Page 13

Chapter Thirteen

“How did it go?” Ava asks as soon as I drive up. “Was Grandma nice?”

“She was fine.” I eye her. “Are you wearing an apron backward?”

“It’s not like I have a coat with me in this eighty-degree weather,” Ava complains. “It was Bek’s idea.”

“That’s brilliant, actually.” I hand the jeans through my open window. “Super cute room, by the way.”

She blinks. “Oh my gosh, you’ve never seen it.”

“Maybe once or twice back in first grade.” I shrug. “I love all the pictures of the three of us. You’ve inspired me. We need a collage space in my room. Will you help me put one together?”

“Absolutely. Are you sure Grandma was okay?” Ava bites her lip.

“Totally.” I’ll never tell her the woman had me in tears. Or at least I won’t tell her today.

“Thanks so much for doing this. I’d better get back.”

“I’m still picking you guys up tonight though, right?”

“Yep. Sorry to make you come back and forth.” Ava flashes an anxious expression at me as she backs toward the pet store’s back door.

“No big deal.” I wave. “See you in a couple hours.”

I press two short blasts of my horn and wave my hand out the window as I drive away. Though nothing in Oak Grove is really far, I don’t feel like driving all the way home just to come back again in two hours, so I head to the park.

The weather is even more enjoyable as I wander the walking path looking for a bench in the shade. After I sit, I extend my legs straight out in front of me and cross them at the ankles. I consider what Grandma said about Ava being the person she is because of me, my family, and Bek. It’s hard to accept at first, because all I’ve done is be her friend. And we were young, stupid children most of the time. But I think Grandma is right. The three of us have been shaped not only by our family situations—though I have little knowledge of what Bek’s is like because she doesn’t talk about it much—but also by our friendship. I would never be the confident person I am without the security I have in my friends.

I stare out at the oak trees scattered throughout the park and appreciate how each of them is different even though they’ve all grown in the same area receiving the same amount of water, sunshine, and wind. We’re kind of like that too. The biggest difference being that our roots are set in different soils from one another. My soil is rich with love and nourishment. Ava’s has been neglected and dry and depleted of nourishment, which has shaped her into a more cautious person. I think about Bek and wonder what her soil is like. The rare times she mentions her home life, it’s never with disdain or sorrow. She talks about her mom the most, and her nearly vegetative aunt the least. What is it like to live with someone who can do nothing for themselves? Her moody brother is a couple of years behind us in school. I purse my lips, wondering, not for the first time, what Bek’s home life is like. When no answers present themselves, I pull out my phone and start to read.

I’m fully engrossed in my story and snickering to myself when someone calls my name.

I look up to find Bridget coming toward me.

“Hey, sis!” I greet. I hop up to give her a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“Just looking for inspiration for my next piece. I want to do a tree, and I’ve always thought the park had the prettiest ones.”

I examine the nearest tree, whose shade I’ve been taking advantage of, and feel dwarfed by it. Scanning the landscape, it’s like I’m seeing the trees for the first time even though I was just admiring them myself. Suddenly, I’m seeing them through Bridget’s eyes. “Wow, they’re really pretty, aren’t they? I’ve never noticed how huge they are.”

Bridget nods and points to a far-off oak. “I think that’s my favorite. I’m pretty sure that’s the one they used on the high school. Unless that’s a typical growth pattern for an oak.” She pulls up photos on her phone and scrolls through them. She stops on one in particular. “Doesn’t that look exactly like the silhouette of the oak tree they have on the front of the school? This branch in particular, the way it bends seems unique. That’s why I think it’s the same tree.”

“How old would the tree have to be to be on the school though?” I ask. I don’t know how old the school is, but I’m sure it’s pretty old.

“All the trees in this park are over two hundred years old. That’s why the park is here. To protect the trees.”

I gawk at my sister. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

I scan the landscape again with new respect. Two hundred years old. Wow. Bridget is still staring at the picture she showed me. “Are you going to do a sculpture? ”

She nods. “It’s for a class, but if I like it, I’m thinking of entering it at the fair. The timing would work. Class ends on August 15 th and the fair is that next week.”

“Bridget, that’s a great idea.”

She shrugs and shoves her phone into her pocket. “What are you doing here?”

“Killing some time until I have to pick up the girls from work.”

“Were you texting with a boy?” She says it in a sing-song-y voice.

I shake my head. “No, why would you think that?”

“You were giggling.” From her teasing tone, I can tell she doesn’t believe me.

I roll my eyes. “I was reading. The book’s funny.”

All humor drops away and she stares at me.

“What?” I look down at my clothes in case I’m having a wardrobe malfunction of my own.

“You were reading?” she asks. “Like, a book?”

I feel my cheeks flame red like I was caught with a dirty magazine. “I do know how to read, you know.”

“Of course, I know that.” Bridget arches a brow. “It’s just that you don’t. At least you didn’t used to. I haven’t been out of the house for that long that you’ve completely changed your personality, have I?”

Bridget’s reaction might be why I’m so reluctant to talk about my new hobby. I just shrug.

“Oh!” Her eyes widen. “It’s because of that boy, isn’t it?”

I can feel my cheeks heat. “No, actually. That’s just a happy coincidence.”

She studies me a bit before she asks, “What are you reading?”

“Right now, I’m reading the first book in a romantic comedy series. I just finished the first two books in a ghost thriller series, which I was surprised to really enjoy. ”

Bridget gapes at me and I feel self-conscious. This is definitely why I’m hesitant to talk about it.

“Geez, Bridge. You’re making me feel like I’m stupid.”

“Aw, sis, that isn’t it at all. How is it that you even have time? Who are you dating this week? Does he know about his competition?”

I open my mouth and then close it again. Bridget is going to think something is really wrong with me if I answer that honestly.

“What?” she asks. “Does your boyfriend of the week not know about your new reading addiction?”

I sigh. “There isn’t a boyfriend this week.”

She looks around. “Is there no new guy because you’re hanging out alone in the park? Or are you here alone because there is no new guy?”

I glance over to the big outdoor stage and spy Hot Dog Guy manning his father’s cart right next to it. “No, I just…I’m on a break, I guess.”

Bridget squints. Then she looks at her phone. “Shoot, I have to get going. I have a class. Are you okay though?”

I look up at the clear blue sky and shake my head in exasperation. “Yes, Bridget. I’m fine.”

“I’ll call you tonight. Ooo, maybe not until tomorrow. Unless you need to talk. I can stay now if you need me.”

“Holy overreaction! There is nothing to talk about.” I point my finger toward the parking lot. “Get out of here, please. Go.”

She springs forward and wraps her arms around me. “Love you, sis. Call me any time. Understand?”

I just nod because she clearly isn’t listening to what I’m saying. “Bye.”

She sprints across the grass toward the parking lot. I sigh and flop onto the bench, discouraged by the exchange even though I understand where her confusion comes from. I pull my phone out and lose myself in my book again.

I ignore my incoming texts until I see one from Bek pop up.

Bek: Are you okay? Coming? Should we just head home?

Crud. I did it again. I got totally engrossed in my book and lost track of time.

Me: On my way!

Now I’m the one dashing across the expanse of grass, taking the shortest route to my car. I’m going to need to set an alarm or something in the future, so I stop leaving my friends stranded.