Heart Strings (11 page)

“I haven't told her I know. That same afternoon, a nurse at the hospital mentioned my transplant, and I’ve been afraid to bring up Mark since.”

Surprise lit Evelyn’s blue eyes. “You think because you're staying here, she might make the connection?”

Sitting down at the table again, Tripp folded his hands. “That and a dozen other things, like my tastes changing, so I often imitate Mark. Liking tea. And Mexican food.”

“And you think that may be the reason you like Keely? Because he did?”

“That occurred to me, and I gave it a lot of thought. But she's exactly the kind of girl I've always wanted, and the way I feel about Keely has nothing to do with Mark. It's not just my heart, but my head and my whole being that cares about her. But I don't know if she'll believe me.”

*****

Keely felt like the only girl in the world who was in love. All of the clichés she'd read were true. She felt like she was floating on air. She felt ten feet tall and beautiful. The carnival was the best she'd ever attended. Sitting next to Tripp in the Ferris wheel car, high above the park, she felt like the queen of the world. Riding the roller coaster, she screamed hysterically, but her hysteria went away when he put his arms around her.

She couldn't have been in love with Mark. She'd never felt this good before. She was so giddy, she felt like someone released a helium balloon inside her. Dust from the long dry spell rose under their feet, seeping into her sandals as they walked through the park, and she didn't mind.

Carnival barkers shouted at Tripp to win her a stuffed animal, and when he passed them by, they broke the night air with catcalls. Mark would have won the bear, gone broke trying, or decked the guys for shouting. They didn't faze Tripp, who ignored them until she admired a super-sized monkey holding a banana, and with three quick balls, won it for her. Afterward, he told her the story of Rosita Banana and his introduction to HAH. Tripp had had his share of troubles and overcome them admirably. He was sweet and fun, and the past was past, and nothing good could come of telling him about her and Mark.

*****

Tripp had never had so much fun as he did the week of the festival. So what if Keely had dated Mark? She was Tripp Andrews' girl now. Aunt Ev was enjoying herself and the kids at the hospital loved the festival stories and souvenirs he carried back to them. Regret over keeping his transplant donor's identity secret, and fear Keely would make it a major deal if she found it out, nagged at the back of his mind. And he fretted over Rosa's condition whenever he had a moment alone. But he'd waited a long time for fun and love to come along, and he was making the most of it.

July 4
^th
, the final day of the festival, dawned hot and clear. Joey was sitting on the Jefferson's steps by nine-o’clock, waiting for Tripp to warm up with him. At nine-thirty, they were both sweating and had to wash before walking downtown to view the parade. The Medics were scheduled to play the first game afterward, and Joey was psyched for a win.

Tripp wore a white polo shirt with red stripes and blue stars that his mother sent, and Keely smiled from one gold star earring to the other when she saw him. She looked cute in a red skort, white tee shirt, and navy blue sandals. Her auburn hair was pulled into a high ponytail tied with a navy ribbon. “Morning, Mrs. Sam,” he said, chuckling.

Joey frowned when they explained the joke. “She'd be Aunt Sam, not Mrs.,” he said, and grinned proudly when they conceded he was right.

Keely looked fresh as a summer daisy, but after they'd walked a block, perspiration dotted her nose like freckles. “Today's going to turn into a scorcher.”

“All the better for a hot time in the old town,” Tripp joked, and she rolled her eyes, laughing.

Joey, spotting his manager, ran to join him and the team to walk in the parade. Tripp and Keely found two seats in a row of bleachers set up along the sidewalks and squeezed in. Now that Joey had run off, Tripp felt free to hold Keely's hand, and she smiled up at him. “I love you,” he said softly.

“I love you too,” she whispered.

Sirens wailed through the still air, alerting the crowd that the parade was inching their way. Keely pulled a pair of sunglasses out of her skort pocket to perch on her nose. “Look, there's Will,” she said, pointing toward the next set of bleachers. “I've never seen that girl he's with before.”

A blast of brass and boom of percussion drew Tripp's attention, and wishing he'd worn a ball cap, he shaded his eyes with his hand. The high school marching band was followed by half a dozen police cars, crawling down the street with lights flashing, and the occasional wail from their sirens which startled the crowd. Behind them, a tall Uncle Sam, his stilts hidden by striped pants, was accompanied by a black dog with a pompom atop his fuzzy head. Uncle Sam twirled a baton, and a small boy dressed identically except for the stilts picked it up whenever he dropped it. A fire engine wailed by, followed by a long line of flower bedecked floats that brought oohs and ahs and bursts of applause.

