“Okay, I believe you. But I think it’s a bad idea. Let’s just say that Jason is a little worldlier than Maysie.”
“Maysie’s a bright girl. So warn her. If she and Jason decide to start dating, there’s nothing you can do about it,” Rachael whispered.
“He’s my friend, but I’ll kill him if he hurts her.”
“He won’t. I don’t think he’ll even date her because he is your friend. If he likes ‘worldlier’ girls, as you so delicately put it, then Maysie isn’t his type anyway.”
“You’re right. Thanks, Rachael. Doubles it is.”
At that moment Gabe jumped out of the pool. He toweled off and called, “See you man. Gotta run.”
“Where are you headed?” Travis asked.
“To see Shannah. I can’t stand her being mad at me.”
“Don’t do it!” Travis warned. “This could end badly. That girl is mad at you.”
“Not for long.” Gabe disappeared out of the pool cage.
Just then Maysie came out wearing a very pretty, conservative, one-piece swimsuit. Travis looked her over approvingly.
“See,” Rachael said, “I told you she is smart.”
“I know. She’s my sister. It runs in the family.” Travis winked, then asked, “Are you coming swimming?”
“Yep.”
“Where’s your swimsuit?”
“I already have it on. Underneath this outfit, of course.”
Travis gave Rachael the once over. “Good,” was his only response as he threw her, screaming, over his shoulder and jumped into the pool.
“Just when I was beginning to think I liked you,” Rachael said, sputtering, when she came up for air.
“Good. I like it better when you don’t like me. It makes it fun.” Then Travis yelled, “Let’s play Marco Polo. Rachael is it.”
They played Marco Polo for an hour or so until Maysie suggested tennis. Michael and Levi opted for video games inside, while everyone else thought tennis was a great idea.
After Maysie and Rachael got changed into their tennis skirts, they headed out to the courts where the guys were already warming up.
Hmmm. He can actually play. This could be a fun match. I wonder if Maysie and Jason are any good.
As it turned out, Maysie was very good. She had obviously been playing for a very long time. Jason was okay—at least he was putting forth the effort. Travis was an excellent player just like Rachael. After three matches, where Travis and Rachael had won two out of three, he suggested singles.
“I’m too beat for that,” Maysie said.
“Me too.” Jason was breathing hard.
“Yeah. I hate to be a party-pooper, but Michael and I really need to be heading home. I told my dad I would call him this evening. I don’t want to miss making that call.”
“Okay. I’ll run you guys home,” Maysie offered.
“Thanks, Maysie.”
Travis spoke up. “I have to run Jason home. Why don’t we all go?”
“Great idea!” Maysie said excitedly.
Rachael could tell Maysie was relieved to be able to spend more time with Jason, even if it was just a car ride to take him home.
Five minutes later they were all loaded up in Travis and Maysie’s mom’s SUV. It was the only vehicle big enough to seat all six of them. Michael and Levi were in the third-row seat. Maysie and Rachael were in the middle row seat. Travis was driving, and Jason had shotgun.
“So Monday is the big day?” Maysie asked.
“Sure is. I can’t wait. I don’t have anything exceptional planned. Just to hang out and spend time around the house together,” Rachael commented.
“Did I miss something?” Jason asked.
“No. Just girl talk.” Maysie added, “Colten, Rachael’s boyfriend, is coming to visit her on Monday.”
“Trust me, Jason. I have to hear the ‘girl talk’ all the time! You don’t want to know,” Travis joked.
“I think you are a lucky man. I wish I knew what was going on inside their heads all the time. I don’t have a sister, so their thought processes are a mystery to me.” Jason sounded as if he really meant it.
“You can pick my brain anytime,” Maysie offered.
“I’m sure that will prove fascinating. Let me tell you what you’ll find in my sister’s head.” Travis supplied the complete list: “Shopping. Mall. Boys. Shopping. Mall. Boys. Shopping. Mall. Boys.” Travis grinned. “Get the picture. It’s pretty simple.” He looked really proud of himself.
