The Joining Tree

by Claire Fogel

She snorted. “How could I have forgotten? In that case, I’m buying you one of these.” She picked up a small electric frying pan with a lid and placed it in my hands.

  Before I could complain, she said, “You’re not too likely to get splattered if you use one of these. You can set the temperature nice and low, and put the cover on while you’re cooking. You’ll be safe from flying grease.”

  I decided to go along with her. It was easier than trying to convince her I would never fry anything.

  I peeked into her shopping cart and saw the electric frying pan, a 4-slice toaster, one sauce pot, two spatulas, a large spoon, a bottle opener, a set of kitchen knives, four potholders, a cookie sheet, a round pizza pan, a set of measuring cups—like I’d be measuring anything—and an electric can opener.

  “If you find you need anything else,” she said to me, “you can always pick it up later. But I think you’ve got the basics now.”

  I just shook my head while Amy tried to hold back giggles. “Yep. You know, I’ll probably only use the bottle opener, a kitchen knife, a potholder, and the pizza pan.”

  She gave me the one-eyebrow raised, mother-knows-best look and said, “We’ll see.”

  On our way to the cashier’s station, I saw a standing brass coat rack, old-fashioned in style, and grabbed it.

  Mom looked surprised. “There’s no coat closet in the living room,” I told her.

  She nodded, smiling. “You can be practical on occasion. Good thinking, Cara.”

  Amy tried to stifle a giggle.

  The cashier was wide-eyed when she saw our three overflowing shopping carts. Then she smiled. “Had fun today, didn’t you?”

  I had to laugh. “Yeah, we did.”

  After we unloaded all the stuff we bought into my new apartment—I’d get organized on my next trip—we asked Miss Williams if she’d take care of the furniture delivery the next day. She said she’d be happy to. I told her I’d be back a week before classes started to get settled, and she said she was looking forward to seeing me then.

  As we walked to my car, Mom said, “Since it’s getting so close to dinnertime, why don’t we find a nice restaurant and have dinner before driving home.”

  Amy and I thought that was a splendid suggestion.

  As I drove down the street I’d be living on in a few weeks, I noticed an old green van parked a few houses away. It reminded me of the van that had been an unknowing Good Samaritan the day of the snowstorm, leading me safely back to the school. I recognized it by the dark green curtains covering the van’s rear windows.

  The memory made me smile. I’d have to thank the van’s owner if I ever saw him. Apparently we’d be neighbors.

  With everything at Syracuse fairly well settled, I could concentrate on my pen and ink project again. There were only two weeks left before I would leave for Barrett, and my project was almost finished. It had turned out better than I expected, which was a huge relief. I hoped it would show my father how much he meant to me.

  Late Friday afternoon Kevin and Amy stopped by to collect me for our usual Friday night dinner. This had become a fixed point in my week over the summer. Without it, I doubt I would have known what day it was.

  This week they had chosen the Pizza Palace for our get-together. My growling stomach told me it was a perfect choice. As we sat in a booth after placing our order, Kevin was pretending to be deafened by the noises my stomach was making.

  “When was the last time you ate?” he asked me.

  “Hmm. I’m not sure. Maybe breakfast?”

  He shook his head. “You do get lost in your artwork, don’t you?”

  “Yeah. Occupational hazard, I guess.”

  “How’s your big project coming?” Amy asked.

  I smiled. “Almost finished. I’m happy with it. I think it says what I wanted it to say to my father. I hope he likes it.”

  “I’m sure he’ll love it,” she said.

  Looking toward the entrance, she whispered, “Uh-oh,” and looked over at Kevin. She wasn’t smiling. His eyebrows went up slightly.

  When I turned toward the door, I understood. Sean had just walked in with the girl he was now dating. She was tall, blonde, and blue-eyed, all the things I wasn’t.

  He spotted us, Amy smiled and waved, Kevin said hi, and Sean nodded at them. He wasn’t smiling and he didn’t look at me.

  Our pizza was brought to our table, but I already had heartburn. I couldn’t take even one bite.

