Читать книгу Straight from The Onion Vine. Book 3 Lasting Past - Jody Scottsmith - Страница 6

After the meeting, Scott gave Neil a ride to school for a debate. He stayed long enough for the football team to pick a new captain. Kara went upstairs to change and put her hair in a ponytail. On the way to the mall Mom had to ask. “Last year, I remember how excited you were when Scott asked you to the prom.”

“Oh, yeah…right in the middle of the mess with Colin. Scott was afraid he’d ask me, first.”

“My point is,” Mom continued, “I don’t remember you saying anything, this year.”

Kara glanced in the back seat. “How about it, Suzanne. Did Neil ask you to Prom?”

“Not exactly; he just wants to know what color my dress is,” she explained.

“Same with Scott,” Kara interrupted. “I’ve talked about it so much, he assumes we’re going.”

Mom dropped Kara and Suzanne at the mall. This was the first time Kara could use her own credit card. Mom told her to put both prom dresses on it. Suzanne’s dad already put plenty in her account to pay Mom back.

“I so need this shopping trip,” Kara reassured. “You guys basically said the same thing this morning. We need to put us, first. Mom deserves a life of her own, and I’m not talking about nurse friends.”

“Ya think?” Suzanne said in total agreement. “Speaking of Mom, she’s right…the boys haven’t really asked us to Prom.”

“I agree. We have to do something…”

They high-fived and quickly found the ‘Formal Wear’ in the first store.

“I’d like to check out other places before trying anything on,” Suzanne clarified.

“Fine with me,” Kara exclaimed, “unless we find ‘the one’.” Both nodded in understanding. Suzanne found a strapless pale yellow dress…or was it gold? They took it off the rack and held it under different lighting to check out the color.

The next store was where Kara got her dress last year. She warned Suzanne about Gown Saleslady, at the same time shaking off memories of shopping with Annie.

“Wow…prices are higher,” Suzanne whispered.

“Yeah, that’s why next year, I’m wearing last year’s dress,” Kara predicted. “I’m already planning to go by myself.”

Suzanne stopped looking through dresses and turned to Kara. “What about you and Scott?”

“He won’t have time for ‘Lakeworld’ after a year of med school.”

“If Neil and I go, you can sit with us.”

Kara stared at her. “Because you feel sorry for me? Seriously.”

Her straight face lasted until Suzanne thought she meant it. Both broke out in laughter until Gown Saleslady approached. She asked if she could help, but really wanted them find something, or leave.

They managed to muffle their giggles enough to look through the ‘gowns’, as Suzanne was careful to say. Without making eye contact, Kara signaled Suzanne over to the shoe display. They barely made it there before hysteria took over.

When Kara recovered she suggested the coffee shop for lunch. “We might as well,” Kara reasoned, “I’m ready to talk about Annie.”

They walked in far enough to see the chalk board menu, ordered and picked out a table.

“Do you think she’ll call tomorrow?” Suzanne gingerly asked.

“In case she does,” Kara paused and put a hair strand behind her ear. “I already expect her to try getting around the rules. Like Scott said, it’s a chance to practice saying ‘no’ to her face.”

Suzanne nodded. “And then there’s Neil…you know how logical he is. He thinks we have so many decisions ahead of us, why make life harder?”

“He’s right about Annie’s lies…how will I know?” Kara continued. “Ok let’s say Annie calls tomorrow.”

Suzanne went to the counter to get their order, and returned. “If Annie wants to meet with you and Mom, what do you want for her? Like with me, you wanted Eleanor and I to find each other.”

“The same thing,” Kara admitted. “Annie and her mother used to do so much together. That all changed when she started dating. Once they got married, it’s like Annie didn’t exist. That’s why she gets in trouble…to get her mother’s attention. When Mom and I saw what was going on, we gave Annie a key.”

Kara rang out her teabag with her spoon and added honey. “I’d like to say to her mother, what I just said to you.”

Suzanne put her fork down and lowered her eyes.

“I can’t keep it inside any longer.” Suzanne took a quick breath. “Annie’s not the only one who doesn’t tell the truth.”

“What, what?” Kara knew this was huge.

“The night you came over to talk me into Cedardale, Suzanne related. “I asked if Scott had a wedding picture…like I had one and it was tossed, remember? The truth is…it never existed.”

“Ok your parents didn’t have a wedding picture.” Kara did her best to read between the lines. “Or maybe there wasn’t one because they weren’t married.”

Suzanne raise tear-filled eyes and nodded. A situation like this demanded an equal confession.

“My parents got married when Mom found out she was pregnant. She always said it doesn’t affect me, unless I want it to. Like with Neil and his onions…get over it. Hurry up and finish eating. I want to look at more dresses to annoy Gown Lady.”

“Ready,” Suzanne said, swallowing the last bite. “I saw one there I liked.”

“Next time you see a dress you like say something, will you?”

“Just because I don’t when you think I should…”

Kara aso found a dress to try on. Gown Lady let them use the wedding room. There was plenty of room, so they could help each other. Suzanne was first to step in her dress and slipped her arms in the small shoulder sleeves. She looked in the triple mirror while Kara put on the strapless mint green dress.

“What do you think of this color?” Suzanne asked, “You know…with my dark skin.”

Kara held her breath to make it easier for Suzanne to zip her dress. “So now you’re going to ‘confess’ you’re Biracial? Like I didn’t know.”

She examined the dress closer to the mirror. “Is this gold is too dark?”

“What does that have to do with anything…do you like the dress, or not?”

“I’m not sure…what do you think?”

“So who’s ‘whining’ now?” Kara questioned, pushing her way between Suzanne and the mirror. “Look, if you’re going to be a victim…at least be one for something you can work with. You had nothing to do your parents or skin color.”

Suzanne took a step back, swishing the dress behind her. “Just let me know what you think…about the dress. This time be honest, seriously.”

Kara laughed at her sarcasm. “I need the whole picture, first.”

Suzanne slowly turned, holding her head up like a model.

“The lace on top…looks itchy. The color gives you dark circles under your eyes.”

Kara put her hands behind her and waited for an opinion.

“Too much like the one you wore last year.”

“You’re right,” Kara agreed. “Let’s go back to the first store.”

They quickly put their jeans on and left the dresses in the room, like Gown Lady asked. 0n the way they passed the cafe where they had lunch.

“I could use a coffee,” Suzanne suggested; Kara agreed. They self-served, and sat at a small table.

“Ok so when can I be a victim?”

“You were before we asked Jeff about your mother,” Kara reminded her.

“Like if you found her, he’d think you didn’t love him. It was hard, but

you spoke up. That’s what Annie needs to do. If her mom knew how she felt, maybe she can stop self-destructing. She and her mother need to connect, like you and your dad…and Eleanor.”