“Yes, sir,” Matt said and jogged down the path, away from us.
I turned to my parents. “It really did happen that way, I promise.”
Mom sighed. “Yes, we believe you. What are we to do with Molly, though? That poor boy’s heart is going to be so very broken.”
***
When we got back, I searched out Molly. I couldn’t believe it when I found her in her room. She was still on the phone.
I frowned, shaking my head at her.
“Listen, I’ve got to go now. Call me later?” Giggle. “Okay. You too.” She put her phone down and stared. “What?”
“You know what, Molly. Why are you flirting on the phone when you already have a boyfriend?”
“I was hardly flirting. And besides, Matt didn’t notice. He’s been helping Cale and Grayden make paper airplanes.”
“He did too notice. He asked who you were talking to.”
She glared at me. “Did you tell him?”
“Of course not. That’s your job. And Molly, if you’re going to start dating the lifeguard, break up with Matt first.”
“Stop preaching to me, Sam. I can take care of things on my own. Go away.”
“Fine.” I sighed. “Just . . . don’t hurt him.”
“Why do you care so much?”
How could I answer her? The truth would send her into flaming convulsions. My funeral would be the next family reunion. “I’m just sick of the way you treat guys.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like they don’t know that about me before we start dating.”
“And that makes it okay?”
She stood. “Get out of my room. I’m tired of your lectures.”
***
My sister, I could handle. Her hyperactive moods, I was used to. But Matt? I couldn’t bear to see him in pain anymore. And he would be in pain. There wasn’t any chance Molly would suddenly change her personality.
The next day, the day of the talent show, I meant to talk to Matt about what had happened, but Molly was on alert and clung to him the entire time. The relief on Matt’s face was evident.
In a perfect world, Matt would never have dated my sister. I didn’t think so, anyway. He didn’t seem the flitting-from-girl-to-girl type, which Molly usually liked.
***
The talent show was about to start, and I couldn’t believe how nervous I was. I didn’t normally get stage fright when playing for just family.
We were third to last on the program. My aunt was singing after us, and then Dad would finish off the evening on the piano, as usual.
The program started and crept onward. Some of my cousins played their instruments. Cale and Grayden played a piano duet. Molly showed artwork. An older cousin told us about an application for smartphones he’d written, soon to go live. Mom displayed her latest quilt, along with her prize tomatoes which had come up early. She’d brought some green ones with us.
Finally, it was time for our duet. My hands were so sweaty, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hold my instrument, let alone play. We took our seats, and Matt smiled at me. The confidence on his face gave me courage and I started the song, singing the first verse alone. Matt joined in on the chorus, and I couldn’t help but smile at the reaction of the audience. They were laughing, cheering, and the expressions on their faces showed pure delight.
He’d been holding back in practice! He really shone. His voice was a beautiful baritone, complimenting my soprano. Our voices blended perfectly, the guitars sounded like one, and I saw tears on my mom’s smiling face.
I’d found my duet.
We ended the song to huge applause, but instead of feeling elated, I was immensely depressed. I couldn’t figure out why. I normally got such a rush after performing for my family.
I pushed my feelings away when my dad stood. “Samara has searched far and wide for someone to perform with her on stage. I think she’s found that person.” Everyone cheered, and Dad turned to us. He waited for the cheers to die down. “I have an idea. I want the two of you to open my concert next month.”
My heart raced with elation, the pain forgotten. “Really? You’re sure?”
“Of course.”
“Awesome!” Matt and I said at the same time.
I searched Molly out in the crowd, and rather than the jealousy I expected to see, she looked just as excited as the rest of us.
Later, she gloated about her boyfriend’s talents, saying she knew we would sound super good together. The lifeguard apparently forgotten, she held on to Matt as if she were five and he was a lollipop.
