Don't Kiss Him Good-Bye (23 page)

Chapter 49

I sat in the courtyard under the blooming wisteria, the age-old branches twirling around the posts and gripping them like an arthritic hand. Their perfume drifted down and enveloped me. I opened the paper and read a few of my friends’ columns—Hazelle’s in particular, which was actually very good. And then I read my own.

Dear Asking for Trouble,

It seems like for some reason a lot of things are going wrong in my life. My parents split up last year and we had to move to a smaller house (even though I’m still going to Wexburg Academy). Also, we were going to take a holiday to visit my gran in Australia, and now we can’t because of money. I don’t want to sit around in the dumps all the time, though. Any advice?

Sincerely,

Blue

I clearly remembered reading this letter right after Tommy had mentioned my joy. Joy had been on my mind, and I’d based my answer on Psalm 126:5.

Dear Blue,

I’m sorry things seem tough right now—and none of these circumstances are your fault! Hold on, though. You know that saying “The dawn follows the darkest part of the night”? It’s true. Try to find joy in the little things of life right now, day by day, and don’t focus on the rough bits of choppy water that everyone needs to paddle through. Soon enough the sun will rise.

Sincerely,

Blue Skies

Someone slid in beside me. I looked up and blurted out before thinking, “You make a habit of sliding in next to girls, don’t you?” First I was mortified I’d actually said it. Then I was happy that I felt free to say what I was thinking. The old Savvy was back!

Tommy grinned. “It would seem that way, wouldn’t it?” He looked at the paper in my hands and folded it back to the AFT column. “I read that too,” he said.

I kept my poker face on; I really did.

I could see Penny lurking, waiting for me, but like the great friend she was, she kept her distance. Tommy saw her too, though, and because he was a gentleman, he stood up to make room for her. He shook his shaggy brown hair, and I remembered again why I liked brunets. Then I remembered that he was dating Chloe and I locked the clasp of my heart.

“See you at the May Day Ball, I suppose?” he said.

I smiled, and he took that to be an affirmation. I wasn’t going to spill my guts with him. And I hadn’t even told Penny yet.

“See you Sunday.” He waved at Penny and me as he took off.

Penny walked casually to my side and sat down. “What was that all about?” she asked. “Did he ever call you?”

I shook my head.

“Did he tell you what he was calling you about?” she asked.

I shook my head again. “He’s just a nice guy, Pen. He probably had a question about our church or something and someone else answered it.”

“Oh. Well, then. How did things go with Rhys?” She popped the lid off her water bottle, then took a piece of gum and offered one to me. I started telling her everything that had transpired.

“Creep,” she said. “Well, you’re still coming on May 2, right? to the garden and tea event?”

“I’d love to,” I said. “But I won’t have anything to wear. I can hardly expect my parents to keep my gown when I’m not even going to the ball.”

Penny nodded. “Well, let me know what you decide to do. Whatever you want to do is okay with me.”

“Thanks, Pen.” I leaned over and hugged her. “I will. I’d better go home and talk to my mom about it now.”

Chapter 50

Mom and I sat on the couch together, sipping tea—now iced tea instead of hot. “So that’s the whole story,” I told her.

She ran her hand through my hair, a soothing, comforting reminder of something she used to do when I was a little girl. “Are you happy with your decision?”

I thought about missing the whole night, about the fun that would happen. But then I thought about missing the garden and tea party. “I’m sorry we can’t go to the garden party,” I said.

“Me too,” my mom said. “But totally understandable that you wouldn’t want to go after all that.”

“Oh, I don’t mind going,” I said. “It’s just that I won’t have anything to wear.”

Mom set her glass of tea on the table next to the couch. “Why not?”

“Well, we’ll have to take the Faerie dress back, right? I mean, it’s too expensive to keep for nothing.”

Mom shook her head. “It’s not for nothing. You can wear it another time, to a wedding or something. The money spent isn’t as important as the great decision you made and the amazing step toward womanhood you took. The dress is perfect for you. I don’t mind keeping it if you want to.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Mom said. “And then I’ll get a garden party out of it too. Speaking of which, I’d better get to the back garden, now that my wonderful girls have tidied it all up, and make a plan!” She stood up, and I went to call Penny and tell her that we’d be coming to the party after all. One good thing about not going to the dance was that I wouldn’t have to stare at Tommy and Chloe dancing together all night.

When I picked up my phone, I saw that there was a voice message waiting for me.

“Savvy. It’s Jack. Can you call me right away, please? Thanks very much.”

Chapter 51

I dialed him before calling Penny. What could he want? “Hey, Jack, it’s Savvy,” I said. “What’s up?”

“Savvy, thanks for calling me back so quickly. Listen, we’ve had a bit of a changeup, and I wonder if you can help the paper out of a pinch.”

I almost said, “Sure, of course” automatically, but I’d learned to wait before saying yes. “What did you have in mind?”

“It seems that Natalie is not going to be able to take the photographs at the May Day Ball after all. She’s, um . . . she’s going to the ball now. I’d heard you were not going, and, well, I wondered if you’d reconsider taking the snaps that night.”

Bad news certainly traveled fast. I had no idea how he’d heard that I wasn’t going to be there. I sighed. I was probably the only person on staff who wasn’t going to the ball. And I did know how to take good photojournalism pieces.

He must have interpreted my long silence as a no, because he spoke up and sweetened the deal. “If you’ll do this, I promise you’ll have your own full-fledged article by the end of the school year. On whatever topic you choose. If we approve it, of course.”

“With a byline?” I asked. If I was going to attend the dance in jeans and UGGs taking pictures of happy couples frolicking, it had better be worth my pain.

“With a byline,” Jack agreed. “Will you do it?”

“Okay,” I said.

“Thanks, Savvy; you’re a lifesaver.” And with that, Jack hung up.

I hoped I wouldn’t regret this later. Only time would tell.