Getting Back to Normal (17 page)

“And cookies,” Robby says. “Right, Vannie?”

Daddy squeezes my shoulder. “Thanks,” he whispers in my ear. “I’ll take them at one, the latest.”

Tammy and I pack sandwiches, cookies, and lemonade in my school knapsack. We traipse across the Great Lawn and enter the woods near the playhouse and the gazebo.

“Awesome!” Kevin says, stepping inside the gazebo.

Something furry brushes against my legs. This time I’m not even startled. “Look who’s come with us.”

“Theodore!” both boys shout at once.

Theodore takes off, plunging into the woods like a Great Dane is after him. The boys follow chase. Tammy and I burst out laughing. We walk over to the playhouse and peer in through the grimy window. This time I notice the two dolls sitting at the small table set for tea and the doll-size baby carriage.

“I bet Mayda’s grandmother Elizabeth played here,” I say.

“I wonder why it’s been abandoned,” Tammy says.

“Maybe she figured her son wouldn’t be interested in a playhouse.”

Tammy tries the door. “Vannie, hurry! It’s unlocked!”

We enter the dim room, coughing from the mildew and the dust.

“I bet no one’s been in here in more than sixty years!” Tammy exclaims. She rushes over to a doll and holds it gently in her arms. “Isn’t it precious?”

“Hmm,” I say, catching sight of something sticking out from under the half-rotted brocade sofa.

I pull it out, see it’s a notebook of some sort. I flip through the yellowed pages. It’s a journal, written in a beautiful old-fashioned handwriting. I make out some words about an outing to a nearby lake.

I want to read it, yet feel as though I’m intruding. I turn a page and laugh when I see a heart drawn around two sets of initials: E. S. loves A. H.

“Look!” I hold out the page so that Tammy can see.

“Ah!” she says when she’s through looking. “I suppose Elizabeth came here to write about her feelings for Archie.”

I wink. “And maybe she and Archie came here to be alone.”

“You’re probably right, Vannie. After Archie died, she was probably too sad to come here again.”

I hug the journal to my chest, feeling some of my anger toward Archie slip away. “I’ll give this to Aunt Mayda tomorrow. She’ll be happy to have it.”

Tammy scrunches up her face. “Vannie, you find everything!”

I put my arm through hers. “I wouldn’t have found it if you hadn’t opened the door. Come, let’s get out of here before the boys come back and want to explore the playhouse.”

“You’re right,” she agrees. “This is no place for little boys.”

We’re sitting in the gazebo when the boys find us and insist that they’re starving. Tammy and I roll our eyes and say it’s not even eleven o’clock, but they nag us until I open the knapsack and hand out sandwiches. Then we really do take a nature walk. By then it’s noon, and we head back to the cottage.

Tammy and I spend a lazy afternoon talking and listening to music in my room. The Halloween party begins at seven-thirty, but we start dressing at five so we’ll have plenty of time to do our make-up and help Robby and Kevin with their monster costumes. Tammy makes a beautiful Princess Leia, with her hair fluffed up and sprinkled with golden bits of glitter. I put on my witch’s costume. I stick a wart on my chin and plenty of gel in my hair, so that it hangs down in stiff, disgusting clumps under my pointy hat.

“Black out a tooth,” Tammy encourages. “Go for another wart.”

I grin at myself in the mirror. “Don’t mind if I do.”

“Wow, you look good and ugly, Vannie,” Kevin says when I’m done.

Daddy’s wearing a striped shirt I’ve never seen before and some nice tangy-smelling cologne. He insists on taking pictures before we get into the car. “You kids have the four best costumes,” he declares.

“You don’t know that, Daddy,” Robby insists. “You haven’t seen any of the others.”

Daddy grins. “True, but they can’t possibly look as great as the four of you do.” He’s still smiling when we get to Greystone.

“Wow!” we all go, staring into the room we helped Aunt Mayda decorate the night before. Because now it’s really eerie, with organ music playing and the lights turned low so that the skeletons, ghosts, and monsters we’ve hung cast frightening shadows on the walls.

