It was Tuesday night. A chill wind was blowing smears of clouds across the night sky. Perched on the front porch were Max and Kevin. Amber was stopping by to pick up Trevor after she got off work. Max’s entire body was tense as he waited for the appearance of the red and white Mustang and the girl of his dreams who drove it. Lolly and Trevor were seated on the tail gate of Grandma Toady’s truck. His hand was tight in hers. He said, “I wish those two doofuses would go inside.”
In all honesty, Lolly was glad they were there and she was ready for Trevor to go home. All day he had wavered between despair and wanting to kiss. The kisses felt more like he was trying to distract himself than anything else. It was like he wasn’t even kissing her. It was weird. His mood shifts confused her. From one minute to the next she did not know which side of him would be with her. He still hadn’t talked to his dad or his mom or even Amber. If he really wanted to stay here so bad, why hadn’t he at least told Amber? Amber would fight if she knew about it. She would go into full out battle mode.
Headlights turned into the trailer park. It was a truck. The truck made its way down the street and then to Lolly’s surprise, it pulled into the drive. It was Amber and she was with Bill in his truck. Immediately, Lolly’s heart went out to Max. Though Max knew about Bill, he had not seen him since Amber became the center of his universe.
Amber waved at the boys. Max barely raised his hand to wave. Kevin’s hand shot up then went back down when he realized Max was not waving.
Trevor pulled Lolly close and said, “I wish I didn’t have to go.”
Inside Lolly thought, I wish I didn’t want you to go.
The kiss Trevor gave her was too much, too urgent and hard. If Max hadn’t just been plunged into an abyss of heartbreak he would be teasing her and making stupid smacking noises. Lolly pulled away from Trevor. He told her, “I will be over tomorrow morning.”
Inside Lolly groaned. He had been there all day. Earlier in the evening, Grandma Toady had taken her aside and told her Trevor was stretching his welcome, which was code for I trust you to set some boundaries girl. Lolly cocked her head and smiled, “Remember we are having a little New Years Eve Party. I've got to help Grandma Toady get the house ready tomorrow, so you can’t come over until 8:00.”
He pouted, “Well what am I supposed to do until then?”
From the open window of the truck, Amber called, “Get a move on son!”
Frustrated, Lolly said, “I don’t know. I’m sure you will think of something.”
Sharply he said, “Fine!” He was angry. He spun away from her and stomped to the truck. With a jerk, he opened the passenger side door and slammed it with a bang. Amber waved. She waved back. Trevor didn’t wave and he didn’t look at her. Okay.
As for Max, he got up slowly. He told Kevin, “Man, I’m not feeling so good. I think I’m gonna go in.”
Kevin knew what the problem was, but he said, “Okay, sure, see you tomorrow.” He watched Max go inside. To Lolly he said, “Damn I wish that hadn’t just happened. New Years Eve is gonna suck now.”
Lolly nodded in agreement.
Later, in bed, unable to sleep, Lolly finally finished Julie of the Wolves. Before Trevor, she had a lot more time to read. She missed reading as much as she wanted to. She missed a lot of things. Stupid Trevor. Was he going to break up with her? Was she going to break up with him? She was mad and hurt by his behavior since he got back from Corpus Christi. Was this the way he was going to be? How much should she put up with? The thing was, as mad as she felt, she had this weird jealously swirling around inside of her. If she and Trevor broke up, finding a new girlfriend would be no problem for Trevor. He was normal. Viv would probably step right in, in a heart beat. No one was going to step in for her. No one. There had been no one before Trevor. He was her first boyfriend. Would he be her last boyfriend?
Fluff swatted her hand with his sheathed paw. He wanted her to turn the damn reading lamp off so he could get some sleep. Obediently, Lolly turned off the lamp. The darkness was complete and then slowly her eyes adjusted. Through the curtains she saw the stars. They were distant company. Fluff snuggled down beside her and soon began to purr. The sound of his rumble carried Lolly into dreams far away from the reality of now.
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*
A little after 8:00 a.m. the phone rang. Grandma Toady was the only one up. Who would be calling this early? Lolly rolled over. Fluff was at the door. He wanted out, but she didn't want to get up. All night she had drifted in and out of busy dreams. She felt more exhausted than she did when she went to bed last night. She heard Grandma Toady answer the phone and then she heard her step in the hall. There was a knock on Lolly’s door. “Come in.”
Grandma Toady opened the door. Fluff dashed out. Grandma Toady exclaimed, "Dang cat!" And then, said, “Its Trevor.”
