It's a Green Thing (18 page)

Besides, my dad arrives tonight, and I still have a few details to take care of for the dinner party tomorrow. So really, I don't have time to deal with Brooke right now. Dominic is coming to the dinner tomorrow, and we haven't seen much of each other this past week—we've both been too busy. Maybe I don't really need to be worried about our relationship at all.

I
picked up my dad at the airport last night at seven. I offered to take him on a tour of the town, but he declined.

“I think I'd like to call it a night, if you don't mind, Maya.”

“No problem. You look pretty exhausted.”

“I've been up for about twenty hours now.”

So I drove him downtown where he'd reserved a room at, according to Uncle Allen, the best hotel around. But probably not nearly as nice as the places my dad usually stays. “It's not the Ritz,” I told him as I pulled up in front, “but hopefully you'll be comfortable.”

“I'll be asleep before my head hits the pillow.” He pulled his bag from the trunk. “And I'll probably sleep in tomorrow too. I hope you don't mind.”

“You just call me when you want to, Dad.” Then we hugged, and he went into the hotel. I have the next five days off, but it's not like I planned to spend every free minute with him. He needs to rest up a little before the concert tomorrow. But at least he seemed excited about my dinner party.

I've been working all day to make everything perfect. It's been kind of a relief that Dad slept in until nearly two. Then he called to say that he'd decided to take it easy until dinnertime. The plan is for Dominic to pick him up and bring him over here around six. Uncle Allen offered but then remembered he needed to be here to tend the barbecue.

I put the finishing touches outside. I rented four tables and sixteen chairs and arranged them around the backyard. Because Aunt Patricia liked to sew, she had a whole trunk full of fabrics, and Kim helped me pick out the prints that looked most Hawaiian for the tablecloths. I'm going with a luau theme. I picked flowers from the garden to make colorful bouquets for the tables. For vases, I used recycled tin cans wrapped with big elephant ear bamboo leaves and tied with raffia. Jackie loaned me tiki torches that I planted randomly around the yard. I also made hanging votive candleholders from recycled glass jars and wire and beads. It's going to look magical once it starts to get dark. And for music, Uncle Allen dug out some Hawaiian CDs that they got on vacation a few years ago.

“Everything looks beautiful,” Kim said.

“Thanks.” I looked around the backyard with satisfaction. This yard isn't nearly as big or fancy as where I lived in Beverly Hills (well, back in the days when we could afford a groundskeeper), but I still like it better here. It feels homey and sweet…and safe.

“The caterer just delivered the food,” Kim said. “I stashed it in the fridge. It looks really good.”

“I want this to be special.” I adjusted one of the flower arrangements. “You know, for my dad.”

“I can't wait to meet him, Maya.” She clapped her hands like a little girl. “This is so exciting!”

I glanced over to the fence that separates our yard from Natalie's. “Did you invite her?” Nat wanted to come, and although I wasn't that thrilled with the idea, out of respect for Kim I had said it was okay.

“Actually, she invited herself.” Kim shook her head. “And her mom too. Her mom is a Nick Stark fan. I told Nat I'd have to check with you.”

I forced a smile. “Great, that means all the tables will be filled.”

“You're sure?”

I nodded. “Absolutely.”

Kim looked hugely relieved. “Thanks. I better tell her so they can arrange for a sitter.”

I almost said, “Oh, the kids can come too,” except I know how wild and crazy Nat's younger siblings can be. I like them. But I want tonight to be more grown-up.

“Are you going to have assigned seating?” Kim asked as we went inside.

“Yes. The place cards are in my room.”

“Let me guess, recycled paper?”

I laughed. “Yes. And I'm going to glue little flowers on them.”

“How did you get to be so clever, Maya?”

“Probably from being homeschooled the past few years.”

“But I thought you said that Shannon was, well, you know, kind of checked out?”

“She was. I pretty much homeschooled myself. And I probably spent more time on art than math.”

“And yet you aced your PSATs.” Now she looked curiously at me. “So have you decided whether you're going to high school or college next year?”

Besides the guidance counselor at Harrison High, Kim and Uncle Allen are the only ones I've discussed this with. And lately I haven't said much. Everyone else, including Dominic, assumes I'll be in high school next year. They don't know I already have my GED and passed my PSAT.

“I don't know,” I said. “Sometimes I think I should keep working part-time for Jackie and start taking community college classes and make plans for getting an apartment and being on my own.”

Kim nodded without commenting.

“And other times I just want to have a normal high-school experience. You know, kind of like you.”

She smiled. “You only get one chance to do that, Maya. I mean, college and career are always out there, but you can only do high school when you're a teenager.”

Now I'm thinking about that as I'm chilling in my room. It's still a couple of hours before my little soiree, and everything is ready—I've even finished the place cards for the tables. And I'm hoping everything will turn out okay. But I'm also thinking about
what Kim said—that you can only do high school when you're a teenager. After that you can go to college for as long as you like. And you can work as long as you like. But high school is a onetime thing.

Last night was wonderful. If I do say so myself, I think I might have a flair for entertaining. Not onstage kind of entertaining. I'll leave that to my dad. But everyone who came to the dinner party couldn't believe that I—a teenage girl—actually put the whole thing together. Like, afterward, Nat's mom was thanking my uncle. “You put together such a wonderful evening, Allen.”

“This is all Maya's doing,” he said with what seemed like an almost paternal sort of pride. She looked surprised. But then I pointed out that Uncle Allen had been responsible for the barbecue and Kim had helped in all sorts of ways.

