Holly's Heart Collection Two (6 page)
“Please get well,” I whispered, touching his tattered ear. “I can’t live without you.”
SECOND-BEST FRIEND
Settling into the bucket seat of Uncle Jack’s van, I thanked him for picking me up.
He apologized all over the place about what had happened. “I’m sorry it had to be my allergies that sent Goofey away.”
I wouldn’t let him take the blame. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t help it.”
He offered to pay for the entire bill. “Don’t worry another second about this, Holly,” he said. “That’s what stepdads are for, right?” He grinned at me.
“Thanks,” I said, still unsettled about what to do when Goofey was well enough to come home. If only Andie would agree to keep him, the problem would be solved.
After supper, Mom and Uncle Jack went to Bible study. I spent the evening doing pre-algebra with Stan. He assisted me, with occasional comments from “John Wayne.”
When the phone rang, I hoped it was Andie, not Paula.
I got my wish.
“Hey,” Andie said. “What’re you doing Friday night?”
“Nothing much,” I replied.
“C’mon, Holly, you sound morbid,” she scolded. “You’ll have a very cool make-over party.”
“Don’t rub it in.” I felt a sickening lump in the pit of my stomach. She was ruining everything by not coming.
“Relax,” Andie said in her quirkiest voice. “I’m still invited, right?”
I almost dropped the phone. “What are you saying?”
“Christiana’s arriving earlier than we thought. We’re picking her up on Friday morning.”
“So you can come?”
“I’ll come if Christiana’s invited, too.” It was more of a question than a statement.
“Do you think, I mean, will she be comfortable attending a stranger’s birthday party on her first night in America?” I asked.
“Oh sure,” Andie said. “She’ll have a great time meeting you and Amy-Liz. Who else is invited?”
“Joy and Shauna are coming…and that’s it,” I said, thinking about Paula Miller, who didn’t even know about the party. No way was the cat killer invited.
“That’s six of us,” she said. “It’s best to have an even number at parties, my mom always says. That way no one feels left out.”
I laughed. “My mom says the same thing.”
“Should we bring anything?” she asked.
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll have everything we need here.”
“I’ll bring my new cucumber mask,” she said. “You have to try it. It’s organic and so earthy.”
“I can’t wait, now that you’re coming. And guess what? Mom’s hired a beautician for the party. We’ll have our hair restyled after we experiment with makeup. Cool, huh?”
“Great! I want my hair straightened for a change,” she said, laughing. “What about you? Gonna get your hair chopped?”
“Styled,” I said. “Not cut.”
“I’ve never seen you with short hair,” she said. “Bet you’d look cute.”
Here we were having this fabulous conversation, and she had to bring
that
up. She knew better. Never in a zillion years would I cut my hair.
“How long is Christiana’s hair?” I asked, changing the subject.
“A little longer than chin length, according to her pictures. It’s close to your hair color, Holly.”
So that’s why she mentioned getting my hair cut. She was thinking of her pen pal. Again.
“Guess what happened today?” I said.
“Something about your cat?” she asked casually.
“Yeah, Paula tried to kill him!”
“And you’re upset.”
“Upset, nothing. I’m furious at Paula. It’s her fault.”
“What actually happened?” Andie was all ears.
I told her about the daily bubble baths, how Goofey had swallowed lots of the soap, making him sick.
“Never heard of giving a cat a bath,” she said. “Don’t they lick themselves clean?”
“Of course. Anybody knows that.”
“Well, Paula’s different, you know.”
“No kidding,” I said, the anger boiling up again.
“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said. “I’ve gotta get my room ready for Christiana.”
“Okay, see you.”
I hung up, feeling both happy and worried. Andie would be at my party, but so would a complete stranger. One that I’d already decided to dislike.
Suddenly a new thought struck me.
What if Christiana doesn’t like me?
Thursday after school, Mom drove me to see Goofey while Stan kept an eye on the other kids. Andie rode along, sitting in back with me.
“What’ll happen to Goofey when he’s released from the clinic?” she asked. “Who will take care of him then?”
I glanced at Mom. “Good question,” I said, wishing I could persuade Andie to adopt him. “There’s no way I want Paula getting close to him again.”
“What’s so bad about Paula?” Mom asked.
“Just because she’s rich and gorgeous doesn’t mean she can take care of cats,” I mumbled.
“Now, Holly, please don’t hold this against her,” Mom said as she pulled into the parking lot behind the clinic.
Andie elbowed me in the ribs.
“Coming in?” I asked, unlocking the car door.
“You betcha,” Andie said.
Mom waved as we headed inside.
