First Date (14 page)

“Like a potluck?” Bryn frowned.

“No, like a really elegant dinner. We’ll plan the menu. My mom said we can have it in the dining room and use her good china and have candles and fresh flowers and the works. I’ll take care of all that.”

“I think that sounds nice,” Emma said.

“I do too,” Abby agreed. “It’ll take some pressure off the guys’ wallets too.”

“Let’s vote,” Bryn said. Naturally, it was unanimous.

As Abby hopped on her bike and headed for home, she felt inexplicably hopeful about their upcoming date. Oh, sure, Devon might not be too happy with the new arrangements, but at least she couldn’t claim that they’d left her behind. And who knew, maybe she’d even like Darrell. Although Abby doubted it. Devon seemed a little too superficial to enjoy a date with someone as quirky as Darrell Zuckerman.

Instead of worrying about that, Abby thought about Kent. In a way it was a relief that he’d made it clear that he only wanted to go out with her as a friend. After all, she wasn’t ready for a hot and heavy relationship. At least she could reassure her dad that nothing would get out of hand on her first date, and she could say that honestly. This was all working out much better than she could have hoped for. Now if she could just find a really cool pair of shoes today!

A
s soon as she came into the house, Emma knew that something was wrong. Mom was on the phone, but the expression on her face was extremely somber. Emma’s immediate thoughts went to Edward. Had something happened to him at college?

“Yes,” Mom said sadly. “But it’s up to you whether or not you should come home, Edward. Don’t do anything to jeopardize your classes.” She glanced at Emma. “He wouldn’t want that.”

Emma frowned. “Who?” she whispered.

Mom held up her hand. “Well, Emma’s here now,” she said. “I need to tell her what’s happened.” She told Edward she loved him and said good-bye, then turned to Emma with tears in her eyes. “It’s your grandpa,” she said solemnly.

“What?” Emma demanded. “Is he sick again?”

“He suffered a heart attack this morning. He died before the ambulance even got there.”

Emma felt her world spinning. “Grandpa?” she cried. “Grandpa is dead?”

Mom just nodded, reaching for Emma. She hugged her tightly.

“But I was supposed to go over there this week,” Emma said through sobs. “To help him sort out the photos.” The tears started coming so fast she couldn’t even talk. Grandpa was gone—and she hadn’t even gone over there like she’d promised. Now it was too late.

Mom was stroking her hair. “Grandpa’s in a better place,” she said quietly. “You know that.”

Emma stepped back and stared at Mom’s tear-streaked face. “But I let him down.” She choked out the words. “I didn’t go like I said I would.”

“Grandpa would understand,” Mom said.

“No.” Emma shook her head. “I let him down.”

The phone rang, and while Mom answered it, Emma dashed to her room and let the tears flow freely. Guilt and sadness washed over her, and she couldn’t believe she would never see him again. Through it all—Dad leaving them and everything else—Grandpa had always been there for her. But where had she been when he needed her? Off trying to connive a stupid date for a ridiculous dance. Oh, if only she’d never heard of the Dating Games club. Why had she allowed that horrible club to distract her from something that really mattered? Like spending time with Grandpa . . . before it was too late. How could she ever forgive herself? One thing she knew for certain—she was not going to the dance now. No way!

By Monday, Emma’s mood had not improved much. She still felt guilty for not spending time with her grandpa before his death, and she still missed him deeply. Why did a person have to lose someone before they fully appreciated them? Afterwards, it was too late.

“I’m sorry about your grandfather,” Cassidy told Emma as they met on the way to the English department. “I heard about it at church yesterday. I know he was an elder in the church. My dad was saying what a great guy he was and how much he’ll be missed.”

Emma nodded sadly. “Yeah, he was . . . and he will be.”

Cassidy put her arm around Emma, pulling her into a comforting hug. “Well, if you need to talk or anything, I’m here.”

“Thanks.” Emma blinked back tears. As they went to their classes, Emma compared Cassidy’s words to Devon’s. Oh, Devon had been sorry, of course, but she’d also been focused on Jason, and she’d seemed obsessed with her plan for getting him to take her to the dance. Emma had almost felt like Devon had brushed her off. When Emma had mentioned that she might not go to the dance, Devon had acted like that was unthinkable.

“Just give yourself some time,” she’d said casually. “You’ll get over it by then.”

Emma hadn’t responded to that, but she knew Devon was wrong. She even questioned what kind of a friend Devon truly was. It was hard enough losing her grandpa, but perhaps she was losing her best friend too.

