“I’m sure they don’t mean to grill you, Steve, they’re just concerned and—”
“For Pete’s sake, Liz, not you, too! Why can’t everyone in this house mind their own business!”
“This family has got to be the biggest bummer in five hundred and thirty-seven cities!” Jessica exploded. “Boring! Boring! Boring!” She stomped around the room, with the full attention of her brother and sister. Then she whirled, pointing a finger at Elizabeth.
“You,” she sputtered, “act like you’re a candidate for the funny farm. All you do is mope, mope, mope! And you!” She suddenly shifted to Steven. “What a ray of sunshine you are! And on top of everything else, I was humiliated in front of every single person in school because my very own father is having an affair with that—that woman!”
Steven’s head snapped up, and he glared at Jessica. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, Steve,” she cried, “it’s all over school, all over town. Dad has been with Marianna West almost every single night, and Mom acts like she doesn’t care at all. They’re headed for the divorce courts! What’s going to happen to us?”
“Stop it, Jess,” Elizabeth broke in. “Just because Bruce Patman shot off his mouth doesn’t mean that any of it is true.”
“Any of what?” Steven wanted to know. “Will one of you please tell me what’s going on around here?”
“Well, Dad has been spending a lot of evenings with Ms. West,” Elizabeth said, groping for the right words. “He says he’s helping her with a case.”
“He says,” put in Jessica.
“But you two don’t believe him?”
“No!” Jessica blurted out.
It took Elizabeth a few moments longer to speak. “I want to believe him, Steve, but things have been sort of strange around here lately, and—I just don’t know.”
“Does Mom seem worried or upset?” he asked.
“No, and that’s the trouble!” Jessica raged. “How can she be so blind? Dad is so good-looking—at least for a man his age—and Marianna is kind of attractive, if you like the flashy type. Of course they’re having an affair. What else are we supposed to think?”
“You could try believing Dad, for starters,” Steve said angrily. He walked restlessly around the room. “Dad has never lied to us. If he says he’s helping her with a case, that’s what he’s doing.”
“Isn’t that just like a man!” Jessica spat. “You always stick up for each other. You’re just as bad as Dad. As a matter of fact, you’re just like him. You both have bad taste in women!”
It would have taken a machete to slice through the tension in the room. Jessica and Steven sat glaring at each other.
Obviously trying to control his rage, Steven spoke in a low, cold voice. “You’ve got five seconds to explain that crack, Jessica!”
Jessica had spoken without thinking, not unusual for her, and she was afraid of the consequences. She had never seen Steven so angry with her before. She had to say something, quickly.
“Steve, I meant—I mean, I didn’t mean—how can you stand there glaring at me so hatefully? This was supposed to be my happy day, and now you’re trying to ruin it!” Jessica buried her face in her arms, sobbing helplessly.
“You selfish little twerp,” Steven said, glaring at Jessica.
Elizabeth jumped in quickly between them. “Steve, please, you don’t understand,” she pleaded.
“Don’t you ever get tired of defending her?” Steve snapped.
“You don’t understand what kind of a day it’s been for Jess and me. You don’t know what people said about Dad.” Elizabeth was getting desperate. She had to make Steven see. “Steve, we know! We know about you and—her.”
That stopped him. He looked at her for a long moment. “You know about me and her? What’s that supposed to mean?” he demanded.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and plunged in. “Steve, we know everything. We weren’t snooping around or trying to butt in, honest!”
“I’m sorry, too, Steve,” Jessica added. “I shouldn’t have blurted it like that. But you and Betsy Martin—it can’t be. She’s trash.”
“Betsy Martin? What are you talking about? I’m in love with Tricia Martin.”
“Tricia? You mean Betsy’s sister?” Elizabeth asked, stunned.
“Yeah, Tricia.” Saying her name conjured up memories for Steven. Lovely Tricia with her strawberry-blond hair, her sweet nature, everything he wanted in this world.
“That’s wonderful, Steve,” Elizabeth said. “Tricia is a terrific girl—one of the best! I’m so happy for you!”
“She’s still a Martin,” Jessica reminded him.