***
Of course, Molly’s dedication had a limit. She crossed the threshold the next day when the lifeguard called multiple times. The first two, she ignored. Then she smiled at me, shrugged, and answered the third call. Since Matt was outside with the guys and didn’t know what was going on, Mom pulled me aside just before lunch and asked me to speak with him, give him a heads-up. I knew him best outside of Molly and she was worried it would make him uncomfortable if she did it.
I ended up not getting the opportunity for a while. Everyone was starving and lunch was next.
It took a long time to get everyone settled down and into their seats—my youngest cousin was so hungry, he was crying. A lot.
I ended up next to Matt, which didn’t help my resolution to eradicate him from my mind.
About halfway through the meal, my dad got a call on his cell, which he answered enthusiastically, jumping from his seat.
“Jerry! Great to hear from you. How’d your meeting . . .” He left the room, and I didn’t hear the rest of his question.
Mom asked for someone to pass her the potatoes and then started talking to my aunt about the quilt they’d been working on. I kept my eyes on my lunch rather than watching what Matt and Molly were doing. Matt had been extra distant from Molly. I was pretty sure I knew why.
Dad returned, still on the phone, a haggard expression on his face. He looked incredibly upset. He slumped in his chair, putting his head in his free hand.
My mom and I exchanged glances. This couldn’t be good.
“Thanks for calling, Jerry. I really appreciate it. No, it’s not your fault. Yes, we’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.”
He put his phone away and returned his face to his hands. Finally, he looked up and found Mom’s face. “I’ve lost my job.”
“Oh, no!” Mom said. “What happened?”
“Jerry had a quarterly meeting with the board this morning. The company is folding. They’ve lost everything—we won’t even have a pension. Cheryl, it’s going to be just like last time.”
I looked down at my plate. My dad had been laid off before, and it had taken him two years to find another job. My parents had completely run out of money by then, and things had gotten really bad. I went to sleep hungry several nights.
“Scott, no,” Mom said, and she started crying. They stood, putting their arms around each other, and walked out of the room.
No one in the room said anything—I was afraid to breathe too loudly, lest it break the silence. My poor, poor dad! I shook my head and bit my lip, trying to keep the tears gathering in my eyes from falling. My dad had nearly been ruined when he’d lost his job before. How would we get through it now?
I glanced at everyone around the table. Grayden looked upset—he probably understood enough of what had happened to know it was serious. Cale had started eating again, and I was surprised to see that Molly was too. She didn’t even look the least bit bothered.
Matt met my eyes, concern in his. “Are you guys going to be okay?”
“Of course we will be,” Molly said, then snorted. “It’s not like we’re poor or anything.”
“Molly,” I said, embarrassed by how she was acting. “Dad lost his job. You know what that means, right? He doesn’t have an income anymore. You have to have an income not to be poor.”
She shrugged and went back to eating. I couldn’t finish my food. I noticed that Matt kept glancing at me, more conc
ern on his face. I didn’t want to look at him.
About ten minutes later, my mom came back, her eyes swollen from crying.
“Dad and I are going to have a meeting with our kids as soon as lunch is over. We’ve got a few things to discuss.”
I nodded. I had expected we would—and good thing, too. Being on the same page was essential.
***
Mom and Dad invited Matt to come to the meeting after Molly insisted she needed his support. I groaned to myself—this wasn’t something he should have to attend. How awkward for him.
Mom opened. “Now that Dad has lost his job, we’re going to have to make changes in a few areas of our lives.”
Dad stood, putting his arm around her. “We have money saved up, but it’s only enough to cover the mortgage and a couple other essentials. Luckily, we don’t have many expenses, but we can’t keep living our lives as if nothing has happened.” He closed his eyes. It looked like he was steeling himself for what he was about to tell us. I scooted to the edge of my seat.
“First, we won’t be eating out anymore.”
I nodded—we didn’t do it much, but it would have to go.
“Second, after this month’s contract is up, we’re canceling everyone’s cell phones except mine and your mom’s.”
