Pretense (47 page)

"What type of subjects do you like? Have you had to draw the art building yet?"

Delancey smiled. "Yes, we did that, and Old Mills Hall, but my taste runs to children. I love children's books and anything to do with making small animals come to life."

"Kittens and bears and such?"

"Exactly." She smiled again. It was so nice to be understood.

They were at the gate then, and Mr. Brinks was buying their tickets. Marty smiled at Delancey as she captured her arm and invited her to precede her into the stadium. This act gave the brothers a few moments alone. Kevin looked at his brother, his brows raised in question.

"Wow" was all Kyle had to say. Kevin smiled in satisfaction.

Kyle was feeling pretty satisfied himself. Since the beginning of the month he had been thinking about transferring up to Stanford at the semester break. His reasons were purely academic, but Delancey Bishop would not be hard to add to the list.

Indeed, the cold was starting to turn her cheeks red by half- time, and with the white turtleneck she'd worn under a navy blue sweater, she looked good enough to eat. Kyle could feel himself falling and thought he needed a bit of a diversion.

"How about something from the concession stands?"

"Oh, sure."

"Do you want to come, or should I bring you something?"

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"I'll come." Delancey stood, not wanting to mention that her feet were getting cold.

"Do you want anything, Marty?" Kyle asked of his sister-in- law. His brother had wandered off to talk to someone.

"Thanks, Kyle, but I'll wait for Kev."

"Okay."

The two descended the steep stairway, weaving in and out of noisy fans and food containers.

"What'll it be?"

"Anything hot," Delancey told him.

"Hot chocolate?"

"Yes, please."

Delancey used the bathroom and then waited by the wall until Kyle returned. It took about ten minutes, but it was worth it when he handed her a hot dog, a huge bag of popcorn, and a large mug of hot chocolate. She thanked him with extreme pleasure, but not wanting to presume, asked kindly if he wanted her to pay for hers.

He shook his head and smiled. "My treat, but you know, by the time we walk back up, these hot dogs will be cold. Why don't we eat them here?"

Delancey didn't need to be asked twice. The aroma had made her feel famished. She was just finishing her mustard-covered dog when Kyle surprised her.

"I'm not as bad as you thought I would be, am I?"

Delancey's face heated. She hadn't thought herself quite so transparent. "I'm sorry, Kyle, but I had a bad experience with a blind date last month."

"Let me guess-he wanted to kiss you."

Delancey nodded. "I didn't want that no matter what, but it certainly didn't help that he didn't say ten words the entire evening and all he could do was stare at me."

Kyle could relate to the guy's feelings, but he had a little more control.

"Well," he kept his voice casual and kind, "just so you know, I won't try to kiss you. I'd like to," he added, which made Delancey smile, "but I won't."

"Thank you."

"If you change your mind," he had her laughing now, "just let me know."

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"I'll do that."

"Tell me, Delancey," he said, suddenly serious. "If I find myself in town on a weekend when you're free, would you go out with me again?"

Delancey didn't even need to consider. "I'd like that, Kyle."

She let her eyes meet his. With his sandy brown hair and brown eyes, he was really quite handsome, and sweet in the bargain. She also loved it that he was a few inches taller than her 5' 10" frame.

"You're going to make it hard to go south on Sunday afternoon," he said softly, and with the way his eyes dropped to her mouth, Delancey knew he wanted to kiss her. She chose not to comment but smiled at the compliment, offered him some popcorn, and allowed him to take her arm and lead her back to their seats.

Arlington

Delancey is seeing someone,
Marrell's letter to Mackenzie started out.

We haven't met him, but he's the brother of one of her teachers. They met on a blind date, and I can tell by the way she talks that she cares for him. Not since face Booth, who ended up being a friend more than anything else, has Delancey liked anyone enough to do much dating, but Kyle Brinks
-
that's his name
-
comes up every other weekend, and they go out all weekend long.

Mackenzie sat back and thought about her sister. She was a beautiful woman, but her mother was right-she hadn't dated much at all in high school, even opting to miss some of the big events like homecoming and prom. Mackenzie had usually had a date to the main events, but she wasn't asked out all month long like Delancey was. Mackenzie didn't want to analyze it anymore and read on.

I
trust she's thinking well about what she wants, and she's very good about telling us where she's gone and what they did. We met Mr. Brinks one time
-
he's the teacher
-
and he seems very nice. I only hope his brother is as well. I'm not

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worrying that D.J. will make a foolish choice so much as 1 don't want her hurt or getting serious at 18. You're probably calling me a worrywart right now. I'm trying not to be, but all these things come to mind when your daughter is dating.

Enough of that. How are you, dear? Have you seen much of Paxton these days, or is he still immersed inJodi?Is it lonely for you? I hope not. I know that the move to the Pentagon is on your mind, and I also know that you 're good at your job, but I can't help wishing you could get out and have some fun too.

Do you ever think about going to church, Mic? I'm sure you could find one that would have sound Bible teaching, and I wish that. . .

Mackenzie began to skim but finished the letter before going back to the part about Paxton. She smiled. She had seen him that very evening. She had just been getting started on the indoor track when she looked up to find him watching her. He had finished his workout, so she stopped and went over to him.

"I'd hug you, but I haven't showered yet," he said with a smile.

"I'll take one anyway," Mackenzie said back, grinning and accepting his embrace.