“Not to worry, Jess. Nothing important is going to happen between the respected Wakefield family and the low-life Martins. Basically because I blew it. Oh, boy, did I blow it!”
Steven’s unhappy story spilled out. As long as he and Tricia were alone together at Tricia’s house, everything had been wonderful. But gradually Tricia had concluded that Steven didn’t want to be seen in public with her, that he was ashamed to be associated with her family. That was why he never took her anywhere. “You’re a snob, Steven Wakefield!” she had said.
“She’s right, too,” Steven said to the twins. “And now I’ve lost Tricia—forever.”
As Elizabeth stared at her brother, she was filled with despair. She recalled the old saying about trouble coming in threes. She counted:
I’ve lost Todd.
Steve’s lost Tricia.
Mom losing Dad would make it three.
Jessica, she noted coolly, was the only one who had managed to escape unscathed so far.
Twelve
“You’re not serious. You absolutely cannot be going with Winston Egbert!” screeched Jessica as she stood in the middle of Elizabeth’s room. “I can’t believe my own sister dating that clown!”
It was the evening before the dance, but Jessica had been so preoccupied with her own plans for the big night that she hadn’t heard about Elizabeth and Winston until an hour earlier at dinner.
“I don’t understand why you’re so upset about it, Jess,” Elizabeth said as she sat on her bed, her history book in her lap. “Win’s a nice guy. He’s really funny. And even if he’s not handsome, he doesn’t have three heads, for heaven’s sake!”
“But he’s not romantic, Lizzie,” Jessica pointed out.
“That suits me just fine. I can relax and have a good time without worrying about groping hands and fighting someone off at the front door.” Elizabeth sighed, knowing Todd would never be so crude. A good-night kiss from him would be nothing short of heaven.
Jessica heard the sigh and saw the faraway look on her sister’s face.
“Lizzie,” she began in what she hoped was a casual tone, “are you going with Winston because you really want to, or because nobody else asked you?”
Elizabeth hesitated to tell her sister about Bruce Patman’s invitation. She doubted that Jessica would see it her way. At the time it had made her furious, but now it seemed kind of funny. The look on his face had been priceless. Nobody, but nobody, turned Bruce Patman down for a date.
“Actually, Jess, someone else did ask me first. Bruce Patman.”
“Bruce Patman!” Jessica squealed. “Liz Wakefield, how dare you sit there calmly and tell me Bruce asked you out as if it weren’t important! You’re incredible! No—you must be dead! No girl alive would turn Bruce down. He’s handsome, Liz. He is sooooo rich. And he drives that awesome Porsche!” Jessica stood there, hands on hips, glaring down at her sister. Jessica would never say no to Bruce. She thought for a minute of how it would be to arrive at a dance with him. Once in a while it seemed to Jessica that Bruce was on the verge of asking her out, but it hadn’t happened, yet.
“Are you saying you wish you were going to the dance with Bruce instead of Todd?” Elizabeth challenged.
“Of course not. Why in the world would you think that? Todd is terribly good-looking, and he’s so sweet. I just wish he d
idn’t drive that gross excuse for a car. Bruce’s Porsche is so—so … I mean, it’s a Porsche.”
“Let’s get off the subject of Bruce Patman, please.” Elizabeth got up off the bed and walked over to her table, where she picked up some notes. “Right now I’ve got to study for tomorrow’s history quiz.”
“Yeah, OK, I’m going.” Jessica hesitated at the door. “Just one thing, Liz.”
Elizabeth looked up from the notes.
“Are you sure it’s all right? You know, about Todd and me and the dance?” There was genuine concern in Jessica’s blue-green eyes.
“Jess, I don’t know what you’re—”
“Please tell me the truth. Sometimes you get a funny faraway look when Todd’s name is mentioned. I wondered if you sort of liked him. If it makes you unhappy, I won’t go out with him, I swear! I’ll stay home tomorrow.” By this time, Jessica was on the other side of the table, clutching Elizabeth’s hands. She really seemed concerned.
A flood of love for her sister washed over Elizabeth. She knew how important the dance was for Jessica. She couldn’t, she wouldn’t spoil it for her.
