“Go help them,” the Commodore told Jason.
“Yes, sir,” Jason replied as all three men rose for a moment as Sara and Trinity got up.”
“I can pick my own lobster,” Trinity whispered to Jason.
“I know. They obviously need to talk to Mrs. Erickson about whatever it was the two of them were discussing.
“Oh,” Trinity said, looking over her shoulder. The three adults did have their heads together. “There for a minute I thought the Commodore was upset with me.”
She turned and looked at Sara, and without a pause asked, “What did you get?”
Sara looked confused for a moment.
“Your birthday, silly! What did you get?”
“Oh,” Sara said. Suddenly she was fingering the gold locket on the fine gold chain that now hung around her neck.
“Mrs. Erickson got me this,” she said.
Trinity oh’ed and ah’ed for a few moments, looking that the necklace.
“The Commodore gave me some stock certificates.”
“What stock?” Trinity asked.
Sara showed Trinity the elaborate certificates. “Wow! Cool. Daddy gives me one share a year, too. But a hundred! Wow.”
Trinity grinned at Sara. “If we keep this up, maybe we can pool our shares and take control of the bank. I would never have to work again for pin money.”
Sara laughed.
Trinity looked over at Jason, who stood quietly to one side. “You are even more quiet than usual, Jason. Are you okay?”
Jason smiled. “I am fine. I was just sent along to get me out of the way, remember.”
“Oh, the lobsters! Come on. They always have at least a couple of big ones. Do you think Daddy would really kill me if I actually got two?”
The three of them took their time, waiting until Mrs. Erickson gave them a look that said it was okay for them to return, before heading back toward the table. It was now being set for six, rather than four.
“Mathew was telling us how pleasant your night at Trinity’s was,” Mrs. Erickson said as the three took their seats, Mr. Vandeuson holding Trinity’s chair for her, and Jason, Sara’s.
“It was a blast!” Trinity suddenly narrowed her eyes and looked at her father. “What did you tell them, Daddy?”
“That it was a blast, of course,” he replied, winking at the Commodore.
“Oh, Daddy! We were not that bad! Were we, Sara? We did not break anything. Sara even did the dishes!”
“That was very nice of you, Sara,” Mr. Vandeuson said. “I did not get a chance to thank you for that. You are welcome at the house, any time, by the way. If you would like to stay with Trinity while the Commodore and Mrs. Erickson are out of town, you are more than welcome.”
Cutting a fond look at his daughter, he added, “I think you can probably put up with her that long.”
“Oh, Daddy!” She gave his arm a small push. Then turned toward Sara. “But that is a great idea.”
“I am sorry,” the Commodore said. “I did not realize you did not know…”
Sara managed to control the chagrined look trying to appear on her face as the Commodore continued. “Sara does not live with us. I just have guardianship, for legal reasons. Her home is a house on twelfth.”
“You live by yourself?” Trinity asked, obviously confused.
“No,” Sara said, cutting a quick look at Jason, before looking back at Trinity. “There is a small staff…”
“Hey! You did not tell me you were rich! I could have been bumming stuff off you!” Trinity said with a grin.
“Now, Trinity!” Mr. Vandeuson cautioned.
“Oh, Daddy! I am just teasing her! She knows that. Right, Sara?”
Sara smiled. “Of course.” She winked at Trinity. “She is known for her wit, you know.”
“Not that again,” Jason said, groaning, prompting several questions from the adults. It effectively diverted the conversation from Sara’s living arrangements. For a while.
Jason was able to catch Sara alone for a few moments before everyone was ready to leave.
“I know you enjoyed the night over at Trinity’s. I know you would like to have them over. There is no reason not to. The staff will be fine with it. Believe me, they will enjoy it.
“And I will not even be there that night.”
Sara’s confusion was evident. “You will not? What night? I have not even thought about a night, even if I did figure out a way…” Her words trailed away as she studied his face.
