Holly's Heart Collection Two (66 page)
Andie chose to hang out with Tyler on both Jurassic Park, The Ride and the E.T. Adventure. It had to be obvious to the rest of the family that Andie and I weren’t speaking. I hoped it wasn’t spoiling things for them, and I tried to keep a positive, upbeat attitude.
Later, Saundra freaked out over the two-thousand-pound eating machine otherwise known as Jaws. When we least expected it, it leaped out of the water just inches away from her side of the tour bus.
“Oh,” she squealed. What really got her, of course, was the water it sprayed at her while thrashing around in a frenzy to “devour” her. Then it was on to the earthquake, where we experienced an 8.3 heart-pounding tremor.
Out of the entire day, Daddy seemed to enjoy the WaterWorld show most—probably because his heart prevented him from being able to go on some of the rides. And I noticed him laughing at the tribute to
I Love Lucy.
Of course, we scurried here and there, standing in long lines and snacking on junk food and pop while we moved from one attraction to another. One time, when Daddy and I were alone getting caramel corn, I almost told him about Andie’s crush on Rico. Then, just as I was about to open my mouth and confide in him, I decided not to. I didn’t want to worry him about it—and maybe cause more stress on his heart.
While waiting in line for sodas, Saundra spotted a girl with waist-length hair the color of mine. Her hair hung in gentle, vertical waves down her back. “Holly, look,” she said. “Your hair would look wonderful that way.”
“You think so?”
“Definitely,” Andie said, the first she’d spoken to me all day.
“Really?” Now I was excited.
“If you think your mother wouldn’t mind, we could have it permed while you’re here,” Saundra suggested.
“Daddy, what do you think?” I asked.
He cocked his head, looking at me with his eyebrows raised. “It won’t kink up or anything, will it?”
“It better not.” I touched my single braid, not sure now how I felt about Saundra’s idea.
“Then I’m all for it.” He paid for the sodas and passed them down the line to Tyler, Andie, Saundra, and me.
“So, are you gonna do it?” Andie asked.
“I’m probably too chicken,” I said, filing the idea away for future reference. Who knows, maybe I’d get brave and have it done right before school started. A new look would be perfect, especially to start my freshman year.
“Did everyone have a good time today?” Daddy asked as we drove back down the coast at dusk after supper.
“Universal Studios was way cool.” Tyler answered from his perch in the rear seat, where he sat between Andie and me.
“Maybe we’ll go again next summer,” Daddy said, grinning. He turned around to glance at me. “What do you say, Holly?”
I glanced at Andie to my left, wondering if he was including her in the invitation. “Sure, let’s do it,” I said.
Daddy kept talking about the events of the day while Saundra nodded off every so often. We all seemed a bit frazzled from our hectic day. All but Andie. She seemed jazzed. Probably the beach party…and the prospect of seeing Rico again.
That thought made me cringe, but I kept my feelings hidden, praying silently instead.
After we were home only a few minutes, Daddy got the bright idea to invite Sean over. “We’ll play that Bible board game I just bought,” he said, opening the built-in shelving unit opposite the fireplace. “Okay with you, Holly?”
What a matchmaker!
“I guess,” I said, trying to hide my smile.
Saundra looked completely baffled about the new game. But she was quiet and didn’t raise a protest.
We tried our best to get Andie involved, but she wasn’t interested. Daddy literally begged her to play, but she declined. “Thanks anyway,” she said without an explanation. And she scurried off, down the steps, while I shot another silent prayer heavenward.
It didn’t take long for Sean to show up, and after a few instructions from the manual, we began to play. I couldn’t stop thinking about my beach speech to him about just being friends. And here was Daddy throwing the two of us together.
In fact, Daddy was close to winning when he got up rather abruptly and excused himself. “Sorry, kids,” he said, winking at Sean. “I think I’ll call it a night.”
That rascal! I couldn’t believe he was going to simply abandon the game like this. And Saundra was no help whatsoever. She took Daddy’s arm and accompanied him down the hallway, leaving Sean and me to finish the game amidst the light of candles and soft music.
Sean seemed amused. “Look what they’ve done.” He chuckled a little, his eyes reflecting the twinkling light of Saundra’s best-smelling French vanilla candles.
“What’s so funny?”
He forced the smile away. “Oh, nothing.” He said it with a silly straight face now.
“Uh-huh,” I said under my breath.
“What’s
that
supposed to mean?” he asked, not able to hold back his grin.
His gaze was downright attentive. And, I didn’t understand it, but I felt giddy. Inside and out. Shoot, my hands were damp, and I wasn’t sure, but it seemed like my heart was racing out of control. Why was this happening? Sean was just a friend, wasn’t he?
“Holly,” he started to say.
“No, please, let’s just finish the game, okay?” My eyes stared down at the board between us.
He reached over and covered my hand with his. “I can’t lie to you anymore, Holly.” His voice was unbearably sweet.
I felt his gaze on me and couldn’t resist. My eyes found his. “About what?” I whispered.
