by Angel Lawson
33
Starlee
The fallout from that day is swift. When I finally return home with Leelee’s car, she’s waiting for me in the kitchen, the note I’d left her on the table and a frown of disapproval on her face.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, not feeling sorry at all. All I can feel is George and what we’d just done together. I hate that he had such a rough day but I don’t have regrets. If I hadn’t taken her car, Charlie wouldn’t have won the tournament, we wouldn’t have found George on the side of the road.
“Although I appreciate the note, I bought you that cell phone for a reason. There’s no reason you couldn’t have called me.”
“I know. I apologize. I wasn’t thinking.”
She holds up her phone. “When you were late, I remembered I put the tracker application on here. What were you doing in Fresno.”
Shit.
I decided to tell the truth. Some of the truth. “I went to see Charlie play in a video game tournament.”
“That’s a terribly long drive. What if it’d snowed or you’d been in an accident? What if I needed the car?” She shakes her head. “I’m disappointed in you.”
“I’m sorry,” I say again. I’m not used to being in this situation. I get the feeling she isn’t either.
“There’s going to be a consequence for this. I’m thinking grounded for the rest of the week.”
All week? Before I think I blurt, “But what about New Year’s Eve?”
“What about it?” she asks, with a causal shrug. My grandmother is a wonderful, fun woman. But she doesn’t play. I’m learning that now.
The only good thing is she doesn’t think to take my phone and I’m able to text the boys my circumstances. I’m not the only one in trouble. Dexter and Jake got caught coming in late.
S: Does she think you were with me?
D: No. We took pics of ourselves at the store fooling around. Just in case.
S: That was very proactive of you.
D: Not my first time breaking the rules, babe.
The days that follow are precarious. I wait for Mrs. Delange to show up or the police. From the lodge, I keep an eye out for Mr. Evans' truck, but it never comes.
We mostly stay away from the back cottage, not wanting to alert anyone that the twins are living there. George’s wound seems to be healing pretty well and there are no signs of infection. They have enough food to get through the next few days and Dexter brought over one of the old computers left in Charlie’s room so they have entertainment at least, but we all know this can’t go on much longer.
“Any word on Sierra’s foster care license?” I ask one day at the Wayward Sun counter. Fetching coffee is one of the few things I’m still allowed to do.
“No,” Dexter says. His nose is covered in flour and the smells from the back let me know it’s pie day. Another reason I was sent over. Leelee is a pie addict, so even getting mad at me won’t keep her from getting a fix. “I don’t think we’ll hear back before school starts.”
“What are we going to do? They can’t hide out in there forever.” I’d taken a peek earlier that morning under the guise of checking on all the cottages, and the room smelled like teenage boy and ramen. I’m going to have to fumigate. “Plus, they’re getting restless.”
“About that,” he says, leaning against the counter, “I had an idea.”
His gray eyes sparkle a little. I tilt my head. “What kind of idea.”
“I think we should still go down to the Woolly Drop.”
“You want me to sneak out?” I’m already in trouble. The idea of pushing Leelee didn’t sit well with me.
“I think we should all just ask to go. See if we can get off for good behavior. Have Claire invite you. Then we’ll sneak out the twins.”
I shake my head. “This sounds like a bad idea. Sierra isn’t going to let you go with me.”
He snorts. “Hell no she won’t. But she may let me and Jake go since Katie invited her to a party.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Are those rangers going to be there?”
He frowns. “Yeah, and as much as I want to go protective brother on her, I think she could use a little respite.” He reaches across the countertop and takes my hand. “What do you think?”
“I’ll try. I don’t know if it’ll work, but I’ll try.”
Another day passes by and we’re in the lodge office the day before New Year’s Eve. Leelee and Katie are working on a schedule to take down the decorations and talking about their own plans for the following night. I’ve got a stack of files from the cabinet—old reservation forms, invoices, promotional material. I sort through it all while I procrastinate asking about going to the party.
I’d talked to Claire. She’s all in for the Woolly Drop, I just have to figure out how to ask.
The words are on the tip of my tongue when a car pulls up out front. It’s an SUV, with a rental sticker in the front.
“Are you expecting any check-ins?” Katie asks.
“Not today.”
We’re slow and there’s no reason for all of us to even be in the office right now, but I’m grounded so I have no choice.
All three of us look out the window, wondering if it’s a lost tourist or a reservation that got lost in the system. Without Charlie here to take care of the computer system, we’ve had a few glitches.
The windows of the car are tinted and it’s not until the person in the front seat exits the car that I realize who I’m looking at.
“Is that your—”
“Mom,” I say, completely dumbfounded. She walks up the steps and pushes open the door.
“Surprise!”
“Heyyyyyyyyyyy,” I say, dragging the word out way too long. She pulls me into a hug, something I’m happy to accept, but my mind is running like a hamster on a wheel. I’ve got two boys hidden in a cottage, two boys I’m not allowed to see but have plans on seeing them anyway, I’m grounded, and…well now my mom is here.
If I thought my life was complicated before, I didn’t know what the fates had in store for me.