“Whatever night you choose, is the night I will not be there.” Jason shrugged. Mrs. MacDougal and the staff will support anything you choose to tell Trinity and the others. As long as it is not a bald faced lie.”
“You would do that? Just leave for a night?”
Again Jason shrugged. “Sure. It is something I can tell you would like to do.” A faint smile curled his lips. “I do know your propensity to repay a debt. Staying at Trinity’s, I am sure, has created the need for you to respond in kind.”
“You can be so annoying…” Sara was saying as Trinity joined them.
“You two at it again? Come on, Sara, he is not that bad! And Jason, why do you always do something to annoy her? Come on, you two, this is a fun time!”
Trinity linked arms with them and headed back to the table. “These two were butting heads again. You should see them in class! If one is pro, the other is con. If one adds, the other subtracts. If Jason says yes, Sara says no. If…”
“We get it! We get it!” her father exclaimed. “What do you want for dessert? Time to get something in that mouth again so the rest of us can talk.”
“Can I have a lobster for dessert?”
Mr. Vandeuson just shook his head as the others laughed.
When the Commodore was pestering their server while paying the check, and Mrs. Erickson was chiding him, Sara cut a quick look at Jason, then turned to Trinity.
“Trinity, I wanted to thank you again for inviting me over the other night. I would like to return the favor.”
“Lord!” Trinity said, “I thought you were never going to ask! I am dying to see your place! A staff!”
“Now, Trinity,” her father said, “I expect you to behave yourself, the way Sara did at our home.”
“But she has a staff!”
The others laughed; knowing Trinity was just teasing her father. In addition, Sara.
“Okay, Daddy. I will even help the maid do the dishes.”
She turned to Sara, eagerly asking, “When should I plan on helping your maid do the dishes? Oh. Any time but the weekend after next. I mean the weekend after next after this weekend. The Renaissance Fair is then and Daddy and I are going. You are going again, aren’t you, Jason? It was great last year!”
“Probably.”
“I will figure out when and let you know at school tomorrow, Trinity. Okay?”
“Sure. Are you going to the Renaissance Fair? It is so cool.”
“I do not even know what it is,” Sara said.
“I will tell you all about it tomorrow.” Trinity cut a look at her father. “It is a school night. Daddy is ready to go.”
“Time for us to go, as well,” the Commodore said. “Happy Birthday again, Sara. And Jason, Happy Birthday, in advance.”
“Do you need a ride home, Jason?” Mr. Vandeuson asked as everyone rose. With a gentle smile he added, “I know you are the only one without a vehicle. But do not worry. You will have something soon, I know. Then these two vixens will no longer be able to lord it over you.”
“Thank you, sir. I did make other arrangements.”
“See you at school tomorrow, guys,” Trinity called as she and her father headed toward the restaurant doors.
“She is such a delight to him,” Mrs. Erickson said, watching the two leave.
“I want to say thank you again,” Sara said, touching the gold locket, her eyes on Mrs. Erickson.
“You are quite welcome, dear,” Mrs. Erickson said, taking Sara into a quick hug.
/> “Here, now,” the Commodore said, “I expect one of those as well.”
Sara smiled and stepped into the bear hug the Commodore gave her.
“You, I will shake hands with,” he said, releasing Sara.
“Not I,” Mrs. Erickson said, giving Jason a quick kiss, and quick hug.
“You will be careful getting home?” the Commodore said as they all headed for the doors.
Sara nodded. “I thought I would really enjoy having a driver’s license. But this first day had been kind of scary.”
“Everyone says it gets easier,” Jason said, again going to the driver’s side to open the door for Sara.
“I hope so,” Sara replied.
“New things make you nervous. You are fine after a short time,” Jason replied, entering the truck on the passenger side.
Sara cut a quick glance at Jason before starting the truck. “Maybe…”
They said little on the way back to the house, Jason merely giving Sara an indication of traffic on his side at the intersections at which they stopped.
