by Charley Lynn
Mike felt a small flare of hope. “Are you sure?”
“I’m a little out of practice. But that’s the way it looked to me.”
Mike was painting in the gym a few days later. He heard Connor’s voice and the voice of a younger boy, talking fast. “Hi, Mike.” Connor almost smiled.
“I’m Caleb. I’m Connor’s brother.” The boy ran the perimeter of the gym, looking at the changes. Mike was amused at the contrast between the quiet and solemn Connor and the talkative, smiling Caleb. “My sister is gonna be so pumped. She’s on a job right now—she’s a model.”
“A model? That’s cool.” Mike tried to look cool himself.
“Yeah, she just takes off and travels places to work. She makes a lot of money, doesn’t she, Connor?
Connor shrugged. “She’s saved enough for college; now she’s saving for her own dance studio.”
Mike was impressed. “That’s great.”
“Yeah, she designs dance costumes, too. She’s always busy either doing that stuff, or doing stuff to take care of us. Connor’s dad and my dad took off when I was little, so Mom and Rosemary took care of us.”
“Your dad isn’t your sister’s dad?”
“No, her dad died before she was born. Her grandparents live in Pella, but her grandma is mean. She doesn’t like anything my mom does or Rosemary does. I’m glad she’s not my grandma!”
Mike nodded, but he didn’t make a comment. According to Cruz, Caleb wasn’t wrong about Rosemary’s grandmother.
Chapter 13
Rosemary looked into her closet and sighed. Pulling out a non-descript blue dress she’d brought home from a shoot specifically to wear when she was seeing her grandparents, she mentally prepared herself for spending the afternoon with Oma. Rosemary had refused Oma’s demand to stay for the entire weekend, but she couldn’t disappoint her opa by missing his birthday party.
She buttoned the matching bolero sweater with pearl buttons over the sleeveless dress and put the tiny pearl earrings in her ears that her oma insisted were the only ones Rosemary owned that were ‘appropriate.’ She put on white flats and ruthlessly curled her ponytail into a smooth, tight coil before she went into the house to tell her mother she was leaving.
In the kitchen, Connor stared at her. “What’s wrong?”
“That’s a lovely dress you’re wearing, Mrs. Cleaver.” Connor recited in a sappy voice as he held up his phone and took her picture.
“Ha ha, Eddie Haskell. You’re a real comedian. Tell Mom I left for Oma’s, please. I shouldn’t be late.”
“Sure, Mrs. Cleaver.” Connor used the same sappy voice.
“Brat.”
Rosemary parked in front of her grandparent’s house and took a deep breath, trying to prepare for the grilling and barrage of nasty remarks about her mother. She checked her phone and saw a text from Cruz.
Cruz: Connor sent me this pic. Where R U?
Rosemary: My oma’s house. Opa’s birthday party.
Cruz: Remember that you’re my beautiful and talented friend and if anybody abuses you, call me. Are you doing the Stepford wife thing in this outfit?
Rosemary: Yeah. Connor called me June Cleaver.
Cruz: You’re missing the pearl choker.
Rosemary: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Cruz: How late R U staying?
Rosemary: Party is until five. Oma will try to insist I stay for supper.
Cruz: Tell her you have plans. I’ll meet you at your house at six so we can go to the fair. For heaven’s sake, change your clothes before we go, Mrs. Cleaver.
Rosemary: You’re as bad as Connor. See you.
Less than an hour later, Rosemary escaped the party. She walked to the tiny park in her grandparent’s neighborhood and found her favorite bench. Oma was awful today, spewing vitriol about Cruz and about Margie. When Opa found her watching the ducks in the little pond, he wordlessly put his arm around her. They sat without speaking for quite a while until Opa began to talk. For the first time, Opa tried to explain why Oma was the way she was.
Oma had not only been the prettiest girl in town, she’d also been the smartest. She was the valedictorian of her high school class and it was widely assumed she would go to Central and take over the bank from her father after college. She was heart-broken when her father told her he’d never allow her to go to college and he laughed at her when she told him she wanted to work at the bank. He told her that because she was a girl, she could only do one thing. She had to marry a Dutch boy and have a family. Opa shook his head. “He was a nasty old…coot. He talked to Petra like she talks to you.”
