Perfect Glass (A Young Adult Novel (sequel to Glass Girl)) (14 page)

“Then let me go with you.”

He took both my hands in his and kissed each of my knuckles. “You have to stay here and be a senior. You have to graduate and be ready for college. Just make sure you’re at peace with how you leave things in Chapin because you’re moving with me to Laramie in August. I’ll come home as soon as I can.”

All of the emotions that hit people at times like these, all of them, coursed through us both like a secret we couldn’t tell. Because if we said everything we were thinking and feeling right then…if we laid it all out for one another…we might not like the way the words strung together. Or the way fear and hope and bitterness and love mashed up into one big mess in the pits of our stomachs.

“Okay,” I said. “Go. Fix things for the kids. I can hang on.”

Later, I watched him lock the door to the cabin and hide the key under the rock. I waited on the porch, staring at the big oak. I knew the birds were there, sleeping on the branches. Henry kissed me and put me in the driver’s seat of the Jeep. Then he drove away.

And even in the Jeep, my arms wanted to reach after him.

henry

I
jerked awake to the sound of agitated chatter—a real pity because I’d been dreaming I had Meg in my arms. The thick Managua air hit me in the face as soon as the flight attendant opened the aircraft door. I’d lucked into an aisle seat on this flight and had inched my legs further and further into the aisle as the flight passed the three-hour mark.

Slowly swimming to the surface after a fitful sleep, I struggled to translate Spanish in my head again when the attendant started in with a rapid-fire listing of gate and baggage information. The woman across the aisle from me noticed my dim-witted look and told me where to find my bags. The two hours of sleep I’d managed only made me more sluggish. And mean. And hungry.

Nothing felt real yet. I rolled my shoulders and tried to rub circulation back into my thighs. We were hung up in a long line of planes looking for gates. The babies who had finally settled in during the flight found their lungs again.

Being in Managua made me nervous. I showed my passport and visa, half expecting the customs officer to pull me aside and escort me to a dimly lit back room.

I made it through and outside, where I paid attention to the eyes around me. I searched for any gangster type who looked like he might have known I’d be there. I knew I was being paranoid, but I had zero experience with gang retaliation and I had no idea if my part in the fight with Raf was really worth their time and trouble.

I’d gone from being a chicken on the run to taking the reins as
el jefe
, all within a matter of hours, so turning into the Quiet Waters property was strange. Before, I’d had the hedge of “temporary volunteer” around me. Now I’d be provider, protector, teacher, and friend for as long as it took.

Aidia saw me first and squealed for Rosa to put her down so she could toddle my way. That caught Karalyn’s eye; she hit the ground running. In no time, I was surrounded, covered up with happy children. They all fought to hold my hands or get an arm around my waist. I did my best to reassure each one of them that we were going to be okay.

Raf, watching from his seat at the table, raised his chin at me when I looked his way. Maybe that meant we were cool. Up until the moment I laid eyes on the kids, I wasn’t sure myself whether we’d be all right. Now that I had them in my arms, I had to make it so.

Rosa and her husband, Gael, stood back waiting. I explained to the kids, carefully, about baby Hannah. I told them Kate would rest for a little while and then they would be back. Most of their questions were about Whit. They worried he’d be sad because he lost his sister.

My two girls, Aidia and Karalyn, took their usual places next to me as Rosa put a steaming plate of
arroz con pollo
in front of me. I took the fork she offered and dug in, burning my tongue in the process. Holy cow, Rosa could cook.

“How is she, Henry?” Rosa said.

“I saw them for fifteen minutes early this morning. She looked exhausted and pale, but she’s okay.”

“And John?”

“Wrung out. He did say to tell you he owes you the world for stepping in and helping.”

“It’s no
problema
, really. My kids love sleeping in the bunk beds. We’ll stay and help you as long as we’re needed, okay?”

“I don’t know what we’d do without you,” I said.

Rosa started clearing my plate, then stopped and laid her hand on my shoulder. “She really scared me. So much blood. And I couldn’t get John on the phone. I don’t know if they could’ve done something if we’d moved faster.”

I patted her arm. “There’s nothing you could’ve done. You did just fine.”

