Confessions of a Teen Nanny 03 - Juicy Secrets (10 page)

free love

"I told you Graydon shouldn't be your boyfriend," Emma declared. "Now maybe you'll believe me."

Adrienne numbly looked from the CD player to Emma. She was too upset to even speak.Too upset to even cry. All she could do was stare at Emma in shock.

"So don't be all in love with him like you said," Emma said. "He's not good enough for you."

Adrienne smiled in spite of her pain. "You got that right," she said weakly. Emma had heard her conversation with Liz and didn't want Adrienne to make the biggest mistake of her life. Emma actually cared about her. At the moment, that meant the world to her.

"Now maybe you won't be mad that I didn't listen to you, right?" Emma wheedled. "And agree that CSI totally rules."

Adrienne took in a shaky breath, trying to stay focused, trying to process this incredible betrayal by

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Graydon. "It-it's still wrong that you tape people behind their backs,"Adrienne said.Then she squeezed the girl in a tight hug. "But thank you for playing this for me."

"You should hear the other stuff Cameron and Graydon talk about." Emma reached for the player again.

"No,"Adrienne said."I don't want to hear." She didn't think she could take hearing their voices, or anything else they might have said about her.

"Okay," Emma said. "They say mean things about everybody. Mostly about you and Mimi, though."

Adrienne swallowed hard, afraid she was going to be sick.What other horrible things could they have said? No. Don't torture yourself like this, she told herself. Do not listen to these tapes.

Then another nauseating idea occurred to her. What if Emma had played these conversations for anyone else? I'll be branded as the total loser of the universe, she thought, her cheeks reddening. I have to destroy them!

"Listen, Emma," she said, collecting the CDs, "I'm going to take these."

"But--" Emma began.

Adrienne held up a hand to stop her. "No. I need to take them." She tucked the CDs into her bag, then turned back to Emma. "Since you don't have an actual stomach- ache, why don't we see if Tania has a snack for you?" She wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. She wasn't

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sure how much longer she could keep it together. She figured Tania wouldn't mind if she left early.

In the elevator Adrienne thought she would start sobbing, but she took a deep breath and held it together. When she stepped out into the warm spring evening, she looked up and down Fifth Avenue, relieved Graydon wasn't pulling another one of his surprise grand appear- ances, and hurried toward the subway.

I really thought he was falling in love with me, she thought, a horrible leaden feeling invading her entire body. Instead, I was falling right into their game. How could I have been so stupid?

Adrienne wasn't sure which felt worse: that the guy she thought she loved was a complete skank or that she had been set up and played for a total fool by Cameron.

She's done it to me again, Adrienne thought. I cannot let her get away with it this time.

Adrienne went to dump the CDs in a corner garbage can but stopped.

Conversations. She stared at the discs in her hand. Cameron's private conversations.

"Cameron had better be prepared for a real shock," she murmured, slipping the CDs back into her bag.

Saturday morning, Heather paced back and forth near the riding rings at Madison Square Garden. She was in her

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riding clothes: beige jodhpurs, well-tailored jacket, and velvet riding cap. Her wild curls had been tamed by Ms. Winters into two neat braids that hung down her back, the ends carefully wrapped and tied with black silk ribbon. Heather looked bright and alert, but very nervous.

Liz stood at Heather's side, patting her shoulder. She had never been "eventing" (as Ms. Winters called partici- pating in the competition), and she had had no idea what to expect. For the Knickerbocker show there were two rings set up: one with jumps, the other without.

The competitions seemed to run simultaneously. The crowd alternately recognized one rider or the other as they competed in different events, and so just as one rider was performing a difficult jump or move, the audience would cheer for the rider in the other ring. That would drive me nuts, Liz thought. How do those girls stay so focused?

Liz recognized Mitzi Huntington's daughter, Kelli, in the next ring, looking as if she had ridden every day of her life. Kelli was twelve--three years older than Heather-- and already looked like a seasoned pro. She easily cleared the first few low jumps, expertly demonstrating her careful control of the horse. As she neared the final and largest jump, her horse slowed slightly and, instead of sailing over the wide jump, clipped the rail with his rear hoof and knocked it down.

"Don't let the activity in the other ring or the audience

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distract you," Ms. Winters instructed Heather, as if she'd read Liz's thoughts."You've worked hard for this, Heather."

It was true, Liz noted. Ever since Heather's break- through a few weeks ago, when she had finally posted cor- rectly, her entire attitude had changed. Now she was eager for lessons and had become one of those little girls obsessed with horses. Finally, Liz thought, Heather has found something she might be good at.

Liz just hoped that being forced to compete so early in her training wouldn't set Heather back.

