Waiting for Dusk (12 page)

“I’ll practice with you tonight, if you
want,” Katie offered. She decided to make an effort if she made it
through to the final round.

That night, after they practiced for a few
hours, Katie got a call from Jordyn. “Hey, didn’t I just see you?”
she teased.

“I know, I’m sorry. I had to call and talk.
This is going to be the longest two days of my life. I hope we both
make it. I don’t want to do this without you.”

“Listen, whatever happens, you did great. If
I don’t make it, you’ll be fine without me.”

“I won’t be fine without you. You’re one of
my best friends. Besides, you could make the team and I won’t.”

“You need to stop worrying so much. Whatever
happens, it was meant to be. Hey, Jordyn? I just got another call.
Gotta go.” Katie switched over to the new call.

“Katie, do you have a minute? I need to go
over something with you.” Erin’s voice sounded hesitant. “I know
Jordyn’s your friend. She was good enough to make the final
callback but I’m not so sure about the team. She’s just not as good
as you.” There was a silence.

“It’s not my choice, Erin. It’s yours and the
other girls.” Katie didn’t know where this was going.

“Yes, but the other girls look up to me,
being the senior captain.”

“I think Jordyn would make a good addition to
the team.”

“You’re better,” Erin paused. “She could make
the team...if...if...”

“If what?” Katie wasn’t really into the
conversation.

“If you’d put in a good word for me with Ty.
There, I said it. I know it sounds terrible but I’d love if you
would.”

Katie was stunned. “Is this blackmail?”

Erin laughed. “Oh, no. Never mind that I said
anything. I just hope Jordyn does well tomorrow. You never know
what could happen.”

Katie hung up. Her head pounded. She hated
the idea. She would not do it, even for Jordyn. She’d have to make
it on her own.

Her phone rang again. “What!” she answered
with a huff.

“Well, hello to you too.”

“Sorry, Ty. I thought you were someone else.”
Katie rubbed her forehead. Too much thinking for one day.

“That’s okay. I know how that is. Just wanted
to ask you something. You know that movie we’ve been waiting to
see? It starts Labor Day weekend. Thought it would be fun for us to
go. I really want to see it on the first night. How about
Friday?”

“That’s nice, Ty, but I don’t think I’ll be
here this weekend.” Katie was glad her mom gave her an excuse. “My
parents booked a cabin at Salt Fork. I’m not even going to school
on Friday. Maybe you can ask someone else if you really want to see
it. I’ll go with you when I get back.”

“I just may do that...”

“Which? Ask someone else or wait for me?”

“Both!”

They laughed together, like old times.

“See you tomorrow, Ty,” Katie said, then hung
up the phone.

Katie was glad to finally have some time
alone to focus on her own problem. How would she go on a vacation
with her parents and still go to the wedding? She needed to get her
hands on that book so she could take it to the cabin. That college
girl better return the book soon. She flopped back on her bed, and
gazed at her ceiling hoping it would all work out.

She wished it was Wednesday and tryouts were
over. Jordyn did pretty well today and Katie hadn’t really put her
heart into it. There was little chance she’d make the team.
Besides, she had too much on her mind to give it the effort it
deserved if she was chosen.

The next day, Katie had trouble concentrating
on her school work. Her mind kept drifting to other places and the
conversation with Erin kept popping in her head. If that wasn’t
blackmail I don’t know what is.

She drifted through the day, barely paying
attention to the teachers. She wanted to scream out “boring” a few
times but promised herself she’d stop using that word. It drove her
mother crazy.

Finally it was time to head for the gym and
tryouts. Katie threw on her workout clothes in the locker room and
ran out to join the others. Erin was organizing them in groups. She
winked at Katie as she passed by. It made her stomach churn and
confirmed she was right. This made her more determined to do her
best. No more I-don’t-care attitude. Katie ran out to the middle of
the floor when her group was called and put on the show of a
lifetime.

After it was over, Jordyn and Katie left the
locker room together.

“You were on fire,” Jordyn slapped hands with
Katie. “There’s a spot for you on the team for sure.”

“You weren’t bad yourself.”

“Thanks, now we just have to get through the
next twenty-four hours and we’ll be golden!” Jordyn waved as she
went out the building.

