Huntington Family Series

by Rachel Ann Nunes

  “Is that what you had to do?”

  Lexi caught her ball and looked at Savvy, her eyes narrowing. “If I said yes, that doesn’t mean I’m from somewhere that grows oranges,” she said, giving Savvy a mocking half-smile. “I could have done it when I was younger. Dad did use to live in Arizona.”

  “I know. I was born there.” Savvy crossed one leg over the other, sighing wearily. “Look, why you won’t tell me where you’re from? You’re going to have to eventually, you know. If we can’t work things out with your parents, the authorities will have to be brought in.”

  Chin jutting forward, Lexi drew back her arm and threw the ball with all her might. Snap! The plastic thread broke, sending the ball careening over the cement wall into the parking lot of the neighboring apartment complex.

  “You don’t care about me,” Lexi muttered, dropping her hands to her side. The piece of plastic around her finger fell to the grass.

  “What do you mean?” Savvy couldn’t help feeling offended. “I canceled my flight home, and I’m letting you stay here–how can you say I don’t care? Before today, I had no idea you even existed. It’ll take time for me to get used to the idea.”

  “You just want to get rid of me–like my dad.”

  “He doesn’t want you?” Savvy’s heart ached; she knew that feeling only too well. First with Derek giving her up so easily and then with Tyler not returning her feelings. “Why do you say that?”

  Lexi stared at the ground silently.

  Savvy arose from the bench and went to stand beside her. “Lexi, I am glad to know you, and I don’t want to send you away. But I do want what’s best for you.”

  “And you think he is?” Lexi’s voice wobbled as she spoke. “Your mother didn’t think so.”

  She had a point. Tentatively, Savvy reached out to touch Lexi’s shoulder. “I want to be your friend–I do. Can you trust me?”

  Lexi’s eyes met hers, tears glistening. “I don’t know.”

  Savvy squeezed her shoulder, wanting to hug her as she would have hugged Camille or Rosalie if they looked like crying, but she was too unsure how Lexi would react.

  “Hey!” came a call.

  Savvy looked behind Lexi, spying Chris coming from her apartment building.

  “Hey,” Savvy answered. “Miranda get away okay?”

  “Yeah.” He put his hands in the pockets of his baggy shorts. “I would have been back earlier, but I had some research to drop off.” Chris worked part-time for the university doing research for the astrophysics department. “So what’s going on with you two? Did you decide to rent a car?”

  “I’m thinking about it, but my parents want me to hold off awhile. I’m waiting for them to call back. Actually, they might have called already. I’ll have to check the messages.” Savvy made a face. “I wish my car were more dependable.”

  “I’d take you myself if I didn’t have to work.”

  Savvy grinned. “Yeah, right. Like your car is any more dependable.” His car was a gorgeous old convertible that spent more time in the shop than on the road.

  “Well, if we broke down, at least we’d be together.” Chris laughed, making Savvy feel warm and tingly. Next to Chris, Lexi rolled her eyes and looked away. Savvy ignored her.

  “I wish my parents weren’t so paranoid,” she said.

  Chris shrugged. “That’s the price of being the oldest. I don’t think my parents let my sister go anywhere alone until she was married!”

  Savvy laughed again. “If I had more money, I’d have rented a car and not worried them. I think that’s what I’ll end up doing anyway–my parents will probably pay for it.”

  Lexi was still staring away from them, but now her face was flushed and her lower lip jutting out. Her left shoulder was ticking again. As Savvy watched, Lexi’s hand wiped surreptitiously under her right eye. Apparently, she felt at least some remorse for causing Savvy trouble.

  “Well, you guys want to grab something to eat?” Chris asked in the sudden silence. “I mean, it’s late for lunch and early for dinner, but I’m always ready to eat.”

  Savvy shook her head, but Lexi nodded. “Are you hungry?” Savvy asked her.

  “That sandwich you made me was the only food I’ve had all day.”

  Was that because she’d been traveling? Savvy wanted to ask but decided to let the subject ride for now. “You should have told me,” she said instead. “I would have made you something else. Or we could have gone out.” She began to walk toward the apartment.