"Where's Mommy?" Heather asked, mounting Mindreader.

"She said she wanted to go change," Liz said.

"Make sure she watches," Heather said, worry creasing her forehead.

"I'm she won't miss it," Liz promised, hoping she was telling the truth.

"Keep your seat, watch your gait, chin up, back straight, elbows in, heels and hands down, and you'll be fine." Ms.Winters patted Heather on the leg."Off you go."

Heather guided Mindreader to the small ring where the other contestants in her division waited to compete.

Liz watched Heather with affection. She's really done so well. I hope she wins--or at least doesn't embarrass herself.

"Tally HO!" a familiar voice hollered. Liz turned.

Dr. Markham-Collins stood in a box at the side of the

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ring. She waved her arms to attract Heather's attention.

Dr. M-C had truly outdone herself. A glistening silk top hat with ribbons dangling from it perched crookedly on top of her frizzy curls. Her coat was a bright fire-engine red and taut against her body. Her white jodhpurs stretched tight across her thick legs. Tall black boots completed the ensemble, and Dr. M-C waved her gloves in her right hand and a riding crop in her left for emphasis.

"I'm watching, darling!" Dr. M-C called, her voice startling horses around the arena. "Ride like the wind!"

I shouldn't have worried, Liz thought.Why would Heather embarrass herself when her mother is so ready to do it for her?

"Oh, MITZI!" Dr. M-C bellowed to Mrs. Huntington in the next box. "I am SO SORRY that Kelli's mount KNOCKED that jump OVER! You must be DEVAS- TATED that she has been working so hard only to suffer SUCH a DEFEAT."

"Into the ring!" a voice announced. "The level-one walk-trot division."

Liz watched Heather's group enter the ring. Liz spotted little Darien Darrel on a lumbering gray mare ahead of Heather.

"Go, Heather!" Dr. M-C shouted, leaning out from her box and waving her crop in a show of over-the-top enthusiasm.The mothers of the other riders, in neat sweaters and slim pants, stared at her in horrified fascination as she

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bellowed as if she were at a hockey match.

The girls followed the instructions of the announcer, maneuvering around the ring. Liz caught her breath as Darien had trouble turning her horse around to reverse directions, but Heather seemed to have it all under control. She had a little difficulty when the announcer called for a "sitting trot," but she never lost her cool.

Luckily before Liz passed out from holding her breath for so long, Heather had finished the course. She sat beaming proudly on top of Mindreader as the winners were announced.

"Third place!" Liz gasped when she heard Heather's name announced. "That's amazing!"

"I told you she could do it," Ms.Winters said.

"You did a great job," Liz said. "I never would have guessed she'd get so good. And I've never seen her this confident."

"It's something about riding. I've seen it before," Ms. Winters explained. "She gets to use her natural skills instead of her acquired behaviors. And I just kept telling her if she worked hard, she could do it because she had the talent and the skills. Paid off. Great seat, she has." Ms. Winters smiled. "Give her a treat. She did well."

Heather came out of the back, leading Mindreader by the reins.

"That was fun!" she said. "And look! I got a ribbon."

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"I know!" Liz said, giving Heather a hug. "You rode really well. I was so proud of you!"

"Oh, so was I, darling!" Dr. M-C said, stomping up to them. "You made Darien Darrel look like a clod!"

Liz's phone rang and she glanced down. Parker. She felt flutters in her stomach as she picked up. She had no idea how he would act--it had been almost two weeks since they'd last spoken.

"Hey," Parker said. He sounded distant--almost disin- terested. "You keep calling me, and I figured I should at least call you back."

"I'm glad you did," Liz said. "Listen, I'm at Madison Square Garden. Heather did really great in her very first horse show, and I am completely thrilled. I want to cele- brate.What are you doing?"

"Liz, I'm in no mood to celebrate," Parker said. "You should know that."

Liz took a deep breath. "Parker, I really care about you, and I'm sure you care about me." She spoke quickly so he wouldn't have a chance to contradict her. "Even if you don't want to see me any more as my boyfriend, I still want you to know that I'm your friend. Some of the most fun I've had in the past few months has been with you."

"Liz, look, I--"

Liz cut him off."Listen, Parker, I'm really happy about

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Heather, I'm off, it's a gorgeous day, I want to see you. What do you say?"

"I have no money," he said flatly.

"Since when do they charge for a walk?" Liz demanded.

Parker chuckled. It was the first time Liz had heard him do that since the scandal.

"Come on," Liz urged. "You know you want to."

"Okay," Parker said, his voice sounding warmer. "But just for a little while."