Tripp shouted when he spotted Evelyn sitting on Heartland's float, and both he and Keely waved. The float, a bed of roses, was draped with a patchwork quilt. Each of the quilt's hand-painted squares held symbols for one of the patients, and George's was a golf club for his favorite pastime and a flower to represent those he used to buy his wife. Evelyn, who'd supervised the painting of the symbols and pieced the white cloth squares together, sat next to the huge blue ribbon that showed the judges had given the float first place. “I haven't seen her so happy in more than a year,” Keely said. “How did you persuade her to take part?”

“I didn't. She did it for her sweetie.”

Keely's eyes brimmed with tears when he told her about his conversation with Evelyn. “Even old love is grand,” she said, and Tripp squeezed her hand tightly.

*****

Joey batted in a run in the seventh inning, and his team won their first game. Jubilant, he gave Tripp a high five. “Thanks for practicing with me.”

“I was glad to do it, buddy. You're looking good out there.”

His team didn't play again for several hours, but he wanted to hang out with his buddies. Long lines of hungry festival attendees formed at the food booths along Main Street. Hordes of children snaked through the streets, moving from one game booth or ride to another. Keely and Tripp, having ridden and eaten on the midway earlier in the week, decided to grab a dish of custard ice cream and time alone at J's.

“It looks like every teen in town had the same idea,” Keely said, when they pushed through the front door.

“All the booths are full,” Tripp agreed. “Maybe Mosley's is less crowded.”

“Hey, you two lovebirds,” Will Laughlin stood up and yelled. “Come sit down. There's plenty of room.”

Everyone in J's turned to stare and Keely stalked back to Will's table, ready to throttle him. With a mouth like that, no wonder he had a booth to himself. She didn't turn to look at Tripp, walking behind her, knowing he'd be angry with “Wonder Boy” as well. Neither of them liked being a public spectacle, and sharing a booth with Will was the furthest thing from time alone.

Will wasn't alone. A basketball player in the booth ahead of theirs had hidden Will's date from view. “Tripp. Keely. Meet Brigit,” he said, smiling at the tall slim girl who'd sat with him at the parade.

She half-stood and Keely, out of respect for the stranger, smiled and said “Hi.” So did Tripp, and Brigit asked them to sit down. Exchanging uneasy glances, they did. “I'm from Winslow,” she drawled. The town she named was just seven miles up the road. “South Carolina native, but I've been in these parts since last summer.”

“That's Brigit's red Mustang out front,” Will said proudly.

“Ah wouldn't drive anything else now, would ah, honey bun?” Her drawl grew thicker as she tousled Will's short blond hair.

He gave her a moony smile that made Keely fear he'd melt right down in the booth. He obviously had it bad for this girl, and the way she rubbed noses with him indicated she liked him pretty well—unless she was playing him for a fool. Brigit didn't look like Will's type, whatever that was. Her straight yellow-blonde hair swung loosely on her shoulders. Her shorts were black leather and her tight tee shirt featured a Mustang car on the pocket. Will must have seen Keely looking. “Brigit belongs to a Mustang club,” he said, taking her hand in his.

Keely froze. Mark had belonged to a countywide Mustang club, but for some reason, she'd assumed the members were all guys. Brigit blew on her brightly polished nails, then buffed them on her shirt. “Ah'm president,” she said, smiling up into Will's spellbound gaze.

“We'll take two frozen custards to go.” Tripp told the waitress, nudging Keely with his elbow. She'd been ready to leave a minute ago, but she was curious now.

“Speaking of which, ah need to go to the little girls' room. S'cuse me, Honey Bun,” Brigit said, tickling Will's chin.

Keely half-stood, thinking of following Brigit to the restroom and asking if she knew Mark. Not that it mattered since he would never have given such a silly, superficial flirt a second glance. But, watching Brigit wiggle her hips all the way to the rest room, Keely had to admit he might have given her a first glance. Every guy in sight stared. What guy wouldn't?

“Ready to go?”

