Father Knows Best

by Lynda Sandoval

  A huge grin lit up her face. “You are? How fantastic!”

  “No,” I said firmly. “We are. You and me. We. That’s the present. A long weekend in the Big Apple, just us girls. And Chloe. Well, she’s a girl, but you know what I mean.”

  Meryl went completely still as she studied me. “What are you talking about?”

  “It’s the big surprise!” I said, bouncing enough to make the porch swing jerk and jolt on its chains. “And, get this: your parents, Reese and Kelly—they all know about it. It’s planned and approved, and in two weeks we’re going to be in New York City seeing Caressa and her show and her hottie-boyfriend and hottie-Thomas-bodyguard and Times Freakin’ Square!”

  Meryl’s face went bright red and she squeezed her palms against her cheeks. “Wow! Really? We’re going to New York City?! They included me?”

  “Yes!”

  We jumped off the swing, leaving its chains jangling, as we hopped and bopped around the front porch, holding each other’s hands and cackling like crazy women. During a pause in the sheer insanity, Mer asked, “Does Caressa know yet?”

  “Nope. So far it’s just me and you.”

  She pulled me toward the front door. “Are you kidding? Let’s go IM her right now!”

  I resisted, and she glanced back. “What?”

  “There’s one other teensy thing.”

  She turned her head to the side, studying me through narrowed eyes. “Uh-oh. Is this the bad part?”

  “Not necessarily.” I moistened my lips with a quick flick of my tongue, then cringed. “It’s just…you know how I’ve been wrestling with what to get for Jennifer for her birthday?”

  Confusion showed in her eyes. “Yes?”

  A beat passed. “I sort of…asked Chloe and my dad if she could come along, too. I just thought she needed a break.”

  Meryl’s features softened, and she relaxed. In fact, tears brimmed her blue eyes. “Oh, Lila. That’s so selfless of you, I don’t even know what to say.”

  I pulled out of her grasp and held up both palms. “My dad has to talk to her parents first so it’s not a done deal, but if they say yes, I’m going to tell her at the sleepover.” I sighed. “Are you okay with that?”

  She laughed, then pulled me into a hug. “I think it’s amazing. You’re amazing. I’m so lucky to have you as a best friend.”

  I was not comfortable with all these kudos. “Or a complete idiot. I’m not sure which yet.”

  “You’re not. Jennifer’s changed. You know it as well as I do. She’s going to be so happy. Wait and see. And your karma is just glowing.”

  I groaned. “Okay, you’ve officially been working at Inner Power way too long, Mer.”

  We laughed, then I sobered slightly and bit the corner of my lip. “How do you think Caressa will feel about Jennifer coming?”

  Mer clicked her tongue. “Caressa always stood up for us, but she doesn’t have a hateful bone in her body. She’ll be fine. She’ll be thrilled!”

  “You’re sure?”

  My buddy looked supremely confident, which is something. I always used Meryl’s emotions as a barometer for my own, which were all over the map (I know that’s a shocker). “I’ve kept her up to speed with All Things Jennifer, so she knows we’re helping her, hanging out and stuff. She’s fine with it.”

  I huffed. “Well, there’s that and then there’s inviting her to New York on what should be a Three Amigas trip.”

  Mer angled her head toward the front door. “If you’re worried, there’s one way to find out how she feels for sure. If she’s totally against it, you still have time to buy a different gift and forget the whole thing.”

  We bolted our way up to her room and launched a group IM. Meryl, Caressa, and me, together again.

  Two weeks and counting!

  *

  Caressa

  As had become our habit since we’d begun the more-than-friends thing, I was hanging with Joaquin in the empty (at the moment) dance studio in Park Slope while he practiced. I never tired of watching that boy dance. Thomas was hangin’ downstairs in the coffee shop, catching up on today’s Times. He knew by now that I wasn’t a gullible, impressionable girl, and leaving Joaquin and me alone together was cool. I sat against one of the mirrored walls, knees pulled up to my chest, just…being. Soaking it all in. This summer had been…wow…completely intense.

  In so many ways.

  The city, the show, my new friends.

  Joaquin. Tummy flop.

