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  “They look very nice, Lily,” she said as she took the dish and popped it into the oven.

  She set a timer for 10 minutes so we would know when to start the veggies. We both washed up and Margaret began clearing away the dishes we had used. I gathered up the spices and put them away one by one. Margaret was wiping the counter and I decided it was a good time to take Kaley for a walk.

  “I’ll be right back,” I held up the leash in explanation.

  Kaley scrambled to the front door and we headed to the greenway. It had gotten dark already and grown a good deal cooler since the afternoon. I could see my breath as I meandered down the path. I found myself puzzling at the man in the magazine. I wondered if he reminded me of my dad but knew that couldn’t be it; my dad would have been much older. I started contemplating other scenarios – an actor from a television show, an old teacher, a neighbor. Nothing sounded quite right. Then I started to feel ashamed at the thought that I was just having a little crush.

  “Good grief, I’m ridiculous,” I said out loud. I made a pledge to keep it to myself and tried not to think about him whoever he was, any more.

  Kaley left me a gift and was ready to head back home. I realized how hungry I was and after cleaning up quickened the pace of our walk. Kaley perked up when she sensed my enthusiasm and took my hurried step as a signal. She started bounding toward home. A moment later we were both running and I couldn’t help but smile at the simple joy of the act.

  We burst into the house, both of us breathless and panting.

  “Just in time,” Margaret said as she set our plates on the table.

  I gave Kaley some food and freshened her water bowl. I washed up and hurriedly joined Margaret at the kitchen table. Our dinner smelled fabulous and I couldn’t wait to take the first bite. Margaret was more patient than I was and as I stuffed a huge bite of chicken into my mouth I could see her from the corner of my eye. She was shaking out her napkin and placing it on her lap. It was a simple gesture but it served as a reminder to curb myself. I followed her lead and did the same.

  I took up my knife and fork and cut my chicken into bite sized pieces and forced myself to eat slowly. It came out really well and I was just bubbling with pride.

  “It’s so good Aunt Margaret, nice and spicy.”

  “You did a great job,” she said.

  “Thanks.”

  About halfway through our meal I remembered the e-mail from Danielle. “You don’t mind if I spend the day, do you?” I asked.

  “We don’t have any plans, so I don’t see why not. Just let me know what you two decide.”

  “I will.”

  It had not been the best of school days but a nice dinner and the prospect of a fun weekend gave me just what I needed to pick myself back up. I helped Margaret with the dishes and once everything was cleared away ran upstairs for my shower. It was still a bit early by the time I was done so I took a few extra minutes getting ready for bed.

  I checked my e-mail but Danielle hadn’t gotten back to me yet. Margaret was in the family room watching television when I went back down to say good night. I sat quietly for a few minutes thinking about everything that had happened. School would have been fine if it hadn’t been for Brooke and the rest of the day wasn’t all that bad. I really enjoyed making dinner with Margaret and racing home with Kaley after our walk.

  “Well, I feel a little sleepy,” I said. “I think I’m going to head up. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight Lily.”

  I started the climb up the stairs.

  “Lily?”

  I paused, “Yes, Aunt Margaret.”

  “I enjoyed cooking with you tonight.”

  “Me, too. I think making dinner was my favorite part of the day.”

  She gave me a warm smile, “Well, goodnight dear.”

  Chapter 12

  For a while our weekdays were predictably routine; I got up each morning and got ready for school. Margaret helped while she sipped her coffee. She would drop me off and I would spend the day cramming myself with Trig, French, Literature and so forth. After coming home I would spend some time with Kaley and do my homework. Most nights I helped Margaret with dinner; I kept her company while she shared her tips and techniques for whatever it was we were making. I enjoyed having her teach me how to cook and was thrilled that she thought I was becoming so adept in the kitchen.

  There hadn’t been any drama in school since the day Brooke decided to act out against me. She seemed to be consciously avoiding me, which was completely fine with me; I had no desire for any more unfortunate experiences with her.