Chapter Sixteen

“
Let’s get this day
over with,” Katie never thought she’d dislike the word Wednesday as
much as she did today.

“Come on, it’s not that bad.” Lindsey tried
to cheer her friend up. “I could’ve tried out. Me and my two left
feet.”

“Now that I’d love to see.”

Jordyn ran up to Katie. “Come on, I heard
they’re posting the new members for the team!”

They headed for the gym. Erin was closing the
glass to the case where all the physical education messages were
posted. She turned, and winked at Katie. “I didn’t know you had it
in you,” she said as she walked away.

Jordyn was busy looking at the list. She
didn’t hear what Erin said. “I made it! I made it! Katie I don’t
believe it.”

She turned to Katie jumping up and down. “Oh,
sorry, I didn’t even look for your name.”

Both girls looked at the list again and
Katie’s name was not on it. She didn’t really care, but tried
pretending to be disappointed. “Maybe next year.”

“How could I make it and not you? That’s just
too hard to believe. I think we should talk to Erin.”

“No, that’s alright.” Katie didn’t want her
doing that. Maybe that was Erin’s way of keeping her away from Ty.
Erin was on the basketball cheer squad, Katie would not be. Still,
thinking back, it was strange what Erin said on the phone and so
was the wink she just gave her now. She acted like Katie would make
the team and Jordyn would not if Katie didn’t give into her
blackmail. Well, it didn’t work. Jordyn made the team on her own
just as Katie thought.

Ty came up to the girls who were still
standing by the case. “Well, ladies? What’s the verdict?”

“I made it and Katie didn’t,” Jordyn glowed
with excitement. Katie shrugged her shoulders as Jordyn put her arm
around her. “Sorry, Katie. I really mean that.”

“Do you mind, Jordyn, if I talk to Katie
alone?” Ty asked.

“Sure, I’m going to find Matt and tell him
the good news!”

“I just want to check out something with you.
Is it okay that I asked Erin to the movies on the Friday? She was
nice to me at your pool party and I thought she’d like to go. I
don’t like her as a girlfriend or anything like that. I don’t want
you to get jealous...or maybe I do.” Tyson’s eyes twinkled as he
teased her.

Katie was a little shocked. Now it all made
sense. Erin thought Katie had Tyson ask her out to the movie.
That’s why she winked and said what she did. That’s why Jordyn made
the team. Erin planned all along for Katie not to make the team.
Now she wasn’t sure she liked Ty taking Erin to the movies.

“Just be careful of that one,” Katie
answered.

* * * *

Thursday finally arrived. Katie got through
the day somehow. All her friends were consoling her for not making
the cheer team, and she tried to go along with them, but underneath
she didn’t care. She got the assignments she would miss on Friday,
looking forward to the day off. If only she had the special book in
her possession she could be happy about missing a day. Katie hoped
it would be waiting for her when she returned home. At last the
final bell rang.

Lindsey came running up to Katie. “Kates,
have fun at Salt Fork. Catch a lot of fish. I’ll be thinking of
you.”

She turned to Lindsey and said, “Can I tell
you something?”

“Uh, oh. I can tell by that look on your face
this isn’t going to be good.”

“I have to get out of going to the state park
with my parents. It’s the wedding weekend and I need to get the
book back.”

“Tell them you don’t want to go and you can
stay with me. We’ll look for the book together.”

“I don’t want to hurt their feelings. I have
to think of something really good.”

“We have a project due next week, and have to
work on it.”

“That’s pretty good. I’ll let you know what
happens.” Katie hugged her friend. “What would I do without you?”
She ran to catch the bus.

When Katie walked into the kitchen her mom
was packing a cooler. “Wow, you are getting a head start, aren’t
you?”

“We’re leaving tonight instead. Aren’t you
excited?” Her mom continued to pack.

“Did you get the book?”

“Oh, no. She wasn’t finished yet.” Her mom
peered into the refrigerator.

“What?” Katie felt her cheeks turning
red.

Her father came out of the family room. “No
need to get upset, Katie. I’m sure you’ll get the book back in a
few days.”

“A few days? I need it now!” Katie started to
cry.