34
Starlee
A quick glance between me and my grandmother confirms that neither of us had any idea she was coming. No hints during phone calls, no inklings.
“I thought you had months left on your trip?” I say once we’re back at the house. We left Katie to run the office so we could help Mom get settled and figure out what the heck is going on.
“I did,” she says, taking a seat at the kitchen table. Her suitcase is by the front hall. She’s dressed warmly, in a pair of black leggings and a fuzzy, warm-looking sweater. A long scarf is looped over her neck. “I had all these plans to travel, study, and discover Asia, but then Christmas came and went and after my last phone call with Leelee, I felt like maybe it was time to come back.” She smiles across the table and takes my hand. “Mostly, I missed you.”
“So you just came back?” I ask, trying to assess all of this.
“Yep. That’s the amazing thing about being an adventurer—there’s no limits—even on coming home.”
“I’m glad you made the decision. We’re happy you’re here.” Leelee says, placing her kettle on the stove. She pulls the pie stand off the counter and grabs a few plates and forks, placing them on the table. She genuinely does look happy to have Mom here, although to be honest, a knot of worry settled in my chest the moment I saw her.
Things have been better between us lately. Way better, but we’ve been doing it long-distance, which is way different than living together again. Is that what she wants? For us to live together? Or does she plan on us going back home. My chest tightens.
I force myself to breathe as my grandmother serves Dexter’s pie, the fruity filling oozing on the plate.
“Did that boy next door make this?” Mom asks. “What’s his name? Duncan?”
“Dexter,” I reply, my voice small.
She takes a bite and moans in approval. “It’s really delicious. He’s very talented.”
>
“He’s a good boy,” Leelee says. She loves Dex.
“Can the others bake?” Mom asks.
I place my fork on the table. What’s with all the questions? “No. That’s just his thing.”
She shifts the conversation to her flight and the airport in Milan. I don’t know what she wants or why she’s here, but I’m going to have to find out. She’s different though, I can sense it in her tone, in the way she tells stories about her adventures and the way she looks at me. The tight tension in her eyes is gone, but I’m still worried.
I fake calm until Leelee leaves to go check on the guest room and I finally blurt, “Why are you here, Mom? How long are you going to stay? What does this mean for us?”
“Fair questions,” she says. “Leelee told me you and your friends had some fallout over the runaway status I called in a few months ago. When I discovered you missing that morning…well, I’d never been so terrified. My mind went to a million horrible scenarios, but when I calmed down it made sense that you’d come out here. I called the police out of anger and fear. I’m sorry about that.”
“No, I understand. I just felt...” I don’t want to rehash all of it. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
She squeezes my hand. “I’m sorry for a lot of things, Starlee. I’m hoping that maybe now that I have a new perspective, we can rebuild our relationship.”
“Here?” I ask tentatively.
“Yes. Here.” She leans back in the chair. “I’ve rented out the house back home to a visiting professor for the rest of the school year. I’d hoped to stay here for a few weeks and catch up with you all and then make my reservation in Bali by February first.” She smiles. “That is, if your grandmother will let me stay.”
“I’m sure she can make some room.”
“On Monday I’m going to go down and talk to the police—get that record clear--and see if there’s anything I can do to help that woman next door. It sounds like she’s a godsend, taking care of those boys.”
“She is,” I say, “and that would be awesome. I think it would help a lot.”
There’s still so much up in the air—what to do about the twins, Dexter’s hearing in a few days, but this feels like progress. I stand and walk over to my mom. She meets me and we hug, and it feels good—like a step in the right direction.
Maybe the new year holds better things for all of us. Maybe we can put the last month behind us and move forward, together.
35
Dexter
“Here you go,” I say to Jake, handing him a bag of day-old pastries. “There’s also two sandwiches in there and fruit left over from my tarts. Tell them we’ll meet them in the alley at eight.”
“Got it.” He ducks out the back door before Sierra returns. She’d gone into town to the bank, hoping to hit it before it closed early because of it being New Year’s Eve, and should be back any moment.
We’re a go for tonight as far as I know—although I haven’t heard from Starlee. A black rental SUV pulled up to the office and it’d been quiet ever since. Maybe it’s a family friend? Mrs. Nye’s brother that lives in Lake Tahoe?
The bell rings on the door and I look out, but it’s just Sierra. “Everything go okay?” I ask, wiping my hands on my apron.
“It was busy, but yeah. I got in the deposit.”
“Great.” I lean against the counter. “How long do you want to stay open today?”
“I say let’s just keep it open until four.”
“What time is your party?” I ask casually.
“Katie’s picking me up around seven. The party is down in a cabin in June Lake.” She sighs. “You’re still intent on going to the Woolly Drop, right?”
“It’s a tradition.”
She steps toward me and takes my hands. She looks so tired and worn out, which is ridiculous because she’s young and she shouldn’t have so many burdens. “Please do not get in any trouble, do you hear? We’re so close.”
“I know that better than anyone. My hearing is in four days. Four. After that, I’m done.”