  Winter seemed to be completely over and everyone was getting excited about our upcoming Spring Formal. I had never been to a school dance and still wondered if I would even bother to go. I was not very demonstrative and didn’t have a boyfriend which to me seemed the heaviest points for being there. Part of me thought it might actually be a fun way to spend a night with all of my friends; the other part of me rejected the idea completely since I wasn’t interested in or dating anyone. I knew Danielle wanted me to go and was hoping that Zach would ask her. I was praying that no one would ask me and felt it would be much simpler to go alone if I went at all.

  It was Saturday and I was planning on spending the day at Dani’s. We had been getting together almost every weekend since we met freshman year. We tried to switch off every other weekend spending one there and the next at Margaret’s. I liked going to her house since it was not in a subdivision like Margaret’s and I never had to stop and chat or wave Hi to a neighbor like I did when I was out and about at home. Dani’s house sat on a little hill and their backyard sloped down to a greenway that led into one of the state parks, which was another reason why I liked visiting. The park was one of the most peaceful places I knew and I loved spending time there.

  Danielle had a younger brother, Malcolm, who was always causing trouble of some sort or other. He was 100% boy and liked catching bugs and frogs and getting muddy, climbing trees and breaking things. He never wore pants, always shorts, even in the dead of winter and he always had a bandage on one knee or the other along with a variety of bumps and bruises from whatever mischief he had gotten into. I felt sorry for Danielle’s mom, Mrs. MacDowell or Mrs. Mac for short, because she never gave up on trying to curb his renegade ways and was always wild with her frustration at the chaos he created.

  Mr. Mac was ever busy, too but with yard work. He was always mowing, raking, weeding or planting something. It certainly paid off, though, because his efforts painted a picture perfect view as you approached the front door to their house. Everything was so well laid out and at that time of year so colorful that you couldn’t help but let your eye wander from one artful display to the next.

  They were a very affectionate family. There was always an I love you on one of their lips or the other. Mr. Mac was always trying to steal a kiss from Mrs. Mac which she always seemed to protest (perhaps because he was always dusty from working outdoors) but also always returned. There were also plenty of hugs being thrown about, too but fortunately they were only directed at the members of the family. I was sure I would not react well if one were to come my way.

  “Lily,” Margaret called up the stairs to me startling me out of my reflections.

  I was in my bedroom just lacing up my sneakers, “One minute,” I called back.

  I grabbed a sweatshirt from my closet and hurried down to Margaret. She was ready to take me to Danielle’s and to hurry off to her hair appointment. Dani and I planned to take the greenway into the park that day and do a little hiking. It was so nice out that I doubted I would need my sweatshirt but there was no harm in having it handy. I wished I could bring Kaley with me, I knew she would love chasing squirrels and snuffling through the fallen leaves along the sides of the trails. I decided I should ask Danielle how she would feel if I ever did bring Kaley along.

  “Tick Tock,” Margaret was pointing to her watch as I gave Kaley a hearty goodbye scratch.

  Once I finishe
d my farewell we got on our way. It only took about 10 minutes to get from my house to Danielle’s. She was waiting on the porch for me so I knew she was anxious to be off. I said goodbye to Margaret and waved as she pulled away. Dani jumped from the porch to the walkway and handed me a bottle of water.

  “Let’s go.”

  “OK, but what’s the hurry?”

  “Oh, nothing…” she paused for effect, “Zach and Charlie are riding their bikes in the park today.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  Danielle was obviously hoping for an encounter. It was a big park though and you could spend hours on the bike, bridle and hiking paths and never run into another person. I wondered if Zach knew we would be there as well and if he would make it a point to look for us.

  We walked for what must have been a half an hour or so and were ready to give up and head back but decided to take a short break first. We stopped at a bridge that crossed over one of the many creeks that ran through the park. It was at the bottom of a hill that corkscrewed around so you couldn’t see anyone coming until they reached the end of the last curve. After we crossed the bridge we sat on a huge boulder just off to the side of the trail and took our water bottles out.