“Who’s being an airhead now, Jess? We’re both going to that dance, and we’ll have a sensational time! The Wakefield sisters are going to be so terrific!”
“How terrific are we going to be, Liz?” asked Jessica, happy once again.
“Get out of here, you idiot,” said Elizabeth, grabbing a small pillow and aiming it at Jessica.
As soon as Jessica left the room, the smile left Elizabeth’s face. Will it really be such a terrific night? she asked herself, tears filling her eyes.
* * *
“Thanks, Jess. Thanks a bunch,” Elizabeth called from the bathroom that adjoined the twins’ rooms. She was wrapped in a towel.
“You’re welcome, but for what?” Jessica shouted over the whir of the hair dryer.
“For leaving me the steamiest bathroom in the entire state and exactly thirty seconds of hot water!” Elizabeth hollered back.
“Oops,” Jessica said, poking her head into the room. “I’m sorry. Would you believe I got carried away?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“What do you think?” Jessica gave her golden mane a toss. “I mean, be totally honest. Is my hair OK?”
“Ummm, let me look.” She circled Jessica. Every hair was exactly where it should be—perfect.
“Sad, Jess. It’s really sad.”
“What?” screeched Jessica. “What are you saying?”
“I just thought, you know—poor Vidal Sassoon on the unemployment line because you’re better than he is.”
Elizabeth fell on the bed laughing. “Gotcha, Jess!” she shouted triumphantly.
* * *
“Hi, Mrs. Wakefield. I’m Todd Wilkins. I’m here to pick up Li—Jessica, I mean, for the dance.”
“Come in, Todd. It’s nice to meet you. Jess will be down in a minute.” She ushered him into the large, airy living room.
The doorbell rang again.
“Excuse me, Todd, this seems to be a busy night.”
Alice Wakefield brought Winston Egbert into the room. “You two know each other, I assume?”
“Sure. Hi, Winston.”
“Hey, Todd! How about the two of us, huh? Escorting the beautiful Wakefield sisters. Wow!”
Todd and Winston stood in the living room waiting for Elizabeth and Jessica. Gone were the school uniforms of jeans and T-shirts. Both wore neatly pressed cords, shirts and ties, and sport coats.
Elizabeth was the first to come down the stairs, and both Todd and Winston watched her descend. The white strapless dress was perfect with her tanned skin and blond hair. She kept the bright smile on her face even when she saw Todd. Why couldn’t she and Winston have been gone before Todd arrived? she asked herself.
Winston nervously looked toward the stairs as if he were expecting someone else. Then he nearly threw himself at Elizabeth’s feet. Spreading his arms wide and looking upward, he declared, “I’ve died. I’ve died and gone to heaven!” Getting up, he made a grand bow. “Princess Elizabeth, you are totally—totally—that’s what you are, Liz Wakefield—totally!”
Elizabeth found herself laughing so hard she was nearly in tears. “Win Egbert, you are totally crazy! And if you make me cry and ruin my eye makeup, I’ll kill you! So help me, I’ll kill you!”
Alice Wakefield was smiling that particular smile every mother does when her child is happy.
Todd Wilkins, however, was not smiling. His expression was a strange mixture of anger and sadness.
Jessica, out of sight but not out of earshot in the upstairs hall, was also not smiling. How dare that idiot Win Egbert spoil my entrance? she asked herself. He was acting like an airhead, and she would never speak to him again.
“My lady, our coach awaits!” Winston said as he opened the door with a flourish.
Elizabeth laughed. “I knew it. You’re taking me to the dance in a pumpkin!”
Winston was still chuckling as he followed her outside. “Close,” he said. “It’s orange, and it doesn’t go very fast.”
They both dissolved into giggles as he led her over to the orange VW bug parked in the driveway.
Alice Wakefield was still laughing when the door closed. “Those two are really too much, aren’t they, Todd?”
“Yeah, too much,” he answered somewhat sourly.
Just then Jessica made her entrance. She looked nothing less than sensational. The blue dress with its delicate straps and full skirt showed off her slim body and gorgeous legs.
“Hello, Todd,” she said softly, her mouth curved in a lovely smile.
