by R. L. Stine
Andy noticed he cleaned up his language with a woman present.
“Then how did the cones end up on the pavement?” Andy asked.
Derek shrugged. “They dropped them.”
“Liar!”
Cora squinted at them. “Why are you kids all alone out here? It’s ten o’clock at night.”
Before anyone could answer, hurried footsteps clicked over the asphalt. Andy turned to see a red-haired woman running awkwardly toward them on high, spiked heels. She was tall and lean and had a white jacket tied around her shoulders, which flared behind her like a cape as she ran. Gold bracelets jangled up and down one arm.
“Derek?” she called breathlessly. “What’s going on?”
She stopped a few feet from Andy and Cora and eyed him suspiciously. “Who are you? Is there a problem?”
“I’m a police officer,” Andy started. “I—”
“Police? What did he do? Who are these kids?” Her voice was throaty, hoarse, a smoker’s voice. It rose with each question. Her chest heaved up and down beneath her violet sweater. The bracelets matched a gold chain with a jeweled heart that hung from her neck.
“I didn’t do anything,” Derek said, jutting his fleshy jaw out defiantly.
“Is he your son?” Andy asked.
She nodded. Then she brushed a strand of coppery hair off her forehead. “Yes. Derek Saltzman. He’s my son. I’m Elaine Saltzman. I left him for ten minutes by the ice cream store.” She pointed toward the end of the pier.
“These kids say your son tried to take away their ice cream. I think there was some kind of scuffle.”
“Liars!” Derek shouted.
“We’re not lying!”
Mrs. Saltzman squinted at Ethan, seeing him for the first time. “I know you. You’re Ethan, right?” She turned back to Andy. “He’s in my son’s class. What happened, Ethan?”
Derek lurched forward. He raised both hands as if to give his mother a shove. “Why do you ask him? Why don’t you ask me?” In a whining voice that made Andy want to cover his ears.
He glanced at Cora. Her eyes were on one of the tall, white yachts at pierside. Three people had come onto the deck to watch the confrontation.
Bet Cora is impressed seeing a cop in action, Andy thought wryly. Spilled ice cream is a felony in this town. Ha. Wait till I slip the cuffs on the kid. She’ll be all over me.
“Derek tried to take our cones,” Ethan reported. “When we said no, he knocked them to the ground.”
“Stupid liar! They knocked my ice cream to the ground!”
Mrs. Saltzman stared down at her red-faced son. “Are you telling the truth?”
She didn’t wait for him to answer. She wrapped her hand around Andy’s arm and led him across the pier. She waited for an SUV to pass, then pulled him to the side of a parked car, out of her son’s hearing.
“Derek has problems,” she murmured, fingers still tight around Andy’s sleeve. She leaned against him and brought her face close to his. He could smell her flowery perfume and a whiff of alcohol on her breath. “Ever since his father left, he’s been angry, very troubled.”
This was definitely more than Andy wanted to hear.
“Mrs. Saltzman, I really have to be going. Why don’t you just solve this thing by buying cones for all three kids?”
She blinked. Did she expect him to get tough or something? She was still holding onto him. A strong breeze off the bay fluttered her hair.
“Good. Okay,” she said. “I just wanted to explain. I mean, these days sometimes Derek acts out. But he’s basically a good boy. He has a good head on his shoulders. A good head. Really.”
Of course, neither Andy nor Elaine Saltzman, nor anyone on the pier that night, had any idea of what would happen to Derek’s head a few weeks later.
20
“My parents say we’ll have a house in Malibu. That’s where they are right now. In L.A., buying it. It’s right on the ocean. See, you go out the back door and you’re on the beach.”
“That’s awesome, Ruth-Ann. Can I come live with you? I mean really.”
“It’s like being on vacation all the time. Only you live there. And there are celebrities all over the beach. You know. Movie stars. And TV. And you just hang out with them.”
“You think Johnny Depp could be your neighbor?”
“No way. He’s too old. They don’t let old people in Malibu.”
The girls both laughed. They sat almost side by side on Ruth-Ann’s bed, talking and texting each other at the same time.