Opa looked out over the little pond. “Her entire life has been about getting his approval. Mr. VanVleet blamed Petra for David’s death, just like she blames your mother. He opposed your parents’ marriage simply because your mother isn’t Dutch and he blamed Petra for failing to stop it. He insisted Petra tell David he’d be disowned if he married Margie. He tried to force me to say it, too, but I wouldn’t. Even if David didn’t want the farms, they were still his. I honestly hoped David would come back from the service and want to live and work on the farm.” Opa smiled sadly. “I knew, deep down, that wasn’t true, but I wasn’t ready to give up.”
“After David died, Mr. VanVleet became obsessed with the idea of taking the baby away from Margie. Of course, he assumed you would be a boy. He was unhinged about it, talking about it night and day. Petra was trying to give him what he wanted. The lawyer we saw said there was almost no chance of winning, but the old man was convinced that he could influence the judges in the county.”
“What was the point of getting custody if I wasn’t a boy and I was only half Dutch?”
“Control. I objected at first, but neither one of them would listen. Petra’s mother had passed, so Petra moved into the house in town to take care of her father. We weren’t separated, but we lived separately until Mr. VanVleet died a year after you were born.”
“Your Oma’s bitterness has grown a little more every year. She focuses mostly on you, but some on me, too. I don’t pay too much attention to it. I love Petra, but I also feel sorry for her. Other than losing David, I’ve gotten everything I’ve ever wanted in life. Petra hasn’t been so lucky.”
Opa kissed her temple. “I don’t know if that helps at all, but at least you understand some of the reasons she is the way she is. I know it’s hard to deal with her and I suspect there will come a time when she’ll push you too far, but try to remember I love you dearly.”
Chapter 14
At home, Rosemary changed to a print sundress with bright splotches of red, orange and yellow and covered it with a short, red denim jacket. Determined to obliterate the housewife, she changed her earrings to large silver hoops, folded back the cuffs on the jacket and clapped on a thick silver cuff bracelet that her uncle Jack had sent her for her seventeenth birthday. After changing the flats to a pair of red Stella McCartney espadrille sneakers, she pulled out a Stella McCartney circle bag with a goldfish monogram and dropped in her phone and wallet.
Connor grinned when he saw her. “Much better, Rosie. You look like a girl instead of a grandma.”
“Thanks. I put the June Cleaver outfit in the back of the closet.”
Margie walked in. “Did you wear that to Oma’s?” She looked confused when Connor burst out laughing.
“No, I wore a dress a ninety-year old would’ve worn. I changed because I’m heading out with Cruz later.” Rosemary kissed her baby brother’s chubby hand when John carried him in the room.
“Did Cruz send you the flowers in the studio?” Margie tried to look casual.
“No, they’re from a friend of Cruz’s that I met at Keller’s picnic named Seth Talbot.”
“Is he going to medical school, too?”
“No, he’s starting seminary this fall at Emory Candler.”
“Isn’t he a little old for you, honey?” John looked worried.
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve talked to him on the phone and texted with him. H
e’s nice, but I haven’t decided if I’m going out with him.”
“You’re going out with Cruz tonight?” John handed Jared to Margie.
“Yeah, but we’re just hanging out. I think Connor’s going to go, too.”
“I hadn’t had a chance to ask. Cruz, Chad, the twins and Rosemary are going to the Quad-County Fair. They asked me to go with them. Is that okay?”
“Sure, if your mom’s okay with it.”
Cruz followed his sisters and brother into the house when they picked up Rosemary and Connor. He shook his head at John and Margie. “I had to drive Mom’s van to transport everybody.”
John chuckled. “I have more kids I can send with you if you want to make the experience complete.”
“Thanks, John, but I think we’ll be out of seat belts, so I’ll have to pass, although it’s a very generous offer.” Cruz answered drily. “Where’s Rosemary?”
“Coming.” Rosemary ran down the stairs.
