Holly's Heart Collection One (48 page)

“Same here,” he said, waving to the toddlers.

Outside, the autumn air was turning brisk. It was like that in the mountains. Summer was over almost before it got started in Dressel Hills, Colorado.

“I think I’m in love,” Andie said on our way down the hill toward the city bus stop. Her mother pushed the stroller ahead of us.

“Good grief. Don’t be so dramatic. And have you forgotten Billy? He’s nuts about you.”

“Whatever,” she said. “Call me after supper. I’ve got an essay to write.” The bus pulled up to the corner, half a block away. She ran to catch up with her mother and brothers.

The bus was filling up fast. “Better hurry,” I called, strolling past the Soda Straw, a fifties-style diner with a soda fountain and every flavor of ice cream in the world. Today it was hopping with kids, most of them fresh from volleyball tryouts.

Kayla Miller dashed out the door, her ponytail bobbing up and down. “Holly, wait up,” she called to me.

I waited on the sidewalk for her to catch up. Her grin was gone.

In its place were accusing eyes. “I saw what happened at the gym right before you and Andie left.”

Puzzled, I made a face. “
What
happened?”

“Stan, uh, your cousin. You were talking to him.”

Now I was really confused. “Maybe you’d better spell it out, Kayla.”

“You introduced him to Andie, didn’t you?” Her eyes squinted partway shut, the way my mom’s eyes do when she’s upset.

“Yeah, so?”

She looked away. “You don’t know this, but I’ve liked Stan for as long as I can remember. Before we moved here, he and I went to different schools, but we always talked after church.”

I listened, still wondering what she wanted from me.

She continued. “Then Mrs. Patterson died and Stan’s dad started attending another church. Anyway, I didn’t get to see Stan much after that. Now…here we are in the same junior high, and he doesn’t even seem to know I exist.”

I scratched my head. “Why are you telling
me
?”

“You’re his cousin, Holly. Couldn’t you set me up with him?”

First Andie, now Kayla.
“I really don’t know what you see in him. Besides, my best friend is bugging me to—”

“You’re helping
her,
aren’t you?” she interrupted.

I nodded.

“Please, just help me get to know Stan better.”

“But he
knows
you already, doesn’t he?” I said, totally confused.

“C’mon, Holly,” she said. “Please?”

I burst into a panic attack. “This is too weird. My cousin moves to town, and everyone’s all mushy over him.”

“Because he’s so cute,” she crooned.

“Cuter than Danny?”
Oops.
I caught myself too late.

“Danny Myers?” she said. “He’s okay, I guess, but…”

“Then, are you saying you don’t like Danny?” I couldn’t believe I was asking this.

“What makes you think that?” She played with her ponytail.

I breathed deeply. “Remember last summer? You practically begged Danny to help you with your serves. You flirted all over the place, even at the library.”

“But don’t you see? It was all about getting close to Stan. I was sure he’d be involved with the girls’ volleyball team this year. That’s why I wanted to make the team so bad. Danny’s just a friend.”

“Really?” I didn’t buy it for one second.

“So, will you?” she asked again, tears glistening in her eyes.

This girl’s either completely lost it over Stan, or she’s the best actress around.
I opened my mouth to speak.

“Holly,” Andie called to me, running across the street toward us.

“What’s up?” I said, surprised to see her.

“The bus was too full for all of us, so I let Mom and the twins go ahead. I’ll catch the next one.” She glanced at Kayla Miller. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Not really,” Kayla said, wiping her eyes. Then looking me square in the face, she said, “Call me with your answer tonight.”

And she dashed into the Soda Straw.

“What was
that
about?” Andie’s dark eyes demanded an answer.

How could I tell my best friend that the girl I suspected of chasing the guy I liked was really more interested in Andie’s latest crush?

“Please, Holly,” she called after me as I turned to go. “Talk to me.”

“Later.” I looked back at her, forcing a smile.

Under my breath, I said, “
Much
later,” as I trudged toward home.

THE TROUBLE WITH WEDDINGS

Chapter 5

I kicked every little stone along the sidewalk as I walked. There was no big rush to get home. At the beginning of the school year, Mom had said since Carrie was turning nine in a month I could take my time getting home. Besides, I was an eighth-grade student, which meant more freedom.

So I took my time fuming over my stupid cousin Stan. I was freaked out at the sudden interest the female population of Dressel Hills Junior High was showing in him. Andie, Kayla…and who knows who else? I didn’t dare tell him. He already had a mammoth ego.

Downhill Court—my street—came into view as I turned away from the ski shops downtown. Dressel Hills was a blaze of gold, the only fall color we had here in the Rocky Mountains. Back in Pennsylvania, trees turned every imaginable hue. Here, people drove for miles to see the shimmering yellow of the quaking aspen trees nestled against the backdrop of dark evergreens.

When I got home, Mom was in the kitchen putting a casserole into the oven. “How were tryouts?” she asked.

“You’ll never guess in a zillion years.” I leaned my books against the sink, trying not to grin.

She tossed the potholders aside and hugged me. “You made the team!”

“I still can’t believe it.”

“
I
can—after all the hours of practicing over at Danny’s. How is he, anyway?”

“He’s really cool, Mom. He treats me great.”

Mom’s eyes squinted half shut. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know. He’s the coolest boyfriend ever.”

She looked like she was gonna drop her teeth. “You’re dating him?”

“Of course not. Didn’t I explain all that? Danny knows I can’t date till I’m fifteen—and even then only in a group setting. He just calls me his girlfriend because he likes me, and I like him. All we do is hang out at school and at youth group—you know, like good friends.”