“Dylan Sprouse?”
“You like him? I like the other one.”
“They could be your neighbors. You could hang with them and they’d ask you to be on TV. And you’d be a star.”
“No way, Elena. I’m only fourteen. I don’t want to be a star till I’m sixteen.”
That made them both laugh again.
Elena Sutter and Ruth-Ann Glazer had been friends since third grade, and best-best friends for two years since sixth grade, mainly since they shared the same sense of humor, although Ruth-Ann was the real wit, sharp and sarcastic. And because they lived two houses down from each other and were in the same eighth-grade class at Sag Harbor Middle School, and because they looked so much alike, they could be sisters.
They agreed that Ruth-Ann looked like the older sister, because she was at least four inches taller than Elena, and already had the beginnings of a woman’s body, meaning she had breasts, and wore her hair in a more sophisticated, layered look, which she acquired during one of her many trips with her parents to L.A.
They were both pretty and smart and popular. They both had an easy way of getting along with other kids, and of not getting in their own way when it came to success at school. They were both spoiled but not in an obnoxious way. They knew how to get whatever they wanted from their parents and still allow their parents to think they were the ones in charge.
Elena was a miniature fourteen-year-old version of Lea, her mother. Creamy-white skin framed by straight, black hair, serious dark eyes, a delicate face and a wiry body, perfect for the gymnastics classes that she was becoming more serious about.
They tapped on their phones for a few minutes without speaking. Elena’s phone bleeped. She squinted at the screen. “Ethan.”
Ruth-Ann lowered her phone. “Ira’s friend Ethan? What’s he want?”
Elena shrugged. “Nothing. Just said ’sup.” She thumbed the keys rapidly.
Another bleep. “He wants to come over. His PlayStation broke.”
“Tell him no way. Tell him your brother Ira isn’t here. He’s at your house. Ethan pretends he wants to hang with Ira. Then he just stares at you. Like a sad puppy dog.”
Elena laughed. “He does look like a puppy dog.” The light from her phone gave her face a pale tint. “Hey, I’m not kidding about Malibu. Your parents would let me come with you, right? Just for the summer, I mean.”
Ruth-Ann studied her friend. “You’re joking. You’re getting two new brothers, and you want to come live with me?”
Elena scrunched up her face. “Why do I want two new brothers?”
“Because they’re hot? Show me that photo again.” She grabbed Elena’s phone and began shuffling through photo screens. She stopped at the twins’ photo and brought it close to her face.
Elena grabbed it away from her. “You think they’re cute? I think they’re blond freaks.”
“You’re messed up, Elena. They are totally hot. I mean, for twelve-year-olds. Check out those smiles. Those dimples on this one’s cheeks. What’s his name? Danny? Adorable. They could be on TV. Really.”
Elena stuck her finger down her throat and made a gagging sound.
She squinted at the photo. Daniel and Samuel. Wavy blond hair, almost white. And those big blue eyes. Wearing red T-shirts way too big for them. And those sick, sweet smiles.
“Like they’re posing as angels,” Elena said. Where did that thought come from? Weird!
“Where are they going to stay?�
�� Ruth-Ann studied the photo. “Are you changing rooms? They’re not moving into the playroom downstairs, are they?”
“No way. Dad fixed up the attic. He made it really awesome. He bought them a laptop and a TV, and he got them a Wii. He said they’ve had a tough life. He wants to make things nice for them.”
“Tough life? No kidding. They lost both their parents, didn’t they? And their house? And all their stuff?”
Elena nodded. “I think Dad wants to write a book about them.”
Ruth-Ann handed the phone back to Elena. “For real? You know, my parents were talking about your dad’s book. Did you read it?”
“Not really. Just kinda looked at it.”
“Mom said the book says parents should let kids do whatever they want. Just let them be free. My parents made jokes about it. They said it would make a great sitcom.”
“Is that all your parents think about? Sitcoms?”
“Well, yeah. Their show was picked up for another year. All they talk about are jokes and scripts and stuff.”
“Ruth-Ann, do you watch it?”
“Of course not. No way.”
They both laughed.