“Hi, Jess,” he answered. “You look nice—really very pretty.”
Nice! she screamed silently. Three hours of working on my nails, my hair, my makeup and I look “very pretty”? Whatever happened to gorgeous?
“Thanks, Todd.” Maybe he’s not good with words, she thought. But she knew from the other day that he was good with kissing—and there certainly would be more kisses that evening!
* * *
The Droids were playing loudly, and the lights were bright as Jessica and Todd arrived at the dance.
“Oh, Todd, isn’t it wonderful?” She wrapped her arm around his. “Look at the hearts!” she cried, pointing out the red and silver 3-D foil hearts with PBA on one side and PE on the other. “It’s so romantic. A sweetheart dance!” She sighed.
“Yeah, it’s nice, Jess,” he answered, his eyes scanning the room.
Jessica wasn’t sure how many more nices she could take. Something was going wrong with her evening, and it had better stop right now!
“Todd, look! There’s Cara Walker. Let’s go talk to her. And there’s Lila Fowler. And poor Bruce Patman came stag tonight.”
“Poor Bruce Patman?”
“Oh, I didn’t mean poor,” she bubbled. “It’s just that he’s one of the many guys who invited Liz to the dance tonight. My sister is soooo popular, Todd.”
“So I’ve heard, Jess, so I’ve heard.” His voice tightened. “We’re here to dance, right? Let’s dance!”
The Droids were playing a hard, driving number as Todd pulled Jessica onto the dance floor. They were both great dancers, and they looked so terrific together that the other couples moved out of their way. Jessica danced around Todd, her dress flaring out as she twirled. Her beautiful tanned legs caught every boy’s eyes. Then she and Todd really started getting into the music, in a very sexy way. As the number came to an end, the crowd erupted with applause, whistles, and cries for more. Jessica threw her arms around Todd and hugged him. She never noticed Todd staring across the room at a set of identical blue-green eyes.
* * *
“Hey, Liz, remember me? Your wonderful date-type person?” Winston said.
“Oh, Win!”
“Yeah, good old forgettable Win. How about a dance, Liz? Nobody’s going to desert the floor when I do my thing, but I promise not to break all your toes.”
&nb
sp; “Let’s go, Win,” Elizabeth said, knowing she couldn’t spend the whole evening watching Jessica and Todd.
“We seem to be here with the wrong people, Liz,” he said as they moved somewhat awkwardly around the floor. Contrary to Winston’s promise, Elizabeth had to be very careful about her toes.
“Huh?”
“Well,” he explained, “you’re watching Todd, and he’s practically got his eyes glued on you.”
“Really, Win? You really think he’s watching me?”
“Really, really, really, Liz. The only thing wrong is that your gorgeous sister is watching him, too. I wish she were watching me.”
“Oh, Win. You’re still loyal to Jessica, huh?”
“You’d better believe it,” he said in a serious tone Elizabeth had never heard him use before. Then suddenly he made a hideous face that cracked her up. He was back to being the clown again.
“You want to know the sort of girl people fix me up with?” he asked. “It goes like this: ‘Win, have I got a girl for you! What a personality!’ That always means two hundred and fifty pounds and two-foot-five! I have to put her hamburger on the floor so she can reach it.”
“But, Win,” Elizabeth said, laughing, “looks aren’t everything.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m no prize package, either, right?” He grinned affably. “Hey, Enid and Ronnie are waving at us. Let’s go over and say hello, OK?”
As they made their way around the dancers, Elizabeth commented, “I don’t think Ronnie has left her side all evening. He’s certainly protective.”
“Yeah. I think he was a Doberman in a former life,” Winston cracked.
* * *
A set of brown eyes followed Elizabeth’s every move, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Jessica, who was rapidly reaching the boiling point. Her evening was going right down the tubes, and it was all Todd’s fault. She had done everything—and with Jessica, that was plenty—to keep his eyes on her. Except for that one sensational dance, he had hardly looked at her.
No guy—not even Todd Wilkins—could take Jessica Wakefield to a dance and treat her like a piece of furniture. He wasn’t going to get away with it, she vowed.
* * *
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