  “I didn’t want to be a bother.” Lexi fell into step with her. “Besides, I have money. I could even pay to rent a car, if you want.”

  Savvy smiled. A child’s idea of having money, whether twelve or sixteen, was quite different from an adult’s. When you had to worry about rent, food, and clothes, the green stuff took on a whole new meaning. Lexi certainly had no idea how much it cost to rent a car for more than a week.

  “Should we go out?” Chris asked. “Or we could drive over to my parents’ house. Mom always makes extra. It’s a forty-five-minute drive, but it’ll be worth it. I can call and let them know we’re coming.”

  Savvy liked his parents a great deal, though lately they’d been hinting around about grandbabies in scarcely veiled attempts to discover if she and Chris were serious. But Savvy didn’t want to spend time with them tonight. In fact, she didn’t even want Chris there. What she wanted was to discover why Lexi had chosen now to appear in her life and why she had run away from home.

  “I think I’ll make something,” Savvy said. “I cleaned out most of the fridge, since I was going to be gone and I have no idea when my new roommate is going to show up. But I have some hamburger in the freezer, and there’s a can of tomato sauce and some spaghetti noodles in the cupboard.” She had some flour and yeast, too, which could easily be mixed up for bread sticks.

  “Spaghetti?” Lexi said. “That’s my favorite.”

  Her words instantly transported Savvy to another time and place. She and Tyler were making spaghetti, Tyler’s favorite dinner, at his brother’s house in Sandy. Every moment with him had been pure heaven–and pure torture. That had been the day she’d made up her mind to serve a mission. She was glad she had. Her desire to serve the Lord had given her the courage to leave him behind and make something of her life.

  Truthfully, she’d hoped that once she returned, something might spark between her and Tyler. After all, she’d had more fun with him than with any other man she’d ever dated. He’d always listened to her advice, gone along on her many star-watching activities, and encouraged her rigorous study habits. He’d participated in all her family parties with good grace and invited her to his family gatherings as well. Generally, he’d been the best guy friend a girl could have. But when she came home from her mission, he had another girlfriend, resembling all the other thin, blonde girls he’d dated over the years. Savvy had been left feeling large and awkward by comparison. Unwanted. She never felt that way with Chris.

  No, it was just as well she had distanced herself from Tyler. Besides, now there was Lexi. Maybe she would help lead Savvy to the destiny the Lord had planned for her.

  They fell into a comfortable silence as the three of them walked toward the apartment. Inside, Savvy checked her phone messages, and there was one from her mother asking her to call back, but she decided to wait until after dinner. Soon the aroma of savory meat sauce and fresh bread sticks filled the small kitchen, making Savvy’s mouth water. Silently, she blessed all the cooking lessons her mother had given her over the years. Being able to make an entire meal from odd and ends was definitely a learned skill.

  Chris was charming and talkative during the meal, and Savvy felt a rush of affection toward him. Could Lexi’s arrival be the Lord’s way of throwing her and Chris together? After all, if Lexi hadn’t arrived, Savvy would be home now–likely wondering how she could face hearing about Tyler’s girlfriend from Camille, who kept in touch with him. It had been almost six months since LaNae had so clearly state
d her claim on Tyler, and though Savvy hadn’t heard solid plans of their engagement, he was still dating her, and that was serious enough. Tyler normally didn’t date any girl longer than three weeks.

  “This is really good,” Chris said, breaking through her thoughts. “I’m going to eat it all.” They shared a laugh.

  In the end it wasn’t Chris who ate most of the spaghetti but Lexi. To Savvy’s wonder and, yes, envy, the girl filled her plate three times, hardly chewing between bites. Where does she put it all? Savvy thought.

  That made Savvy wonder even more about Lexi’s life. Was Lexi’s father–their father–abusive? Did Lexi not have enough to eat at home? This last idea Savvy discarded. Lexi was lanky and scrawny in the way of many teens, but she didn’t look undernourished. Not any more than Savvy’s own sister Rosalie had looked at that age. Even Savvy herself had gone through a brief thin phase in the seventh grade before puberty hit. She wistfully eyed the third bread stick Lexi was munching contentedly. Ah, well, Savvy knew she’d be happier in the long run if she didn’t give in to her taste buds. Besides, she felt full.