I agreed with this too. Mom needed a phone, and I was sure she’d let us kids borrow it if we were out with friends. Dad had to have his so he could keep in touch with business contacts, which, hopefully, would help him find work.
But then I heard a sharp “What?” come from Molly.
Had she not been paying attention?
Dad looked at her. “If you want a phone, you’ll have to pay for it yourself.”
“But the family plan is so much cheaper!”
“That’s true. Still, it’ll save us almost a hundred dollars a month if you and Sam don’t have phones.”
“But that’s not fair! I have to be able to talk to Ch—Matt!”
I rolled my eyes. “Come on, Molly. You can’t expect things to be the same.”
She glared at me, slouching in the sofa.
“Next, no more vacations, and no more money to any of you for gas or new clothes.”
If Molly’s reaction to the phone information had been strong, her reaction to not being able to buy more clothes was borderline hysteria. And I’m not joking.
She jumped from the couch. “You can’t do that! Half of my clothes are last season—I can’t be expected to wear things that aren’t in style anymore! This is insane, Dad, and completely not fair! I can’t believe you’d let yourself get fired!”
Matt stared at Molly as if he didn’t know who she was, and Dad looked at her like she’d just slapped him. The pain and disappointment written on his face nearly brought me to tears. He didn’t say anything for several moments while Molly glared him down.
“Molly,” he whispered, “you’re not the only one who will have to sacrifice.”
She scowled. “Oh? And what are you giving up?”
Matt looked at me incredulously, like he couldn’t believe his ears. He shook his head in disbelief. I met eyes with him, unable to do anything. How on earth was Molly justifying her behavior?
“Molly, sit down, ” Dad said.
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
Dad closed his eyes. “I’ll tell you the sacrifices your mom and I will be making. I’m selling my piano—”
I gasped. No!
“—and your mom is selling her great-grandmother’s antique sewing machine. Plus . . .”
I didn’t hear what else he said. Dad couldn’t sell his piano! His Steinway was the most important thing he owned—he’d even named it after Grandma Oldroyd, who’d passed away around the time he purchased it. My eyes filled with tears. “Dad, there’s got to be something else you can do. You can’t sell Mary.”
He looked at me, blinking away the moisture in his own eyes. “She’s worth too much to keep. We’ll need the money for other things.”
He sank to the couch next to Mom, whose eyes were red and puffy.
“But Dad, please. Think about it.”
“We’ve thought about it—we discussed all our options.”
I couldn’t believe it. But what could I do?
Molly started pacing. She looked somewhat placated that she wasn’t the only one losing something important, but how did the latest fashions compare to a grand piano you saved up all through high school and college to purchase?
“Also,” Dad said to her, “we can’t help you pay for your apartment anymore. Either you’ll have to find a job, or you’ll live at home and drive into town for school.”
She glared at him. “That’s fine. Just do everything you can to make my life miserable.”
Anger flashed across Dad’s face. “Molly, we’ve spoiled you way too much. It’s time you grew up. You’re in college. Act like it.”
Her face went such a dark shade of red, I thought she’d burst a vein or something. She stormed from the room.
No one said anything. The silence she left behind stretched on for what felt like several minutes. I didn’t dare look at anyone. I could hear Mom sniffling and thought I heard a giggle from Cale. He probably didn’t quite grasp the seriousness of the situation, being six and all.
Dad sighed. “Thanks, everyone else, for being understanding about the changes.”
Grayden and I nodded. If I needed a phone, I could always pay for it with my own money. My own money . . . I quickly put the thought away. I couldn’t think about it right then.
After Mom collected hugs from everyone, I withdrew to the privacy of my room and sat on the floor, my back against my bed. I closed my eyes, thinking through the situation my parents had just found themselves in. Wow. Dad lost his job. I shook my head—I just couldn’t comprehend it.
I heard a soft knock on my door, and Matt cracked it open. “Is it okay if I come in?”
I nodded.
