by Kristy Tate
“This is not a game. It’s war.” Declan stole the ball and dribbled to the far corner of the sports court.
“Yeah, and Jason’s going out with Nicole.” Baxter stayed under the basket. “But she’s feisty. She likes to win. I know she looks sweet, and everything—“
Declan really didn’t want to listen to Baxter spout off about Nicole like he knew her better than Declan did. He bounced the ball to the edge of the court and was about to shoot a three-pointer when—
“Declan!”
The ball dropped at his feet and he spun.
“Mom?”
Dressed in a black pantsuit with a bright coral camisole, Gloria stood beside her idling silver Mercedes. Despite her polished clothes and perfectly coiffed hair, something about her seemed frantic and wrong. Declan wished he could see beyond her dark sunglasses.
He let the ball roll toward Baxter, who also ignored it.
“It’s your grandfather,” she said.
Baxter raised his eyebrows in a question that Declan didn’t know how to answer.
Shrugging, Declan picked up his shirt and headed down the driveway toward the street and the idling car.
“He wants to meet you before...” Gloria took off her glasses to wipe her tears with a rolled-up napkin.
Her red eyes and puffy nose told Declan that she was genuinely upset, which surprised him. He pulled open the car door and slid inside. “What happened?”
“I’m not sure.” Gloria repositioned herself behind the wheel. “He just said he’s in the hospital and he wants to see you immediately.”
Weird. His grandfather had never, to Declan’s knowledge, wanted to meet him before. “Why now?”
“Mortality has caught up to him, I guess.” She put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb.
“Shouldn’t I shower, or something?” Declan used his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face.
His mom skated him a quick glance before tousling his hair. “I think you’re handsome just as you are, but...maybe.” Her face went hard. “Do you have clothes at the house, or do you need to go to your dad’s?”
Even though his house was just around the corner, he knew she wouldn’t want to go there and risk running into his dad. Baxter thought Gloria avoided his dad because she felt guilty and she didn’t like the feeling, so it made her “testy”—Baxter’s word. Someday, Declan knew, Baxter would grow up to be a therapist like his mom, even though he would never admit to his constant reading of the people around him. He wondered what Baxter would have to say about Declan’s mom’s tears over his grandfather.
“I have jeans and a few shirts at your house,” Declan told her.
Gloria pressed her lips together and flipped on the blinkers, turning away from John’s condo and heading for Godwin’s monstrosity. “It’ll have to do.”
#
The three hours Lizbet had spent in front of the computer with Maria and Matías had left her both dazzled and bewildered. The world was suddenly much larger than she’d ever imagined. They’d even shown her Wellington boots. Matías had just typed “Wellington boots” into the search engine and suddenly—Boom!—hundreds of images of Wellington boots. Fortunately, the boots only came in a few styles and they were all pretty distinct. Not that she could assume just anyone wearing a pair was responsible for her mom’s condition or Wordsworth death, but still it was something.
If only she’d been able to convince the seagulls and crows who had seen the monster to come with her, but the birds were surprisingly territorial and committed to their life on the island.
No one that Lizbet knew of on Elizabeth’s ranch wore Wellingtons. Elizabeth herself had said that she didn’t know anyone who wore those boots, but she admitted that she really didn’t pay that much attention to people’s footwear. But now, as they walked through the hospital, Lizbet kept her eyes near the floor. Most of the nurses wore fat white shoes with thick rubber soles. Some of the girls her age wore sandals like Maria’s—Maria had called them flip-flops. Some of the doctors wore paper-like booties over their shoes.
She ran into something. Or someone. A hands reached out and steadied her. She looked up into Declan’s face. She found herself comparing him to Matías. They both had dark hair. Declan was tall and lanky, but Matías was solid and square. Matías had brown eyes, Declan’s were blue. Declan’s skin was a shade pinker, but maybe that was because he was blushing. Was he? And if so, why?