By lunchtime, Emma had made up her mind. She was going to seek out Isaac and explain her need to cancel their date. Hopefully he would understand. If he was determined to
go to the dance, maybe he could take Devon instead of her. That might just make everyone happy.

She found Isaac coming out of the math department and called out to him. He looked surprised but smiled as he came over to join her. But when he saw her expression, his smile faded. “Hey, what’s wrong? You look like you just lost your best friend.”

“It’s kinda like that,” she told him quietly. “Can we talk?”

His fair brows arched, but he nodded and followed her over to a quiet corner. “What’s up?”

She explained that her grandpa had died. “I know some people think I’m overreacting, but I just can’t help myself.” She tried to hold back the tears. “He was really special to me, and I’m so sad . . . I just don’t see how I can go to the dance.”

Isaac nodded soberly. “I understand.”

“I’m sorry.” The tears were coming again. She wiped them with her hand. “It’s just really hard right now.”

Isaac gathered her up in a hug—a sweet, warm hug. “It’s okay, Emma. I do understand,” he whispered. “My mom died a few years ago, and it was pretty rough on me.”

She stepped back and looked at him. “Your mom died?” She wiped her cheeks with the cuff of her hoodie. “I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah. I was in middle school. She’d had cancer for a long time, so I should’ve been prepared for it. But I wasn’t.”

She shook her head. “Oh . . . I’m sorry. I kinda know how you feel.”

He peered into her eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the dance, though? I mean, I do understand if you don’t. But it might be good for you.”

She sighed. “I don’t know.”

“Well, if you want to think about it, that’s fine. And if you decide not to, it won’t be a problem. Really.”

Emma had liked Isaac from afar for a while, but she was surprised to discover he was this thoughtful up close. “Thanks,” she told him. “I appreciate that.”

He patted her on the back. “I know it’s hard to believe it now,” he said in an assuring tone, “but it will get better with time.”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure it will.” She explained how guilty she felt for not making it over to see her grandpa last week. “I didn’t realize I’d never get another chance.”

“Oh . . .” He looked concerned. “That’s gotta be hard. Was your grandfather a believer? I mean, was he a Christian?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “Absolutely.”

Isaac brightened. “Then you’ll see him again someday, right?”

She sighed. “I guess so.”

He looked surprised. “You guess so?”

“Well . . . yeah . . . I mean, sometimes I’m not so sure about all that.”

He looked dismayed now. “You don’t believe in heaven?”

She thought about it. “Well, I guess I do. I guess I just haven’t given it much thought.”

“Well, you should,” he declared. “Especially in light of losing your grandfather. When my mom died, it was all I had to hold on to—believing that I’d see her again.”

“You don’t have any doubts?” she questioned.

“Oh, sure, everyone has doubts sometimes. But faith is a gift from God. So I just take my doubts to him.”

She looked at Isaac as if seeing him for the first time. “You’re quite a guy, you know?”

He laughed. “Well, thanks.”

“I had no idea you had so much depth to you.”

He made a shy smile. “That’s because you didn’t really know me.”

She smiled back. “I’d like to get to know you . . . I mean, as a friend.”

He got a thoughtful look. “Can I ask you a question—about your grandpa?”

“Sure.”

“How do you think he feels right now—I mean, if he’s thinking about you? Do you think he’s angry or hurt that you didn’t come to see him?”

She thought hard for a moment, then shook her head. “No. My grandpa wasn’t like that. He was really kind and forgiving. And besides, if he’s in heaven—which I’m sure he is—he probably has better things to do than worry about me.”

Isaac grinned. “That sounds about right.”

Emma felt her stomach growling. “You know, I haven’t had an appetite for a couple of days, and suddenly I feel hungry.”

“That’s a good sign,” he said, nodding toward the cafeteria. “Let’s get some lunch.”

As they walked she told him a little about her grandpa, like some of the things she used to do with him and how she would miss him. It was weird, but instead of it making her feel sadder, she felt like the black cloud she’d been under the past few days was starting to thin a little. Maybe there was hope.

Before they parted ways in the cafeteria, she thanked Isaac
once again for encouraging her. “I’ll let you know about the dance,” she promised. “Maybe I was making a knee-jerk reaction.”

“I wonder what your grandpa would want you to do.”

“Well, I’ll tell you this much, I do think my grandpa would like you,” she admitted.

His face lit up. “I’m sure I’d like him too.”

