe me.

I laughed at him. “Seriously, I’m
fine
.”

He led me through the large center room towards the back of the house. It looked even more open and cheerful than I remembered. Last night it was too dark to see the green backyard and patio hiding outside the French doors, but the morning light now cascaded in streams through the tall windows around the room.

I also noticed that everything around the house was very clean and organized, nothing like a typical bachelor pad. Of course Rayne wasn’t the typical bachelor either.

“You know, this house is really nice,” I said.

“Thanks, I like it too. I was more concerned about location when I bought it, but I think I lucked out. The old woman kept the place in good condition.”

“Can I look outside?”

“Sure. We’re headed that way anyway.” He rushed ahead of me and opened the door. “Ladies first.” I wasn’t surprised by his chivalry; he was just that kind of a guy.

After a minute of wandering around the well-kept backyard we exited through a gate that led directly to his garage. No wonder I never noticed him leave the house. He could go straight through the yard to his garage without anyone ever seeing him.

His car was nice, maybe even nicer than Heather’s parent’s car. I didn’t expect him to drive something so fancy. Although I did picture him in a white mustang at one point—mostly due to dreams of my mysterious prince riding up on a white horse to carry me off into the sunset.

That was before I knew him though. I couldn’t really picture Rayne in a sports car now. He was too down-to-earth, in his own, weird, Keeper sort of way.

As we circled the front bumper, I read the large letters sprawled across the hood that spelled
Range Rover
.

“Looks like Keepers get paid well,” I said.

He unlocked the passenger door with a smirk. “We do all right.”

“
All right
?  Have you
seen
your car?”

He just chuckled and shut my door. I watched him circle around the front of the car. He opened his door, got situated in his seat, and started the engine without saying a word. He put the gear in drive then paused, putting it right back into park again.

“I didn’t actually
buy
this car,” he said, still facing forward.

“Okay…” I said, a little apprehensive.

He shifted towards me in his seat. “I didn’t buy this house either, well I did, but not with my own money I mean.”

“So what are you getting at? Did you steal some money or something?”

He looked appalled. “No, of course not.”

I wasn’t sure why it mattered who paid for the house. “What, you have a rich uncle who buys you stuff then?”

 “Almost,” he answered with a chuckle. “They both were paid for by my employer. Every assignment comes with a different size budget.”

“That’s pretty cool,” I said. “I bet there aren’t many jobs out there that will pay for a house and a car.”

“I had a less expensive car before, but this one was given to me as sort of a work bonus.” He looked at me wryly. “I guess my supervisor noticed how much harder I had to work ever since you learned how to drive, so he wanted to compensate me.”

I kept my voice light. “Gee, I didn’t realize what a difficult assignment I was for you. At least you got a nice car out of the deal.”

He smiled. “I don’t really know why I told you all that. I guess, I just brought it up because I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me.”

I shook my head. “The wrong idea?”

“It’s just, I don’t want you to think I’m some spoiled, rich kid or big time high-roller kind of guy. That’s not who I am.”

I looked at him surprised. “I don’t think that.”

 “I didn’t think you would,” he said. “I know you’re not quick to judge. But I also know there are a lot of people around here that have everything handed to them on a silver platter and I just wanted you to know I’m not like that. I mean, I pretty much grew up on a farm. I’m kind of a small-town guy at heart.”

So the mysterious, confident Keeper came from humble beginnings. I didn’t see it at first, swept away by his skill and charm, but I could see it now. It humanized him, made him seem more real, more reachable.

I felt myself staring, caught in admiration. I looked away with a nervous laugh. “Don’t worry,” I teased. “I don’t think you’re
too
spoiled.” A smile finally broke on his somewhat worried face.

“So you grew up on a farm?” I asked. “Like an actual farm with, I don’t know, cows and chickens and stuff?”

He chuckled. “Sort of. It’s not an animal farm though; it’s a fruit farm. My family lives on a large orchard of fruit trees. They make a living selling the fruit.”

“Wow, an orchard. So what kind of fruit do they grow?”

He turned to me with a hesitant smile. “You’ve never heard of it before.”

“Oh come on,” I insisted. “It’s just fruit. Tell me.”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s called lizzy fruit.”

I nodded my head. “Huh. Yep, you were right. I have no idea what that is.”

“They’re sort of a cross between a pear and a strawberry. Just think of a really big, extra sweet strawberry with a core instead of seeds on the skin.”

My eyes brightened as I imagined the mixing flavors of strawberry and pear. “Yum…those sound really good.”

“They are,” he agreed. “Obviously they don’t grow around here though.”

“But they
do
grow where your family lives,” I hinted.

His green eyes seemed to smile right through me. “Yeah. They do.”

“So if I asked you where your family lives, where you’re from, would you tell me?”

He laughed once to himself. “Well, let’s just say that where I’m from is not that far from where the Healing Water’s from, so…”

“So…no, you’re not gonna tell me,” I said, answering my own question.

I sighed. “Well, it was worth a shot. What about your family? Can you tell me anything about them? Or are they super top-secret too?”

“No, they’re not top-secret,” he said, amused. “I have a mother and father, just like most families. They’ve lived and worked at the orchard their whole lives. And I have a few siblings too; a younger sister who’s still in school and two older brothers that help out my parents in the orchard.”

“Wow. You have such a big family. Do you get to see them very often?”

Rayne glanced at the steering wheel and back at me. “Sometimes. Not as much as I used to. Even when I travel out that way, I don’t always have time to see them anymore. Lizzy Grove…uh, that’s the name of the orchard. It’s sort of out of the way from things.”