  Amy slid closer to me in the booth and said, “Sorry. I guess we were bound to run into him eventually.”

  Kevin, being Kevin, simply said, “If you’ve lost your appetite, I can eat your pizza.”

  Amy elbowed him and gave him one of those “You insensitive idiot!” looks.

  Kevin put down his pizza to say softly, “Come on, short stuff. You knew he was dating, right? You told him he should date, and you told him you didn’t want a relationship with him. Am I right?”

  I nodded. He was right, but seeing Sean with another girl hurt. And I knew it was my own fault. I was the one who ended things when I told him I was in love with Adam.

  Kevin ate most of my pizza while I sipped at my root beer. My appetite had left town.

  I tried not to look at Sean and his date while we told Kevin about my apartment at Barrett. We talked about my almost-finished project too.

  Kevin grinned. “I can’t wait to see it, babe. Knowing you, it’ll be brilliant. When will the unveiling take place?”

  “I’ve been planning on giving it to my dad the night before I leave for school. Maybe you two could join us for dinner that night.”

  “Ask your mom to make it spaghetti night and we’ll have a ‘Bon Voyage’ party for you,” Kevin said. After a few seconds, he added, “I’m really gonna miss spaghetti night.”

  Groaning, Amy elbowed him again. “Pay no attention to him, Cara. I’ll bring the cake.”

  Kevin chuckled. “Oh, I’ll miss you too, short stuff. You know that, don’t you?”

  I finally had to laugh. “Other than my parents, I think I’ll miss you and Amy the most, Kev.”

  Behind me, I heard coins dropping into the old jukebox and my heart broke a little. I knew Sean and his date would get up to dance, something I really didn’t want to watch. It was definitely time for me to leave.

  Her eyes on my face, Amy knew exactly what I was feeling. She told Kevin to take the last piece of pizza with him and got up to pay the owner up at the bar in the front room. I was right behind her. Kevin followed me, grumbling a little, but he wrapped his free arm around my shoulder and gave me a brief hug anyway.

  When we were outside on the street, I said, “Thanks, guys. Sorry I made you rush out of there. I couldn’t sit there and watch Sean dancing with someone else.”

  Amy nodded, putting her arm around me. “I know. It may not be as hard the next time you run into him.” I didn’t want to think about a ‘next time.’

  We got into Kevin’s Jeep and they took me home.

  She nodded. “Call us if you need us, Cara.”

  She gave me an encouraging smile and they drove away.

  When I walked in the door, I could hear my parents talking in the kitchen.

  I’d hoped to say good night to them and go straight to my room, but sharp-eyed Mom could see that something was wrong.

  “You look upset, honey. What happened?”

  I gave a deep sigh and sat down at the table with them. “We saw Sean and the girl he’s dating now at the Pizza Palace. It hurt more than I thought it would.”

  Mom looked sympathetic. My father simply reached for my hand.

  “Did you know he was dating someone new?” Mom asked.

  “Yeah. Amy told me a few weeks ago. It wasn’t a surprise.” I snorted. “After all, I told him I thought he should be dating other girls.”

  My father squeezed my hand. “Cara, you were honest with Sean. You did the right thing, even if it’s hard to deal with right now. It will get easier with time.”

 
“I guess.”

  I stood. “I think I’ll go to bed. Good night.” I dropped a kiss on Mom’s cheek and hugged my dad.

  They were silent as I trudged up the stairs, but I was sure they’d be talking about me as soon as they heard my bedroom door close.

  I filled a hot bath with herbal bath salts that smelled like the forest and soaked until the water cooled. I thought it might relax me so that I could sleep. But after I dried off and got into my pajamas, I was still too awake, imagining Sean dancing with his blonde, even though I’d left before I’d been forced to see it.

  So many times I’d wished that I’d fallen in love with Sean. He was such a good person, decent, honest, kind, considerate. . . I could spend the next hour listing all of his good qualities. He was always there when I needed him. But I’d sent him away because I was in love with someone else.

  Had that been a mistake?