She felt lighter as she walked over to the table where her friends were already seated.

“Looks like you changed your mind,” Devon said a bit smugly. “You’re going to the dance with Isaac after all?”

“Why weren’t you going to go to the dance?” Bryn demanded. “I thought it was all set.”

“Her grandpa died,” Devon explained in a know-it-all tone. “I know it’s a bummer, but it’s still no reason not to go to the dance.”

“It’s a reason if Emma says it’s a reason,” Cassidy countered. “If she’s too sad to enjoy the dance, no one should pressure her.”

“But you just saw her with Isaac,” Devon said. “She was smiling.”

“That’s because Isaac was being so sweet,” Emma told them as she set her bag on a chair. “He’s such a nice guy.”

“A nice guy who doesn’t deserve to be dumped,” Devon said.

“No one said anything about dumping anyone,” Emma told her.

“I’m sorry about your grandpa,” Abby said. “I’d be devastated if my grandpa died. We’re really close.”

Emma sniffed. “So were we. I miss him so much.”

“I’m sorry too,” Bryn told her. “I hadn’t heard about it. I
know he went to our church, but I missed the service yesterday. I didn’t know him, but he seemed like a really nice guy.”

Emma nodded. “He was.”

“Okay,” Devon said with impatience. “If we’ve all shared our condolences with Emma, does anyone want to hear about me?”

“Oh, I forgot,” Bryn said snarkily. “It’s all about
you
, right?”

Devon glared at her. “Well, it’s no thanks to you, but I thought you might like to know that I do have a date for the homecoming dance. And it’s not that geeky Darrell dude either. Eww.”

Emma’s stomach growled again. “I’d love to stay and hear more,” she told Devon, “but I’m starving.”

Devon frowned as Emma hurried away. Emma had no interest in hearing about Devon’s date for homecoming, so despite being really hungry, Emma decided to take her time getting her lunch and returning to their table. Hopefully Devon would be gone by then.

“Well, I waited for you,” Devon said as Emma sat down.

Emma gave her a blasé look that said,
Whatever
.

“Fine,” Devon said sharply. “Don’t listen if you don’t want to.” Devon went into a detailed account of how she’d cornered Jason down by the gym this morning. “I looked him right in the eye and I said, ‘It’s too bad you’re not taking me to the homecoming dance.’” She pointed at Bryn. “I learned that line from you.”

“What did he say?” Bryn asked with mild interest.

“I could tell he was intrigued. I told him he’d be missing out on a really fun night. And I told him that he wouldn’t even have to pay for dinner since we girls were handling it
and it would be really good.” She pointed at Cassidy. “That was a great idea you had.”

“He agreed to go to the dance with you?” Abby asked.

Devon nodded vigorously. “He certainly did.”

“So you basically
asked
him?” Emma said quietly.

Devon shrugged. “What difference does it make? I’m going. Besides, that’s what Bryn did.”

“Not exactly,” Bryn corrected. The two started arguing over it.

Emma was tempted to leave just to have some peace and quiet. Instead, she focused on eating . . . and remembering what Isaac had said to her.

“Enough,” Cassidy finally said. “You guys sound like a couple of old fishwives.”

“Fishwives?” Devon scowled. “Who says stuff like that anyway?”

“I do,” Cassidy told her. “And it’s embarrassing sitting here with you two fighting like that. Knock it off.”

Emma tossed Cassidy a grateful look and continued to eat. It wasn’t long until only Cassidy and Emma remained at the table.

“I don’t care what Devon says,” Cassidy told her. “I think it’s up to you whether or not you go to the dance. If you don’t feel like it, don’t go.”

“Thanks. I’m not sure what I’ll do. But talking to Isaac did help some.” Emma wiped her mouth with a napkin. “You know, he really is a very nice guy.”

Cassidy patted her on the back. “Well, you deserve a nice guy, Emma.”

Emma watched Cassidy as she pulled out a textbook. She appeared to be going over something for her next class, which
wasn’t surprising since Cassidy seemed to take her education as seriously as she took her faith. Suddenly Emma wondered why she’d so easily pushed Cass aside when Devon started attending school at Northwood. Well, except that Devon seemed to insist upon Emma’s undivided devotion. Of course, Emma and Devon went so far back. Devon truly was Emma’s oldest friend. Still, maybe it was a question of quality versus quantity—perhaps a
good
friend was more valuable than an
old
friend. Maybe it was something Emma should give some careful consideration.