  “Would you and your sister want to catch a movie tonight?” Chris asked Savvy. He looked between them. “My treat.” His gray eyes paused on Savvy. “Or do you need to call your parents?”

  “That shouldn’t take but a minute,” Savvy said. “What do you think, Lexi?”

  The girl stuffed in the last of her bread stick. “I’m tired. I didn’t sleep much last night on the bus.”

  So it was an overnight trip, Savvy thought.

  “Must have been a long ride,” Chris said. “Where did you say you were from?”

  Again the shoulder tick–once, twice. “Around.” Lexi’s face became sullen. “Is there a place to lie down?” she asked. “I’m really tired.”

  Lie down? thought Savvy. This was a child who had somewhere learned proper English. The difference between lie and lay had always been one of Tyler’s pet peeves, and he had harped on it enough that Savvy was always careful to use the words properly.

  “Sure. You can have my bed. I made it up with clean sheets this morning. I’ll take Miranda’s. I hope you don’t mind sharing a room because it’s all we’ve got. But if my new roommate shows up, you’ll be on the couch.”

  Lexi left the room without a reply.

  Savvy shot Chris an apologetic glance. “Teenagers,” she said, shaking her head.

  “That’s okay. Maybe another time.”

  “Maybe,” Savvy agreed, though there might not be another time with Lexi. How could the child stay here? Savvy could barely support herself, much less another person. If Lexi ended up staying for long, Savvy would have to get another job, or maybe even move back to Utah to work at her father’s hospital software company. The third alternative was to ask her parents for money, but she wasn’t ready to consider that yet. It’s too soon to plan anything, she reminded herself. I have no idea what’s going on with Lexi’s family.

  “Want me to get a video?” Chris stood from the table, taking his plate to the sink. Savvy knew his mother had ingrained that habit from childhood, just as her own had done.

  Frowning, Savvy rested her chin on her hands. “I don’t know anything about her,” she said softly. “She won’t tell me where she’s from or why she ran away. I don’t even know what she wants from me.”

  Chris turned and leaned against the counter. “Give it time.”

  But what if it’s something I can’t face? Savvy wanted to ask. Something that involves my birth father? She was ashamed at her lack of courage. Before Lexi arrived, Savvy had believed she had faced the two worst things she could ever face in her life: seeing a family she had grown to love on her mission refuse the gospel, and losing Tyler for good. In less than a minute her outlook had changed. There were worse things in life, and this situation might be one of them.

  Sighing internally, Savvy closed her eyes. She heard Chris come back to the table, felt his hand touch her back. “Can I do anything?”

  She opened her eyes. “No. Thank you, though. I appreciate the offer. What I really need to do is call home again.”

  “You want me to leave?”

  Savvy gave him a half smile. “Do you mind terribly? I want to try to talk to her again.”

  “I don’t mind.” He grinned. “Well, I do, but I’ll take a rain check. Come on, walk me to the door?”

  She did as he requested. He gave her a hug and kissed her lightly on the cheek, but she felt too distracted to focus on him. She was relieved when he didn’t linger.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow night,” he said, heading for the stairs.

  Dusk was falling now, lending a sinister cast to the street and surrounding areas, but Savvy could see nothing out of place. Yet at any moment Lexi’s father could show up and whisk her away to wherever he had been living all these years.

  Living and not even wondering about his firstborn.

  Well, Savvy wouldn’t let him take Lexi. Not until she discovered the truth. She’d promised to help Lexi when she first arrived, and she would do her best to fulfill that promise.

  She went back inside and down the hall to her room where she expected Lexi to be in bed, only to find the girl straightening quickly by Savvy’s purse. “What are you doing?” Savvy demanded. Other than a few bills, there was nothing in the purse worth stealing, but Lexi had no business nosing in her things.

  Lexi shook her head. “I didn’t take anything.”

  “Then why were you looking inside my purse?” Savvy began to have doubts about sending Chris home. After all, what did she know about Lexi? Could Savvy be in danger by letting her stay? Maybe she should call Chris and ask him to sleep on the couch.