  For the next week, I didn’t leave the house except to sing for Rowenna from the back porch a few times. She never landed in the yard, but she always let me know she could feel what I was feeling. She was sorry I was depressed but let me know that she believed in listening to your heart.

  It never lies, she told me.

  Did she mean that my heart knew that Adam was the one I would always love? Or that my feelings for Sean were more important than I’d believed?

  I went inside, more confused than ever.

  I spent the entire week working on my pen and ink project. By Friday morning, I knew it was finished. There was simply nothing else to add.

  Standing back several feet from my easel, I tried to look at my drawing the way others would. I had to smile. It was my father, his warmth, his humor, and his love reflected in his eyes, the quirk of his lips, his body language, the way he held his head and shoulders.

  I’d drawn him leaning against a tall pine, his arms crossed in front of him, just the way he’d looked in the simple line drawing that had appeared in a drawing of mine more than a year ago. He had put that sketch of himself in my mind, without my knowledge, and I’d unknowingly added it to the picture I’d drawn. I had decided later that it was his way of saying hello, since I wasn’t supposed to meet him until I turned sixteen. It had happened a few weeks before my birthday.

  His friend Conor had admitted that I looked a great deal like a good friend of his, but he didn’t identify the friend, and he couldn’t say more. He and my father were both bound by a promise my father had made to my mother when I was born. Getting that brief look at my father had meant so much to me.

  Even though I wasn’t allowed to actually meet my father, for weeks before my sixteenth birthday he had done everything he could to let me know he was nearby. I think I loved my father more than he realized.

  And that was why I’d done this portrait of him. I wanted him to see himself the way I saw him.

  I was at loose ends for the rest of the day. My father’s portrait was finished, I’d covered it up, leaving it on the easel. I had nothing more to do until late afternoon when Kevin and Amy would pick me up and take me out for dinner.

  The phone rang when I was in the kitchen. I was surprised when I heard the Chief’s voice.

  “Cara, I’m glad you’re home. I have some news I’m afraid you won’t like.”

  “What’s going on, Chief?”

  “Nick Romanov’s trial is next week. I had thought we could keep you out of it, but the D.A. isn’t sure she can convict him of drug distribution with the evidence she has. She’s decided that there’s a much better chance of convicting him for his attack on you.”

  “Does that mean I’ll have to testify against him?”

  “I’m afraid so, Cara. I know you’ve never had to go to court before, but I think you can handle it. Just to play it safe, I’ll have a patrol car parked in front of your house for the next few days. I’ll take you to the Courthouse in Greenville myself on Monday. We’ll get you in and out quickly. It shouldn’t take long.”

  We said good night, and I made a pot of herbal tea. We would all need a little help relaxing tonight. I’d have to tell my parents about the Chief’s phone call before I went out with Kevin and Amy.

  I sincerely hoped my father wouldn’t insist on a bodyguard for me.

  Mom got home right after she closed the bookstore, shortly after five, and my father returned from Elvenwood by five thirty. When they found me in the kitchen with a fresh pot of tea, they knew something was up.

  Mom just shook her head, not surprised. “I was hoping Tommy could keep you out of this whole thing, but that man did attack you, and you should testify against him. I hope the penalty for attacking a girl with a knife is tougher than the penalty for selling drugs.”

  My father said, “Cara, should we be in court with you? Would it help you?”

  I thought about it for a few minutes. “I think it would, Dad. If you wouldn’t mind being there.”

  Mom said, “I’ll close the store for the day. I think we should both be there, honey.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Seeing my parents in the courtroom would make me less nervous.

  As I was getting ready to go out, my phone rang. It was Kevin.

  “Hey, babe. I took Amy shopping this afternoon, and, no surprise, we’re still in Greenville. Only one store in Greenville carries the shoes she just had to have.”

  I laughed. Kevin sounded totally out of patience with Amy’s shopping habits.

  “Okay, Kev, so you’re going to be late picking me up?”

  “Actually, since The Grille will probably be busy at dinner time, why don’t you drive over there in about twenty minutes and get us a booth. I’m already starved and I don’t want to stand on line waiting for a table. Would you mind?”