“Oh, Travis Baxter, you think you’re so smart. You want to know what is in your brain?” Maysie asked.
“Sure, if you think you know.”
“Here’s a complete list: “Girls. Girls. Girls. Truck. Sports. Girls. Girls. Girls. Truck. Sports.”
Travis and Jason were laughing uproariously by now.
“That’s pretty accurate, Maysie,” Travis admitted.
They pulled up to Rachael and Michael’s house. A Jeep was parked outside.
“Colten!” Rachael squealed.
“I thought he was coming on Monday?” Maysie asked.
“I guess he decided to surprise me and come early.” Rachael could barely contain her excitement.
Travis leaped out of the front seat and opened the door for Rachael and Michael to get out.
“Thanks for the ride home, Travis.”
“Not a problem. See you around, Rachael.” He got back in the SUV and was gone.
Rachael practically ran inside the house.
Colten met her at the door. “There’s my favorite girl. I was about to come and look for you.”
“How long have you been here?” she asked, bouncing up and down and hugging him.
“Only about twenty minutes. I’ve been visiting with your Aunt Margaret. She’s been feeding me pound cake and sweet iced tea.”
“If I’d known you were coming early, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere. I don’t want to miss even one minute.” Rachael smiled up at him.
“Gross,” Michael announced. “Are you two going to start kissing again? I’m outta here.” He disappeared inside.
Rachael gave Colten a gentle kiss on the lips.
“By the way, your Aunt Margaret was totally cracking me up. She made sure I knew I’d be sleeping in the guest bedroom during my visit. I was waiting for her to get out the shotgun or something…and prop it in the hall next to your door!”
Colten was laughing. It was so good to hear him laugh.
“Let me show you around. There’s someone I want you to meet—George.” Rachael grabbed Colten’s hand and led him to the barn.
“George. What sort of animal is George?”
“He’s a pet steer. He has become quite the confidante of mine over the past several days.”
“Well, let’s meet this George.”
They walked to the barn hand-in-hand. When they got to the fence, Colten stopped to lean on the top rail. “Wow. George is huge.”
George lifted his head and raced toward them, snorting and blowing at Colten. Rachael was fearful he might actually slam into the board fence.
“I don’t think he likes me very much.” Colten stepped back from the rail.
“I should have warned you. He only likes women, except for Travis.”
“Why does he like Travis?”
“I guess Travis has been around him since he was a calf. George knows him.”
“Was that Travis who dropped you off earlier, the guy in the SUV?”
“Yes. But not just Travis. It was Maysie, his sister, and Jason, Levi, and Michael too.” Rachael was worried Colten was getting jealous.
Then he surprised her by saying, “Good. I’m glad you’ve made such good friends. School starts in a week. Will they all be attending the same school as you?”
“Sure will.”
“Are you nervous about attending public high school?” Colten studied her.
“Not really. I’m actually excited about the huge football games, homecoming, and the prom. It will be different,
but loads of fun. You have to promise to take me to the homecoming dance!”
“I promise! I wouldn’t miss it.”
“I think I may even try out for the dance team,” Rachael suggested.
“That’s a fantastic idea. Sounds like a lot of fun.”
“My friend Maysie is a dancer too. I haven’t asked her yet, but I think she will say yes and try out with me.”
“An even better idea.”
Next Rachael took Colten on a tour of the barn, which ended in the hayloft, where they shared a tender, lingering kiss.
9
RACHAEL AND COLTEN SAT with their legs hanging out of the hayloft doors. They held hands as they caught up on the events of the past two weeks.
“So how long are you staying?” Rachael asked in anticipation.
“Only tonight. I have to leave early in the morning.”
“Only tonight?” Disappointment crept into her heart. “You came three days early, so I thought you were coming for the entire weekend. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad to see you at all. I’d just hoped for a little more time.”