  “It’s just . . . well . . .” Lexi sputtered. “I, uh, wanted to see . . .” Falling silent, she threw herself onto Savvy’s single bed, delving into her backpack. She drew something out, a small plastic picture holder that had come from a wallet. “Here,” she said, tossing it to Savvy.

  The first picture was of a boy about the twins’ age, who resembled Lexi in the shape of the face. He was her opposite in size and coloring, however–brown hair and eyes, tall with wide shoulders. Handsome, Savvy thought.

  “That’s Brenton.” Lexi watched her study his face. “It’s an old picture, of course. Doesn’t look much like us, does he?” she added.

  “No, he doesn’t.”

  “Well, he’s as much your brother as he is mine. We’re both halves.”

  Savvy felt a sudden longing to know this boy–or rather, the man he had become. Still looking at the picture, she sat down on the bed next to Lexi’s sprawled figure. “So he . . . our father got another divorce?”

  “Yeah, she left him. For a while Brenton went back and forth, but when she remarried he came to live with us. He liked my mom better.”

  “I’m glad for you both.” Savvy felt herself relax. Surely if Brenton had chosen to live with their father, he wasn’t as bad as Lexi had hinted. Then again, Brenton didn’t live at home anymore. Maybe things at Lexi’s had changed for the worse. “Can I see the rest?” she asked.

  Lexi nodded, studying her face. Savvy turned the page and saw a school picture of Lexi, looking older and tougher than she had on the porch that morning. Savvy definitely preferred how she looked now. The next picture was of a narrow-faced woman with dishwater blonde hair, blue eyes, and a nice smile. She looked like anyone’s next door neighbor, a person Savvy would like to know. “Your mother?”

  Lexi nodded and looked away.

  Savvy wondered how Lexi’s mother was feeling now. Was she worried about Lexi? Had she already called the police?

  The last picture was of Derek. He was older in this one, and Savvy could see the wrinkles, though his hair was every bit as blond. His wide set eyes were bright blue, and the oval shape of them was Savvy’s own. And Lexi’s. Though still handsome, the lines around his eyes were haggard, as though he had not escaped his share of affliction. Obviously, life had not been as kind to him as it had been to her mot
her since their parting.

  Savvy stared so long that she knew she would see his face even when it wasn’t in front of her. This was the man who had given her up. Given her to a better life. She was glad, and yet . . .

  “Thanks.” She handed the pictures to Lexi, who looked through them herself.

  “You got any?” Lexi asked.

  “Pictures?”

  Lexi’s eyes went to Savvy’s purse. Ah, Savvy thought. Could that have been what Lexi was looking for? She pushed herself off the bed and reached for her purse. “I have more in the living room, but I carry my favorites in here.” She pulled out a thin mini album with a plastic yellow cover. She opened it to the first page and passed it to Lexi.

  “There we all are. My mom, the twins, my sisters, my dad.” She didn’t pause over the word dad but as she said it, she realized how strange that could seem to Lexi.

  “Your mom’s the only one who looks like you,” Lexi said. “The others look like your stepfather.”

  “He’s not my stepfather,” Savvy found herself saying. “He adopted me. He’s my dad.”

  “I didn’t know that.” The skin between Lexi’s eyebrows wrinkled as she concentrated. “Still, going by blood, I’m as much your sister as they are.” She pointed to Rosalie and Camille. “Or even more, because I look like you.”

  Her words pierced Savvy’s heart. Lexi was right. If blood were the only thing that counted, Lexi was as much her sister as either of the others. Of course, she shared a lifetime of memories with Rosalie and Camille. With Lexi, she had nothing. Savvy felt a swift and deep remorse that Lexi hadn’t been a part of her life before now. How much had they missed?

  “Your brothers are cute,” Lexi said. “This one especially.”

  “That’s Forest. The other’s Gabe. They’re fourteen.” Though they were identical twins, there was a distinct difference in the way they dressed and in their demeanor. Savvy loved Gabriel for his responsibility and thoughtfulness and Forest for his outgoing nature. Everybody loved Forest.

  Lexi flipped through the rest of the pictures, identifying cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and additional photos of her family. When Lexi turned to the last page, she gave a long whistle. “Who’s this? He’s hot. I like the glasses.”