Chad whistled. “Wow, Rosemary. You look hot.”
“Geez, Chad. Brother and dad right here!” Connor glared at Chad.
Cruz slapped his brother’s belly. “Use the manners Mom taught you.”
“Sorry.” Chad flushed. “It just popped out.”
Chloe was studying Rosemary. “Are those Stella McCartney espadrilles?”
“Yeah, I brought them home from a shoot.”
“The bag, too!” Chloe squealed.
“The bag, too.” Rosemary grinned. “Connor accused me earlier of being dressed like June Cleaver. I wanted to shut him up.”
“If June Cleaver had dressed like that, Ward would have had a heart attack. I think you’ve accomplished your goal.” Cruz winked at her.
“So, are you taking me on the Ferris wheel?” Rosemary asked him as they strolled toward the midway.
“If you want to, I can do that.” The Quad County Fair was billed as the largest county fair in the world, and it was a fun place to spend a summer evening. Chad wandered off by himself, while Chelsea, Chloe and Connor walked away together. Cruz and Rosemary were sharing a large cookie when Chad joined them with a group of friends trailing behind. Cruz stepped closer to Rosemary when he felt her stiffen. “What’s up, Chad?”
“The grandstand concert starts in about an hour. I want to go, and one of my friends can take me home. I texted Dad and he said it was okay.”
“Okay.”
“You guys want to come, too?” Chad asked.
“No, thanks, we’re good. Have fun.” Cruz put his hand on the small of Rosemary’s back to lead her away. Rosemary noticed Mike Studor standing at the back of the group, his face in shadow. She thought he was frowning, but she wasn’t sure. She laughed when Cruz made a joke as they walked away.
Chapter 15
Rosemary’s laugh with Cruz sent a flash of jealousy roaring through Mike. He frowned when he heard Amy and her two friends talking about Rosemary. “I can’t believe he’s going out with that cow.”
“Where do you think she got the Stella McCartney shoes and bag?”
Amy sneered. “Second or third-hand, I’m sure. She probably buys all her clothes at thrift stores.”
Mike watched them walk toward the midway. Now, they were both laughing. Cruz said something and Rosemary lightly punched his arm before she put her hand around his elbow and leaned into him. “They look cozy, don’t they?” Bella Johnson said to Amy.
Amy rolled her eyes. “It’s gagging me. Look at her—I can’t even imagine how much she weighs. I hate when fat girls pretend to be hot. As if a girl like that could be pretty. She’s disgusting.”
Bella giggled. “I know. She should be embarrassed to be seen with him. He’s so far out of her league.”
Chad looked up from his phone. “Are you talking about my brother and Rosemary?”
There was tense silence for a minute. Bella finally tossed her head. “Your brother is the hottest guy in town. Why would he date her?”
Chad frowned. “Cruz and Rosemary are friends, they’re not dating. But he likes her a lot; he even set her up with one of his frat brothers. Seth’s so into her that Cruz had to warn him to stop coming on so strong or he’ll scare her away. We were all at the church the other day when Seth sent her a huge bunch of flowers, weren’t we, Studor?”
“Yeah,” Mike mumbled.
“Probably some stupid carnations from the grocery store,” Bella sniffed.
“Uh, no. Blue orchids, blue roses and white peonies from Benson the Florist.”
“The guy must be a pathetic loser.”
Chad crowed. “Seth tours with the Christian rock group Skillet in the summers. My sisters call him ‘the babe’ and his grandparents are like the richest people in Atlanta. He’s no loser. Look.” Chad showed the girls a picture on his phone. “Skillet’s last album cover. Seth is the guy with the guitar.”
The three girls looked at the picture of the tall guy with high cheekbones, blue eyes and long, white blond hair. Bella finally spoke. “Why did Cruz tell me he was off the market if they’re not dating?”
“He’s got a girlfriend in Iowa City, I think. But don’t let him hear you diss Rosemary because you’ll regret it.” Chad stuck his phone in his pocket. “I’m getting a guinea grinder.” He walked away, with Jake and the other two guys following. Bella and Merry followed.