  My life here was so different from my life back home. Neither one was better. They were just different. And yet similar, too. I know that sounds stupid. At home, I had my close group of girls, my family, my own thing. Here I had my close group of guys, my theater family, my own thing.

  I found myself missing Lila and Meryl something awful just as Joaquin executed this split jump that had such lift and extension, it stole my breath.

  The BlackBerry bleeped while he was in midair.

  Joaquin looked over with a smile as he landed the jump.

  “Sorry,” I said, pawing through my bag.

  “It’s cool, baby,” he said. He tapped on his temple and added, “Mental concentration. That’s what it’s about,” before going back to his work as if the interruption was no sweat. His dedication to craft and perfection awed me.

  I checked the text: Check your IM! NOW!!!

  “I’ll be right back.” Psyched and curious, I scrambled up from the floor and headed toward the studio’s office. I already knew I could use their computer to sign on, because I’d been here with Joaquin many times before. The owners were like his second family. When he wasn’t performing, he taught lessons here, to kids from his own ’hood. He basically had the run of the place.

  I quickly tapped in, smiling when I saw the group IM invite.

  Lipstickgrrrrl: Que pasa, chicas?

  LawBreakR: Okay, U already speak more Spanish than I do. That’s just wrong.

  I laughed out loud. Lila was so full of crap. Her dad spoke Spanish to her all the time, and she understood every word. She just didn’t use it, rebellious little wench.

  MerylM: I can’t stand this. Just tell her!

  Lipstickgrrrrl: Tell me what?

  LawBreakR: Brace yourself.

  Lipstickgrrrrl: Braced.

  LawBreakR: 2 weeks. 2 weeks, and we’ll B in NYC 2 CU!

  I shrieked—couldn’t help it. Then I read and reread the line about five times. I honestly hadn’t realized how homesick for Meryl and Lila I was. Finally, with shaky fingers, I got back to typing, though I couldn’t seem to come up with anything except—

  Lipstickgrrrrl: Um…what????

  LawBreakR: It’s my Bday present from my dad!

  MerylM: And Chloe.

  LawBreakR: Yes, and Chloe. She’s coming 2. Our chaperone. :-) We have tickets 2 the show!! UR show!

  Lipstickgrrrrl: OMG, U guys, that’s beyond fantastic!! Tell me EVERYTHING! When do U get here, where are U staying, etc.

  MerylM: Tell her the rest, Lila. It’s okay.

  Lipstickgrrrrl: The rest? Uh-oh. Sounds ominous.

  LawBreakR: It’s not, really. It’s just that Jennifer might be coming 2. No biggie, honest. She’s like a totally different person, U won’t believe it.

  MerylM: Lila just thought it would be a chance for her to have something this summer that didn’t suck. Isn’t that sweet?

  LawBreakR: Is that okay, Car? Because if it isn’t, I’ll kick her pregnant ass to the curb, no problemo. She doesn’t know yet.

  Lipstickgrrrrl: LOL, Lila!!! U guys!!!! I don’t care if Jennifer comes 2. If Lila has forgiven her, I certainly can.

  LawBreakR: Phew!

  MerylM: Told you so, Lila.

  Lipstickgrrrrl: I’m calling U now. I want all the details. Can U do a three-way call?

  MerylM: No need. We’re both at my house. I’m on my laptop, Lila’s on the family desktop.

  Lipstickgrrrrl: Is the line
free?

  LawBreakR: All yours, baby!

  Lipstickgrrrrl: Call U in a sec.

  *

  After I got off the phone with Lila and Meryl, I ran into the main room of the dance studio and executed a jump of my own. It was probably an egregious violation of dance rules the world over, but I didn’t care. I felt like I’d leapt ten feet off the ground and hung there, suspended on the power of happiness alone.

  Joaquin, stretching against the wall, laughed. “What was that for?”

  I twirled my way over until he pulled me into his arms and kissed me. Amazing kisser, that boy. He made the rest of the world fall away with those lips. When we broke apart, I said, “My best friends are coming here in two weeks to see the show.”

  And then I burst into tears.

  Tears!