Standing, I clapped my hands. All the kids’ heads popped up at the sound and I took advantage of the moment.

“Today, we go right back to a normal schedule.” I spoke with a mixture of simple English and simpler
español
. “I’m going to do my best for you guys and I expect the same from you. I’ll step in for John with the boys and Rosa will do lessons with the girls. The only way to make this work is to earn our keep.”

The room vibrated with the excitement of change. The kids seemed ready to be held accountable, ready to help out. Out of the murmurings rose one little voice the group never got to hear.

Karalyn raised her pinky finger into the air to get my attention.

“Yes, Karalyn?”

“We could pinky swear it.” She released a nervous breath and used the American kid tradition Whit had taught her.

“We could, Karalyn. We could pinky swear it.” I winked at her sweet little face.

Every hand in the room, except for Raf’s, shot up, pinkies extended. We gave our solemn promises, me to them, and them to me. And even though Raf didn’t say the words, his eyes locked onto mine in a covenant. And it was solid.

These kids found the combination to the lock on my heart and I felt the tumblers slide and click open.

***

I took my first step into running the place and it was a doozy. For a week and a half, I spent every waking moment teaching, playing, refereeing, cleaning, and reassuring. Holding Aidia, checking up on Karalyn and Equis. Keeping an eye on Raf’s comings and goings. At night, I’d hit my bunk and muster my reserves to Skype with Meg.

Tonight, when I logged into Skype and dialed her account, she answered from her living room. Her laptop was on the coffee table and she sat on the floor. Behind her, the curtains were open and, because her porch light was on, I could see snow falling in the background.

I smiled as she leaned forward, adjusting her camera, giving me a view of the curve of her neck for a brief moment. When she settled back, she smiled at me.

“Hey. It’s snowing.” She spoke softly, so I assumed her parents were asleep in the next room.

“I see that. It’s beautiful. The flakes are always fat this time of year.”

“How are the kids?” she said.

“They’re wild and hilarious. We just finished the last shower rotation and all the lights are out. So far so good. I’ve never been so tired in my life, including all the years of harvesting fields.”

“I saw John in town today. He came into the bookstore looking for things for Kate to read.”

I laughed at the thought of John trying to force Kate to rest. “What’d he buy her?”

“Some steamy stuff. He said it’s the only thing she’ll sit still for right now.”

“Okay,” I protested. “TMI.”

When I said that, I heard a chuckle in the background. Not Meg’s. Definitely male. My head snapped up at the sound of it and I searched the screen, wishing I could control the angle of the camera.

“Is Thanet there?” I asked.

“Quinn is. We’re finishing up my video. It’s so cool, Henry. I wish the file were smaller so I could email it to you.” She looked away from the screen, probably right at Quinn. “He’s good. Like, indie short film good.”

Okay, news flash. Jealousy is not something I enjoy. I hadn’t felt it much before. But I’d also never been in love. And I’d never been 3,300 miles away from the girl I loved while some punk sat next to her on a couch. A punk who had designs on her, according to Dylan. I needed to lay eyes on this guy.

“Hey Quinn, what’s up?” My voice sounded surprisingly even under the circumstances.

Quinn’s head bobbed into view as he looked for a place to sit where the camera could see him. He sighed like he knew full well what I was thinking. Man to man—this was not cool.

“How are you Henry? How’s Nicaragua?”

“It’s good. I’d trade places with you in a heartbeat right now, though.”

Quinn laughed nervously, unsure if I’d cracked a joke. Meg knew, though, and she bit her bottom lip.

“Meg’s video is great,” Quinn said. “You’ll be proud of her.”

“I’m always proud of her.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. When are you coming home?” He glanced at Meg and then back at the screen.

“As soon as I can. Thanks for helping her, man.”

“No problem. Stay safe.”

“Later,” I said, leaning back against my pillows. I realized I’d sat straight up when Quinn was on the screen. He probably only saw my shoulders and chest. If I looked like a giant to the dude, even better. He looked a little on the scrawny side, with the whole tortured artist vibe going. Before she’d met me, had he been Meg’s type?

