Right Where I Belong

by Krista McGee

  “The same secret recipe your sister used to make her peanut butter pie?” Natalia laughed.

  “No.” Brian wore a mock look of horror. “This recipe has five ingredients, thank you very much.”

  “Move over, the biscuits are ready.” Lexi pushed Addy to the side and opened the stove. “Keep stirring the gravy, Addy. Don’t let it burn.”

  “I can’t stir it with the oven open.” Addy laughed.

  Lexi shut the stove with her hip and placed the pan of biscuits on the counter next to the sink. “All right, stir.”

  “Hang on, I need to get these eggs out.”

  Lexi grabbed a spoon and stirred the gravy in the pot behind Addy’s pan as Addy grabbed a bowl and scooped the eggs into it. Natalia sat on a stool and watched the commotion, overwhelmed that her friends would go to so much trouble, just for her.

  The small dining room table had been decorated with a festive blue tablecloth and matching streamers hung from the chandelier. Paper plates in blue and red polka dots were on the counter, and clear plastic cups were beside a pitcher of what appeared to be freshly squeezed orange juice.

  “Here is your seat of honor.” Brian pulled out a chair that had balloons tied to the sides. He handed Natalia a napkin and strapped a huge, pointy hat to her head. Addy snapped a picture, and Lexi laid a plate in front of Natalia.

  “Please don’t make me eat all by myself.” Natalia looked at all the food on the plate and wondered how she’d ever be able to eat it all.

  “All right, if you insist.” Brian stuffed a long piece of bacon in his mouth and began heaping food on one of the paper plates.

  “Hey, save some for the rest of us,” Lexi said.

  The foursome was finishing breakfast when the front door opened. “Natalia?” Maureen walked into the cramped kitchen.

  “Ta da,” Brian sang, his arms gesturing toward the stove. “I told you we wouldn’t burn anything. Ye of little faith.”

  Maureen’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I never should have doubted. This is very sweet. I’m so glad Natalia has such good friends.”

  “And this is just the beginning.” Lexi put her hands on Natalia’s shoulders.

  “No, please,” Natalia said. “You’ve done enough. This was very nice. Just go on and enjoy your day.”

  “Oh, we plan to enjoy our day.” Brian sat next to her, his blue eyes dancing.

  Addy sat on the other side of Natalia. “Don’t worry. It’s going to be fun.”

  “But I have homework . . .”

  “There’s no homework on your birthday.” Brian leaned forward, elbows on the table, his nose just inches from Natalia’s.

  She sat back and took a deep breath. Lord, what are you doing to me?

  “Seriously, Natalia.” Lexi pulled Natalia up. “It would be really selfish of you not to let us spoil you on your birthday.”

  Natalia laughed. “I certainly don’t want to be selfish.”

  “Certainly not,” Brian echoed.

  “I think I have everything on your list.” Maureen came back in the kitchen carrying a small suitcase. Natalia never noticed that she had left.

  “What’s that for?” Natalia took the suitcase from Maureen.

  “Patience, my friend.” Brian took the suitcase from her, and Natalia’s heart skipped a beat when his hand brushed hers. “All will be revealed in time.”

  Natalia gazed at Addy and Lexi, but they just smiled and motioned for Natalia to follow Brian out the door.

  “Relax,” Addy whispered as Natalia walked toward Lexi’s SUV. “Let us pamper you. We’ve been looking forward to this all week.”

  Chapter 32

  Natalia stuck her head out of the dressing room. “I can’t.”

  “Natalia Lopez.” Lexi planted both hands on her hips. “Show us the dress.”

  “It’s too much.”

  “My parents own the store.” Lexi waved her hands, dismissing Natalia’s concern. “They mark these things up like crazy. That dress really only costs about five dollars.”

  Natalia knew that wasn’t true. The cotton sundress was beautiful, coral and yellow, with wooden beads sewn across the neckline. It felt like heaven against her skin, and even though she argued, she’d hate to have to give up the dress now that she had it on. During her lonely moments at home, Natalia had surfed through her favorite clothing websites, dreaming of buying some new clothes. Oh, how she missed shopping.

  “Don’t make me pull you out of there,” Lexi threatened.

