Last Dance (16 page)

DJ wondered if some of their previous problems might have been related to Miss Walford’s influence. She had so easily taken sides with her dance team girls, almost pitting them against the Carter House girls, that it sort of made sense that Madison felt entitled to take things too far. Or maybe DJ was just imagining things. Still, she thought it wouldn’t do Miss Walford any harm to help Madison by volunteering at the Boys and Girls Clubs.

THE MOTHER’S DAY FASHION SHOW
on Saturday went fairly smoothly. Oh, there were the usual bumps and blunders backstage, the occasional lost shoe or ripped seam. But no harsh words or sabotaged outfits. And no catfights. It almost gave DJ hope for what might lie ahead this summer in New York. Not that she was thinking about that much yet. She was just happy to have this particular fashion show behind her. More than that, she was happy to see everyone getting along so well. Now if only it could last the next three weeks until graduation.

Casey, thanks to the apologies and reconciliations after fashion court, had decided to remain in Crescent Cove until school ended. And she had decided to continue her pregnancy to full term. What would happen after that, Casey wasn’t completely sure. Adoption was an option, but she said she wanted to take the summer to think it over.

“So you’re going to stick around until graduation?” Haley asked Casey as they were getting ready before the fashion show.

“Everyone knows I’m pregnant now anyway,” Casey explained as she buttoned a shirt. “What’s the point in running away to hide?”

“And we’re not going to give you a bad time,” Madison assured her.

“Which means probably no one else will either,” Tina added.

“Too bad we couldn’t have been friends like this last fall,” Rhiannon pointed out. “It could’ve saved a lot of people a lot of trouble.”

“Some of us have to learn the hard way,” Taylor said. “I happen to know this personally.”

Grandmother had invited the mothers of the Carter House girls for a Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday. All would be there except for Rhiannon’s mother, since she had returned to rehab. “Hopefully, the third time’s the charm,” Rhiannon had told them last week when she’d heard this news from her great-aunt. Actually, it was a relief for Rhiannon since she’d been worried that something worse had happened to her MIA mom.

DJ found it interesting sitting at the table with the moms and daughters. A different kind of dynamics. Taylor and her talented jazz-singing mother. Casey and her traditional, middle-class, church-going mom. Kriti and her quiet, conservatively dressed mother. And Eliza and her fashionable, well-mannered mom. As DJ watched the mothers and daughters interacting, she saw they had moments when they seemed comfortable together and moments when they acted like strangers. And DJ wondered how she would act if her mother were here. Probably no different.

Grandmother had seated DJ and Rhiannon on either side of her. “I will play the role of your mother today,” she had told
them. And now she raised her glass. “I would like to make a toast to our daughters,” she said loudly. The mothers raised their glasses. “To six beautiful young women with bright futures ahead—when you’re rich and famous, may you always remember your mothers.”

The girls laughed, and then Taylor lifted her glass. “A toast to the mothers,” she said, waiting for the other girls to lift their glasses. “Here’s to the mothers, you did your best and, despite everything, you might have succeeded—and if not, may you always remember we love you.”

After brunch, the girls gave their mothers gifts, and DJ suddenly remembered the painting she’d gotten for her grandmother. It was underneath her bed. She excused herself and dashed up to get it, blowing the dust off the brown paper wrapping as she carried it down. She hoped that Grandmother would like it. Bradford’s mom had said she might be willing to exchange it for something else if she didn’t.

She found Grandmother in the kitchen, talking to Clara and Inez. “This is for you, Grandmother.”

“For me?”

“Happy Mother’s Day.”

Grandmother looked truly stunned.

“Open it!” Inez commanded her.

They all waited while Grandmother peeled the layers of paper off. Then she just stared at the painting without saying anything.

“I know art is subjective,” DJ said quickly. “But I thought maybe—”

“It’s beautiful, Desiree.” Grandmother turned to her with tears in her eyes. “It’s too beautiful.”

“Not too beautiful for you.”

Grandmother just kept shaking her head. “I can’t believe it.”

DJ wasn’t sure what to say. “For some reason it reminded me of you.”

“Do you know who the artist is?” Grandmother asked.

“Just that his name is Andrew Saltzer.”

Grandmother set the painting on the kitchen table and reached into her pocket for a handkerchief, carefully wiping her eyes. “Andrew Saltzer was an old friend, Desiree.”

“An old beau?”

Grandmother nodded.

“You’re kidding!”

“Not at all.” She kept staring at the painting. “It’s just unbelievable that you could’ve found this and bought it.” She turned back to DJ. “It must’ve cost a fortune. Where did you get-”

“My savings.”