“I know.” Colten sighed. “And I’m sorry. My parents and I are leaving Sunday for Miami. My dad is thinking about buying this nice resort there, and they wanted me to go with them. It’s the last week of summer before school starts, and they were hoping for a last-minute getaway and some good family time.”
Rachael wanted to scream, “Take me with you! Your parents won’t mind. They love me.”
But Colten hadn’t invited her, so he must have his reasons. Maybe his parents needed his help, or they had family things of their own to deal with. Whatever the reason, she’d have to be happy with the time they had together.
“I understand. So, from what I gather from my Facebook page and my mom’s friend Lonnie, my family is front-page news back home,” Rachael confided.
“Yep. I haven’t wanted to say anything, but it’s been on the evening news and in the magazines. In time it’ll all die down. But in the meanwhile it’s probably better you are over here, away from it all.”
Without even asking, Rachael knew what Colten was referring to. While everyone was being nice to her from the safe distance of her Facebook page, her reception if she was living right there might have been less than friendly. Rachael suddenly worried how everyone was treating Colten. After all, he was her boyfriend. They might be snubbing him through mere association.
“How have things been for you?” At his confused stare, Rachael clarified, “I’m sure there’s gossip and some are less than favorable about our family.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Colten reassured her. “Our friends have been very supportive. Surprisingly, no one has said anything hurtful. I think that can only be a tribute to your ability to make friendships and maintain them. While everyone thinks it’s unfortunate, no one is judging you or your family.”
Rachael was relieved. She’d pictured Colten facing an onslaught of questions and looks. Now she could relax, knowing things in Palm Beach were going truly as well as could be expected.
“Let’s go inside before your aunt sends out the search party,” Colten suggested.
“Okay.” Rachael was reluctant to share him with anyone, even her family, but they made their way back into the house.
Rachael decided to show him both her room and closet and then her brother’s “game lounge.”
“Wow!” was Colten’s response. “I need a theater like this back home. This is incredible.”
“Would you like to play a game? You and Rachael could play against each other,” Michael suggested.
“Sure. You up for it, Rachael?”
“Always. But I have to warn you. I’m pretty fantastic at golf and tennis. Choose wisely, my friend,” she said in a menacing voice.
Colten laughed. “Tennis. I figure living out here in the sticks you’re getting pretty rusty. Your swing won’t be what it once was.”
“You will soon find out…loser.”
Colten and Rachael played a very competitive game of tennis. Colten was winning when Rachael’s aunt called them all for dinner.
“A reprieve. Just when I almost had you beaten.” Colten let out an evil laugh.
“Never!” Rachael jested.
“A rematch after dinner?” he suggested.
“No, I thought we would drive into town and see a movie. Sound good?”
“Sure thing.”
Rachael, Colten, and Michael joined their aunt at the table.
“So, Colten,” Aunt Margaret said as she served each of them a big plate of lasagna, “tell me what your plans are for this weekend.”
“Tonight Rachael has informed me she would like to go to a movie.”
“Perfect. We can look up show times. That will give Rachael a chance to get ready for the movie. She certainly can’t go looking like that.”
Rachael hadn’t given any thought to her appearance at all. She’d been swimming, playing tennis, and walking around outside in this Florida heat. She was sure she at least needed a shower, and she’d like to look extra special for Colten tonight. What should I wear?
As if reading her thoughts, Aunt Margaret said, “I put a surprise in your closet, Rachael. After dinner, Colten and Michael can help me clean up the dishes while you go and see what it is. I’m sure neither of them will mind.”
“Of course not,” Colten responded.
Michael wasn’t as quick to voice his excitement over dish duty.
Rachael ate quickly and excused herself from the table. Once back in her room, she opened her closet door. A beautiful purple dress—casual, with light blue beading all around the scoop neckline—was hanging in her closet. On the floor was a shoebox. She peeked inside. A pair of sandals with the same matching blue beads…and another small box. Rachael carefully opened the smaller box. It contained a beaded silver necklace and matching wire earrings. How thoughtful! Her aunt even had all of her sizes correct. She must have shopped earlier today when Rachael and Michael were gone.