Mrs. MacDougal glanced at her watch when the two entered the house. “I was kidding… a little… about being home early. It is barely nine.”
“We ran into Trinity and her father. Actually, they had dinner with us. It is a school night. The Commodore and Mrs. Erickson, and Mr. Vandeuson all thought it time for us to be home,” Jason said as he took Sara’s wrap, then handed it to Mrs. MacDougal.
“It is a little late to go back out, Miss Sara, but you do have some time…”
Sara shook her head. “There really is nothing I want to do, Mrs. MacDougal. I drove enough today. Trinity is home. Nothing doing in which I want to be a part.
“My homework is done, but I think I will do some extra reading until bedtime.”
“Same here,” Jason replied. “If you want to change first, I will go get down the book you were talking about.”
“Okay. I will not be long.”
Sara came downstairs in her pajamas, robe belted securely. She had decided that Jason was not going to give her a present for her birthday. Each of the staff had given her something nice. “Maybe he did think of the truck as a present…” she thought to herself. “But he was setting it up so it seemed to come from the Erickson’s. I guess… he just did not think he should… or needed to… or…”
Sara forced herself to stop the thoughts.
She could not hide the shy smile when she saw the wrapped present on the desk with the book she had asked Jason about.
“You did not have…”
“Of course I did,” Jason replied, “because I wanted to. It is your sixteenth birthday. I will be down in a bit.”
“You are not going to cry again, are you?” Jason asked when he entered the study again. Like Sara he was in pajamas and robe.
Sara blinked back the tears that threatened. “Of course not! That was just the locket Mrs. Erickson gave me. I have never had anything that nice.”
She continued to touch the fine leather of the journal Jason had given her. It was not a classic diary, but Sara knew that was exactly the use to which she would put it.
“You mentioned Trinity’s diary. You said you had never kept one.” Jason smiled. “I want to get you something simple, so you would not feel too obligated.”
The tears threatened again. Sara nodded, because she could not speak for the moment. It was a simple gift. Not all that expensive, though it was a very high quality journal. But it was something she had mentioned, only in passing. And he had picked up on the fact that it was something she would enjoy.
Shortly after they slipped into bed, Sara rolled over to look at Jason in the faint light. “You really do not have to not be here when Trinity and the others come over. I do not even have to have them over for a night.”
Jason rolled over to face her. “What do you want to do?”
Sara hesitated for only a moment. “I would like to have them over all night. I have never, ever, done that before. That was the first time I ever stayed over at a friend’s.”
She turned onto her back. “They are becoming my friends. I have realized that I never really had friends before. I was friendly with other kids, and they were friendly with me. But nothing like Trinity and Bootsi and Pricilla and Joanie.”
“They are all nice girls,” Jason said. “And I think they would eventually accept this. But I think it might be difficult for you for a while. Very difficult. So, for the mean time, I would rather do whatever makes it easiest for you.
“I really do not mind being elsewhere.”
Though she could not really see him clearly, as she rolled back onto her side to face him, she could tell he was smiling.
“The erotic aspects of a fifteen year old male in the presence of five or six nubile young women aside, I feel no compulsion to make fudge or join in a makeup party.”
“You do know we really do not do such things,” Sara said, a smile curving her lips. “Except maybe the fudge thing. That does sound like fun.”
“Oh, I know,” Jason replied softly. “But I do have some things I should do. This is as good an excuse as any. Just tell me the day.”
“It is more fun on a Friday… No school the next day,” Sara said tentatively.
“So next Friday I leave and will not be back until Sunday.”
“You do not have to be gone all day Saturday, too!” Sara protested.
“Actually, for what I plan to do, I have to be. We can tell Mrs. MacDougal in the morning.”
“Are you really sure? I feel like I am kicking you out of your own house.”
“You are not kicking me out. I really do have something to do. I just was not really planning it. This just worked out.”
“Promise?”
“I promise,” Jason said.
