Her Lifelong Dream

by Judy Kouzel

  Leedy smiled. It was no use. She had to find out the truth about Terry. "I have an idea," she said. "Let's go to the Nail Jail and get a manicure ... and a pedicure. My treat." Deanna's eyes lit up. Surely there was nothing wrong with two friends having a juicy gossip session while they were having their nails done.

  A few minutes later, Deanna and Leedy were seated next to each other in the pedicure chairs, bottles of Mocha Frost Kiss and Autumn Burgundy Creme waiting for them nearby. Leedy closed her eyes, waiting for the right moment, and enjoyed the gentle but firm massage provided by the woman in the pink smock.

  "This is heavenly," Deanna sighed. "I've never had my feet massaged before."

  "I have only done this once myself," Leedy admitted. "But I think I'm going to start to make a habit of it."

  "Yeah," Deanna chirped. "We could do this once a month together."

  Leedy's mood lifted at the thought of their shopping trips becoming a regular occurrence. Even if Terry had found someone else, there was no reason why she couldn't remain friends with Deanna.

  "Tell me about Chris," Leedy asked, trying to take her mind off her thoughts.

  "Are you sure you want to hear this?" Deanna asked. Her face flushed at the sound of her boyfriend's name. "I better warn you. I get all goofy when I talk about him. My friends say it's so gaggy ... But I can't seem to help myself."

  "I want to hear every detail," Leedy said, sliding back into the seat.

  "I met him in my English 101 class," she began. "He asked to borrow a pencil. I thought he was pretty much of a bone head not to have a pencil on the first day of class, but I gave him one anyway. And just as I gave him the pencil, he dropped his bookbag and a case full of pens and pencils dropped to the floor."

  Leedy smiled. "I think he wanted to meet you."

  Deanna smiled back and nodded. "Ah, yeah! You think? He kind of started talking to me after that. Just the usual questions. He asked me about my major and my roommate in the dorm. Was she a geek or cool? Where was I from? All the normal stuff you talk about. But it was as if he was hanging onto my every word. I've never had a guy so interested in my life ... except for Uncle Terry, of course. Chris waited a couple of days and then he asked me to go to a movie."

  "He sounds great," Leedy said. "What movie did you see?"

  "To tell you the truth, I don't even remember. All I know is that he held my hand and we went to get a slice of pizza afterwards. It was the best pizza I've ever eaten!"

  Leedy smiled. It was a cute story of young romance, but Deanna told it in such a way that it seemed to take on the feel of an epic love story.

  "I'm a little taller than he is," she said, her face clouding with worry. "But just by an inch or two. And he's still growing. Uncle Terry once told me it takes boys longer to finish growing. He says I won't always be taller than all the boys. He says they'll catch up."

  "I've heard that too," Leedy said. "And even if Chris doesn't grow any taller, so what?"

  "Yeah. I know. I know. I like being tall most of the time, but it scares some guys away."

  "I understand how you feel," Leedy said. "I'm five foot nine. It doesn't sound as if it bothers Chris though."

  "No," Deanna said. "Not in the least."

  "Does it bother you?"

  "Sometimes," she admitted. "But not always."

  "If it doesn't bother you and it doesn't bother him, then it doesn't matter who's an inch or two taller. Does it?"

  Deanna nodded and sank back into the pedicure chair, shutting her eyes wearily. "I don't care about the height thing," she yawned. "Chris is there on tennis scholarship."

  "Oh, he's an athlete? That's good."

  "Yes, but he isn't into it as much as he used to be. He enjoys it, but he doesn't think he can make a career of it. He's studying to be a mechanical engineer, with a minor in astronomy. He's teaching me about the constellations and the planets. I know it sounds silly, but it is really interesting."

  "Watching the stars sounds romantic," Leedy said.

  "It is romantic," Deanna sighed. "But that isn't all we do. We both enjoy bike riding and we go to all the football games. We have a lot of fun together!"

  "He sounds great," Leedy said.

  "I finally told Uncle Terry about him," Deanna admitted.

  The sound of Terry's name made Leedy's heart skip a beat. "Really?" she said.