Goofey had a tube in his stomach, so he couldn’t have visitors. Besides, the technician probably didn’t want to gross us out. “Your friend was here today,” he said.
“Who?”
“Your friend Paula Miller. She came around lunchtime.”
What gall! It made me madder than ever. But I covered it well. “Make sure you tell Goofey I love him,” I said. “Say my name in his ear three times every hour.”
His eyebrows shot up. “No problem,” he said with a grin.
“You’re crazy, Holly,” Andie said on the way back to the car.
“So what? Doctors prescribe medicine in double and triple doses, don’t they?”
She opened the car door. “Cats don’t understand English, do they?”
I waited for her to slide in before I climbed into the back. “They’re smarter than you think.” I wanted to say,
Why don’t you adopt Goofey and find out?
But I bit my tongue and decided I’d pray for an adoptive parent for him instead.
After supper, Stan and I headed off to church with Uncle Jack. When we arrived, Paula and Kayla were walking up the steps. “Go with me to the side door,” I pleaded to Stan.
He frowned and turned on his John Wayne charm. “What’s the matter, little sister?”
“Paula’s pathetic,” I muttered.
“Now, there’s an interesting Christian attitude.” He held the door as I trudged inside.
“If I never see Paula’s face again, I’ll be thrilled,” I said.
And then…around the corner she appeared. “I have to talk to you, Holly,” she said, reaching for my arm.
I backed away, ready to do battle.
Then Stan stepped in front of me. John Wayne’s voice rang through the hall. “Listen here, pilgrim. This here’s the sanctuary of God. I’d suggest you take your fight outside.” He took Paula’s arm by the elbow, guiding her away from my wrath. She looked up at him, smiling with all her teeth. “Well, missy, looks like I saved your hide,” Stan said as they strolled down the hall.
I watched as Stan and the cat killer turned the corner in the foyer. Inching my way forward, I peeked around.
“Seems as though what we’ve got here is just a little misunderstanding,” John Wayne droned on.
Paula, the cat poisoner, giggled just as Andie appeared at the top of the steps, face-to-face with Stan. With his arm around Paula!
SECOND-BEST FRIEND
Andie’s eyes popped. “Excuse me?” she demanded.
Not given to defeat, Stan came up with the perfect comeback.
“Missy,” he turned to Paula. “Like I said, life’s full of little misunderstandings.
Gallantly, he offered his other elbow to Andie. “Well, pilgrims, let’s go to church.”
Sparks flew from Andie’s dark eyes as she caught my glance.
Stan was in for it now.
Paula’s giggling diminished to a grin as she released her hold on my cousin. “Thanks for everything, mister. See ya at the roundup.”
Some pathetic imitation,
I thought, as she turned around and caught my eye.
“Holly, I really do need to talk to you.” She was coming at me, full speed.
I stood my ground. “There’s nothing to say.” I pushed past her as Andie grabbed Stan and pulled him into the youth service.
After we sang some contemporary praise and worship choruses, Pastor Rob stood up. “Tonight we’re going to divide into small groups, but first the devotional.” He read the Scripture from Mat. thew 5:44. “ ‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…’ ”
Some text.
If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve thought Stan or someone else had filled in Pastor Rob on what was going on between Paula and me.
He continued to talk about the verse, skillfully weaving the Scripture into his talk. When it was time to divide into discussion groups, Pastor Rob had us count off by fives. I was a two. So was Paula. Quickly, I disappeared into the girls’ bathroom and stayed there till I was sure the small group stuff was over.
At last I came out, only to find Paula waiting beside the closed chapel doors. “I know you’re angry at me,” she said, “and I don’t blame you. But I honestly didn’t know bubble baths would harm your cat.”
I couldn’t look at her face. Those perfectly white, perfectly aligned teeth of hers could blind an innocent bystander. Innocent, that was me all right. I’d
innocently
allowed her to care for Goofey. What an ignorant mistake.
“Please?” she begged. “Please forgive me, Holly?”
I wasn’t ready to discuss this. The anger in me was too strong. So strong I couldn’t even begin to put Matthew 5:44 into practice. “I can’t talk now.” I turned to find my jacket.
“Can I call you?” she pleaded.
“No.” I stormed down the steps, feeling totally out of control as I waited for Stan in the foyer.
A few minutes later, the rest of the kids poured out of the chapel. Andie invited me to go with her to Denver in the morning to meet Christiana. “Dad wants to leave right after breakfast, around seven-thirty. Your mom can call the school and get an excused absence for you first thing tomorrow.”
“Thanks for asking,” I told her, only because I wanted to be with Andie.
Not because I wanted to meet Christiana. Not in the least.