“There are other books you can take,
honey.”

“No, there aren’t! I want that book. Don’t
you understand?”

“I don’t see the big deal.” Her father
crossed his arms.

She couldn’t explain to her parents what the
big deal was. It was not a good idea to say her dream world and her
friends and the boy she loved were more important than going on
this trip.

“You don’t? Well, I know who will!” Katie
stormed out the patio door. She went down the deck steps and onto
the ‘Katie’ path. It was a small path that Maya built when Katie
was small so she could get back and forth between the houses easily
and safely. There was a picket fence on the side of the path facing
the street. On the other side was a small garden. Katie and Maya
had planted perennials and annuals along that path for years.

Maya usually had her back door open during
the day so Katie was able to get into the house. “MiMi!” Katie was
hysterical when she came in the door. She stopped in her tracks.
There, standing at the mantel looking at photos, was a handsome
young man. He turned around and looked at Katie. “You seem upset,
little sis!”

“Carl Jr.!” Katie flew into his arms.
Everything seemed a little better now that he was home. Carl
started college when the Roberts moved in. He came home for the
summer and on holidays. Even though he was much older than Katie,
they bonded like sister and brother, and she hated it when he moved
to the west coast. He teased her that he couldn’t be a marine
biologist in Ohio.

They sat down on the couch.

“Now tell me what’s bothering you?”

Katie gave him a shortened version of the
dreams she had after reading the book, the connection she made
between her family, the old photos and the dreams. She told him she
was supposed to be in her great-great Aunt Lucinda’s wedding this
weekend and he didn’t even laugh. She left out Drew, though,
because she didn’t want him to think it was all about a boy. Katie
put her head on his shoulder and let out a deep breath.

“Carl! Carl Jr.!” Maya was calling his
name.

“In here, Ma, with li’l sis.”

Maya entered the room. “Ooo, you look like
you have been crying.”

“I think she’s okay now.”

“I didn’t know Carl Jr. was coming home.”
Katie looked at her intently. Then she looked at Carl and smiled.
“He looks more and more like Carl Sr. every day.”

Then both Carl and Katie said, “God rest his
soul.”

“You two stop making fun of me. I can’t help
how I talk.” Maya gave them a huge grin.

“Oh, and Carl? Are you still the only
Swedish-African American in California?” Katie turned back to Carl,
and they both high-fived.

“Yes, the one and only. There better never be
another.”

“Then your joke won’t work anymore.” Katie
laughed with Carl.

“I didn’t know you were here, Katie. Let me
go and get something for us to drink. Iced tea okay with you?” Maya
walked out of the family room.

“I’ll help.” Carl jumped off the sofa.

Katie wandered around the room while they
were gone. She looked at the pictures on the mantle. There were
many pictures of Carl Jr. in different phases of his life. Maya
sure loved him. There were some pictures of Katie, too, as well as
a portrait of Katie and Carl Jr. they took for Maya one Christmas.
Katie was lost in her thoughts until she heard Carl’s voice coming
from the kitchen.

“It wouldn’t hurt, Mom. Talk to her. Feel her
out. Don’t give too much away, that’s all.”

Maya came back in carrying a tray with
glasses and a picture of iced tea. “Sweet tea, just the way you
like it. Carl tells me you’ve had some reoccurring dreams, is that
right?”

Katie nodded. She looked gratefully at Carl.
She wouldn’t have to tell her story all over again. She took her
glass of tea and sipped slowly. “I need to get my hands on that
book. You have to help me. That’s the only way I can have the
dream. Can you call my mom and talk to her?”

“I can do better than that.”

Mrs. Johnson walked over to an antique
bookcase. Her house was an eclectic mix of old and modern. It
worked well, and suited her to a tee. Maya took out a chain that
hung around her neck with a key dangling from it. She used the key
to open the bottom shelves, swung open the doors and there was a
set of old books that Katie recognized.

“Oh!” Katie put her hand over her mouth. “You
mean there’s more than one?”

“Yes. As you see, I have a set. Mr. Johnson
bought them at an antique store on one of our trips.”

“One of those books will take me to the Grand
Canyon on September 3, 1927?” Katie couldn’t believe she was saying
that. “So, this is real?”