But back to the beginning. Dominic brought my dad about thirty minutes before the other guests were supposed to arrive. I could tell that the two of them had already hit it off. Of course, this shouldn't surprise me since Dominic is a musician as well. I wonder why I hadn't thought of that before. But my dad really liked my uncle and cousin too. And they seemed to like him a lot. It felt like we really were family. I can't even describe how cool that was. I almost regretted that I'd invited others to join us since we were already having a great time with just our small group. But to my relief, it only got better as more guests arrived. It was so
awesome to let Dad get a sample of my life and meet my friends. And once my friends got over being slightly star-struck, it was pretty fun. It got even better as the sky grew dark and all the tiki torches and candles were glowing, with Hawaiian music playing in the background.

“It's like a tropical fairyland out here,” Kim said as the caterers began serving dessert—a combination of pineapple, coconut, and ice cream and very yummy. Kim and Uncle Allen and Dad and I were seated at the same table. I felt a tiny bit selfish for doing this—but, hey, he's my dad.

I put Dominic and Eddie with Marissa and her dad, and really, that seemed to go well. I could tell Marissa's dad was enjoying himself. I think he appreciated spending time with his daughter in a fairly happy setting. I put the Bernards at a table with Josh and Caitlin. And Nat and her mother sat with Pastor Tony and his wife, Stephanie.

To say that a good time was had by all wouldn't be an exaggeration. Okay, it got a little dicey when Nat's mom kept urging my dad to sing for us. I finally had to step in.

“Anyone who wants to hear Nick Stark sing will need to buy tickets for tomorrow's benefit concert,” I announced loudly.

“That's right,” Kim agreed.

“Good luck,” Caitlin called from her table. “I heard that we're sold out.”

This was followed by a loud cheer.

So even though I was pretty worn-out after the party ended, I was very happy. I think it went as well as possible. Dominic offered to drive my dad back to his hotel, but I told him that I wanted to.

“Why don't you just come along with us?” Dominic suggested.

“Thanks, but I'd like a little time with my dad alone.” And okay, I could tell that Dominic was slightly hurt by this. But like I said, he's my dad. And I think I deserve some one-on-one.

“What a great evening.” Dad leaned back in the passenger seat beside me.

“I hope we didn't wear you out.”

“Not at all. In a way it was very refreshing.”

“Refreshing?”

He nodded. “Yes. You have no idea how much it puts this father's heart at ease to see you with these people, Maya.” His voice choked slightly now. “Allen and Kim are really great—and the rest of your friends.” He sniffed. “Well, I just couldn't be more pleased and relieved.”

“They're a nice bunch of people.”

“I know this will sound trite, Maya, but tonight has helped restore my faith in the human race.”

“It doesn't sound trite, Dad. I know what you mean.”

“I can't imagine you landing in a better place, honey.”

“Me either.”

“Allen told me that you're welcome to stay as long as you need to.”

“Even after Kim goes to college?”

“I asked the same thing, Maya.”

“And?”

“Allen paid you a very high compliment.”

“So are you going to tell me?”

“He said that if it was anyone besides you, he wouldn't even consider taking a teenager into his home. But he said you remind him of Kim. He said that you're mature beyond your years, and with your independence he wouldn't feel he needed to take care of you.”

“That was nice.”

“But he was concerned.”

“About what?”

“Well, he wondered if you'd be very happy living there. He thought you deserved to live with a more normal family.”

“A more normal family?” I had to laugh. “Uncle Allen and Kim are the most normal people I know.”

“Yes, but Kim will be gone. And you might not be comfortable living with your widowed uncle.” He glanced at me.

“Uncle Allen is the sweetest man I know.” I looked at Dad. “Present company excluded. I feel perfectly safe and comfortable with him, if that's what you mean.”

“It's just that you've been through so much, Maya. I know you haven't given up on your emancipation plan. And I think you're proving that you're able to take care of yourself.”

“I've been taking care of myself for years.”

He sighed. “I know…and I'm sorry.”

“No, I wasn't trying to make you feel bad.”

“But my concert schedule doesn't seem to be lightening up any. And there's no telling what will happen with your mother's appeal this fall.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning…maybe you would be safest if you were emancipated. That way you could continue living with your uncle or be on your own, but Shannon couldn't exercise any parental rights over you.”

“Yes, I've thought the same thing.”

“I'll do or sign anything to help you get this, Maya.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

We were at his hotel by then. I got out and hugged him.

“Thanks for one of the best nights of my life.” He still had tears in his eyes. “You made me so proud tonight.” He used his handkerchief to dab his nose. “I know you're going to be okay.”

I nodded. “Do you want to just take it easy tomorrow? You know, because of the concert?”

“I'll sleep in. My crew is supposed to get here around noon. Then we'll have to set up in the stadium and do some sound checks and all that. But maybe you and I could have an early dinner together.”

“Sure. Just let me know when and where.”

He hugged me again, kissing me on the cheek. “You're a great kid, Maya. You make me proud to be your dad.”

And this afternoon as I write this, I'm thinking it's cool that Dad is so proud of me. I want to feel as confident as he does, but I'm not always so sure. I mean, I'm only sixteen and a half. Who knows what could still go wrong? I try not to think about things with Dominic. Or my dilemma with Brooke. It feels like a lot of pressure. And something else is bothering me quite a bit—the wall that Caitlin warned me about. I am convinced that I have been steadily building that wall by not forgiving Brooke. And now I'm not even sure how to put an end to it. But I'm praying, and I hope God will show me. I doubt I'll be able to deal with it until after my dad's visit. Still, it must be resolved because I NEED God. I really, really need God. I can't afford not to have Him in my life. I can't bear to do it on my own. I've been there and done that. And it didn't work.