Elena twisted the phone in her hand. “My dad’s book isn’t true. He is stricter than your parents. I mean, he doesn’t let Ira and me do what we want. I always have to trick Mom into letting me go places. Or Roz. Roz is the easiest because she’s busy worrying about Axl.”
“I forgot about Axl. It’s gonna be crowded in your house, Elena. I mean, a mob.”
“That’s why I want to come to Malibu with you guys.”
“How is Ira taking the new brothers thing? Is he freaking?”
“Of course he’s freaking. Ira freaks when his shoelace comes untied.”
“Now you sound like my parents. They’d like that joke. They’d type it into their BlackBerries right away.”
“It’s no joke. The poor kid is totally stressed already. I mean, he thinks sixth grade is really hard.”
Ruth-Ann snickered. “Wait till he gets to eighth.”
“He hates his teacher. Miss Montgomery. Did you have Montgomery?”
“No. I had Price, remember?”
“Montgomery acts real nice. She’s real pretty and she’s very sweet, but she gives hours and hours of homework every night. And then she doesn’t even collect it or go over it or anything. Ira says she just makes you do it.”
Ruth-Ann snickered. “Tell Ira to suck it up.”
Elena sighed. “I think he really misses Mom and Dad when they’re both away. Roz is great. But . . . you know.”
Elena’s phone rang, startling her. She stared at the screen, but she didn’t have to. She recognized her dad’s ringtone.
“Hi, Dad. Oh. Okay. Okay. I’m coming. Bye.”
She clicked the phone shut. “It’s my new brothers. They’re here. I gotta go.” She jumped to her feet and strode out of the room. She was making her way down the stairs when she heard Ruth-Ann’s shout.
“Hey, Elena—good luck.”
21
At LaGuardia Airport, Mark hugged Lea and held her close, wrapped her up like a prize that had almost been lost. He wanted to plant a hundred kisses on her face. The strong emotion welled in him, taking him by surprise. He was usually so level, no tidal waves of feeling rocking his calm.
But he let her go when he saw the two blond creatures gazing at him. My new sons?
Yes, they were beautiful boys. Their deep blue eyes were almost unreal. And Lea’s description—angels—came pretty close to describing the sweetness, the innocence on their pale faces.
So why didn’t he feel some kind of immediate connection with them? The wave of emotion seemed to pull back, leaving him with an empty feeling as he stared at the boys over Lea’s shoulder.
He didn’t want them here. He had argued with Lea almost until their plane had taken off. But he hoped that when he saw them . . . when he actually saw the two angels, he would fall for them the way Lea had, and his doubts and objections would fade away.
What a disappointment that their hopeful blue-eyed stares only aroused a feeling of dread.
And now, after the long drive to Sag Harbor, here they were in his house. About to meet his kids. About to join his family.
Just like that. Two strangers to take care of and worry about. And love.
The boys seem really happy to be here, Mark thought. They haven’t stopped smiling.
Guiding them to the living room, Lea stood behind them, as if backing them up, or maybe blocking any retreat. Her expression was tense. Mark noticed her eyes were bloodshot. She had one hand lightly on Samuel’s slender shoulder.
Ira stood halfway up the stairs, his chin on the wooden banister. He stared down warily at the two boys, gripping the banister tightly with both hands as if holding on for dear life.
He’s staring at them like they were circus freaks. I told Ira to give them a friendly welcome. Did he forget?
“Ira, come down and say hi to your new brothers.” Mark motioned him down.
“Hi,” he said, without budging from his perch.
“Ira, come down.” Lea’s voice sounded tight, shriller than usual. “Can’t you shake hands?”
“Kids don’t shake hands.” Ira’s reply.
The twins gazed up at him with those sweet smiles on their faces. Their blue eyes appeared to glow. Like jewels, Mark thought. They are extraordinary-looking. He thought of beautifully crafted dolls.
Except they were so skinny, so gaunt. The red T-shirts and long white shorts hung on them like scarecrow clothes. Their flat white sneakers were as long as clown shoes.
We’ve got to buy them clothes. Then see about putting some meat on their bones.