  "I thought he'd be mad at me for getting all goo-goo eyed," Deanna said, her voice rising in excitement. "But he said he had a feeling I was dating someone. He said he knew I was a level-headed young woman and would make good decisions." She was beaming.

  "That's good," Leedy said. "See, you didn't have anything to worry about after all."

  "I guess I didn't," Deanna said. "Uncle Terry says he wants to meet Chris, but that's so lame! I can't take him home to meet my family yet! Chris would think I'd gone goofy on him."

  Leedy only halfway listened while Deanna chattered excitedly about her new-found romance. It wasn't that she was disinterested in her young friend's life, it was just that her thoughts were far away. She remembered Terry in the restaurant parking lot with the expression of longing and confusion on his handsome face. Things had gone so well between them that night. What had happened? Of course, Leedy knew the answer had been the telephone call. One stupid, little phone call had kicked her dreams right in the teeth, almost as certainly as the bank's loan approval committee had done only a few short weeks ago.

  "Is your uncle seeing someone?" Leedy asked suddenly.

  Deanna's eyes popped open wide and she looked at Leedy with surprise. "No," she said. "At least, I don't think so. I don't see him all week and we keep our weekends open for each other. He had a date on Saturday. I think. But it may have had something to do with work. He didn't seem too excited. Uncle Terry would tell me if there were someone serious in his life, and he hasn't mentioned anyone." Leedy felt a rush of relief. And disappointment. Terry had not told Deanna about another woman. But he had not mentioned her either.

  "Why do you ask?" Deanna asked, her face full of interest.

  Leedy blinked a few times, not wanting to make a full confession. "I don't know," she stammered. "I was just curious. You had mentioned his date on Saturday. I was just wondering if it was anyone I know ..."

  Leedy hoped Deanna would volunteer some more information, but she didn't. "I went to a party on campus," she said. "He didn't tell me anything about it but he was home by the time I got home that night. But, like I said, it may have been a business meeting and not a real date."

  Deanna was watching Leedy intently, her face was bright, her eyebrows raised. She waited for Leedy to explain her questions regarding her uncle's love life, but it soon became clear that nothing more was forthcoming. Finally she spoke. "Are you interested in Uncle Terry?" Leedy blushed, then shrugged. "Come on," Deanna prodded. "Fess up! I told you about Chris."

  "There's nothing to confess to," Leedy said. The manicurist was painting her toenails and the color looked too dark. But Deanna was looking at her, clearly skeptical of the denial. "Oh, all right," Leedy said. "I'll tell you, but it's got to stay between the two of us. Deal?"

  "Deal."

  "I didn't like your uncle at first." Leedy admitted with an embarrassed smile. "It wasn't his fault though. The bank rejected my loan application and I just about burst into tears during the meeting. I think I made a fool out of myself."

  "He told me about that," Deanna said. "He didn't mention your name, of course, but he told me the whole story. He came home from work and told me he'd made a beautiful woman cry in his office that day. I didn't realize it was you."

  "He said that?" Leedy exclaimed, her face turning pink.

  "Yes. He also said he was thinking about calling you but he said you were so sad when you left the bank you would probably just hang up on him."

  Leedy gulped, taken aback by this startling new information. "He really said that?" she stammered. "I never knew! I wonder why he never called."

  "I don't know," Deanna sa
id. "I guess because you were embarrassed. But, if it means anything to you, it was his idea to go to Mr. Hobo's for dinner that first night I met you. And he gave me ten bucks for finding out that you were going to be running in the race the next day ..."

  "He did that?" These revelations were almost too much to take in.

  "He gave me ten dollars!" Deanna said again. "He told me I was a good detective and he should bring me with him all the time. I guess that was when you signed up for his class." While she talked Leedy nodded to her every word. Her heart was pounding with happiness and her mind was racing with things she wanted to tell Terry when she saw him. After she covered his face with soft, tender butterfly kisses.

  "He really said all those things?"

  "Yes," Deanna said. "But don't tell him I told you. I'm usually really good about not telling my uncle's business, but this time I think it's best that I butt in."

