by Sharon Sala
She saw the guys on the football team, including Davis, Bethany’s boyfriend, but she didn’t see Corey.
“Hey, Nikki. Where’s Corey?”
Nikki pointed. “There . . . just behind Coach Jones.”
“Oh, yeah, I see him now. Look, he’s waving at us.”
Nikki’s cheeks flushed, but she was grinning. “That’s cause I blew him a kiss.”
“Nice,” Tara teased.
Nikki nodded. “Yes, he sure is.”
“So, what happens now?” Tara asked.
“See Coach Jones? He’ll make a little speech, and since Davis is Captain of the team, he’ll probably light the fire. You’ll figure the rest out.”
“Cool,” Tara said.
What happens with the pile of wood?
Tara was glad Millicent was there, too. OMG, Millicent, how intense is all this? I’m having fun with people my own age.
I repeat, the wood? What happens with the wood?
Tara glanced at the pile. Oh. Right. They set it on fire.
How pagan. Why?
Someone jostled Tara and smiled an apology. I don’t know exactly. Maybe just to get into the spirit of the upcoming game.
You burn wood to play ball? That makes no sense.
Tara laughed. You’re right. It doesn’t. But that’s what makes it fun.
Don’t get too close.
Yes, Mother.
Actually, I have never had the experience of childbirth.
Millicent was so literal. I was being sarcastic because you were treating me like a child.
I knew that.
“Look, they’re about to start,” Nikki said. “The wind is going to blow smoke in our faces if we stay here. We need to move.”
Tara was right behind Nikki one minute, and the next thing she knew, someone had her by the arm and was pulling her backward.
“Hey!” she yelled, and spun around. “Oh. It’s you.”
Flynn looked taken aback, but he didn’t let her go. “I want to talk to you,” he said.
Nikki heard Tara yell, then saw what was going on and smiled. “I’ll see you in the bleachers.”
Tara had no intention of letting Flynn O’Mara know how much she’d missed him. She folded her arms across her chest and glared. Even if he did look beyond hot, she wasn’t letting him know.
“What do you want, Flynn?”
“You.”
A knot formed in the pit of Tara’s stomach. This was intense.
“I don’t believe you,” Tara said. “Nothing has changed in my life that will make me any easier to deal with.”
“But something has changed in mine,” Flynn said.
“Like what?” Tara asked.
“I found out I don’t like how it feels to see you and not be able to touch you. I found out that no matter how mixed up your life is, mine feels empty without you. I found out that you’re worth the trouble. That’s what.”
Tara felt like she was floating. No one had ever said anything that amazing to her before.
“Look, Flynn . . . I don’t—”
“Well, I do,” he said, and took her by the hand. “Give me another chance, Moon girl. Please.”
Behind them, the crowd roared. Obviously the bonfire had been lit, but it had lost considerable significance for Tara.
Once, when I was in Paris, a Count broke my heart.
Not now, Millicent. Tara stared at Flynn.
He died before we could make up. I regret that.
Oh. Point made. Advice taken.
Tara pointed a finger at Flynn. “I don’t expect someone to agree with everything I do, but it’s not fair to diss me about stuff I can’t control.”
“Absolutely,” Flynn said.
The cheerleaders began a cheer. The crowd was with them all the way. Tara, knew it must be great, because the cheers were huge when the cheerleaders had finished. She wasn’t sorry she was missing it, though.
Smoke drifted into their eyes. “The smoke . . . we need to move,” Flynn said.
Tara let him lead her toward the backside of the crowd. They walked until they were behind the fire truck. Away from the smoke—and the eyes of the crowd.
Flynn turned, waiting for her to say the magic words that he was forgiven, but she didn’t budge.
“Tara?”
Tara sighed. “You so hurt my feelings.”
Flynn leaned forward until their foreheads were touching, then he took her hands and pulled them around his back. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to. I guess I was just . . .”
“Scared?”
He nodded.
“Sometimes, I am, too,” Tara said.
“Really?”
“Seriously. My life can be crazy . . . lunatic crazy.”
Flynn cupped her face, then leaned forward. Their lips met. His firm and searching. Hers warm and accepting. When they finally pulled back, Tara was shivering.
Oh. My. God.
“Am I forgiven?” Flynn asked.
She nodded.
He smiled, then slid his hands beneath her hair and cupped the back of her neck. “Wanna go watch a big ole pile of wood burn?”
Tara grinned. “It’s been my lifelong dream.”
“Then who am I to deny my girl her dream?” Flynn took her by the hand and together, they walked back into the crowd. When they found Nikki with Mac and Penny, they had to endure some teasing about having had the shortest breakup in history.
Then Nikki punched Flynn lightly on the arm. “Just don’t screw around with our BFF, okay?”
He nodded. “Definitely my bad. Just give me a break here.”
“It’s Tara’s call,” Nikki said.
“He’s a good guy,” Tara said. “Just a little misguided.”
Flynn grinned. “So guide me, Moon girl. I’m yours.”