Mom set the oven timer. “Just so your friendship doesn’t become too exclusive. Do we understand each other?”

I nodded that I did. “You don’t have to worry about me, Mom.” Then I remembered Mom’s upcoming date with Uncle Jack. “When’s your date picking you up?” I asked, moving my books to the long bar in the middle of the kitchen.

“Six o’clock. That’s why I made chicken casserole. You’ll be feeding the whole crew, minus Stan. Think you can handle things?”

“No problem. Except I do have lots of homework tonight.” I was thinking of the essay on responsibility I had to hand in to Mr.

Ross first thing tomorrow.

“I’m sure Uncle Jack will make it worth your while. He pays by the kid per hour,” Mom reminded me.

I hoped my uncle would continue to date Mom. It was good for business. And by her smiles…good for Mom, too.

“By the way, Holly, I’m planning a surprise birthday party for Carrie—a week from this Saturday.” Mom followed me upstairs to my room. Goofey padded up behind me.

“Who did you invite?” I plopped down on my four-poster bed and snuggled with the cat.

Mom closed the door, then sat on my lavender window seat. “I’ve invited Stephanie, Mark, and Phil, of course, and Carrie’s new friend, Brittany Lloyd, from school.”

“What about Zachary Tate? I know Carrie would love to see him again.” I stroked Goofey’s neck, and his purring rose to a rumble. I wanted to hear what Mom would say about her former boyfriend’s kid coming to the party.

She breathed deeply, slowly exhaling. “I don’t think it would be wise. Zachary had a rough time when his dad and I stopped seeing each other. I wouldn’t want to tamper with his feelings now for anything in the world.”

I leaned back on the bed. “I never see Mr. Tate or Zachary at church anymore.”

“I think they must attend a different church,” Mom said. “I really do miss having Zachary in my Sunday school class.”

I bet she did. Mom had a strong maternal instinct I liked to call a mother heart. If she and Daddy had stayed married, there’d probably be a bunch of us kids by now.

“What do you think about Carrie’s surprise party?” Mom asked. “Counting Carrie, there’ll be five kids.”

“Sounds perfect for a nine-year-old.” I pulled out my assignment notebook. “I won’t be able to help you with the party much. There’s an ice-cream social at the Soda Straw with Pastor Rob and the youth group. Okay with you?”

“Uncle Jack will be here to help.” Suspicious-looking twinkles gleamed from her eyes as she mentioned his name.

I grinned. “You really like my uncle, I see.”

“Is it obvious?” Mom said, fooling with her hair.

“Does Uncle Jack know you’re in love with him?”
The question I’ve been dying to ask.

A smile danced across her cheeks. “Who wants to know?”

“Mom…tell me!” I jumped off the bed and raced to the door, blocking her exit with my body. “You’re stuck here till you tell me.”

Mom giggled like a schoolgirl. “I better let you get to homework before the troops arrive.” She reached out and touched my hair. “I really appreciate you, Holly. You’re so responsible. I know I can always count on you.”

“No fair changing the subject.” I moved aside to let her pass.

She closed the door, leaving me alone with my pen poised to write an essay titled, “The R-Word: Responsibility.”

I wanted to laugh out loud. Mom was right. Usually I
was
oozing with responsibility. But note-passing in science had been a big mistake. I wouldn’t let Mr. Ross know that I secretly enjoyed having an excuse to write an essay. Writing was my life. Books too. I mean, if I was going to be stuck on a deserted island, I would definitely take stacks of them, along with notebooks and sharpened pencils.

By the time Uncle Jack and the cousins showed up, I’d finished my rough draft, fifty words over the five-hundred-word limit. In the living room, Stephie was riding piggyback on her dad. He wore tan dress pants and a herringbone sports coat. Mark reached up and tried to pull Stephie’s hair. When he saw me, Uncle Jack put Stephie down and straightened his striped tie. “The line forms to the right,” he said, turning to look outside.

Good…room to revise,
I thought as I raced downstairs.

“What line?” asked Stephie.

He leaned closer to the picture window, pushing the curtains aside. “Guys are flocking to Holly’s house. Look, can’t you see them?”

Stephie ran over for a peek. I sneaked up behind him and tickled his ribs.

“Oh-ho, there,” he said, whirling around. “Asking for a tickle session, are you?”

Stephie hollered, “You’ll lose, Holly. You will!”

I backed away, smiling. “No thanks, I’ll pass.”

“Chicken!” Phil shouted, pulling on my arm. “Here, Holly, I’ll tell you where he’s ticklish.”

Uncle Jack pulled out his wallet. “Looks like you’re in for a busy evening. Here’s payment in advance.”

Forty bucks!

“Uh, that’s too much,” I said, staring at the money.

Uncle Jack acted surprised. “Four kids for four hours? Sounds just right to me.”

Goofey wandered into the living room, and Uncle Jack started sneezing. “Stupid allergies,” he muttered, taking out a handkerchief to blow his nose. I stuffed the money into my jeans before he could change his mind.

After supper I had all baby-sitting details under control. Carrie and Stephie were playing upstairs, and Mark and Phil were glazed over in front of the TV. I was cleaning the kitchen when the phone rang.

“Hello?” I answered it.

“Is Phil Patterson there?” a tiny voice asked.

“Uh, yes, he is. Who’s calling?”

“He knows who it is,”
she
said.

I hurried downstairs to the family room. “Someone wants to talk to you.” I handed the phone to ten-year-old Phil.

“Hello?” he said. Silence. Then he yelled, “Aa-agh! Get back, it’s Elaine Thomas!” He tossed the phone to me.