“So early?"
"Yep, it would appear so."
"Okay. I’ll take it in your room.”
With a nod, Grandma Toady closed the door.
Dread filled Lolly. She really didn’t want to deal with Trevor this early in the day. Who would he be when she answered the phone? The amorous jerk or the despairing clod? Slowly, she got out of bed and walked down the hall. She picked up the receiver and heard a click as Grandma Toady hung up the kitchen phone. Cautiously she said, “Hi.”
“Hey Lolly, sorry to call so early. I had to apologize for my behavior. I know I have been being a total jerk, especially last night." He paused. Lolly remained silent. She wasn't ready to accept his apology. It was easy to say sorry. It was hard to be sorry. He continued, "When I got home I called Nanny Carol and talked to her about everything.” Lolly wondered if everything included her, but she didn’t ask. At least he had finally talked to someone besides her. He continued, “Nanny Carol agrees with you. She thinks I should talk to my parents. When they get home tomorrow, I am going to talk to my dad alone first to see if anything has changed and then regardless I am going to tell him I’m not moving.”
Lolly wasn’t sure how that would go. There was a big difference between saying I don't want to move and I am NOT moving. She said, "Um, I’m glad you talked to Nanny Carol. Is she your dad’s mom?”
“No, she is, er was mine and Amber’s nanny from the time we were babies until I hit junior high. I miss her so much. She was the one that was there for Amber and me growing up. It’s been so hard since she left.”
Trevor had had an actual Nanny, who lived in the house with his family. What other servants did they have? He never mentioned any but there had to be some on a property as big as theirs.. Not once in her life had Lolly ever even met or known a family that had servants or a nanny. It did occur to her that in some ways Nanny Carol must be to Trevor and Amber what Grandma Toady was to her. She said, “I bet it has been tough. I’m glad you talked to her.”
“Me too. Jake and me are fixing to go on a run, so I will see you tonight!"
"See ya!" Tonight might not suck after all, at least not for her, but for Max, probably. She didn't envy that poor boy. He had gone to his room last night and stayed there. Grandma Toady had tried to talk to him, but said he didn't want talk. He wanted to be left ALONE.
*
It was 7:00 p.m. Lolly stood at the sink washing dishes. Munch sat at the kitchen table working on a sketch for his portfolio. The phone rang. Her hands were all soapy, she turned and looked at Munch. He pretended not to see or hear.
Lolly dried off her hands and answered the phone. "Hello."
“How’s my girl?”
It was Pa! She didn't expect to get to talk to him tonight. “I’m good. Aren’t you at work?”
“Yup. They are giving us each a call to wish our loved ones Happy New Years! So Happy New Year, Short Cake.”
“Happy New Year to you too Pa! Let me tell Grandma and Estelle.” She put her hand over the receiver and shouted, “It’s Pa! He wants to talk to ya’ll.”
The pencil in Munch's hand stopped. He kept his eyes down. She knew he wasn't going to talk to Pa, but she was pretty sure he would leave the room. He didn’t get up, he didn’t move, but Lolly could see he was struggling. Grandma Toady took the kitchen phone and thankfully Estelle rushed to the bedroom phone. Munch picked his pencil up and continued to sketch.
At 7:45 Uncle Luke showed up with Max and Mitzi. Aunt Jessie was working. After being with his dad all day, Max seemed to be in a bit better frame of mind. Lolly noticed that Mitzi had ditched the pink Christmas bear.
Lolly asked, “Where is Pepperoni?”
Mitzi rolled her eyes, “That child is such a little Princess. I thought Puccini was just being jealous, but it turns out Pepperoni wants everything her way and she is rude. Mama said I could put her up for adoption or send her to the Salvation Army. I haven’t decided which. I think I might give her one more chance.”
Uncle Luke said, “That would be kind of you. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
Did Uncle Luke want a second chance?
At 8:00 Amber dropped Trevor off. Max didn't even look out the front window when he heard the red and white Mustang. Lolly opened the door before Trevor knocked and stepped out onto the front porch. The porch light cast shadows across his face, but he looked better than he had last night. He told her, “My parents called. I told my dad I wanted to talk to him. He said sure, but he didn't ask me about what. I think he knows.”
He probably did. She said, “Good. I'm hoping and praying it all works out."
"Me too." He leaned in and kissed her. This time, when he kissed her it was different. It felt different. It wasn’t anything like that awful kiss he had given her last night, and it didn’t feel like any of the kisses he had ever given her before.