I’m surprised to discover we’re not the first to arrive. About six kids are milling around the refreshment table. Jimmy Breslow and his friends, Mikey Lawrence and Eric Stein, are stuffing their faces with cookies and apple cider. The three of them are dressed as pirates, each missing a different body part.

Aunt Mayda, tall and elegant in her tuxedo costume, comes from the kitchen to greet us. Tammy’s eyes bulge, transforming her from a princess into a frog wearing blue eye shadow.

“Yikes! She’s an absolute clone of—”

I clamp my hand over Tammy’s mouth and say, “You look beautiful, Aunt Mayda.”

“And Vannie, you look perfectly—hideous,” she finally gets out.

We laugh and hug, then Aunt Mayda admires Robby and Kevin’s costumes.

The two actors Daddy’s hired—both got up as gruesome goblins—make their grand entrance. They entertain the smaller kids, juggling and doing simple magic tricks. The older kids gather around Tammy and me.

“Wow, this is some palace you live in, Vannie,” Jimmy says, waving his fake iron hook around.

“I don’t—” I begin, when Tammy pokes me in the ribs.

“Thanks,” I say, grinning. “We find it real cozy.”

“You’re what I call lucky,” mutters Mikey.

The front door opens, and a carload of costumed children spill into the room. They’re immediately followed by two more groups. Aunt Mayda dashes over to us.

“Vannie, Tammy, sorry to interrupt, but we need to start the games now!”

“See you later, guys,” Tammy says as we trail after Aunt Mayda.

“We didn’t expect such a crowd!” Aunt Mayda sounds frantic. “I hope we’ve enough refreshments for everyone.”

“Stay cool,” I tell her. “We can always send Daddy out for more cake and soda.”

“I guess,” she says, still worried. “We hadn’t counted on all those parents staying and chugging down cider and coffee in the kitchen.”

Tammy and I help Aunt Mayda set up the bowl of water for apple bobbing. When we’re done, she says, “Better start a game of Musical Chairs in the far corner.”

“Sure thing,” Tammy says.

“At least we’ve plenty of chairs,” Aunt Mayda says, and disappears. She returns a few minutes later with a pile of wrapped gifts. “For the winners,” she explains. “Can’t have games without prizes.”

She gathers up kids to bob for apples while Tammy and I organize a game of Musical Chairs. After three rounds, the kids show signs of growing bored. We clear away the chairs and begin a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey. The kids giggle as each gets blindfolded and spun around in turn. Such silly baby games, but they’re lots more fun with everyone in costume.

Then it’s time for telling ghost stories. Jimmy, Mikey, and Eric help Tammy and me arrange the chairs in a large circle. The kids are taking seats and settling down, when Daddy comes in, cake boxes dangling from one hand. He walks over to me.

“Having fun?” he asks.

“Great!” Impulsively, I throw my arms around his neck and squeeze. “It’s the best party ever.”

“Mayda says you and Tammy are a big help. Now don’t forget to enter the best costume contest.”

“Oh, Daddy,” I complain. “Look around. There are plenty of better costumes than mine.”

“Please, Vannie. Do it for me.”

Daddy moves on, not waiting for my answer. A minute later he stops to speak to Aunt Mayda. His hand rests on Aunt Mayda’s arm. She says something, smiles, and pats his hand. I watch their fingers mesh then pull apart.

“Vannie, let’s start the ghost stories,” Tammy says. “They’re getting restless.”

I nod. I can’t speak for the lump in my throat. Tammy gives me a thumbs-up. “Fear not. I’ll go first.”

I sit, frozen as a snowman, while Tammy starts her ghost story. I don’t hear one word she says. My head is too full of Daddy and Aunt Mayda and their ridiculous romance.

How can they? Why don’t they stop to think of how Mom would feel if she caught her husband and her good friend holding hands like teenagers?

Only Mom isn’t here. I suddenly hear Aunt Mayda’s voice, telling me that Mom asked her to look after Daddy.

Surely, Mom couldn’t have meant this! I shake my head, shocked at the thought. It’s not possible. And I don’t think Aunt Mayda had any intention of falling for Daddy the night we went shopping. But things happen unexpectedly. Things that seem awful at first, then turn out to be all right.