Jason rolled onto his back again, as did Sara.
“Oh. By the way. Happy Sweet Sixteenth Birthday.”
“Thank you,” Sara replied. “For the journal… And everything.”
When Sara talked to Trinity the following day she suddenly thought about Kathy Wilkenson. “Trinity, you know Kathy. What do you think about me inviting her?”
Trinity sighed. “We used to be pretty good friends. But the last year or so we have kind of drifted apart. I used to be a cheerleader, but then I got interested in basketball. As a player.
“I really would not mind,” Trinity continued. “None of the others would, either. But you hardly know her. What made you think to invite her?”
“She just seems so alone,” Sara replied. “I have seen Rodney bothering her. I thought maybe we could give her some encouragement to tell him to get lost.”
“Now that is a good idea. Now that you mention it, some of us have sort of been avoiding her, because Rodney hangs around her more now. Started when she suddenly went from small B cup to a really full C cup. If you know what I mean.”
Sara frowned. “With me, his interest seems to be lower. And posterior rather than anterior.”
“Boy, you picked up that biology stuff quick,” Trinity said with a smile. But it faded. “But I do know what you mean. You can handle it. I do okay. But Kathy… Maybe we could talk to her. Let her hang with us some. Get her out of Rodney’s reach. Gee. You are starting to sound like Jason.”
Trinity dodged when she said the last.
“You did not try to bean me!”
Sara shook her head. “Why would I?”
“I said you were starting to sound like Jason? That is usually enough.”
Sara smiled faintly. “Well… Most of the time… But with this… Wait a minute! Has he said something to you about Kathy?”
Trinity shook her head. “No. But it is the kind of thing he would. You know he and Daddy taught me how to defend myself. Jason wore his old fencing protector thing. You know the padded suit and wire mask they wear. Daddy would show me some moves and I would try them out on Jason.
“Maybe we could get Jason to come over. I could show all of you what to do if Rodney tries
something.” Trinity was grinning. “You could beat Jason up, and he would not even complain. He would be helping out.”
“You are a strange girl, Trinity,” Sara said. “I think I will let you ask him. And do not forget. We would be five…”
Sara started laughing.
“What? What? What?” Trinity insisted.
Thinking about what Jason had said, she repeated the idea to Trinity without telling her its source.
“Jason. Fifteen year old boy. With five nubile young women. In close physical contact.”
“Oh. Yeah. I see what you mean.” Then Trinity was grinning. “I think he would think, that it would be worth it. Huh?”
“I do not think so, Trinity.” She continued to smile. “But you could have a point. Maybe he could help Kathy the same way he did you. If just a couple of us were there. Not at the sleep over.”
“You are right. This is actually kind of serious. Okay. I will ask him,” Trinity said. “Best if you do not mention physical combat, at least not standing close enough to him for him to actually hear you.”
“We are not that bad!” Sara insisted.
“Then why did Mrs. Murcheson, sweet lady that she is, offer to go get Coach Castile to bring the boxing gloves for you two to settle the debate you guys started.”
Sara shook her head. “I think he does things just to annoy me. He had read ahead and knew what was going to happen. You know what the section sounded like that we were reading. I was acting on available information.”
“I know. But it was funny. You are going to try out for a part in the play are you not? Mrs. Murcheson is right. You sounded great when you were arguing with Jason. Looked great, too. All the boys were watching you, entranced. I wish I could do that to guys. You do it just by getting upset. I would have to strip naked and wave my arms to get guys to look at me that way.”
“Cut it out, Trinity! They were not staring at me.” Sara did know for sure. During that argument with Jason in English class over the story they were reading, all she had seen was the slight smile on Jason’s face as he calmly ex-plained his opinion.
“You really would be great on stage. It is fun.” She grinned. “It brought me out of my shell. I was only half as witty before I did my first play in sixth grade.”
“Oh, Lord! So that explains it!”
The Contract Page 18