  I know, strange, huh?

  I give Joaquin huge props for simply holding me and letting me cry it out when he didn’t even know what it was about. When my sobs had slowed to hiccups, he caressed one palm down the back of my hair and kissed my temple. “Want to talk about it?”

  I nodded against his chest, and we sat down on the hardwood floor, backs against the mirror, knees pulled up. How could I even verbalize this? “It’s a combination of things, I guess.”

  “Tell me. Just try.”

  “I’m homesick,” I said, tossing him an apologetic sidelong glance. “And on the other hand, I never want to leave the city. Or you, actually. I want to be in White Peaks with my friends, and I want to be in the city with you. Both of those make me feel guilty.”

  “I get that.”

  “I miss my friends so much, but when I leave…”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ll miss you,” I said, in a shaky whisper, and the tears returned. “I almost can’t take it. You’re like a part of me. What am I going to do all year without you, ’Quin?”

  “Ay, mamita”—he pulled me against his side, and I rested my head on his shoulder—“I’ll miss you, too. So much. But we’ll be fine. We’ll work through it.”

  “Promise?” I sniffed. “You won’t find some other unpaid makeup lackey to take my place?”

  He chuckled. “Swear.”

  “But we’ll be so far apart.” I peered up at him through wet lashes. “You know what they say about long-distance relationships.”

  “We’re different, baby. And it’s only for one school year. When two people are soul mates, distance doesn’t mean jack. We can visit, call.” He pressed a fist against his chest. “No one could take your place here, Caressa.”

  My heart thumped. “Is that enough, though? Calls? A visit or two?”

  “For us to both finish high school, reach for our goals? Yes. We can handle it. Te amo, Caressa,” Joaquin said, lifting my chin gently so he could kiss my lips. “I love you, don’t you know that?”

  Everything inside me got all swirly and warm. I felt magnetized toward him like I’d never been to another person. Ever. “I love you, too.” We kissed some more, gently at first, but bursting with a tornado of emotions. The more we kissed, the more urgent we both became, until Joaquin was breathing heavily and I was clutching at him like I’d never done with any guy. I loved the salty dance taste of him, the sleek firmness of his muscles, the way he made me feel about me.

  I wanted him. Yeah, like that. The knowledge struck me like a lightning bolt, but it was true.

  As if sensing my thoughts, Joaquin pulled back and searched my face. After a moment, he stood up in one graceful move and crossed the room. He locked the studio door and turned back toward me with a private smile.

  I started to think Thomas shouldn’t be quite so sure about leaving Joaquin and me to our own devices after all. But right then it didn’t matter, and I was so glad he had. Joaquin loved me, and I loved him. Truly, madly, all the way to our souls. Which is why, when he returned to my side and reached for me, I went willingly into his arms knowing exactly what was going to happen and ready for it.

  Sometimes you just know when something’s perfect.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Meryl

  If this strange summer has taught me one thing, it’s that you can’t plan the future. Well, let me qualify that. You can and should make plans, set goals, visualize—all that’s important.

  What’s the old saying?

  A dream without a plan is just a wish?

  Something along those lines. But the point is, no matter how carefully you map out your moves ahead of time, sometimes life just steps in and scrambles up the pieces on your game board, like a bratty little brother knocking over the chess set one move prior to your ultimate checkmate.

  It’s not bad. It just is.

  Lila and I, as it turns out, are living proof.

  Case in point: I’d planned on hanging out with my very first boyfriend, Ismet (of course), working at Inner Power (of course), and learning Bosnian. Lila had planned on spending lots of time with her very first boyfriend, Dylan, interspersed with a questionable plot to break up Chloe and her dad.

  But how were we actually spending our “lazy days of summer”?

  Lila was working for—and becoming quite chummy with—said enemy, Chloe. No recent mention whatsoever of breaking up her and Chief Moreno, I might add, a topic I wasn’t going to raise. I think she’d changed her mind, which was great if it was true. Chloe and Lila’s dad are perfect for each other, and as an outsider, I can see that. Lila did hang out with Dylan just as I hung out with Ismet—in fact, the four of us hung out together a lot—but not as much as I suspect either of us had planned to.