“I’m proud of you, do you know that? It’s been a long, hard road. I’m sorry about some of this recent stuff.” She looks guilty. “Once we get everything cleared up, maybe we can revisit the Starlee situation.”
I nod, refusing to get angry about her wording. Starlee is not a situation. She’s the love of my life. If the last month has taught me anything, it's that Sierra’s instincts aren’t always right.
The door chimes and I expect Jake to walk through, but my heart skips a beat when I see the woman with bright red hair tied back in a ponytail, thinking it’s Starlee, but it drops into my stomach just as fast.
It’s Starlee’s mom.
She smiles when she sees me and I glance at Sierra and notice the frown on her forehead.
“Dexter, right?” she asks, then her eye shift to my sister. “And you have to be his sister, Sierra. I’m Star. Starlee’s mom.”
I swallow back the lump in my throat and say, “Right, hi.”
“What are you doing here?” Sierra asks bluntly. I jab her in the side with my elbow.
She laughs and it sounds so much like Starlee that I touch the counter to brace myself. “That’s a long story that covers two continents and at least three spiritual guides, but the short version is that I came to see my mother and daughter.”
We’re on opposite sides of the counter and I think about the last time I saw her, furious at my hearing for Starlee running away from her and testifying for me. There’s no trace of that anger now but there is an awareness that she’s not exactly welcome.
“I guess I stopped by to introduce myself, formally. I’m going to be here for a few weeks visiting my mom and daughter. I also wanted to apologize directly, Dexter, for my behavior last summer. Starlee wanted to do the right thing and I was being selfish. I did a lot of selfish things, but that one was one of the worst. I’m glad my daughter is braver than I am.”
“She is very brave,” I agree. “It’s one of the things I like best about her.”
She smiles. “Me, too.”
“Can I get you something?” I ask suddenly, remembering my job. “Coffee? A scone?”
“No, thank you. Actually, we finished up your pie this morning. It was delicious.”
“Thank you.” I look at my sister, who’s still trying to figure out what’s going on.
“I did come over here though to talk to you,” she says, directing her attention at Sierra. “Do you have a minute?”
Sierra’s shoulders tense but she nods. “Sure. We can go next door.”
“Great.” Mrs. Jones says with a sigh. Sierra walks around the counter, gesturing for her to follow. Mrs. Jones turns to me and says, “Nice to see you again, Dexter.”
I nod and watch them walk out the door. I hear voices outside on the porch and a few moments later Jake walks in and quickly shuts the door.
“Dude, that was—”
“I know, Starlee’s mom.”
“What’s she doing here?” There’s no doubt about the look of concern on his face.
“I don’t know,” I say, walking back in the kitchen. He follows. “She wanted to talk to Sierra. Alone.”
“Is that bad?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I have no idea.”
36
Starlee
Mom wants to go to the café for lunch, and that’s when the subject of New Year's Eve comes up before I can address it.
“Tom invited me to dinner tonight,” Leelee says, sneaking a peek over her shoulder at the man. “I can cancel since you’re just getting into town, Star—”
“Absolutely not,” Mom says. “Don’t change your plans for me. I’m not a guest. Tom is lovely, you should definitely spend the evening with him.”
She winks and waves across the café at him and he gives a hesitant wave back.
“If only we were all so lucky to find such a handsome man right next door.” She laughs. “Of course, Starlee has, too. I guess maybe I’m the on
e that needs to figure it out.” She looks at me. “What are your plans for tonight?”
“I, uh…” As far as I knew, Leelee hadn’t told Mom about my grounding.
It was fair if she did, but she cuts in and says, “Aren’t you going to the Woolly Drop with your friends?”
I blink, trying to figure out the change in attitude, but decide not to argue. “Yes, that’s the plan.”
“Right!” Mom says. “I’d forgotten. Yes. Go.”
Wait, what?
“You think I should go?” My “old” mom would have died before letting me go to something like this, especially without an adult around.
“I do. It’s great fun. Pretty low key in that it’s mostly families from the resorts and stuff. I trust that you won’t drink or do anything stupid, right?”
“Right,” I say, reeling from such a normal conversation. A twinge of guilt builds in my stomach and I actually feel bad leaving her alone. “What are you going to do?
“Probably go to bed around eight since I’m fighting this dreadful jet lag.” She touches the dark circles under her eyes. Sleep would probably help, especially if she plans on going in to talk to the police in a few days.
“Rest up,” Leelee says in agreement. “That way you can start your new year off right.”
A few moments later I excuse myself for the bathroom and text the guys.
S: I’m in for tonight!
D: Awesome
J: Meet in June Lake at 8:30?
C: Thank god. I need out of this hell hole—cottage
G: I’m ready! To be near anyone that didn’t share a womb with.
I fight the smile all the way back to the table, ecstatic to get out of the house and be with my boys. We’ve all needed a break, and letting loose at the Woolly Drop seems like the perfect place to do it.
Since Leelee is spending the evening with Tom, she lets me borrow her car, with explicit instructions not to drive anywhere father than Claire’s house. I also had approval to sleep over at her house so that I wasn’t driving back up the mountain so late at night.
