Parallel (Travelers Series Book 1) (17 page)

Tonight’s the Spring Fling. Alex was so sweet when he asked me to go. He even looked excited about going. And I’m finally going to meet his mom for the first time. I know dad isn’t too thrilled with me dating, but he’ll get over it. I don’t know why he always gets nervous whenever I bring up Alex. Guess he’s afraid I’m all grown-up now. He probably doesn’t know how to handle a dating teenager. Thank god I have Aunt Maggie. She is the only one who can talk sense into dad. She even helped me pick out a dress. It’s the cutest grey taffeta dress.

What a letdown. No dreams in this entry. I pull the photo out from where I tucked it in the back of the journal. I take a closer look at the couple. I’m not a fan of dresses, but it’s definitely cute.

I head straight for the closet and find the grey dress. It’s a simple poof dress with a halter style top. Only it isn’t grey like they way it’s described in the journal, it’s more shimmery platinum.
My dream!
This is the same knee-length formal I dreamt about when I was at Dominion House. How is that possible?

I re-examine the photo that’s still in my hand and try to picture the meeting between the other Etta and Alex’s mom that night for the first time. Any mother would have been impressed to have their son date a girl like the one smiling back at me from the photo. Even though we’re the same person, I don’t think I could have pulled off looking as good as that. There’s a special look in her eyes. All those years being in foster care robbed me of that.

My thoughts are disrupted by my cell ringing. I bet it’s Alex. I look at the number on the screen. Damn, it is Alex. I can’t not answer it, especially since I just smoothed things over between us. “Hey,” I put on my sweet voice. “I was just thinking about you.” I’m still staring at the photo of the two of us, not taking my eyes off their smiling faces.

He doesn’t say anything, but I hear him breathing on the other end of the line. I wait patiently until he finally says, “Are you sure? Not that Cooper guy?”

“Just you. Actually, I’m looking at the photo we took at the Spring Fling.”

“One of these days you’re going to have to tell me about him.” Alex ignores my last comment.

Okay, I deserve that. “You don’t need to worry about him.”

“You’re right, I won’t. Besides, you’re going out with me on Tuesday, right? You haven’t changed your mind or anything have you?”

“Not in the last half-hour. I’m actually looking forward to it.” But not for the reason you think.

“Don’t sound too excited.”

Am I that transparent? “Seriously, I’m really looking forward to going. Are you sure your mom won’t mind me hanging around her party with all those political types?”

“No way, she knows I hate these things. Anything to make her only son happy.”

Maybe her hospitality will extend to answering questions about my dad. If my dad works for the government, there’s a small chance Senator Stewart would know what he’s up to.

We say our goodbyes and promise to meet up in the morning for school. Not ready to fall asleep just yet, I go back to Etta’s journal.

March 20

The Spring Fling was a total bust. And worst of all, I don’t know what I did. Alex was so excited to introduce me to his mom and everything was going really well I thought, until right before we left for the dance. His mom got all abrupt and it’s like she couldn’t wait for us to leave. Later that night, Alex was acting all distant and didn’t seem like he was very happy to be there. Did his mom not like me? Did she tell Alex something?

Then, Jaime gets all drunk and I have to call us a cab to get her drunken ass home. Alex didn’t want her to puke in his truck, so I got stuck paying for a taxi to get us back home. Some fairy tale dance. And to top it all off, today, Alison tells me during tennis that Jenny was all over Alex after I left the dance. What a bitch.

What happened that night that made his mom did a one-eighty? And what was up with Alex being a total jerk? I keep on reading.

March 26

What the hell? Jenny is going out with Alex now? Jaime just called and told me they were seen at the movies.

March 28

I’m not even going to write about Jenny and Alex. I’m done with them. Alex tried to talk to me at school, but I just ignored him. I don’t really care what he has to say.

But I did have another dream last night. This one is weirder than the others. I was at Battle Grounds and I meet the most gorgeous guy. Then Jaime makes me go back to some dorm room where we lived. The dream seemed to fast forward and the next thing I know, I’m driving around town with him.