I appreciate this more than Aunt Margaret could ever realize. Rachael hadn’t had anything new to wear in the last few weeks and, because of their budget constraints, wouldn’t be buying much anytime soon. A dress like this one deserved some extra attention paid to her hair and makeup.
Hustling to the bathroom, she plugged in her flat iron to heat while she did the fastest leg shaving she’d ever done in the shower. It had to be a new teen record—and all without cutting her ankle! She stepped out quickly and wrapped her hair in a towel. Then she applied full makeup—base, powder, eyeliner, mascara, even a hint of blush and eye shadow. To finish the job, lip gloss with glitter.
Next she pulled her hair out of the towel. Wow! What a curly mess. Let’s tame that crazy hair! She applied a large amount of extra-straight, no-frizz hair-styling product. Why hadn’t God blessed her with sleek, shiny, straight hair? It was so much easier. After drying her hair, she ran the flat iron through her long tresses. Now I have straight hair…even if it’s only for one night.
When Rachael checked her image in the mirror, she was very excited about what she saw there. She hadn’t dressed up like this in months. It felt good. I am the luckiest girl alive! She was going out with Colten, and she had him all to herself.
Rachael hurried out of her bedroom and down the hall to the family room, where Colten and her Aunt Margaret were seated waiting for her.
When Colten saw her, his eyes nearly popped almost out of their sockets. “You look absolutely amazing!” He stood to take her hand.
“Ready to go?” Rachael asked.
“Without a doubt.”
“Have fun, and don’t be too late, kids,” Aunt Margaret said.
“What time should I have her home?” Colten asked politely.
“What’s your curfew back home, Rachael?” her aunt asked.
“Ten o’clock.”
“Let’s make it eleven tonight. It is a special occasion, after all, and you’re getting such a late start.”
&nb
sp; “Thanks, Aunt Margaret.” Rachael leaned in and hugged her aunt tightly, whispering in her ear, “For everything.”
“I’m glad you like it, dear. Now go on.”
Rachael and Colten were out the door and in his Jeep in seconds.
Thank goodness he left the top on. Otherwise my hair would be a wreck.
Colten had directions on his phone. They headed into town in a general westerly direction. Rachael was relieved fifteen minutes later when she saw a road name she recognized. There it is—the now infamous Fruitville Road. The road where I had mistakenly thought I lived.
They continued down Fruitville Road for what seemed like an eternity, then made several other turns along the way.
“When you said you lived way outside of town, you weren’t joking!” Colten teased.
“I know. I wish I could drive. It would be so much easier. Maybe I could tell you where to go.”
“I’ve got it all under control.” Colten winked at her.
After another twenty minutes or so they arrived at a movie theater and mall somewhere in Sarasota. Rachael knew that much for sure. Colten came around to her side of the car and opened the door. They walked into the theater hand-in-hand.
There was a new movie, Dance, Girl Dance!—about a girl who liked to dance and a boy she taught to dance. Colten didn’t seem all that excited about seeing it but said he would if Rachael wanted to see it. They were standing in line to buy their tickets when she heard a voice from behind.
“Hi, Rachael. I didn’t know you would be here.” It was Maysie. And it looked like she was there on a date with Jason!
Behind them in line were Shannah and Gabe. That was an even bigger shocker! Were they there as friends or on a date? Rachael had to commend Gabe for his persistence.
Next in line were Travis and some girl Rachael had never seen before.
So much for having Colten all to myself.
“Hi, guys. This is my boyfriend, Colten.” A brief pause, then she made the rest of the introductions. “This is Maysie and Jason. Shannah and Gabe. Travis and…I’m sorry, we haven’t ever met before.”
“I’m Sophie,” the beautiful blonde replied.
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