Sweet Peril
Page 44

Like at every big event in my life, I couldn’t help but think of Kaidan. He’d moved to L.A. halfway through his senior year, and I didn’t even know if he’d graduated. My mood dampened until I spotted Patti in the stands. She shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand. When I waved, she broke into a smile and sent me a fast-moving wave in return. I half expected to see Dad at her side, but he hadn’t shown. The happy-happy, joy-joy thing was not his scene.
After diplomas had been passed out and closing remarks were being made, I spied two brown-haired beauties at the end of the field. My heart jumped in recognition as I stretched my sight to them.
What on earth were Marna and Ginger wearing? I’d never seen them in matching outfits. Closer inspection revealed knee-length navy blue dresses with thin belts and red . . . neckerchiefs? Then I noticed the tiny airplane emblems on the breast pockets. Flight attendants! I broke into a smile and waved, sending my hearing to them as well.
“Everything all right?” I asked them under my breath.
“Everything is dandy,” Marna said. “Do you like our getups?” She held out her arms and spun around. I gave her a thumbs-up.
We’d been seated in alphabetical order, so I leaned forward to look at Jay several rows ahead of me. I wondered if he’d seen the twins, but they were too far away for him.
When our graduating class was announced, we flung our caps skyward. I bypassed celebratory students, stopping for quick hugs along the way, and found Patti as quickly as I could. At the bottom of the stadium stairs, we moved aside to let the traffic pass, and we embraced, rocking back and forth. Patti’s eyes were red and watery when we pulled apart.
“The twins are here,” I whispered before she could get too sappy.
Her eyes grew. “Is something wrong?”
“I don’t think so. It looks like they got jobs with an airline.”
“Well, I’m excited to finally meet them after hearing about them all this time.”
We found them again in the parking lot, which was gridlocked with graduates and loved ones milling about, conversing and taking pictures.
When I introduced them to Patti, she took them both by surprise by giving them big, motherly hugs that they returned with awkward pats and unsure expressions.
“I know you told me they were gorgeous, Anna, but my goodness!” She pulled back. “It’s so good to finally meet you. Can you girls come to our place? I’m making a cake and we’re barbecuing chicken out in the common area.”
“Er—” Ginger gave Marna a sidelong glance.
“We’d love to come!” Marna said, clapping her hands. Ginger pursed her lips.
“Wonderful!” Patti beamed. She took her camera from her purse and handed it to Marna. “Would you mind taking a picture of us?”
I grabbed Patti and we pressed our cheeks together for the picture.
“Now one of you girls.” Patti took the camera and motioned us together.
I stood between the twins, and as if rehearsed they both wrapped an arm around my waist, propped their other hands on their hips, and bent a knee inward. I was stuck between two pros. They could probably conjure a wind to blow their hair if they wanted. Patti got a little carried away, zooming and angling, and after six or seven shots I laughed and told her, “Enough.”
A loud burst of laughter came from a nearby group, and I wasn’t surprised to see it was Jay’s family. I cupped my hands around my mouth and hollered at Jay, giving him a wave. He didn’t even notice the twins at first as he came jogging over, a goofy grin on his face. His robe dangled open and his old ball cap sat askew on his head.
“Ms. Whitt!” Jay grabbed Patti in a hug before turning and lifting me off the ground. I screamed and heard clicking from Patti catching the moment on film.
“We’re all growed-up now.” Jay set me down and pretended to wipe his eyes. I could tell the moment he finally noticed the twins because the silliness disappeared and he snagged the hat off his head.
“Oh, hey,” he said.
The next moment was like a scene from a movie where two people locked eyes and music played while everyone else disappeared into background noise. Jay and Marna didn’t move or speak. They just stared. His aura blew up like a puffy cloud of jubilant yellows and oranges, outlined in a swirl of red. Even Patti seemed to take note of the thick air between them. Ginger crossed her arms.
And then, like a record scratching abruptly, Veronica arrived and slid an arm around Jay’s waist, glaring death rays at the twins. Jay’s aura popped like a thin bubble into a puff of light gray guilt and confusion, while Veronica sported a band of green thick enough to drown out the blue of her graduation robe. She tipped her head up to Jay and forced a smile. I held my breath.
“Congratulations, baby,” she said. They used to call each other “baby” all the time, but it’d been a few months since I’d heard either of them say it. Jay cleared his throat.
“You, too,” he said.
Veronica stretched onto her tiptoes and kissed his mouth. He gave her a quick peck and gently pulled away.
Marna’s sweet smile never wavered, but her eyes now lacked their luster. Veronica sent me an accusatory look, as if I’d betrayed her. Oy. I raised my eyebrows and shrugged to show I hadn’t known they would be here. Truly, I would have avoided this discomfort at any cost.
“The cars are finally moving,” I told Patti. “Should we head out?”
She glanced back and forth between my friends, a worried streak entering her aura at the sense that something was amiss. I’d never told her about the Veronica/Jay/Marna issue.