Why can’t I meet someone like that here? I bet he wouldn’t go out with someone like Jenny. Oops, wasn’t going to mention her.

That was several days ago! Her—my—dreams are almost in sync with my reality. How is this possible? I flip to the next page. Blank. This was the last entry written. I check the date. This was two days before I showed up here. And the entry about Alex, what’s up with that? He ditches me for Jenny, and then apologizes to me in the backyard, saying that it’s all a misunderstanding? This is a timeline that’s played out as if I truly always existed in this world.

A
lex doesn’t pick me up or show up at the house with flowers. Nothing to suggest that this is supposed to a typical date. Instead, he calls to tell me he has to help his mom set up for the event and wants to know if I can possibly come over on my own. So, I head over to Alex’s house all by myself, which is fine. His place isn’t that far from my own, so I decide to walk. I don’t know how many people the senator is expecting, so I’d rather not go through the trouble of finding a parking space that’s just as far as my own house.

I walk up to the Stewart house and for some reason, I’m not as impressed as when I first went over to his house for the pool party. The absence of moonlight just made the neighborhood look, well, dark and uninviting. I continue up the drive and notice that the senator arranged valet parking for this shin-dig—guess I didn’t have to worry about parking after all.

When Alex first told me his mother was a senator, I was a bit confused. The way I understand it, most members of Congress hole themselves up in tiny townhomes in the District while in session, while their families live in much larger homes within their home state. So, I did a Google search on Constance Stewart and it turns out she’s actually a senator from this district, so it only stands to reason that this is where she keeps her primary residence. The Wikipedia page on her didn’t mention a husband, so I assume Mr. Stewart is out of the picture.

Alex must have ESP—which by now wouldn’t surprise me if he does—because he greets me at the door.

“Hi, Etta. You look beautiful.” If he realizes I’m wearing the same dress from the Spring Fling he doesn’t mention it. I’m sure it’s tacky, showing up in the same cocktail dress that he only just saw me in a few weeks ago, but it’s the only one that I liked out of the dozen or so dresses hanging in my closet.

“Wow, looks like your mom went all out for this event.” I watch as several servers dressed in white went around passing out
hor d’oeuvres
. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know the distinction between parties that serve appetizers, versus an event like tonight—this function is totally high class.

Alex snorts. “At a grand a plate, I hope so.”

Holy crap!
I’m glad I didn’t have a drink or I would have choked. A thousand bucks just to eat dinner at the senator’s house? This is a little extreme, not to mention way out of my league. So instead of spewing a nonexistent drink, I smooth my dress of imaginary wrinkles out of nervousness.

“Don’t freak out. These fundraisers are pretty boring actually. People just come as an excuse to network and drink the free booze,” he assures me. “Besides, Jaime is going to be here soon.”

Relief floods over me and Alex slips his arm around my waist for added reassurance. He leads me towards the backyard that’s been transformed into an outdoor dining area. It looks like a completely different place than when we trashed the place a few days ago. Senator Stewart must have some very big connections that include even the highest power; the weather holds out and it’s a beautiful night to hold an outdoor event.

I haven’t been here five minutes when Alex abandons me in a crowd full of strangers to assist his mom with the guests. I thought I’d be with him the entire time, not left to my own devices, making conversation with strangers. So while Alex runs off to help his mom, I wander over to the hot buffet. Ahead of me in line are two attractive looking women—who look like they’d be more at home at a fashion show than a political fundraiser. I can’t help but overhear as the two women giggle and gossip in front of me. Eavesdropping isn’t something I normally do, but with my dad still missing, I’ve made it my mission to keep my ears open throughout the evening in the hopes of finding information on his whereabouts. I seriously doubt these two models are privy to top secret government intelligence, but it is Washington politics we’re talking about after all.

The blonde with the black cocktail dress giggles first. “I hear he’s the next up and comer. Something to do with bio-warfare. He’s too gorgeous to be a science geek.”

“I wonder if he’s married?” The other model-like-waif inquires. Her dress looks like its better suited for a teenager, not a woman trying to land a husband.