  “Fine.” Natalia slowly opened the curtain. Her three friends let out a communal gasp. “Is something wrong?”

  Brian’s eyes were wide. “No. Nothing’s wrong. Nothing.”

  Lexi walked Natalia to the three-way mirror. “What Brian is trying to say is, you look fabulous.”

  Natalia gazed at herself in the mirror. The dress’s empire waistline emphasized her tiny torso. The skirt floated down almost to the ground, revealing her hourglass figure without clinging too tightly to it. The bright colors highlighted Natalia’s olive skin and made her green eyes stand out even more. “It’s lovely.”

  “You’re lovely.” Addy wrapped an arm around Natalia. “Now for shoes and accessories, right?”

  “Of course.” Lexi smiled. “I believe you know where those are?”

  “No, this is more than enough.” Natalia backed away from the mirror. “I don’t need anything else.”

  “I may not know much about fashion”—Lexi peered into the changing room—“but I’m pretty sure those tennis shoes you wore here would not go well with this dress. Am I right?”

  Natalia laughed. “Yes.”

  “So get some shoes. And some jewelry. And a new purse. And hurry it up because we have lunch plans.”

  “Lunch plans?”

  “Less talking, more shopping, chica,” Lexi ordered.

  An hour later Natalia was led onto the veranda of a seafood restaurant in south Tampa. The hostess seated them at a table against a window that framed the Gulf of Mexico.

  “This is beautiful.” Natalia loved looking out over the greenish-blue water, seeing boats in the distance and children playing on the sand down below.

  “We know it’s not as pretty as the Mediterranean, but we hoped you’d like it.” Addy unrolled her napkin and placed it on her lap.

  “I hardly ever went to the beach.” Natalia thought back to her busy life in Spain. “Madrid is right in the middle of the country, so a trip to the beach took several hours.”

  “We brought our suits.” Lexi reached for one of the buttery rolls the waitress had placed in the middle of the table. “Yours is in the suitcase Maureen packed for you.”

  “This is your day, Natalia.” Addy smiled. “We’ll do whatever you want.”

  Natalia caught Brian staring at her. His face turned red and he pretended to be interested in the menu. “What do you think, Brian?”

  “I like the beach.” He was still looking at the menu.

  Why is he being so quiet? This is not like Brian at all.

  “Are you folks ready to order?” The waitress stood over the table and the conversation was halted.

  Natalia couldn’t decide between the grilled salmon and the shrimp scampi. Lexi liked both, so the girls decided to order one of each and share.

  “Seriously, Addy,” Lexi said as the waitress walked away. “Fried chicken and fries? You could get that at McDonald’s.”

  Addy stuck her tongue out at Lexi and smirked. “Don’t mock my food choices. I didn’t say anything about you wearing your basketball shorts to a fancy restaurant.”

  “Uh, I think you just did.” Lexi laughed. “Fine. You got me. But you’ll be jealous when we’re done and I’m relaxing in my stretchy pants.”

  “I have never had swordfish before, Brian.” Natalia wasn’t used to being the one trying to make him talk, but she hated that he was so distant. “Is it good?”

  “It’s great.” His eyes were on the water. Was he bored? Spending all day with three gi
rls couldn’t be his idea of fun.

  Natalia yawned. “I do not think I’ll have the energy to go to the beach. This has been a wonderful day, but I should probably head back home after this. I’m sure Maureen is getting lonely.”

  “She can come with us,” Lexi suggested. “We can give her a call.”

  “No, that’s okay.” Natalia glanced over at Brian again. His eyes were still glued to the water.

  Lexi looked at Natalia, then at Brian. Her frown let Natalia know she saw his boredom too.

  The conversation at the table was stiff but enjoyable. Lexi and Addy were trying, but Brian remained quiet, closed off. Very different from the Brian Natalia thought she knew.

  As she finished off the last of her rice pilaf, five waitresses walked up to the table with a huge slice of chocolate cake, a sparkler glowing in the center.

  “Happy, happy birthday, from everyone to you,” they sang. “Happy, happy birthday. May all your dreams come true.”