Keely turned to find Tripp with his full attention turned to her. Well, maybe there was one. Tucking her hand in his arm, she smiled. “Totally.”

*****

Joey's team, the Medics, lost their second game, but he got two hits and was satisfied. Evelyn joined Sara Johannsen for Bingo under a striped tent while Keely's dad took a turn in the dunk tank his lodge had set up to raise money for next year's fireworks. Tripp and Keely met Devon and Megan at the Presbyterian Church food tent where the Presby Stompers played jazz while the women of the church served cold drinks and sandwiches. After downing two chili dogs each, the two couples strolled over to the Liberty Building, an open pavilion with a DJ furnishing music for dancing.

Tripp steered Keely to a quiet corner of the dance floor. She followed his gaze to the starry sky where an occasional aerial bomb broke the quiet, reminding the crowd that in a couple of hours, the fireworks would start. His arm felt good around her waist, and she lay her head on his shoulder. They fit together perfectly and their steps matched well. “I've waited a long time for this moment,” he said softly.

She nuzzled his neck with her nose and he chuckled. “That tickles.”

“I like dancing with you,” she whispered, and he stopped laughing and held her closer.

They danced three slow numbers without leaving the floor. “Now, it's time to rock,” the DJ called out.

“And time to cool off,” Keely said. The night air was humid and her T-shirt clung like a second skin. She and Tripp strolled to the edge of the pavilion hoping to catch a breeze.

“Want me to get you something to drink?” Tripp asked. His cheeks were red and beads of sweat lined his upper lip.

“I'd love a lemon shakeup.”

“You can rest and I'll get us both one.” His eyes held hers as he walked away. “I can get back faster if I go alone.” A few feet away, he called, “Back in five,” and waved.

She was lucky to have a great guy like Tripp. A handsome guy who hated leaving her. She took a seat on the bench along the pavilion's half-wall and watched the crowd country line dance. Megan's parents had taken lessons and danced better than her and Devon. Keely's mom and dad sat on the other side of the pavilion, talking to Evelyn.

“Square dancin' is one thing, but this line stuff is another.” Keely turned to find Brigit, Will's new girl, sitting next to her with her nose turned up.

Keely shrugged. “I don't do it either.”

“Y'all don't know what you’re missing.” Brigit told her more than she wanted to know about square dances in South Carolina. Then she started raving about how cute Will was, and Keely, who thought she'd barf, waited for a pause in the girl's narrative to ask if she knew Mark.

Before she could do so, Brigit suddenly stopped talking and Keely followed her gaze to a woman who was crossing the pavilion. “Do y'all know who that is?” Brigit asked.

“Sure. She's my neighbor. Evelyn Jefferson.”

“That's what ah thought, and if you'll excuse me, she's the woman ah have been looking for.” Brigit bounded out of her seat and across the floor, leaving Keely to wonder what became of her seductive walk. And what did she want with Mark's mother?

Keely and Tripp danced several more times and she almost forgot about Brigit, but curiosity tickled the back of her mind until she confided in Tripp. “I can't help wondering why she was looking for your Aunt Evelyn.”

“You sound like Megan, creating a mystery.”

“Mark belonged to the Mustang Club.”

“Are you trying to create a romance now?”

“No. Of course not.”

Tripp’s arm tightened around her waist. “I didn't think so.”

His words sounded clipped and Keely looked up at him. If he knew about her and Mark, he might think she was jealous of Brigit. “It doesn't matter whether or not she knew him. I'm just curious.”

“I know.” Tripp sighed and kissed Keely lightly on the forehead. “Maybe she wants to offer her condolences.”

Keely laid her head on Tripp's shoulder. He was probably right, and anyway, it didn't matter. When Mark appeared in her dreams these days, he was her boyhood idol—scaling tall trees, planting earthworms in the teacher's desk drawer, and climbing up the antenna to invite Keely out her bedroom window to tell her what new thing he'd done to his car. Tripp was the one she danced with in her dreams, the one she kissed. And while she was awake, she dreamt of her and Tripp strolling the paths of a college campus, hand-in-hand. They’d go to separate high schools next year, but they could attend the same college after graduation.

“And you said I daydreamed.”

Keely blushed, realizing the music had stopped, and she and Tripp were the only two left on the dance floor.