They all laughed, which eased the last of the tension.
Tara felt like dancing. She couldn’t remember being this happy in the longest time.
“You still hungry?” Nikki asked.
“Absolutely,” Tara said. “Let’s head for the concession stand before the game starts.”
They trooped over to the concession stand, pooled their money and bought a round of hot dogs and soft drinks, and headed for the bleachers.
The sun set a few minutes after kickoff and took the warmth of the day with it. Tara grabbed her hoodie and zipped it up, thankful Nikki had cautioned her to bring it. By that time, her stomach was full, and her heart was filled with so many emotions she couldn’t have identified them all to save her life. Every time Flynn looked at her, she saw past his face to the man he was becoming, and she liked what she saw. And even though she didn’t understand half the rules of the game, this was turning out to be the best night of her life.
The Homecoming Queen was crowned before the game started and Tara watched the ceremony with interest. There were attendants, all from lower classes, and three contestants who were seniors. Each of the girls was wearing a fancy dress. Some of the dresses were short, some were long, but all of them sparkled like diamonds beneath the floodlights. Each girl was escorted by a member of the team.
The queen contestants were Bethany, her friend, Mel, and another girl named Justine, who Tara didn’t know. The band played as the girls were escorted out onto the field. Nikki was talking a mile a minute, but Tara couldn’t hear over the music. She just nodded and grinned and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her hoodie against the evening chill.
On the outside, Tara appeared to be tuned in, but inside, she’d gone quiet. She kept thinking that, but for the grace of God and her psychic abilities, the only ceremony Bethany might have been involved in during her senior year was a funeral—her own.
&nb
sp; “What are you thinking, Moon girl?” Flynn asked.
“How pretty they all look,” she said.
“Not as pretty as you,” he whispered.
Tara felt her cheeks flush. “Thanks.”
“Oh. Look. Bethany won!” Tara said, as they announced the winner.
She stood up and started clapping with the rest of the crowd, happy for the good turn of events in Bethany Fanning’s world.
“Davis is gonna kiss her big-time,” Nikki said. “Corey said the boys bet him he wouldn’t do it, but he’s determined.”
Tara rolled her eyes. “Mrs. Crabtree will have a stroke.”
They laughed, well aware of how on the mark Tara’s comment was. Mrs. Crabtree liked things done properly, and laying a Hollywood kiss on one of her senior girls in front of the entire crowd did not fall into that category.
When it came time to put the crown on Bethany’s head, Davis, as the Captain of the football team, crowned her quickly, then took her in his arms and, as Uncle Pat would say, laid one on her.
At first, everyone clapped, but when the kiss continued, the clapping morphed into hoots and catcalls. When the kiss kept going, laughter ricocheted all around the stadium. But the kiss didn’t stop, and Tara could tell that the coaches were starting to get a little antsy. One of them poked another one and pointed, as if telling him to go out and stop it. But no one moved, and the kiss kept going, and suddenly, Tara got it. Davis was telling Bethany, in front of the whole town, that, despite everything she’d endured, she was still as important and desirable as she’d ever been. If her heart had been full before, now it overflowed
Then the band started playing, which was the signal for them to march off the field. But no one moved.
The crowd got quiet.
It was as if the whole world was holding its breath.
Suddenly, the crown Davis had put on Bethany’s head slipped sideways, falling over her ear and conking Davis on the nose.
He yelped and pulled back.
Bethany grinned as she grabbed her crown and repositioned it on her head.
Sorry, but I couldn’t take it any longer.
Tara almost choked. Millicent! Did you make her crown slip?
Somebody had to do something. I need a cold shower.
Tara would have thought Millicent would have loved such a romantic gesture. You are so busted. You do not spoil a moment like that again.
Doesn’t mean I can’t remember what passion felt like. Once when I was—
OMG. Stop. I do not want to hear this.
Whatever.
When Tara’s ear popped, she knew Millicent was gone. But knowing Millicent, she wouldn’t be gone long, and she wouldn’t be far. Still, she’d done what needed to be done to get the show on the road. The contestants filed off the field with their escorts, and were ushered to a special place in the stands where the Queen and her attendants would “hold court” during the game.
“That was the best,” Tara said.
Flynn grinned. “You mean what Davis did?”
“No. I meant Bethany getting crowned Queen. After everything she went through, I am glad some good stuff is happening in her life.”
Flynn’s smile slipped, as he realized what Tara was getting at. “Oh. Yeah. You are so right.”
Unaware of their conversation, Nikki leaned over past Mac and Penny and tapped Tara on the knee. “It won’t be long now,” she said.
“To what?” Tara asked.
Nikki cracked up. “You are such a lunatic. To kickoff, girlfriend. This is a football game, after all, and we’re playing Union.”
Tara giggled. “Oh. Yeah. Right. Where’s Union?”
“It’s a high school in Jenks, which is close to Tulsa,” Flynn said. “Ever been there?”
“Nope.”