  Natalia was self-conscious as everyone on the veranda turned to watch her blow out the candles. Lexi stood on her chair and shouted, “This is Natalia’s seventeenth birthday. Her first birthday away from her home in Spain. Let’s give her a big Tampa welcome.”

  The patrons clapped politely, and Natalia looked at Lexi, amazed that she could have so little reserve. What would that be like?

  Natalia tried to enjoy the cake, but she could not stop thinking about Brian. He seemed miserable. I’m sure there are a hundred other things he’d rather be doing now.

  “Now for your gift.” Addy pulled a powder blue envelope from her purse.

  “No.” Natalia pushed the envelope away. “You bought me new clothes and a meal. You made me breakfast. This is too much. Whatever is in there, you keep and enjoy. I couldn’t possibly take anything else from you.”

  “Oh, yes, you can.” Lexi grabbed the envelope from Addy’s hand and patted Natalia’s head with it. “This isn’t even from us.”

  “What?”

  Lexi forced Natalia to take the envelope. “Just open it, woman, and ask questions later. We’ve been dying to see you get this all day.”

  Natalia couldn’t imagine what was inside. She carefully peeled away the paper, revealing a plain white card. She opened it to find a note saying the balance for the mission trip to Costa Rica had been in paid in full.

  “I don’t understand.” Natalia flipped the card over. Nothing else. No explanation, no signature.

  “You, my dear, are going to Costa Rica.” Lexi dipped her finger in icing and grinned.

  “But how?”

  “That’s a secret. We don’t even know. Pastor Brian just gave this to us and said someone in the church felt God wanted them to help you go on this trip.”

  Natalia looked at Brian. “Do you know who did this?”

  He shrugged. “Even if I did, I couldn’t say. Some people enjoy giving secretly. The Bible talks about how you lose your reward if everyone knows everything you do.”

  “Okay then.” Lexi shot Brian a “lighten up” glare. “Are we ready to hit the beach?”

  “No, really,” Natalia said. “I should get home.”

  Addy stood from the table. “We’re a mile away. Come on, just for a little while.”

  “Maureen told us she has a ton of grading to do.” Lexi also stood, and Natalia and Brian followed. The group made its way outside. “So you might as well hang out with us.”

  “It seems as if I have no choice.” Natalia opened the car door and climbed in.

  “Sure you have a choice,” Lexi said. “You can choose to have fun or you can choose not to. But, either way, we’re going to the beach.”

  Chapter 33

  Brian had never felt so uncomfortable. When Natalia walked out of the dressing room wearing the sundress, it was as if a giant hand had slapped him across the face. She is so far out of your league, man, he had thought. You’re peewee tee ball and she’s the major leagues. What are you thinking?

  Natalia was easily the prettiest girl he had ever seen, much less been friends with. But that was the problem. He didn’t want to be friends with Natalia. And he had been kidding himself by making believe that was all he wanted. He wanted so much more. But there was no chance of that. Girls that pretty didn’t want to date him.

  So why am I torturing myself by being around her? And at the beach, no less. If seeing her in a sundress knocked me out, seeing her in a bathing suit will kill me.

  “What is your problem?” Lexi cornered Brian after the others had left the car. “You act like you’d rather be anywhere else than here, and Natalia can totally tell. You’re the reason she tried to get out of going to the beach.”

  “I’m sorry.” He tried to walk away, but Lexi pulled him back. Brian knew he was in trouble when Lexi put her hands on her hips.

  “Not enough. Spill it. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Liar.”

  “It’s personal, okay?”

  “Fine, don’t tell me what’s wrong.” Lexi crossed her arms. “You know what Natalia’s been going through lately. This is her day. You planned the whole thing, after all. The least you can do is act like you’re having fun.”

  “You’re right.” He hated that he was making Natalia uncomfortable. Everyone would have been better off if he hadn’t tagged along. “I’ll try to act like I’m having fun.”

  Refusing to have any more conversation with Lexi, Brian walked quickly to the bathrooms and changed. Suddenly, the SpongeBob swim trunks he had purchased as a joke looked ridiculous and immature. Spencer Adams wouldn’t wear SpongeBob trunks.