He had his guitar with him. Laying it across my bed, he sat next to me. “I’m really sorry about all that’s happened.” He looked really troubled. “Sure gives me a lot to think about.” He sighed and then glanced at me. “Want to practice? You know, for the concert next month?”
I took a deep breath, trying to control my emotions. “Yes, that would help.” Grabbing my guitar case, I lifted the lid and then groaned. One of my strings had broken. “Great. Just great.”
Matt looked inside the case. “The store in town sells strings, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go. I’ll drive, and . . . and I’ll pay for it too.”
I looked up at him, feeling emotions rush through me. “Oh, Matt, you don’t have to do that. I can get another string when we get back home.”
He put his hand on my arm, causing tingles to flow through me. “I want to. Come on. ’Sides, it’ll do you good to get out.” He got to his feet, helped me up, and we headed downstairs.
“Where are you going?” Dad asked as we passed through the living room.
“I’ve got a broken string.” I held out my guitar for him to see.
He laughed quietly. “When it rains, it pours.”
The ride into town was mostly silent. We both tried to make small talk, but I didn’t feel like saying anything, and it seemed Matt was unwilling to force me. I stared out the window, my feelings still close to the surface. My dad was selling his piano—his beloved Mary. There had to be something I could do. I closed my eyes, realizing I knew there was. I just had to prepare myself to consider that option, to be fully ready to make the sacrifice.
Matt and I browsed while Mark changed my string. I was glad he knew how to do it, ’cause I hated doing it on my own.
When Mark finished, and after Matt had paid (with me thanking him profusely), we got back in his truck and headed toward the cabin.
Matt took a deep breath. “It’s pretty awful, your dad losing his job.”
“Yeah, it really is,” I said. “He got laid off a few years ago, and t
hat was hard. I hope it won’t be so bad this time.”
“It sounds like things will be tight for a while.”
“We’ll manage. It’ll be good for us.”
He glanced at me. “You think so?”
“You saw how Molly acted. She’s had almost everything she’s ever wanted nearly her whole life. I don’t want my brothers to grow up like that. They need to learn to sacrifice. It’ll help them have compassion in the future.”
He didn’t answer for a minute. “For someone as young as you, you sure have a great outlook on life.”
I laughed. “Matt, we’re the same age.”
“I know, I know. Still, you’re very mature. Such a huge difference from Molly . . .” He looked away from me slightly, enough to where I couldn’t see his expression. He cleared his throat. “Well, at least you’ve already got all the money saved up for your Julliard trip. That’s a relief.”
“I . . . I’ve been thinking about that, actually,” I said and then paused, getting my emotions under control. Finally, I took a breath. “I’m not going to use it. How can I, after what my dad said today? He can’t sell Mary. I’m giving them every dime that was going toward my trip. It won’t be enough to cover what he’d make from selling his Steinway, but it’ll help.”
Matt swerved to the side of the road, making me gasp. He killed the engine and turned toward me. “Are you serious? How can you do that?”
“It’s not like I can’t get it back. I’m only sixteen. I can keep saving up my money, and in another year, I’ll be able to apply again.”
“But Sammy, this is your dream—your future you’re talking about. Giving it up like this? For some piano?”
I put my hand on his arm to calm him down. “It’s fine, Matt. And my dad’s piano isn’t just some piano. It would be like me getting rid of my guitar—times ten. It cost him several thousand dollars—he saved up for it all through high school and college, plus a few years after he and Mom got married. Him giving up Mary is much, much worse than me giving up Julliard. I promise.”
“Insane. Absolutely insane.” He made eye contact with me. “And one of the most selfless, amazing things I’ve ever heard. Sammy, I’ve been wondering over the past couple of days if . . .” He turned to look forward, putting his hands on the wheel. His knuckles turned white. “I’m drawn to you. I can’t hide that anymore.”
Samara, A Kilenya Romance (Kilenya Romances Book 1) Page 5