  As I was finishing my first chug I heard a gravelly rumble and two mountain bikes came whizzing down the hill at breakneck speed. They passed so close to us that I felt I could have reached out my finger and touched them. As they crossed the wooden bridge and reached the other side they stopped with a flourish; spinning their bikes in 180 degree turns while throwing up bits of dirt and rock. Though I couldn’t see their faces under their helmets and glasses I knew it must be Zach and Charlie.

  They peddled up to us and dismounted from their bikes.

  “Hey Lily,” Charlie took his helmet off and hooked it on his handlebars. Zach did the same, “Hey Dani,” he said.

  Danielle shaded her eyes and looked up at them “Hi guys, fancy meeting you here.”

  I rolled my eyes at her, “Yeah, fancy that,” then nudged her in the ribs.

  I got up and started making small talk with Charlie, “So show me your bike,” I said.

  He rolled it a few feet away and started talking about the type of bike it was. Most of what he said meant absolutely nothing to me but I was curious after seeing him and Zach in action, what it would be like to ride one. When I told him his eyes just lit up.

  “Really?”

  “Sure why not?”

  “Well, I haven’t met many girls who think they want to mountain bike. Actually, I haven’t met any girls like that.”

  Charlie looked very different without his glasses. I decided he must be wearing contacts in order to be able to wear the protective lenses he had on when he was riding. He was a little disheveled from his helmet and the exertion of the biking itself but overall I thought it was a good look for him.

  “You know, my little brother has a mountain bike that he hardly ever uses. It’s probably about the right size for you if you ever want to give it a try.”

  “How about tomorrow?” I eagerly asked.

  “Oh, alright,” he was taken aback, “if I can clear it with my mom.”

  “Yeah, I’ll need to talk to my aunt, too,” some of my enthusiasm faded as I realized I couldn’t just up and make plans on the fly like that.

  We talked some more about biking, school, the weather, whatever we could think of to pass the time while Dani and Zach bantered back and forth. I wondered how long it was going to take for one or the other to get around to asking about the formal. It was obvious that they liked one another and I really couldn’t imagine what the hold-up might have been. I sincerely hoped that if I was ever attracted to a boy that I wouldn’t be so coy and evasive with my feelings.

  Suddenly I was inspired.

  “Hey the Spring Formal is coming up, let’s all go together.”

  Danielle’s eyes grew wide in disbelief.

  “That’s a great idea,” Zach was clearly relieved that he didn’t have to muster up the courage to invite Danielle.

  I was sure it was not Dani’s idea of a perfect resolution to the conundrum but she also seemed relieved that something had been decided before Zach and Charlie could zip away on their bikes.

  “Uh, I have a date,” Charlie piped up.

  I never considered that possibility.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I mean, not sorry that you have a date, sorry that, oh, never mind. It would have been fun if we could have all gone together.”

  I was actually disappointed, sincerely disappointed. I didn’t think I wanted to go to the formal but maybe that wasn’t the case at all.

  “Well, I know someone else who could join us if you really want to make it a foursome,” Zach said.

  “Sure, I don’t mind,” I was happy that the prospect of going had been revived.

  “Yeah, Brooke and Jake broke up and he was planning on going stag. I’ll ask him if he wants to join us.”

  My heart sank. “God, no; anyone but Jake” I thought. I had no desire of renewing any animosity between Brooke and me. Jake was the worst possible scenario I could think of. I wanted to back out of it but Danielle was counting on me. I looked from Zach to Danielle to Charlie and smiled.

  “I can hardly wait.”

  “I’ll let him know. Hey Charlie, saddle up.”

  Before they left I gave Charlie my e-mail address and told him not to forget about our outing. In a few seconds the boys were off and Danielle and I started our hike back to her house. Neither one of us talked much. Danielle was too wrapped up in the excitement of her date with Zach and I was trying to figure a civil way to get out of mine. My mind was in a whirlwind and every idea that suggested itself seemed false and unworthy.