  “No problem, Kev. I’ll see you there. Now tell Amy to make up her mind so you can get out of the store!”

  He snorted. “Yeah, right. Piece of cake, short stuff.” The sarcasm was hard to miss.

  Mom came to the door as I left, and sure enough, there was already a police car parked in front of my house. I walked over to the cop to let him know where I was going, and he responded with a smile.

  “Good choice, Cara. I can pick up a burger too.”

  McNally was one of the officers I’d met previously when Donald Gaynes had been trying to have me killed.

  He followed me to The Grille, parked his vehicle, helped me out of my car, and escorted me into the restaurant. I explained that I was meeting two of my friends, and he took a seat at the counter.

  Good thing Kevin asked me to get a booth when he called because The Grille was filling up quickly and I got one of the last booths.

  I ordered a soda while I waited for Amy and Kevin, hoping Sean wouldn’t walk in while I was there. If that were to happen, I think I would have left without eating. His coldness toward me had left a pain in the vicinity of my heart.

  Twenty minutes later, Amy and Kevin finally walked in and joined me. By that time I was on my second soda and getting dirty looks from all the people who were waiting for a table.

  “Sorry, sorry, Cara,” Amy said. “I never thought my shopping would take this long.” Glancing at Kevin, “Kev’s annoyed with me too.” She rolled her eyes, looking guilty.

  “Well, did you at least find the shoes you were looking for?” I asked.

  She grinned. “Yep. Navy blue stilettos. They make my legs look fantastic. Definitely worth the trip to Greenville. Now I just need the dress to go with them!”

  Kevin rolled his eyes, his chin resting on his hand. “I’m starved, ladies. Can we just order now?”

  We placed our orders and Amy looked around the restaurant. “The coast is clear tonight, isn’t it?”

  I nodded. “Honestly, Amy, sitting here alone, if Sean had walked in with or without a blonde, I would have left.”

  Kevin just watched me, understanding in his eyes.

  Amy grinned. “I see that cute Officer McNally is in the house tonight.”

  “Yeah, he’s actually with me,” I said.

&n
bsp; Kevin and Amy both gave me curious looks. I explained about my court appearance on Monday and the Chief’s decision to provide some protection for me, “just in case.”

  “The Chief called to let me know the D.A. decided she’d have a better chance of convicting Romanov for assault than for selling drugs. So I have to testify. I’ve never had to go to court before. To be honest, I’m a little nervous.”

  After our burgers, fries, and milkshakes arrived, I tried to change the subject.

  “I finished my pen and ink project. I think it turned out well.”

  “Congratulations,” Amy said with a grin. “I’ll bet it’s gorgeous. I’m guessing it’s a picture of your dad, right?”

  I couldn’t help smiling. “Yep. It’s the first portrait I’ve ever done. I think it’s pretty good.”

  Kevin chuckled. “Pretty good? Short stuff, I’ll bet it’s great.”

  We talked about our college and art school plans. I asked Kevin when he was leaving for NYU.

  “I’ll drive down to the city a few days before Labor Day to get my assigned dorm and get settled. Mom actually took the time to shop for all the dorm stuff I’ll need.” He snorted. “She even bought me some men’s cologne.” We all knew Kevin hated cologne and never wore it.

  “But she got me linens and towels, soap, shampoo, an electric shaver, and a coffeemaker. What else will I need?”

  Amy was laughing. “I can think of a few things, but at least she got you the basics, Kev.”

  “Yeah,” he said, “I was really surprised that she made time to go shopping for me.”

  Amy added sarcastically, “Now if you could just teach her to shop for groceries.”

  Kevin chuckled. “I won’t hold my breath.”

  I said, “Kev, I think she’s going to miss you. Really. She’ll be coming home to an empty house every night. You’ve always been there. But you won’t be anymore.”

  Kevin looked up at me and nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m afraid she’s gonna be lonely.”

  Amy asked, “When are you leaving for Barrett, Cara?”