"You're just getting started?"

"Yes. Are you on your way out?"

"Yes, but I had to get a little time in-too much of Jodi's cooking."

"You worry too much about your looks," Mackenzie told him with a shake of her head.

"Spoken like a 19-year-old."

This had made her laugh, and for a moment, and even after she left the spa, she missed him. Her roommates led their own lives these days. Aimee grew more religious with every week. Both Beth and Janelle had steady males in their lives, and Beth was on the verge of engagement.

Mackenzie's writing was starting to flag, not from lack of ideas, but because she was tired of sitting in her bedroom night after night. Her job was still fulfilling, but with the transfer around the corner, she was restless. At least her family was coming in three weeks.

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Mackenzie's eyes skimmed back over the letter and caught the question about church. It wasn't that she hated the thought of going, but Sunday was one of the few days she could sleep in. Aimee went to church on Saturday nights, but Mackenzie knew she didn't want to do that. She didn't know
what
she wanted, but at the moment, she found it easier not to think about it at all.

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Twenty-Seven

Mackenzie took the Metro to the airport. Sheknew that Jack had planned to rent a car, but she could not wait to see them. It took a little walking, but she was at their gate in plenty of time. It was dark outside, so she didn't try to stand at the glass but positioned herself where she could see them come up the jetway from the plane. It felt like forever, but was in fact only moments later that they were all trying to hug her at once.

Mackenzie was so glad to see them that she didn't care that they looked older. It was the first time she ever remembered noticing their age. Her mother still looked like a woman in her thirties, but she had changed her hairstyle, and that had matured her. Jack's hair and mustache were getting gray. Even Delancey, who had cut her hair to right below her ears, had an older look. It made Mackenzie wonder how they saw her.

"That was the longest plane ride," Delancey wasted no time in saying. "I forgot just how much I hate airline food."

Mackenzie laughed. "Well, don't expect much at the apartment. I live on cereal and the occasional meal out."

"A bowl of Cheerios will do just fine."

"Let's get our luggage," Marrell suggested.

Mackenzie caught her sister's arm and started her down the terminal. Marrell watched as the girls walked close together, their mouths and hands going faster than their legs.

"I think that's one of the things I miss the most," Jack said as he too watched them. "They have such a special relationship."

"I think they bring out the best in each other."

"It runs in the family," Jack said in his romantic way. "You bring out the best in me."

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Marrell smiled up at him.

"For some reason, it's at times like this that I think about Paul. He would be so proud of all of you."

"Isn't that funny," Marrell countered. "I think more of you at times like this because of the way you treat the girls. You love them as if they were your own, and I don't know how normal that is."

"Who told you I was normal?" he asked, crossing his eyes.

Marrell laughed and let the matter drop. The airport suddenly seemed crowded, and with the girls out of sight, the time shorter than ever. They rushed to catch up with the visiting sisters.

The family went out to dinner and checked into the hotel. Then Jack and Marrell dropped the girls off at the apartment with plans that they would pick them up in the morning to go car shopping.

"What's with Aimee?" Delancey whispered, once the door of Mackenzie's room was closed. The other girl had met her but then immediately gone back to her Bible reading.

"I think she struggles with being so far from home," Mackenzie answered, trying to be kind. "I went with her to church one Sunday. She told me it makes her feel better to go, but I'm not sure why. All they did was listen to a man read from a book and do a lot of repeating."

Mackenzie's room was a little bit of a surprise, until Delancey remembered that her sister had never been into shopping. Her double-size bed had a nice spread on it, but she had no headboard or chair, and her dresser was very small. About the only thing that gave evidence of caring was the computer desk and chair, and the computer itself. She didn't even have a printer. Somehow it felt good to know that she had not changed.

"How do you like your computer?" Delancey asked.

"I like it."

"Does it make you want to start writing again?"

Mackenzie was so quiet that Delancey looked at her.

"Mic," she said, her voice low, "what have you not told me?"

Mackenzie looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Deej, but there's no privacy on the phone here. Someone is usually around, and

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I've just become so accustomed to not talking about it to Pax that I haven't told anyone."

"What are you writing?"

"A full-length novel, sort of an action-thriller."

"Mackenzie!" Delancey threw her arms around the older girl. "I can't believe it. Tell me about it."

"Well, I'll tell you one of the exciting parts, not all the lead- up with his military career and all that." Mackenzie's voice and face became all at once animated. "My protagonist is named Vaughn Ramsey."

"I like the name, but tell me the title first," Delancey said anxiously.

"Access Denied."

"Oooh." Delancey was awestruck. "Okay, go on!"

"I will, D.J., but you need to understand that I'm not even willing to talk to Mom and Jack about it. This is really private for me."

"Okay. I won't say anything. Just give me the overall rundown."

"I think Vaughn is a little like Dad-you know, a great soldier and dedicated, but after 20 years in the service, he gets passed over for an advancement that he really wants. It's only the first time, so he's not automatically out of the Army, but he's so frustrated that he gets out as soon as he can and goes to work for a man named Doyle. Vaughn is so low about all that's happened that he doesn't really check Doyle out. If he had, he would have found out that Doyle's dealings are not all that clean. When Doyle sends Vaughn to France, supposedly to escort his daughter home, he ends up running through the streets of Paris with this woman and trying everything in his power to keep them both alive. He doesn't find out for five more chapters why they're even running."