  That was enough for Leedy. She could hardly wait for the manicurist to finish painting her toenails. When they finally left the Nail Jail, Leedy practically dragged Deanna through the mall to finish the rest of their shopping. Every few moments, she'd look at her watch. The day went by slowly until it was finally time to go.

  "Do you have anything else you need?" she asked, trying to hide her restlessness.

  "This should do it for the week," Deanna said, holding up two shopping bags.

  "Great!" Leedy said, and pointed Deanna toward her car. Of course, they had to make a few unplanned stops along the way out of the mall, but Leedy happily acquiesced to anything the teenager wanted to do.

  Leedy had to control herself to keep from speeding as she drove Deanna home. She couldn't wait to see Terry. Couldn't wait to get him outside on the patio where she could finally, at long last, tell him the way she felt about him. She would tell him that she liked him. Really, really liked him. It sounded sophomoric, but they were words that had to, at long last, be spoken. And if he should happen to kiss her again, that would be perfectly fine with her.

  She turned the corner onto Terry's street, slowing down only slightly as she rounded the curve. She could see his house from a block away. She could see the black Corvette in the driveway. He was home! But wait, there was another car there too. A bright red BMW sports car squatted in the driveway next to Terry's Corvette. It looked, to her at least, decidedly out of place in front of his house.

  Just then the front door opened, and she saw two figures standing in the doorway. They paused a moment, as if in deep conversation. Leedy carefully coasted her Jeep up to the curb and slowed to a stop.

  "Aren't you coming in?" Deanna asked as she gathered her bookbag and packages. "I thought we were having Chinese food with Uncle Terry?"

  "I don't know," Leedy said, glancing at the shadows in the doorway. "Maybe I shouldn't. It looks like you have company. Come to think of it, I should go in to work tonight. The new assistant chef is there by himself. The regular chef has the night off." It was a lie, but one she couldn't help making. She tried not to look at the entrance of the house. If she could just let Deanna out of the car before anyone saw her, maybe she could get away without interrupting Terry and his ... guest.

  He was standing in the doorway to the house. He had not noticed when Leedy pulled up. He was talking intently to a woman who was facing him, her back to the street. That back looked uncomfortably familiar. It was a woman's back. A woman who wore a pair of tight designer blue jeans and a long pumpkin-colored sweater coat that looked as if it cost the proverbial pretty penny. She had long, perfectly coifed blond hair. Leedy's mouth dropped open when she realized the woman was no other than Krissy Montgomery.

  Deanna looked at Leedy's shocked face and then at the doorway to the house. "It isn't what you think, Leedy," she whispered. "That woman is one of Uncle Terry's students. She drops by sometimes for help with ..."

  "It's okay," Leedy said, pasting a smile on her face. "Your uncle has no ties to me. And I know Krissy. She's in the class. She's a lovely person." It was all she could do to choke the words out, but somehow she managed to keep her face frozen in a tense smile.

  To her horror, she realized that Terry and Krissy were watching them as Deanna climbed out of her car. Leedy smiled and waved, all the while pretending her heart had not just been broken.

  Krissy slid her arm around Terry's waist and pulled him to her, smiling at Leedy with perfect pink lips. "Hi y'all!" she chimed, leaning in and whispering something in his ear. There was a victorious expression on her face that made Leedy think of words she never said in mixed company. But, somehow, she managed to keep smiling.

  "Leedy, wait!" Terry called, pulling away from Krissy's tight grip.

  "I can't," Leedy shouted through the open car door. "I have to get to work! Thanks for the shopping trip, Deanna."

  "Same time next week?" the girl asked, holding onto the car door.

  "Sure thing," Leedy said. She realized she was smiling like a lunatic, but she didn't dare stop grinning. Deanna hesitated, but finally shut the car door. Leedy waved one last time before she stomped down hard on the gas pedal. She didn't mean for it to happen, but the tires on her Jeep squealed angrily as she drove away from the house.