  Come on, man. Suck it up. Brian walked toward the row of towels belonging to his friends.

  “I still can’t get over it.” Natalia spread sunscreen on her arms.

  Brian resisted the urge to grab the tube from her and do the job himself. At least she’s wearing a one-piece. He tried not to spend too much time gazing at Natalia’s perfect figure in her red Speedo swimsuit. Thank you, God, for that.

  “Someone actually paid a thousand dollars so I could go to Costa Rica.” Natalia’s smile was heart-stopping.

  “I’m so glad you’re coming.” Addy took the tube of sunscreen from Natalia. “This is going to be great.”

  “Speaking of great.” Lexi stood. “Let’s get out there in the water. The surf isn’t great at this beach, but we can definitely boogie board.”

  “Boogie board?” Natalia’s smile faded. “Aren’t boogies the word for . . . you know.” She pointed to her nose.

  Lexi’s laugh was loud. “No, those are boogers. Totally different.” Lexi reached for her board. “This is a boogie board. Brian, go grab yours too, and we can show her how it’s done.”

  “No problem.” Any excuse to get away. Brian took his time walking back to the car. All right, God, you’ve got to help me here. If you’re asking me to be Natalia’s friend, then I need some supernatural help to be able to see her as that. Can’t you make me less attracted to her? Give her an ugly wart or a really bad habit or something? Does she have to be so beautiful?

  A few minutes later Brian threw himself on his board and paddled out into the ocean. The salt water relaxed him, and for a moment, he was able to think about something other than his pointless attraction to Natalia Lopez.

  Until Natalia came to him to ask for help on the boogie board.

  “Wouldn’t you rather have Lexi show you?”

  Natalia pointed to Lexi out on the waves. “I don’t think I can pry her off of that thing.”

  “You’re probably right.” Brian shot up another prayer for help and handed the board to her. “It’s really easy. You just wait for a wave, hop on the board, and let it carry you to shore.”

  The ocean chose that moment to stop moving. No waves. Not even a ripple. Just Brian and Natalia. Addy was on the shore building a sand castle, and Lexi had drifted to the right, far enough away that conversation with her was impossible.

  “This happens sometimes.” Brian loo
ked out, willing a wave to jump up.

  “Is everything all right?” Natalia’s green eyes searched his, and Brian turned his head, hoping Natalia couldn’t read his thoughts.

  “Yep, everything’s fine.”

  “You just don’t seem yourself today.”

  “Even class clowns have their off days. I’ll be funny again tomorrow.”

  “That is not what I mean.” Natalia’s voice was soft, hurt.

  “I’m sorry.” Brian took another look out at the water. Nothing. He needed to get her talking. He couldn’t think of anything coherent to say. Not with Natalia so close and appearing so vulnerable. “So what were your birthdays like in Spain?”

  Natalia stared out at the still-calm water and smiled. “They were nice. My dad and Maureen usually took me out to a restaurant. My half sister, Ariana, would come along too.”

  “I didn’t know you had a sister.”

  “Her mom has custody of her, so we don’t see each other all that much.”

  “So you’d go out to dinner.” Brian floated on the water. “What else?”

  “That by itself was special. Papa works a lot, so family dinners were rare. But on my birthday, he would not only take us out, he’d even turn off his cell phone.”

  Brian thought of his own father. “You’ve got me there. We have family dinners all the time. But Dad turning off his cell phone? I don’t think that’s possible. He’s afraid a tragedy might happen to somebody at church, and he wouldn’t be there when they called.”

  “He cares very much.”

  Brian let his feet dig into the spongy sand. “He does.”

  “So do you.” Her eyes locked onto his.

  Brian had the urge to swim away as fast as he could. Where are the waves?

  “You have a pastor’s heart.”

  “Maybe.” He did not want to have this conversation again. “But I don’t have the desire.”

  “So what would you like to do?”

  Grab you and kiss you. That’s what I’d like to do. “I’m not sure yet. I’ve enjoyed working demolition with Mr. King. I could just do that. I’m sure Spencer could keep me employed for the rest of my life.”

  Natalia gazed at him, a hint of a smile on her perfect lips. “There is rebellion in you, isn’t there?”