  “Maybe Margaret will help me think of a way out,” I thought to myself.

  A squirrel ran across the trail in front of us which reminded me of Kaley, “Oh, I keep forgetting to ask,” I pulled Danielle out of her trance, “do you think I could bring Kaley with me sometime when I visit?”

  “I don’t know, I’ll talk to my mom though, see what she thinks.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “So Jake, huh?”

  Danielle knew that going with Jake would be a huge burden for me. She started telling me how grateful she was and “I can’t believe you came up with that, what a great idea, all going together. It’s too bad about Charlie, though. Who do you think he’s taking?”

  “Not me,” I tried to laugh if off but it was a futile attempt since all I could think about was my misfortune of having to go with Jake.

  “I’m really sorry about Jake; I know he is the last person you would want to go with, especially after that whole Brooke thing.”

  “It’s OK, it will all work out.”

  “Are you sure, maybe someone will take him off your hands, Missy or someone?”

  I knew that would never happen. I thought to myself that I had better start praying that Brooke and Jake got back together before the dance. I tried to change the subject, “Those bikes look pretty fun, don’t you think?”

  “Uh, uh, no way! Not unless you want a broken neck!!” Danielle made herself perfectly clear on that point. “I’ve seen some of those people riding out there. Absolutely crazy! Some of those trails are like 6 inches wide and covered in rocks and roots.”

  “Well, I’m sure he won’t take me on any of those.”

  “Who, Jake?”

  “No, duh, Charlie. He is going to take me riding tomorrow if I can get Aunt Margaret to agree.

  “Are you insane?”

  “I must be if I’m going to the Spring Formal with Jake.”

  “Well, just don’t break a leg while you’re out there, I’ll need you on the dance floor.”

  “Break a leg,” I thought. “That might do the trick.”

  By the time we got back to Dani’s house Margaret was there waiting for me. Mrs. Mac had made some tea and they were sitting at the kitchen table chatting away. I noticed Aunt Margaret’s new do and thought she looked
very pretty in it. She had some of the length taken off and added some loose layers around the ends so they framed her face a bit. I thought it made her look a lot younger and wondered to myself if she ever thought about dating. I was sure there were plenty of single men out there who would love to meet someone like her.

  “Hi girls, how was your walk?” Mrs. Mac asked.

  “It was fab-u-lous,” said Danielle.

  “Well, I would love to hear all about it but we really must be on our way.”

  Margaret thanked Mrs. Mac for the tea and I said a quick farewell to Danielle, “See you Monday.”

  I was thankful that Margaret was in hurry because I really wanted to talk to her about Jake. I began to wish I had told her about Brooke and everything that had happened between us that Monday after spring break so I wouldn’t feel so deceitful on top of everything else. I knew she would be disappointed that I didn’t share my troubles with her. It wasn’t because I didn’t trust her, or felt that she wouldn’t understand. I just didn’t want her to worry about me and really, it turned out to be no big deal since Brooke had been keeping her distance.

  “Aunt Margaret?”

  “Yes dear,” she glanced at me as she drove.”

  “I need to talk to you about something.”

  She looked surprised, “Oh, is everything alright?”

  I began to relay the entire story to her from Jake’s staring fest in homeroom, to what happened in Art and the lunchroom. I left out the part about the eerie feeling I got when I touched Brooke but told her everything else up to the point where Danielle and Zach finagled me into going to the dance with Jake.

  It took quite a bit of time to get through the whole tale and I was just wrapping up as we got home.

  “Hmm,” she said. “I’m not sure what I would do in a situation like yours. I think it’s great that you are going to the dance but this Jake character, that sounds like trouble.”

  “I know. It’s just going to open up a whole new can of worms with Brooke. I can’t stand Jake either; I’m not sure I can go through with it. I know it means a lot to Danielle but I am only willing to go so far to help a friend.”