  She looked into the rearview mirror and saw Krissy and Deanna standing in the front yard, watching the Jeep as it laid a patch of rubber. Terry was there too, but he was standing on the sidewalk, waving for Leedy to come back.

  it was the last night of class. Leedy's weekend had gone by in a blur of work and wishing the phone would ring. When it did ring, she refused to answer it. When she returned home late at night and saw that the little red light of her answering machine was flashing, she refused to listen to her messages. It had been the longest four days of her life. She had considered skipping the last class but somehow the suggestion made her angry. Why should she not get her money's worth out of a class that had proven itself to be beneficial to her career? Why should she let a tryst between Krissy Montgomery and Terry Foster deter her from receiving a quality education?

  Terry called. Repeatedly. She knew because she was there when the calls came in. He left messages on her machine, asking her to call him. But Leedy decided not to. She wasn't ready to talk to him. Not then, anyway. She was afraid of what he would say.

  She worked a double shift every day until Monday af ternoon when Brittany had angrily ordered her out of Mr. Hobo's. Once, she spotted Terry sitting by himself in the dining room. Leedy hid out in the kitchen while Brittany told him she wasn't there.

  But it was now Tuesday and her resolve was all gone. She missed him terribly and it was the last day of class. Leedy greeted the day with mixed emotions. She knew she had to face him sooner or later, but the thought of seeing him again made her feel queasy. She couldn't get the image of Krissy standing in Terry's doorway, gently tugging on his arm, out of her mind. None of that mattered any more, Leedy told herself. The day of the last class had finally come and she had no intention of missing it, Krissy Montgomery or not.

  She sat at her desk and grimly opened her notebook, flipping through the pages and pages of notes she had taken over the past six weeks. She had played her tape recordings of the lectures over and over again, as much to hear the sound of Terry's voice as to pretend to study. Leedy sighed. She wished she had taken the class before she had applied for the bank loan. These notes would have come in handy back then. And maybe, with a different beginning for them, her first meeting with him might have gone better. Maybe things would have been different now.

  Terry walked into the classroom, a determined swing to his walk. He gently pushed past the gaggle of students in the front of the room. He was looking for her, Leedy realized when she saw his eyes go straight to her desk. When he saw her, his face filled with relief. "Leedy," he called, but the students were already closing in on him, slapping him on the back and making jokes. Included in the crowd was Miss Perfect Blond, herself. This time she was wearing a pair of red hip-hugging denim bell-bottom pants and a clingy black knit sweater.

  Lee
dy grimaced and dug in her bag for her pencil case, pretending she hadn't seen him. But she couldn't help but watch him as he stood in the front of the room while Krissy fawned over him. Was it her imagination or were Krissy's outfits getting tighter and more daring with each class? He was nodding at Krissy, but his eyes were on Leedy. He was listening to something she was saying, all the while nodding impatiently. Leedy wished Krissy was not leaning so close to him, and wished even more that she was not blocking his path to her desk.

  Terry looked fleetingly across the room at her. Suddenly, he took Krissy's hand off his arm and whispered something to her. His face stern and resolute as he pressed past her. "Leedy," he called when he saw she was watching him. She quickly looked away. She started to count to one hundred, but only made it to seven before she looked back up again. He was standing in front of her desk, looking down at her. There was a look in his eye, as if they were the only two people in the room. His expression was hopeful and determined. His eyes met hers and he smiled. She returned the gaze, almost hesitantly, and found herself returning the smile. One look at him and her difficult weekend was all but forgotten and she was melting under his gaze.

  "I need to see you after class," he said firmly, not caring about the women in the front of the classroom who were watching him.

  "I don't know ... I ..." she stammered.

  "Yes," he said, almost commanding her. "Please ... We need to talk."

  "All right," she agreed, helpless to refuse him.

  He smiled, his face awash with relief. "I can't wait," he said, quietly, so that only she could hear him. Then he returned to the front of the room and stood in front of the class. Again, his eyes found hers, as if he couldn't look away.

  "Okay, everyone," he said finally, when he realized the class was waiting. "Please, sit down. We need to begin." Krissy reluctantly took her seat, but she was watching him as intently as he was watching Leedy.

  "I know this is our last day of class," he said. "But we still have a lot of ground to cover. So, let's get started."