But the woman in black is determined. “From what I hear, he’s single and the most eligible bachelor in Washington. I’m going to introduce myself.”

I watch in fascination as the woman in the slinky black dress gets the courage to approach the man standing next to the bar. His back is to us, so don’t have a good view of his face, but I’m enthralled by the scene playing out in front of me. I’ve never seen adults act like high school kids and I have to admit, I’m totally amused.

The woman slinks over the bar and stands patiently as the object of her affection is preoccupied, conversing with some older man. She waits until there’s a break in the conversation to make her move. She taps him on his shoulder, which catches his attention and that’s when I actually get a full view of his face.

Coal colored eyes that demand to be blue. Cooper!

But something isn’t right. He looks…older. I slowly make my way over to the bar in order to get a closer look. Neither the Cooper-look-alike, nor the woman is aware that I’m standing just a few feet away from them. Now I’m able to get a better look at him. There is no doubt in my mind about who he is. Only, he looks to have aged about ten years. What the hell is going on?

“Hey, Etta. There you are.” Alex comes over to my side. “I thought I lost you there for a second.”

“Oh, hey, yeah. Looks like your mom’s event is a big success.” I’m a bit distracted by the couple, while trying to talk to Alex at the same time.

I finally avert my gaze long enough to notice Alex’s anxious expression. “Come on, my mom’s dying to see you again.”

I just hope I don’t say the wrong thing in front of the senator. Alex appears oblivious to the situation and seems excited about showing me off. I’m a bit curious to see how the introductions will play out. I know from the journal that Senator Stewart has already met me before and I’m not sure if I’m up for an encore, based on her reception of me the last time we met.

Reluctantly, I allow Alex to drag me away. I take a last glance at alternate-Cooper and the model, but they’re gone. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll catch up with them later. As we head over to where Alex’s mom is holding court, my mind quickly runs over the possible facts about the man I just saw: the man is too old to be Cooper and too young to be his father. After my obligatory meet and greet with the senator, I’m going to find out just who exactly he is.

We approach Alex’s mom and I’m a bit embarrassed when Alex interrupts her just to announce my appearance. It seemed silly actually, I doubt she even cares whether or not her son’s so-called girlfriend is here, but I can tell it’s important to Alex. Although I don’t see why, given the way she treated me the night of the Spring Fling.

“Mom.” Alex cuts in between his mother and some distinguished looking man. “Etta’s here.”

“Hello Mrs. Stewart. It’s nice to see you again. Thank you for inviting me.” I thrust my hand out to shake hers.

Her eyes flinch at my
faux pas
. I realize I addressed her as Mrs. instead of Senator. She recovers quickly and accepts my outstretched hand and shakes it gently. She studies me with cautious eyes and her gaze trails over my dress. Like her son, she doesn’t mention the fact that she’s previously seen me in the exact same dress only weeks before. “Yes, hello, Etta dear. I’m glad you were able to join us tonight.”

“I’m glad I could make it.” I hope I’m done speaking to her. I don’t know what else to say. “Well, I don’t want to intrude any further, so I’ll leave you to your guests.” That’s my signal to Alex that I’m done mingling, while at the same time shooting an apologetic smile at the man we’d so rudely interrupted. I don’t even bother to ask about my dad. This certainly isn’t the right time to start asking about his whereabouts.

Alex takes the hint. “Yeah, okay. See you later mom,” Alex says, steering me back into the throng of the crowd.

“Where’s Jaime? I thought she was supposed to be here by now?” What I really want to do is take Jaime aside and get her opinion on the Cooper look-alike.

“Dunno. She said she’d be coming with her parents. Let’s go find her.”

We finally spot Jaime hanging out by the oyster shucking table. She sees us approaching and waves us over.

“You actually eat them raw?” I can’t imagine eating raw oysters or even cooked oysters for that matter. They looked like slugs. I watch Jaime in fascination as she squeezes off a bit of lemon and adds a dab of cocktail sauce before slurping up one of the slimy creatures from its shell.