Meg took up the entire screen again and I wished she’d shoo Quinn out the door so we could talk. She was wearing soft fleecy pajamas, too. Good grief.

“Isn’t it a little late for company, Pittsburgh? Are your parents asleep?”

“Henry,” she said, chiding me. “We’re nearly done. He didn’t have to do this for me, you know. It’s a huge favor.”

I swallowed, hard.
A favor you won’t be repaying
. I cracked my knuckles, trying to come up with something to say.

I could hear Quinn mumbling low to her and she said, “Are you sure?”

She told me to hold on a second and I heard them saying “goodbye” and “see you in class.” As she sat back down, his headlights reflected off the window behind her. I could just make out his car as he turned around in her drive. I tried not to smile at the petty victory I’d just won.

She watched me with a knowing grin on her face. “That wasn’t nice.”

“Sue me,” I said, shrugging. “I’m not thrilled he’s hanging out over there in the middle of the night. You’re not even dressed in actual clothes.”

“I’m dressed just fine. Have you had a bad day or something?”

I sighed and smiled at her. “A long day. How about you?”

“Same. But tomorrow I’m finalizing this application and praying I hear something soon. I’m already decorating my dorm room in my head.”

“It’ll be perfect.”

“Yeah, it will.” She smiled at me, resting her chin in her hand.

“I want to see your beautiful face in real life.” I traced her cheek on the screen. Lying back on my bed, with my laptop full of her image balanced on my stomach, was the best I’d get for a while.

“Come home,” she said.

I shook my head. “John told me yesterday they’re going to take a long break. I don’t know if that means six weeks or six months. He’s convinced the people who started Quiet Waters, Sam and Janice Matthews, to come down and help me.”

“Is that okay with you?” She started playing with her hair, running her fingers through it and pulling it into a ponytail. I loved watching her. I sat mesmerized until she finished.

“Yeah, I need help. Rosa and Gael are here, but they have a life outside the orphanage. Since Sam and Janice still own Quiet Waters, they need to be here anyway because of the weird stuff going on with the government.”

“What can I do?”

“‘Just keep the home fires burning cause it’s your warm lovin’ that keeps me returning again. And again.’” I laughed at my own joke. She hated that old Ronnie Milsap song.

“You’re in a weird mood.”

“I’m tired and it’s so hot here I think my brain is actually leaking from my ears.”

She picked that moment to shiver and wrap a quilt around her shoulders. I shook my head.

“Would you mind finding some kind of baby doll for Karalyn?” I said. “I promised her a doll from the States for her birthday and I have no idea what to look for. I’ll send you money to buy it and pay for shipping.”

“I’d love to,” she said. “Anything else?”

“I’m good. The cavalry arrives first thing in the morning.”

***

Waiting around at the baggage claim carousels at Managua International, I had a minute to catch my breath. The kids had been up since six this morning, due to a crack of thunder that came out of nowhere. Within minutes I had five or six little ones in my room trying to climb up to my top bunk.

The baggage claim belt kicked to a noisy, jerking start and bags began appearing. First a trickle and then a flood. The claim area filled with bodies, mostly Central Americans. I stood head and shoulders over the majority and used my height to search for the white heads of Sam and Janice.

Sam yelled my name and I found them moving with the crowd toward the baggage belt. We met in the middle and Janice wrapped her arms around me. She was so tiny her head only reached my chest. It felt like hugging a child, but instinct told me this was a woman you should never underestimate. She was a firecracker.

“Henry Whitmire, I feel the tension in your back,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am. I carry it right there.” I reached around and patted my back. “I’m glad to see you two.”

Sam shook my hand, his gaze focused on the luggage coming through the chute. “Hold that thought, Henry.” I followed him and grabbed suitcases as he pointed to them. It was good to see they’d packed for a long stay.

By the time I’d loaded their luggage onto a cart, another storm had gathered itself over the airport and opened up. I ran to short-term parking to retrieve the truck and we started the tedious journey to San Isidro in the downpour.

Sam sat up front with me. I took the opportunity to catch him up on the kids and go over a couple of budget issues that had been bugging me. Janice stared out the windows.

“Sam, I don’t think anything has changed, do you?” she said.