“Hey,” he said, “still looking for veterans or Presbyterians?” He held a steaming Styrofoam cup in front of him.
She smiled, despite her sadness. “No. This time I’m looking for Wellington boots.”
Her response seemed to surprise him. “Why? What are Wellington boots?”
She told him about the footprints in the cove and how she believed they belonged to the man who had beaten her mom and killed her dog. Compassion flickered in his eyes again.
“Why, hello, Declan,” Elizabeth said from behind Lizbet. She had been lingering in Lizbet’s mom’s room and must have caught up to Lizbet.
“Do you know Declan?” Lizbet asked her grandmother.
“Why, of course. The Westmoors and Forsyths are old family friends,” Elizabeth said. She flashed a look between Declan and Lizbet. “And how do you two know each other?”
“His dog chased Tennyson up a wall,” Lizbet told her.
“Interesting...” Elizabeth said.
“Not really,” Lizbet said bluntly.
“How’s your mom?” Declan asked.
A wave of sadness washed over Lizbet. “The same.”
Elizabeth wrapped a comforting arm around Lizbet’s waist. “She’s in a coma, but the doctors are quite hopeful. And what brings you here?” Elizabeth asked.
“My grandfather wanted to meet me.” He bit his lip.
“Does that mean that he hasn’t already?” Lizbet asked.
Declan nodded and shrugged, so Lizbet didn’t really know what he meant, but Elizabeth seemed to.
“That’s wonderful!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “A reconciliation at last, I hope?”
Declan made another noncommittal gesture. “He was sleeping and my mom didn’t want to wake him...so we’re waiting.” He lifted up the cup of coffee. “I’ve been sent for reinforcements.”
“You know, Declan, I’ve known your grandfather my entire life,” Elizabeth said. “I’ve always felt badly about the rift between him and your mom. It’s a shame you didn’t get to know him earlier.”
“We’re trying to change that,” Declan said. “I hope there’s still time.”
“He was always such a pistol!” She chuckled softly. “I remember when he rode his motorcycle through the halls of the high school!” She sighed. “We all age...”
“But not all of us grow up,” a voice behind Lizbet said.
Lizbet turned, but not before she caught sight of a scowl settling between Elizabeth’s eyebrows.
“Josie.” Elizabeth drew out her name like a sigh. “I would have thought you’d be at work this time of day.”
“Late lunch,” Josie said, stooping to kiss her mother on the cheek. “I thought I’d drop by and check on my sister.”
“Well, that’s sweet of you, dear, but sadly unnecessary. I’m afraid she’s still the same.”
“I’m afraid of that, too,” Josie said under her breath. She cast a critical eye at Lizbet.
Lizbet flinched under the steady gaze. Josie, despite her severe hairstyle, square chin, and manly clothes, was almost as beautiful as her sister, Rose. But whereas Rose was soft, her coloring pink, and her gaze tender, everything about Josie was brittle and severe.
Lizbet caught herself. She had to remember that her mom’s name was no longer Rose, but Daugherty. It made her mom seem like a stranger.
“Mrs. Westmoor.” Dr. Chow approached. He wore a sympathetic smile and carried an electronic tablet. “I’m glad I caught you. If I could have a moment of your time, I’d like to discuss your daughter’s care.”
“Of cou
rse.” Elizabeth nodded at Declan and Josie before stepping down the hall to confer with the doctor.
Josie waited until Elizabeth had moved out of earshot before she rounded on Lizbet. Pointing her finger at Lizbet’s chest, she narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know who you are or what your game is, but I am watching you!”
Lizbet backed up a step, nearly bumping into Declan. “Watching me? That’ll be boring...Although, today I did discover the Internet. So, that was cool.” And tomorrow Matías had promised to introduce her to Netflix......that seemed worth watching. Still, although she didn’t like Josie, she understood her concern. “I know you don’t know me, but if you did, you’d understand I don’t want to take advantage of your mom. If I had other options, I’d take them.”
