August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (30 page)

Emma had it totally arranged, to Cara's embarrassment and my delight. The Petersons would host Tog for dinner, then Richard, Destiny and Eddy would come to our house for movie night. Emma had friends to visit. Everyone would be conveniently gone, so Cara and Tog could have dessert alone.

All day the women fussed over every dish that would be served. After lunch, I wandered over to see what Destiny was up to and offer my help. Richard sat on the porch, muttering to himself with a sour look on his face.

"Hey, Richard, what are you doing outside?"

He looked up, leaned forward and glowered at me, not saying a word.

"Isn't there a rule at your house about if you want to eat it, you have to help make it?" I was teasing, trying to pull Richard out of his apparent bad mood.

"You know, this whole thing is your fault." He huffed and threw himself against the back of the rattan chair.

The words stunned, but I recovered. I knew exactly what he meant. "My fault? I didn't make up the rule." I still hoped the teasing would lighten his mood.

"It's your fault he's coming here tonight." He spit through his teeth.

"Hey, I didn't invite him." My hands came up in surrender.

He looked away, so I moved and knelt before him until I caught his eyes. "I'm sorry, Richard, but I can't help it if your mom likes Tog. I certainly can't blame her. He's a nice guy."

He snorted.

"Richard." I reached over and placed my hand on his arm. "Please don't be mad at me." I put on my most pathetic face.

He tried to avoid my stare, but I wouldn't let him.

"Please?"

He huffed, a gust of breath that lightly moved my hair.

"Please?"

He unfolded his arms. Leaning forward, he wrapped them around me, pulling me to him, and placed his forehead on my forehead. "I'm not really mad at you. I'm just mad."

"Why are you mad?"

He sighed. "I'm not completely sure."

"What are you sure of?" It was comfortable being with Richard like this.

"I'm sure I don't like this jerk."

"He's not a jerk." I tweaked his nose.

He batted my hand away. "Yes, he is."

"No, he's not."

Richard pulled away and looked me in the eyes. "Yes. He. Is!"

Okay, time for another approach. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I just don't like him." He pulled me close again and put his chin on my head. He had a boney chin.

"You should give him a chance. He might not be as bad as you think."

"Yeah, he could be worse."

I leaned away from him. "You're such a pessimist." I tweaked his nose, again. "I'm going in to see if I can get in the way. You want to come with me?"

"Nah, I want nothing to do with feeding him. If he wants to eat, he can go somewhere else." He put his elbows on his knees and held his head.

"Ah, Richard, don't spoil tonight for your mom. It would really hurt her if you did."

He threw himself against the chair back, again. I wasn't sure the whicker was going to last through too much more.

"Please, Richard?"

He folded his arms tightly over his chest, his muscles bulging.

"Please?" I was worried what he might do. “For me, your favorite non-sister?”

He sighed and dropped his arms to his sides. "Alright. I'll try."

I hugged him. "Thank you. Tonight means a lot to your mom."

He frowned. "I know."

"I'm going in, come with me?"

He shook his head. "No, thanks, I need some more time alone."

"You want me to stay with you?"

"Nah, go ahead, I'm okay." His jaw clenched.

I stood up. "I don't mind staying if you need me to."

"No, you go ahead." His tone was just short of a command.

I left him, not sure if that was the right thing to do.

After helping Destiny with the salad, I went home with a brand new DVD in one hand and a large bag of homemade caramel popcorn in the other. Emma had a friend with connections who got her an advance copy of the latest action adventure movie that wasn't out in the stores yet. Since the Wasilla Theater couldn’t get the movie, no one around here had seen it. The movie was Emma's way of soothing Richard and getting him to stay at our house for more than thirty minutes.

Tonight was going to be great. Dad and Sue were going out for date night since they didn't get to last night. I woke up in my own bed and felt mostly rested. I was getting to host my best friends and I wouldn't be alone babysitting the twins. Life was good.

Sue began making the popcorn before dinner was done and made enough for an entire theater of people. As soon as we finished eating, we kids gathered our pillows and some blankets so we would be comfortable in our small sitting/TV room. It would be cozy and we were going to have a lot of fun. We couldn't help enjoying the evening with the Petersons here.

Not soon enough, parents were gone, the goodies were begging to be eaten – or maybe that was my stomach begging to eat – the movie was in and cued up. I had strategically placed large bowls of popcorn around the room and there was an ice chest of soda by the doorway. The idea was to create a snacker's heaven and I think I accomplished it.

Right on time, there was a knock at the front door. They’re here! I opened to what I thought would be happy smiling faces. Instead, Eddy plodded in without a word with Destiny almost as solemn. Richard came with the same terrible mood he was in earlier.

"What's the matter?" I closed the door.

Destiny rolled her eyes. "Richard ruined the whole dinner."

He scrunched up his face. "I did not."

She turned on her older brother. "Yes, you did."

Horror struck, images of mayhem skittered through my mind. "What did he do?" I was incredulous that my adopted big brother could do such a thing after he promised he wouldn't.

"He kept making snide remarks every time Tog said anything."

"No, I didn't." Richard was on the defensive. “Not every time.”

From the other room Eddy spoke up. "Yes, you did."

Richard growled under his breath. "Did not."

Destiny rolled her eyes as she shook her head and threw her hands up in frustration. She stalked to the sitting room and threw herself at an overstuffed pillow on the far side of the room.

Well, this sure put a damper on the evening.