A hush falls over the room as Tammy drags out the sorrowful end of her story. Daddy and Aunt Mayda are still talking softly, their heads bent toward each other. Then Daddy leaves, whistling under his breath.

Aunt Mayda lifts his spirits. They make each other happy. I think of Archie, who wants Aunt Mayda to be happy. Well, I want Daddy to be happy too. I’d be selfish to stand in their way.

Archie! I need to tell Archie that what he wants to happen is happening. And I’m glad about it. Really and truly, I am.

I leap up from my seat and fly out the door. Archie has to know so he can rest in peace. If only I’m not too late!

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The night chill cuts through the thin fabric of my costume. “Archie, where are you? We need to talk!” I shout over and over as I race to the pond.

No Archie.

“Archie!” I yell, and nearly trip. My long narrow skirt and pointy shoes weren’t meant for running in the dark.

The only sound I hear is the panting of my breath. An awful thought comes to me, and it’s all I can do to keep from weeping. What if Archie’s still here, but so angry because I refused to help, he’s decided never to show himself to me again?

“Do slow down, Vanessa, or you’ll fall and squash your warts.”

I stop in my tracks to stare up at a grinning Archie. I’m so happy to see him, I forget and throw my arms around his skinny chest. A cold blast of air sends me reeling backward. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean—“ I babble, terribly embarrassed.

I’m even more upset to see I’ve sent him hovering two feet into the air.

“Please don’t distress yourself, Vanessa,” Archie says when he’s standing on the ground once again. “Your good intentions are much appreciated.”

We walk the short distance to the duck pond. When we reach the bench, we sit down, side by side.

“I had to see you before you left and tell you, tell you—” I open my mouth twice but I’m too wound up to finish my sentence.

“Yes?” Archie encourages.

I gulp. I’m struck with stage fright, which is dumb, since no one’s here but Archie and me.

“Relax, Vanessa.”

“I can’t relax!” I blurt out. “There’s no time! You’re leaving.”

“Very soon,” he says quietly.

I try to gather my rushing thoughts. Archie mistakes my silence for disapproval.

“Vanessa, I beg your forgiveness for my bad behavior the last time we met. It was unforgivable of me to threaten you. I swear on all I hold dear that I would never, ever harm you.”

I nod solemnly. “I forgive you, Archie.”

“Thank you. At least I can go to my rest knowing that.”

I take a deep breath. “It looks as though you’ll be getting your wish, Archie. About Daddy and Mayda. They’re batty for each other.”

I wait for a smile, a handstand, a back flip. Something! But Archie remains silent. His eyes are closed. Why, he’s praying! When he’s finished, he smiles at me.

“And you don’t mind?”

I shrug. “A little. But I’m getting used to the idea.”

“I must admit, I’m delighted with your news.”

I clear my throat. “My father’s a really tense kind of guy. He gets upset when the smallest thing goes wrong. He needs someone around to help run his life. Smooth things out for him.”

“You mean, he needs a sweetheart—or a wife?”

I let out a chestful of air. “Mom knew. I think she knew exactly what would happen when she asked Aunt Mayda to look after him.” My voice turns scornful. “She was afraid that once she was gone, it wouldn’t take much to make Daddy unravel at the seams.”

“Now hold it right there, young lady!” Archie scolds. “Your father doesn’t drink or beat you and Robby.” He frowns. “He brought grief to his wife and only child through pure stupidity.”

“No, Daddy’s all right as long as he’s not upset about something.” I smile, remembering how happy he was taking our pictures before we left for the party.

Archie stands abruptly and starts to pace. “It seems to me that you and Robby gain a good deal by having your Aunt Mayda around.”

“We do,” I admit, “but I don’t know how much she’ll be around. I told you, Archie, Aunt Mayda’s an independent woman. I can’t see her giving up her job in the city because she’s falling for Daddy.”

“Perhaps, Vanessa. But I believe it would make a big difference to your father and Mayda if they knew you were on their side.”

Archie walks toward the water. My heart gives a lurch when I see that he’s fading.