The twins stepped forward, almost in unison, and gazed around the living room. “How nice is this?” Samuel said. “We never had a couch.” He put a hand on the back of the green leather couch and squeezed it. Mark saw that when he removed his hand, he left a sweat stain on the leather.
Daniel turned back to Ira on the stairs. “Do you like to swim?”
Ira scrunched up his face, as if he had to think about it. “Not if the water’s cold.”
Is he going to say anything friendly or positive?
Guess it’ll take time.
“Where do you like to swim?” Daniel asked Ira. He was definitely trying to break the ice. “In the bay or in the ocean?”
“My friend Ethan has a pool,” Ira said, chin on the banister. He didn’t move from behind the bars of the banister, safe in his cage up there.
Roz came bursting into the room from the kitchen, holding Axl by one hand as the chubby, dark-haired boy toddled beside her. She wore a long blue denim sleeveless dress and was barefoot, as usual. Axl had a little sunburn on his arms. She had taken him to the bay beach this morning.
“Welcome! Welcome!” Roz threw her arms around Daniel and hugged him, then pulled his brother into a hug, as if they had known each other for years. Roz wasn’t usually this demonstrative, but she had told Mark she planned to do all she could to welcome the boys into a warm home.
Axl stuck out his stubby arms toward the twins, as if he wanted a hug, too. To everyone’s surprise, including Axl’s, Samuel picked the two-year-old up in his arms and hugged him. Axl grabbed a fistful of the boy’s blond hair and tugged it hard. Samuel laughed and spun Axl around.
His twin watched the whole thing with a dimpled smile. When Samuel returned Axl to the floor, Daniel pointed at the toddler. “He’s funny-looking.”
Roz’s happy expression changed. “What did you say?”
“He’s funny-looking. His face makes me laugh.”
Roz moved toward Axl as if she had to protect him. “He has a perfectly nice face. And his hair is coming in nice and curly.”
“He’s funny-looking,” Daniel repeated. “No lie.”
Lea stepped toward him and spoke up. “Sometimes it’s better to say something nice,” she said.
“Sometimes.” Daniel’s smile returned. He exchan
ged a quick glance with his brother. “But the laddy looks like a chimpanzee, don’t you know?”
“Panzee,” Axl repeated. He giggled. He seemed to like the word. “Panzee.”
Roz started to say something but restrained herself. “Well, I hope you boys like it here. Welcome to our family.”
“We like it already,” Samuel said. “We never had a couch.”
“Mark, show them their room,” Lea said.
But before Mark could move, the front door swung open, letting in a burst of warm sunshine, followed by Elena. She stopped at the door and called to the new arrivals. “Hey, guys! You’re here!”
They turned and studied her.
She swept into the room and shook hands with both of them at once. “Oh, wow. How do I tell you apart?”
“I’m the smart one,” Daniel said.
“He’s the weird one,” Samuel told her.
“You can tell them by the dimples,” Lea offered. “See? Daniel has those dimples on his cheeks and Samuel doesn’t.”
“Weird,” Elena said. She squinted at them. “Do you always dress alike?”
“Your mum bought us this,” Daniel said, tugging at the baggy red T-shirt. “We lost our clothes. We lost everything.” His voice cracked on the last word. He lowered his eyes.
“Don’t worry.” Lea stepped up behind them and put a hand on each one’s shoulder. “That’s the first thing on my list. We’ll go shopping and buy you all the clothes you need.”
They turned their heads and smiled up at her.
Lea sighed. “Oh, I’m just so happy you are both here. Look at me. I have tears in my eyes.” She walked over to Mark and pressed her face against the front of his shirt. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Panzee,” Axl offered.
Daniel reached down and picked Axl up again. Axl poked his nose against Daniel’s nose. “Chimpanzee,” Daniel said.
“Panzee.” Axl repeated the word.
Daniel lifted his eyes to Roz. “Do you feed him lots and lots of bananas?”
Roz squinted at him. “Excuse me?”
“You know. Chimpanzee food?”
Again, Mark saw Roz restrain herself. “I guess I’ll have to get used to your sense of humor, Daniel.”