"Thanks, Parker. I'll meet you on Central Park South at Fifty-ninth, near the statue."

"I'll be there," Parker said.

And I need to come up with something fantastic to do! Liz realized. Fast!

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high in the sky

L iz hurried to meet Parker. She didn't have time to change, so she hoped she didn't smell like the horse show.

She spotted Parker leaning against the side of the statue. He had his head down, as if he didn't want anyone to notice him.

He looks so . . . defeated, Liz thought. Usually Parker carried himself with confidence and style.Today he slumped against the statue like a kid afraid he'd be picked last for a team.

"Hey," he said as she approached. "So, I made it."

"And I'm really glad," Liz said. Despite the fatigue and obvious worry on his face, Liz thought he looked as hand- some as ever.

"So which way?" he asked."Where do you want to go for this walk?"

"I know a fabulous place with an incredible view.We can have drinks and something to eat there."

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Parker's jaw tensed. "You know I can't do that stuff right now. I thought you understood that." He sounded aggravated.

"Hey," Liz said. "Trust me."

"I don't like you treating me, Liz."

"We'll split it," Liz said. "And I promise you that it is cheap. Super cheap.And I can guarantee you've never been anywhere like this before."

Parker gazed at her a moment, then shrugged. "Lead on."

They walked east along Fifty-ninth Street in an uneasy silence. Liz really hoped that her plan wouldn't backfire.

"How are things going?" she asked finally, breaking the silence. She wasn't sure if she should give him space or encourage him to talk. She opted for talking--all the unspoken words between them made her feel too awkward.

"Not so great," Parker admitted.

"Really?" Liz said.

"My dad's out on bail, at least, but he still isn't around much. Mostly he's with the lawyers. The freezing of the accounts is hard. My mom is keeping everything afloat with her own money, but the feds are trying to stop that, too."

"Sounds hard on you," Liz commented.

"It's hard on me because it's hard on them. Well, it's hard on me, too, because my so-called friends have all

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dropped me. I'm dead to my old posse in New York."

Liz shook her head. She couldn't believe that his friends would drop him just because he was going through hard times. "You're not dead to me," Liz said firmly.

Liz came to a stop on Second Avenue, right under the Queensborough Bridge. Because it was the weekend, traffic wasn't too bad, but it was still a busy intersection. Parker looked at her quizzically.

"So . . . this is it? You wanted to walk to the East River?" he asked.

"You'll see," Liz said. "But first you buy the drinks." She pointed to a hot dog cart at the curb.

"Really?" Parker asked.

"Diet Coke for me," Liz said. "Tell him a cold one from the bottom of the fridge."

"Okay.You're in charge," Parker said.

They strolled up to the cart.The pungent smell of the steaming hot dogs, grilling onions, and hot pretzels made Liz's mouth water.

"A Coke and a Diet Coke," Parker told the short hot dog man. "Cold, and from the bottom of the fridge."

The hot dog man pulled out the sodas, gave them to Parker and took the money."Anything else?" he asked in a thick Hispanic accent.

"Two bags of Fritos, please," Liz said, holding out three dollar bills.

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Transaction completed, Liz slipped her arm through Parker's."Now for something really special.Time for a ride on the Roosevelt Island tram!"

"Are you serious?" Parker asked.

"As a heart attack," Liz said, leading him into the tram terminal. She pulled out her MetroCard and swiped her fare and pushed through the turnstile. She handed the card back to Parker, who had a confused expression on his face.

"Come on!" Liz urged. "We don't want to miss it."

Shaking his head, Parker swiped the card and walked through the turnstile. They trotted up the stairs to where the tram was waiting. Liz was thrilled to see they were the only ones taking the trip.

"I've never been on this thing," Parker admitted as they stepped into the bright red cable car.

"Adrienne and I sometimes take it over to Roosevelt Island in the summer. It's the cheapest trip out of New York!"

The doors slid shut, and the cable car lurched as it rose high above the East River. Liz stumbled into Parker, who gripped her tightly.

"Maybe we should sit," he said.

"Oh, I don't know," Liz said."It's kind of like our own little amusement park ride!"

As the tram rose higher, the wind made it sway."I see what you mean," Parker said, laughing. He strode to the enormous windows and gazed down.

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"This view is amazing!" Parker said.

Liz smiled up at Parker. She was happy to see that he was grinning.

"Very fabulous," she agreed. "And over on Roosevelt Island there are all these parks, and even an old, abandoned building we can explore."

"Cool," Parker said. She felt his arms go around her waist and he pulled her into him and kissed her neck. "Though I think I could just ride our private tram back and forth all day."

Liz snuggled closer. "Works for me!"

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