"Okay, then." I rubbed my hands together. "Let's turn on the movie and drown our anger in junk food!"

The twins and Eddy cheered with me, but Destiny and Richard looked in opposite directions from opposite sides of the room. Things weren't starting out well. Maybe after I plied them with chocolate and sodas their moods would soften and we could salvage the evening.

"As a special surprise, Emma got Solomon's Tears!" I smiled like Vanna White as I held up the DVD cover, expecting Richard to get excited. Only Tim and Eddy showed real enthusiasm. I knew Tam wanted to see the movie too, but she could feel the tension in the room whereas the two boys were oblivious – or didn't care.

Destiny sighed. "Oh, goodie, a guy flick."

Without looking at her, Richard snorted. "At least it's not a chick flick."

Destiny narrowed her eyes and stared out the window.

Could this get any worse?

"Alright-y now, let's just get this fun filled night on the road." I pushed the start button and turned the TV on.

"There's chocolate in the dishes on the tables, popcorn in the big bowls and sodas by the door."

The first movie preview started and I settled on a pillow between Richard and Destiny. I liked previews.

Richard stood up.

"Where are you going?" Destiny snapped.

He frowned deeply at her. "I'm gonna get some water."

"Water? But Sue got your favorite soda." I was dumbfounded.

"Water's better for you." He turned to leave.

"Yeah, right." Destiny eyed him suspiciously. "Since when?"

"Quit nagging and watch the movie." He left in a huff.

Destiny set her jaw before she got up.

"Where are you going?"

She shushed me. "Water? Yeah, right."

She stepped over the kids and peeked around the doorway before slipping from the room.

The kids were engrossed in the previews. The ones I was missing. Quietly, I followed Destiny. At the swinging door I caught up with her. The kitchen was empty.

"I knew he wasn't going for water."

"Then where'd he go?" I had a sinking feeling.

She headed for the back door. It stood ajar. "I know exactly where he's gone."

I followed her out and around the side of the house. We quietly slipped through our gate and Destiny yanked theirs open. Just inside the fence Richard peered in their kitchen window.

In a loud whisper Destiny unleashed her anger. "Going for water? What, you think our garden hose is better than their faucet?"

Richard jerked his head to us. "Shhh!"

"Don't shush me. How dare you come over here to spy on them like a peeping Tom."

"I'm not a peeping Tom. Someone has to protect our mother."

Richard had lost it.

Destiny stomped over and stood toe to toe with him. "From what? Tog is a nice guy."

"No, he's not. He just wants you to think that."

She poked him in the chest. "At least he's
trying
. He's been really nice to you, but you haven't given him one chance."

"I don't trust him."

"He hasn't done anything for you not to trust him."

"He's dating our mother, that's one thing and that's all it takes."

"You are hopeless." Destiny rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air.

While the two argued, I watched through the kitchen window. Cara flitted around their tidy kitchen while she prepared dessert for her and Tog. He stood, casually leaning against the island counter as they chatted. He was so big and strong. A tiny bit of jealousy surfaced as I remembered what it had been like when he held me in those muscular arms and how the heat of his body comforted me.

Sweet, shy Cara placed their dessert plates on the counter beside Tog and turned for something she must’ve forgotten. Tog caught her hand and slowly pulled her towards him.

Richard growled and Destiny grabbed his arm.

Tog reeled Cara into his arms and tenderly kissed her.

Destiny and I both lunged for Richard. He was headed for the kitchen door. We were at the steps by the time we stopped him. With his strength, we wouldn’t be able to hold him back for long.

I threw my arms around his neck and jumped up on him wrapping my long legs around his waist. Once secure I put my hands on Richard's face while he fought to get Destiny off his arms.

It took all my strength, but I made him look at me. "Richard, listen to me." I tried to be quiet, but he wouldn't look in my eyes. "Richard, look at me!"

He looked, anger seething in heat waves. I almost let go. Instead I put my nose to his. "Richard, you have to let your mom grow up."

He looked at me as though I'd lost my mind.

"She's been alone long enough. It's time she had a boyfriend."

He flailed an arm toward the window. "But he's kissing her!"

"That's what boyfriends do, or so I've been told."

"Hey, what're you guys doing out here?" We turned to find Eddy and the twins standing at the gate staring at our odd scene.

"Go back and watch the movie!" We three whispered loudly.

Tim looked in the window. "Oh, gross!"

Tog and Cara were still kissing.

Richard growled. "I'm going to kill him!"

I tried to block his view. "No, no, Richard."

He pulled my hands from his face and tried to dislodge me, but my strong legs held. Giving up, he simply twisted me around his body until I was on his back. I grabbed him around the neck. That didn't slow him down.

He charged up the steps and through the kitchen door. "Take your hands off my mother!"

Cara turned around in Tog's arms, shock blazed on her face. It must’ve been quite a spectacle with me riding on Richard, piggyback.

Tog didn’t hide his amusement and grinned. Little did he know I was riding an active volcano that was ready to erupt. Tog didn't let go of Cara, which made Richard madder. Richard stormed toward the couple, set on separating them or killing Tog, I wasn’t sure which.

I grabbed the fridge door as we passed. With all my strength, I hung on which prevented Richard from going any farther than the length of my body and the width of the built-in fridge door as it opened. My stomach spotted a glazed ham and tried to talk me into getting it a piece. My stupid stomach growled when I refused.