“About your friendship notion.” He took a deep breath, like this wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to be saying. “I guess I just can’t go along with it. I do like you as a friend, but…” He was searching for words. “But I want you to think about something.”
He was positively adorable, sitting here across from me in my father’s living room. Yet what was he thinking, spoiling our evening like this?
I withdrew my hand. “So you’re saying you didn’t really agree with me before? That you were just going along with me that day on the beach? That you—”
“Holly, I think you’re special. I want you to be my girlfriend.” He spoke with purpose. “Those were little white lies I told you on Wednesday. I’m sorry.”
This wonderful person had just asked me to change my mind. To break my promise to myself. And yet the gentle, kind way he approached the subject told me he was sincere. A true friend.
“I…I don’t know, Sean. I really can’t date yet. And what I said is really important to me,” I replied, referring to my earlier decision.
“
You’re
important to me,” he said.
Silence settled in around us as the candles flickered and the distant sounds of a rock band found their way to my ears. Thoughts of Andie clouded my thinking, and I searched for the perfect words.
Sean smiled thoughtfully. “Will you please think about it?”
Thank goodness. At least I wouldn’t have to decide anything tonight.
LITTLE WHITE LIES
I did myself a favor and didn’t check on Andie before I went to bed, even though I was very curious. I figured what I didn’t know wouldn’t hurt as much. Besides, if she’d gone to meet Rico, there was only one thing I could do, down on my knees!
In my prayer, I didn’t want to include a P. S. to God about Sean Hamilton, though. I was torn between feeling betrayed and knowing inside that Sean was probably the best thing that had ever happened to me.
He certainly wasn’t an immature, obnoxious flirt like Jared Wilkins. And I couldn’t imagine him ever acting spoiled or using Scripture to get his own way like Danny Myers.
There was one problem, though. A thousand miles separated Sean’s home from mine. Long-distance romances were for the birds, and once I got back to Dressel Hills this fact would hit me for sure. I didn’t have to pray about something so foolish. Sean Hamilton, like it or not, would just have to stick with my original decision.
I was starting to doze off when I thought of Andie again. What if she
hadn’t
gone out to the beach with Rico? What if she was actually sound asleep in her room?
Tired but inquisitive, I hurried to check. The moonlight played on the floor near her bed and for a minute, I thought she was curled up there. Maybe praying?
A closer look told the truth. Andie was not in her room as I’d hoped. Now I wished I’d stayed in bed. Troubled, I pulled back her covers and lay down, resting my head on her pillow. I stared at the lighthouse painting on the wall across the room.
“Dear Lord,” I whispered into the darkness, “I can’t handle this thing with Andie. It’s just too heavy.”
My tears rolled onto her pillow. “Please watch over my friend, wherever she is right now. If she’s in trouble, will you help her? I’m glad you always stay awake and never have to sleep, because I’m too exhausted to wait up all night, even though I wish I could. Good night, Lord, and thanks. Amen.”
A peace settled over me, and I fell asleep in Andie’s bed.
The next morning when I awakened, I looked around. No sign of Andie. Then, going to my room, I found her snuggled down in my bed, mouth hanging open in a perfectly relaxed state.
Okay,
I thought, relieved.
She’s back, safe and sound.
After a quick shower, I had breakfast with Daddy and Saundra while Andie and Tyler slept in. Daddy seemed to be in a big hurry to leave for the office.
“It’s Saturday, Daddy. Can’t you stay home?” I pleaded.
“Someone’s got to work,” he said, reminding me that he’d taken off yesterday.
“What’s wrong with two days off in a row?” I asked.
“All play and no work makes for a lousy retirement,” he teased. When he finished his granola and grapefruit, Daddy made a beeline down the hall.
Saundra shook her head. “What will it take to slow that man down?”
“Well, it looks like you can’t make him, and
I
sure can’t….” I buttered my toast, wondering what those lab tests had shown. Surely they weren’t anything to worry about, or else Daddy’s doctor would have ordered bed rest or something else drastic.
Saundra began to clear the table while I was still eating, but suddenly she sat down. “Have you given that perm any more thought?” she asked.
“A little.” I reached for the strawberry jam.
“Well, I have plenty of time today. If you’d like, I could drive you over to Marcie’s. Afterward, we could pick up some sandwiches and have a picnic on the beach.”
I twirled the perm thing around in my brain. If it turned out fabulous like the girl at Universal Studios, I’d be going home looking like a zillion bucks. “Let me think about it some more, okay?”
“Oh, sure,” Saundra said. “We’ve got all next week.”
Daddy hustled through the kitchen carrying his black leather briefcase. I hurried to catch up with him. “Wait a minute,” I called. He turned around and let me kiss him good-bye. “I love you,” I said. “Hurry home.”
“You’re a darling girl, Holly. I’ll see you tonight.”
A few minutes later, Tyler clumped into the kitchen looking like something the cat dragged in. “What’s for breakfast?” he asked, his auburn hair sticking out all over.
“You’re a little late, dear,” Saundra said. “But…what would you like?”