Josie leaned forward, her words coming out as one hot, rapid breath. “Why don’t you just go back to where you came from?”
Lizbet blinked. True, that was an option, but not a very good one. Not a safe one. Sure, she had the company and defense of the animals, but they hadn’t been able to protect her mom from a man with size-fourteen Wellingtons.
“I want to be near my mom,” Lizbet said in a small voice.
“Of course you do,” Declan said.
Josie shot him a venomous glance, her eyes widening when she recognized him. “Gloria’s kid...”
“Yeah. I’ll tell my mom you said hi,” Declan said. “And my stepfather.”
“How do you know...her?” Josie tipped her head at Lizbet.
“Lizbet,” he emphasized her name, “and I go way back.”
Lizbet smiled at the blatant lie.
Josie’s gaze darted between them. “How is that even possible?”
“You know what they say, all things are possible with a dog.” Declan took Lizbet’s arm and steered her down the hall.
“No one says that, right?” Lizbet stumbled to keep up with him.
“Right. But you know Beetle the dog, and I don’t know God, who is usually referenced in that context, so it seemed like the right thing say.”
“It was a lie.”
“Was it? We go way back to yesterday.”
Lizbet breathed out a soft laugh.
“I didn’t like the way she was talking to you,” Declan said, his voice tender.
“I can take care of myself,” Lizbet said, but she didn’t sound very convincing, even to herself.
“Can you?”
“I want to...”
“We can’t go far, or else you’ll lose Mrs. Westmoor.” He motioned to the coffee cup. “Besides, I have to give this to my mom. Want to meet my grandfather? He’s almost as entertaining as your mom.”
Lizbet elbowed him. “That’s so irreverent.”
“I’m glad you think so.” He smiled and slid her a quick glance. “You’re not like other girls.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean...who uses words like irreverent?”
“I guess I do.”
He shook his head as if trying to clear it. “You’re not like anyone else I know.”
“That’s okay, right? I mean, you’re not really like anyone else I know, either, but the difference is I don’t really know very many people.”
“Which means you’re unique, but I’m just one of the herd.”
“Oh no, you’re not a herd animal.”
“No? Then what am I?”
“I haven’t decided yet. Remember, I don’t know you all that well, but I know for sure you aren’t a herd animal.”
“Am I a predator?”
She sucked in a deep breath. “Maybe...definitely a carnivore.”
“You got that right.”
“While I’m a herbivore.”
“Really? And you sound so proud of it, too...”
“I am. At least I’m not ashamed of it.”
“So I can’t tempt you with a juicy steak?”
She shook her head.
“How about salmon filet?”
“I don’t know...I’ve never had one, Although, I will eat shell fish.”
“Shell fish don’t count as meat?”
She felt okay about eating shellfish because they were so tightlipped and silent—absolutely non-vocal, as were most fish.
“Declan!” Elizabeth hurried toward them, brushing past nurses. “Your mom sent me for you. It’s your grandfather!”
Declan cast Lizbet a quick glance, as if asking to be excused.
She squeezed his hand. “You better go.”
And after a brief nod, he did.
#
“No drooling,” Baxter whispered. “And you’re eye-stalking her.”
Declan tore his gaze away from Nicole and stared into his plastic cup as if it had an inscription on the bottom in need of deciphering.
Baxter elbowed him. “Don’t be a tree.”
“What am I supposed to do?” Declan groaned. “I shouldn’t have come...”
“Go and talk to someone.”
Tonight, Nicole wore a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt. A thin silver necklace hung around her neck. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in the flesh.
“But not her,” Baxter added.
“Then who?”
“Hey, oh tall ones.” McNally, another kid from the basketball team, bumped Declan’s shoulder with his. McNally, being a forward, didn’t have Baxter’s height, but what he lacked in height he made up for in aggression.
Declan and Baxter greeted him in guy-speak, which was mostly grunts.
“What’s up, other than your heads?” McNally asked.
“Just trying to socialize Declan,” Baxter said.