“Oh, Desiree!”

“But you’re happy I got it for you, aren’t you?”

Grandmother nodded.

“And it’s really beautiful. And you knew the artist.”

“He was your mother’s father.”

DJ felt her knees go weak. “No way!”

Grandmother nodded. “Your grandfather painted that.”

Inez grabbed a chair, sliding it beneath DJ and helping her to sit before she fell. “Whoa…” DJ just shook her head. “That’s incredible.”

Grandmother came over and put her arms around DJ. “And so are you. Incredible.”

DJ was too stunned to respond.

The last three weeks of school passed rather peacefully and uneventfully. For the most part, the friendships between the girls who had previously been enemies continued to strengthen and grow. And several of the girls, including DJ and Taylor, donated
some volunteer time (in Madison’s name) at the Boys and Girls Clubs, where Madison had already become a “fixture.”

DJ found herself wishing that it wasn’t her last year in high school. She found it hard to believe that she’d been so opposed to Crescent Cove High one year ago. Back then she resented the small (and what she considered) stuck-up school. Now she was sad to think it was time to say good-bye. The upside of this realization was that it made her confident that her choice of college was right. DJ had thanked Yale for their kind interest and informed Wesleyan U that she’d be there in the fall. Fortunately Grandmother backed DJ on her decision, and she was relieved that Middletown was only an hour’s drive from Crescent Cove.

“You didn’t go with Wesleyan for my sake, did you?” Conner had asked when she told him the good news.

“I did it for me,” she assured him.

“Meaning I had
nothing
to do with your choice?” He looked disappointed.

“Of course you had something to do with it. You’re my best friend, Conner.”

“Best friend?” He looked hopeful. “Meaning I rank higher than Taylor?”

“Okay, she’s my best friend too. By the way, she sent in an application to Wesleyan U last week.”

“What about her big modeling career?”

“She’s not sure. This summer will help her to decide.”

“And did I just hear that Eliza’s settling for a year of international travel in lieu of college?”

DJ chuckled. “But it’s not as glamorous as it sounds. She’s going with her parents, and it’s mostly Third World countries. Her father joined a well-digging organization because he wants to give back.”

“Cool.”

DJ nodded. It was cool. And although Eliza was doing a bit of heel dragging, the good news for her was that Yale would take this into consideration when she reapplied next winter.

No one was too surprised when Kriti was tapped as valedictorian. But they were all impressed when she gave a brilliant and challenging address at graduation. As DJ listened, she regretted not spending more time getting to know Kriti this past year. But maybe it didn’t matter, since all six Carter House girls had already formed a pact to stay in touch and to have regular reunions at Carter House. Naturally, this pleased Grandmother to no end.

The after-graduation party was called Last Dance and, once again, all six Carter House girls and their dates rented a stretch limo to get them to the hotel. DJ was pleased that Emery had invited Casey—and that Casey had accepted. And this time, like prom night, no alcohol was involved—they had all agreed on this in advance. Unfortunately, they knew this wasn’t the case with all their high school friends.

“I can’t believe this is it,” Eliza said as the six girls gathered in front of the mirror in the women’s restroom at the hotel. It was time to touch up their runny mascara and tear-streaked faces—remnants from graduation.

“I don’t want this year to end,” DJ admitted.

“Me neither.” Casey grabbed a tissue and blew her nose. “I just wish I’d done it differently.”

“You’re going to be okay,” Taylor told Casey.

“We all are,” Rhiannon assured them.

Kriti nodded. “This year may have been hard at times, but it made us who we are. It made us strong.”

“And it made our friendships strong,” DJ said.

“Group hug!” cried Eliza. And suddenly all six of them were embracing and crying all over again.

“Good grief.” A girl from graduation walked past them toward the stalls. “Maybe you guys should get a room.”

They all just laughed, then Taylor called out, “Hey, if you had friends like this, you’d understand.”

“We’re more than just friends,” DJ said seriously. “We’re sisters.”

“Okay, sisters,” Taylor announced after they finished with their face repairs, “it’s time to get out there and enjoy the Last Dance!”

And dance they did. They switched partners, visited with friends, ate food, and basically enjoyed the evening. But then the announcement came. It really was the last dance of the Last Dance.

As DJ danced with Conner, she felt a sense of bittersweet happiness. Yes, she knew it was the end of an era, and maybe she was ready to move on. But it was hard to say good-bye. She closed her eyes and thanked God for giving her such an amazing year and such great friends and, most of all, she thanked God for what was yet to come—because she knew it was going to be good!