Amy took Mike’s arm possessively. “Let’s go, pooh-bear, I don’t want to look at her, anyway.”
Mike pulled his arm away. “I hate being called ‘pooh-bear.’ I don’t care if all of your friends think it’s cute, don’t call me that again.”
“Mike Studor, don’t you dare growl at me.” Amy pouted.
“I hate all those cutesy names you girls like to use. Call me by my name or don’t call me anything.”
Amy’s eyes narrowed. “What’s your problem? I’ve hardly seen you all summer and when you’re around, you act like you’d rather be somewhere else.” She put her hands on her hips. “You better not be cheating on me.”
“I’ve been busy, Amy. Working at the store, working with my uncle, playing baseball, and helping my mom. I don’t have the luxury of spending all day shopping in Minneapolis or getting massages and manicures. My mom doesn’t have a housekeeper, a gardener and a pool service. She needs my help and I have to work.”
“Well, excuse me, Mike. Excuse me for enjoying the things my dad wants me to have.” She tossed her head. “Excuse me because my dad made better choices about his career than your parents did about theirs.”
Mike’s body stilled. “You didn’t just make a snarky comment about my parents being teachers.”
“Well, it’s true. Teachers don’t make a lot of money.”
“Yeah, it is true that teachers don’t make a lot of money. But life isn’t all about money.”
Amy sniffed. “That’s the kind of thing somebody says when they don’t have money.” She smiled, putting her hand on Mike’s arm. “But we won’t have to worry about that. My dad says you’ll play in the NFL. Money won’t be an issue for us.”
“Us?” Mike felt like a huge hand was closing around his throat.
“Us.” Amy fluffed her hair. “I’ll be a perfect NFL wife.”
Mike felt like his face turned to stone and he was glad that their friends had walked away. “Amy, we’re in high school. I’m not interested in a long-term plan. I still have college and maybe a couple of years in the NFL, if I’m lucky. I’m not interested in dating anyone long-term.”
“What are you saying? We’re perfect together. You’re the quarterback and I’m the head cheerleader. They make movies about people like us. Everybody wants to be us. You’ll play in some big city and we’ll buy a huge house in a gated community. You’ll win the Super Bowl, we’ll visit the White House and meet the president. You play football so we can have the things we want, and I look like this. Just think how great it will be.”
“Amy, the average length of an NFL career is three years. Even if I do play in the NFL, after I finish, I’ll be living in I
vy, in a small house, and driving a five-year old Ford. Just like my parents.”
“Uh, no. I will drive a Beamer. Always. Never more than two years old. We’ll build a huge house that all of our friends will be jealous of and we’ll give huge parties to rub it in their faces.”
“That’s not the life I want.” Mike scrubbed his face with his hand.
“Well, it’s the life I want and we both know you’re going to give me what I want.”
“I don’t think you and I are even standing in the same time zone right now.”
“I’ll follow you to U of I. My dad knows Coach Kirkman so you’ll get a scholarship offer. I don’t want to live in the dorms, so my parents will buy us a condo. It’s only two hours away, so they can visit on the weekends,” Amy announced.
“U of I is only one of my choices.”
Amy rolled her eyes. “Iowa is the only real choice, but I’ll tell you I’m not going anywhere in the south. It’s so gross down there, and it’s too humid for my hair.”
“Amy. I’ll go where the program is best and where the scholarship offer is best.”
“You are such a prima donna. This isn’t rocket science. You go to college at Iowa, you play football, you play in the NFL, then you can be a football announcer person on TV, and make even more money. We’ll both be happy.”
“I’m coming back to Ivy as soon as I can so I can help my mom with Miranda. I may play in the NFL for a couple of years, but I may not. Either way, I’m coming back to Ivy. I will teach math. Eventually, I will be responsible for Miranda.”
Amy frowned. “Miranda is your mom’s responsibility. Not yours.”
“I. Will. Be. Responsible. For. Miranda. My mom will eventually need help with Miranda. Even if Miranda lives in a group home, I’ll be her guardian. She’ll always be with me for holidays, birthdays and vacations.”