He grinned. “So, there’s actually a place you and your Uncle Pat haven’t lived?”
She laughed, and a few moments later the game began.
The roar of the crowd and the excitement of being in the middle of something so ordinary as a high school football game had Tara almost giddy. For the first time in her entire life, she felt like she belonged. It was, without doubt, her best night ever.
Stillwater High was ahead by one touchdown at the end of the first quarter and the crowd was amped. By the end of the second quarter, Union had rallied and the game was tied. The crowd was just one solid roar. Tara was worn out from the emotional ups and downs. She only understood half of what was going on, and never did quite get the hang of why the referees were blowing their whistles all the time, or why so many yellow flags kept getting tossed, but she did know when it happened, if it was against Stillwater, it wasn’t good.
Finally, at half-time, the band took the field and the people in the stands began heading to bathrooms and the concession stand. Tara and Flynn were on their way to the concession stand when she began hearing one voice shouting louder than all the others. Flynn was talking to her, but she couldn’t focus on him for the panic she heard in the voice.
“Flynn! Do you hear that?” she asked.
Flynn frowned. “I hear everything, Moon girl. What do you mean?”
“That woman. The one who’s screaming. I think she can’t find her little boy.”
He tilted his head, then suddenly, he heard her, too. “Oh. Man. Yeah. She’s totally freaking, isn’t she?”
“Come on. She needs help.”
Flynn followed Tara through the crowd, past the concession stand and toward the restrooms where a small crowd was gathering. A security guard had arrived and was talking to the frantic mother. Tara walked up just as the mother was explaining to the guard what had happened. Her voice was shaking and her face was streaked with tears.
“His name is Billy. He’s six years old, but small for his age, with blonde hair and green eyes. He’s wearing a Star Wars sweatshirt and blue jeans.”
“When did you last see him?” the guard asked.
“Right here. He was standing beside me when someone ran into me and spilled the pop I was holding all over us. I was getting something out of my purse to clean us up, and when I turned around, he was gone.”
Tara was uneasy. That sounded like more than an accident. Something told her it had been done on purpose to distract her so someone could snatch the child.
Without waiting to explain herself, Tara grabbed hold of the mother’s arm and closed her eyes. The connection was instantaneous. She saw two people running, one was carrying a little boy who wasn’t moving, which meant they’d done something to him to keep him quiet.
“Parking lot,” she cried. “They’re running through the parking lot. Hurry. Green Pinto. They’re going to put him in a Green Pinto. It’s parked at the back of the lot near the high school.”
Flynn grabbed the guard’s arm. “You have to believe her.”
“No, I don’t,” the guard said. “Hey kid, turn the lady loose.”
“Hurry!” Tara screamed. “If they get out of the lot, you’ll never see him again.”
The mother looked confused.
“You have to believe her,” Flynn repeated. “If you want your son back, listen to her.” He looked around for help. “Thank God. Tara, there’s Detective Rutherford. In the concession stand line. I’ll be right back.”
Flynn ran over, grabbed him by the arm and dragged him toward the guard. “Tell him!” Flynn was shouting. “Tell the guard to believe her!”
“What’s going on here?” Rutherford asked.
“Who are you?” the guard asked.
“Detective Rutherford, Stillwater P.D.,” he said. “I missed the first half and just got here. What’s happening?”
“My little boy . . . he got lost and I can’t find him anywhere,” the woman said.
Then Rutherford
noticed Tara. He took one look at Tara’s face and knew she was seeing something they couldn’t.
“Where is he, kid?”
“The parking lot,” Tara said. “At the back. Green Pinto. Hurry!”
“Call it in!” Rutherford yelled at the guard, and started running.
Once the connection was broken between Tara and the mother, she gasped. “Come on, Flynn. We have to help. They can’t get away.”
The crowd of people who’d been listening started running behind them. All they knew was to go to the back of the lot and find a green Pinto. Losing a kid was a parent’s worst fear and everyone wanted to help.
Flynn, along with Rutherford and half a dozen men sprinted ahead. Tara wasn’t far behind. Off to the right, she saw two police cruisers suddenly appear, blocking off two of the streets out of the parking lot, while another one sailed past with the siren screaming and lights flashing.
All of a sudden, Tara keyed in on panic and knew it was coming from the people who’d snatched the child. She felt their desperation and the darkness in their hearts.
Hurry, hurry, hurry. It was all she could think.
Then she began hearing shouts. Two more police cars appeared at the back of the parking lot. As she ran, she heard more shouts.
“Get down on the ground! Get down on the ground!”
And she knew the police had caught the kidnappers. She stopped running, letting the rest of the people pass her by, and leaned against the hood of a car. Her heartbeat was thundering in her eardrums and there was a pain in her side.
“I am so out of shape,” she muttered.
A good corset works wonders.
Tara blinked. Dang, Millicent, not that kind of shape.
The child is fine.
Tara shuddered. Relief overwhelmed her. What if I hadn’t come tonight? Oh my God. Before she knew it, she was crying.