“Why bother?” McNally asked.
Declan ignored them and returned to Nicole-gazing. The dim light glittered on the silver strand around her neck. She stood in a circle of girls, laughing at something someone said. He strained to hear the conversation but the music’s steady thrum and the chatter around the room made it impossible. He quickly counted the people, more than fifty, but only one was interesting to him. He wanted to tell everyone else to pipe down.
“Who is that?” McNally lifted his soda can in the direction of the door.
“The Hernandez family,” Baxter said. “They’re homeschooled. Matias was on the club soccer team, a midfielder. He’s good. Really good. Going to UW on scholarship.”
“I know them,” McNally cut him off. “But I don’t know the boho-chic with them. And I definitely should.”
Baxter’s eyes widened and Declan followed his friends’ gazes.
Lizbet. She looked different, and he tried to decide if it was just because he was seeing her out of context. Although, he had guessed she was about his age, in his mind, she didn’t belong at a high school party. He wasn’t sure exactly where she belonged. Her tangle of curls had been tamed and caught back into clips. Her lips were glossy as were her eyes. If her stories were true, this had to be a totally new and different experience for her. Sure, Nicole’s party was tame as far as parties went. No keg. No drugs. Parents in the next room...but still, for a girl raised on a deserted island, this had to be a crush of people.
“I don’t know who that is.” Baxter’s tone said he wanted to find out.
“Gina,” Declan reminded him.
Baxter shot a fast glance at his girlfriend standing in Nicole’s orbit. “Right,” he said, sounding resigned.
McNally set down his drink, and used both hands to slick back his straw-colored hair. “Boys, I’m going in.”
“Wait!” Declan nearly choked on the word.
“What?” McNally asked.
“I, um, know her.” Declan did not want to introduce Lizbet to McNally, but he didn’t see how he could avoid it. “She’s...not your type.”
“Why not?”
“She’s been...sheltered. She’s not like other girls.”
McNally raised an eyebrow. “Sounds intriguing.”
“Trust me...she’s—a—”
Baxter cut in. “Looks like she’s with Hernandez.”
“I gotta meet her,” McNally said. “Tell me about her.”
Declan scratched his chin and decided that Lizbet should tell her own stories...and probably not to McNally.
“She doesn’t go to East End,” McNally said, licking his lips. “I absolutely would have noticed her.”
“She’s homeschooled,” Declan ground out, feeling more and more annoyed. He didn’t know why—which bothered him even more. “Dancing’s stupid.”
That got both Baxter and McNally‘s attention.
“Don’t slam any excuse to handle a girl,” McNally said.
Declan grunted. “Just look at it. All those couples—no one is even trying to coordinate with the music. It’s really just about touching.”
McNally raised his eyebrows. “So?”
“People have been dancing for centuries,” Baxter said. “It’s a basic mating ritual—even in the animal kingdom.”
“Mating ritual...there’s a thought I won’t get out of my head any time soon,” McNally said. “Thanks for putting it there.”
Baxter grinned. “You’re welcome.”
Soda spilled over Declan’s hand. He looked down and realized he’d squeezed his cup too hard. Neither Baxter nor McNally seemed to notice—they both had their eyes on Lizbet. He shook his hand and went to find a napkin.
Nicole met him at the dining room table. “Hey, Declan, thanks for coming!” She gave him a quick hug. Her hair smelled of apple-scented shampoo. He inhaled sharply.
He looked at the table loaded with chips, pizza, bowls of candy, and a giant tub full of soda cans. “Are we celebrating something, or is this get-together just because?”
She winked at him. “It’s definitely a celebration, but I can’t tell you why yet.”
“I’m not the only one not in on the secret, right?”
“I think you’ll like the surprise.”
She was wrong. He hated surprises. But he really liked the way her eyes glistened. He turned when someone touched his arm.
Lizbet. She looked good. Foreign. Gypsy. In comparison, she made Nicole seem bland and borderline boring.