  Still, it was fine.

  Likewise, I was, indeed, working at Inner Power and making a good enough dent in learning Bosnian that I could keep up with most of the conversations in the Hadziahmetovic household. They all speak English, of course, but I’d asked them to speak only Bosnian in front of me, and they’d obliged.

  All that aside, Lila’s and my main focus for the season had unexpectedly shifted 180 degrees and sent us off in a direction we could never have anticipated, not in a million years. Our carefully constructed plans had changed from a purely Guys and Goals deal to an emotion-packed and fully unexpected Girl Power agenda.

  All because of Jennifer Hamilton. Of all people.

  Irony in action, that’s for sure.

  Former enemy turned…friend? Something within the friend arena at least. I don’t think she’d ever be one of the Three Amigas (and not just because there would be four of us, rendering the name obsolete), but we’d all gotten to know each other a lot better and gained a ton of mutual respect. Plus, I never wanted enemies in the first place, nor do I think Lila or I did anything whatsoever to deserve them.

  Bottom line, sometimes we girls simply have to stick together through the hard times, and there had been a lot of those this summer, especially for Jennifer.

  Ismet understood. Dylan got it, too.

  Lila and I were starting to catch on as well.

  It’s just funny how things work out.

  I’d been proud of Lila for letting go of her grudges, but when she told me she’d gone so far as to invite Jennifer to a sleepover to celebrate her birthday—just the three of us—I was so stunned I’d had to slump down onto the floor to gather my wits. Right there in the middle of Inner Power, too.

  A couple of things went through my mind.

  One, I missed Caressa down to my soul. It would be our first girl’s night without her there, and that made it feel off-balance. Plus, let’s face it: the whole makeover, manicure, pedicure aspect of the evening wouldn’t be the same without Caressa’s monumental stash of goods and veritable wealth of knowledge about how to use everything.

  Two, despite gigantic odds, our favorite seemingly impenetrable snark queen, Lila, had really matured over the past couple months. Kicking and screaming, perhaps, but there you have it. Seriously, she had a million and one reasons to snub Jennifer…yet she hadn’t. Instead, she’d reached out when Jen needed
it most. Lila stepped in when Jennifer’s parents fell down on the job. It was enough to make me cry, but Lila would’ve hated it if I’d made a big deal.

  Let me go on record, however, saying it is a major deal.

  And then, oh my God, suggesting Jennifer join us on the New York trip?!

  Gigantic.

  But the night of the infamous birthday sleepover rolled around and, as expected, Lila got cold feet. She begged me to come over half an hour early to talk her down from the ledge of panic. She needed convincing that what she’d done—basically drawing Jennifer into the inner circle—actually constituted a good idea rather than a mental break.

  No problem. I’d dealt with Lila’s meltdowns for years.

  I showed up as usual with my pillow, an overnight bag, a big bag of junk food (along with some healthy options for the mom-to-be), and a wrapped gift. I knocked with the toe of my shoe. When Lila opened the door, I said, “Hey.”

  “No time for that.” She reached out, grabbed the sleeve of my T-shirt, and yanked, causing me to stumble over the threshold. “Please tell me what in the hell I was thinking? First this sleepover, then the trip? Our freakin’ trip? And her parents said yes. Yes! Can you believe it?”

  I smiled mildly, handing her the bag of junk food. “You were being a nice person. It’s great that her parents agreed. Big karma points, Lila. Big.”

  “Yeah. Explain that.” She tore into a bag of Cheetos, wide-eyed and manic. “It’s totally out of character for me to give a rip about my karma,” she added around a mouthful of neon orange crunch.

  “It is not.” Such a drama queen. I angled my head toward the stairs. “Mind if I dump my stuff in your room?”

  Lila hiked her chin toward the staircase, because her mouth was crammed too full to speak at that point, a little dusting of orange like an aura around her lips.

  I sniffed the air. “What smells good?”

  “I baked her a German chocolate cake,” Lila groused, after she’d swallowed. “From scratch, which was freakin’ hard. I can’t believe people even baked before packaged mixes. And, anyway, don’t say a word.”