SVH01-Double Love (13 page)

Mr. Collins read over her story and nodded approvingly. "Good, Elizabeth. Very objective." Elizabeth sighed. She didn't feel very objective. After school, walking home, Elizabeth sunk back into her blue mood. How could she be happy when her father was about to leave them for another woman?

When she walked in the house, her mother said, "Liz, honey, could you set the table with the good dishes and silverware? We're having guests."

"Really?"

"Yes, and I know you kids are tired of your father and me not being home for dinner. This one will be for all of us."

"That's great, Mom," Elizabeth said happily, giving her mother a hug and a kiss. "Who's coming for dinner?"

"Marianna West!" her mother said, smiling. "And--"

She didn't have a chance to say who the other guest was because Elizabeth interrupted. "Marianna West?"

"Yes! And your father has a very important announcement to make."

"An announcement about Marianna West?"

"Yes!"

Jessica hardly knew what hit her when Elizabeth dragged her into her bedroom and closed the door.

"What's the matter, Liz?"

"It's the end of the world, Jess! Marianna West is coming for dinner, and Dad's going to make an announcement. What do you think's going on?"

"I know!" cried Jessica, collapsing in tears on her bed. "They're going to announce they're getting a divorce! Oh, I could just die!"

"Oh, that's impossible. Dad would never make

that kind of announcement," Elizabeth said, but without much conviction.

"What difference does it make what he says?" sniffed Jessica. "He's in love with Marianna West, isn't he?"

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do."

The enormity of this treachery had hardly sunk in when they heard Steven come bounding up the stairs. Jessica threw open the door.

"Steve, I didn't know you were coming home tonight. Get in here! We've got a crisis! Dad's in love with Marianna West!"

"What?" said Steven, astonished. "He's going to make an announcement at dinner," said Elizabeth. "We're not sure yet what it is, but under the circumstances, it's got to be terrible."

"Oh, no," he said, falling into a chair. "But I've invited Tricia Martin to dinner! That's why I came home tonight. We can't let her be in on this."

"This is the most horrible day in my entire existence!" Jessica raged, stomping out and heading for her room.

As the twins and Steven dressed for dinner that night, all were preparing for the worst.

Meanwhile, Alice Wakefield was busy preparing duck a l'orange, creamed asparagus, and

a chilled parfait. The twins heard her humming as she worked.

"I can't stand this!" Jessica muttered.

Looking thoroughly defeated, Steven came downstairs with Elizabeth and Jessica. He hadn't been able to reach Tricia to tell her not to come. She would discover that she was not the only one whose family was a mess.

Plans to confront their father and head off the crisis didn't succeed, either, because when they got downstairs Marianna was already there, looking positively radiant in an ice-blue suit. She was sipping a glass of white wine.

Not only that. Ned and Alice Wakefield were having drinks with her, and they were all laughing and smiling together.

Then Tricia Martin came in, looking shy and uncertain.

"Hello, Tricia," Mrs. Wakefield said warmly.

"Hi, Tricia," said Ned Wakefield.

They were all being so polite and civilized the twins thought they would throw up.

And then Mr. Wakefield raised his glass. "Listen, everybody," he said. "I was going to announce this at dinner, but I just can't wait."

Elizabeth held her breath. Jessica stared daggers at her father. Steven looked as though he were going to run from the room.

"I offer a toast to Marianna," said Ned Wakefield, "the newest partner in our law firm!"

Elizabeth stared at Jessica. Jessica stared at Elizabeth.

Marianna West looked first at Ned Wakefield and then at his wife. "What?"

Mr. Wakefield laughed. "They told me I could announce it tonight, Marianna. You're a full partner as of now. All those extra hours we put in were worth something, after all."

So that's what Dad had been doing--helping Ms. West gain the promotion he thought she deserved. Elizabeth blushed, ashamed of her unfounded suspicions, while Jessica looked simply incredulous.

"Oh, my goodness!" Marianna West blurted out. "Oh, Ned, you're terrific. I couldn't have done it without your support!" She threw herself into Ned Wakefield's arms and kissed him on the cheek. Then she kissed Alice Wakefield, too.

"Alice, you have the most wonderful husband in the world."

"I know," she said, smiling and taking Ned's arm.

"Now that we've all heard the good news," said Mr. Wakefield, "why don't we adjourn-- and sit down for dinner."

Elizabeth linked arms with her sister and gave her brother and Tricia a brilliant smile, as they all practically skipped to the table.

Sixteen

"I'll have a bacon cheeseburger and a root beer," Elizabeth said to the waitress before resuming her conversation with Enid. It was the next afternoon, and the girls had stopped in at the Dairi Burger after school.

"It was really something, Enid. You would have just died at the faces on Mr. Patman and Mr. Fowler! At least we don't have to worry about the football field anymore."

Suddenly Enid spotted something over Elizabeth's left shoulder.

"Let's go, Liz. I've got to get home!" Enid was on her feet, gathering up her books.

"What are you talking about, Enid? We haven't even gotten our food yet."

"I promised my mother I would clean up my room."

"You did that over the weekend. I was with you, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. Well, I have to do something else. Now!"

"Stop being weird, Enid. What's the matter with you? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

Elizabeth turned in her chair and checked out the room. Then she saw Todd and Emily Mayer sitting in a booth near the front door.

"Oh." Elizabeth turned back to face Enid, her face white and her hands shaking.

"Nice try, Enid, but I would have seen them on the way out, anyway. Don't worry. It's no big deal."

Why should the sight of Todd with another girl shake me? Elizabeth wondered. I hate him.

"They're probably just talking about homework assignments," Enid suggested.

"I couldn't care less what they're talking about, Enid. Todd Wilkins means nothing to me!"

"Remember me, Liz? I'm your friend. You don't have to pretend with me."

"I'm not pretending. There is nothing at all between Todd and me." There never has been anything--and there never will be anything, she wanted to add.

Out of the corner of her eye, she sneaked another look at Todd and Emily and wondered why it hurt so much to see him smile at the

small, dark-haired girl. In addition to being The Droids' drummer, Emily was a really nice person. I wonder if she knows what she's letting herself in for, Elizabeth thought bitterly.

The time seemed to drag as the waitress brought their food and Elizabeth and Enid ate, exchanging only a few words. Finally they could leave.

Elizabeth held her head high and wore her brightest smile as she and Enid approached the front of Dairi Burger.

"Hi, Emily. Hey, The Droids were terrific at the dance. You guys are really something else!"

"Thanks, Liz," said Emily.

"Hello, Liz."

"Hi, Todd. See you two around."

Elizabeth walked as fast as she could out the door, through the parking lot, and to the car. There was only one thought in her head: don't let me cry, don't let me make a fool of myself!

Seventeen

Of course Elizabeth had heard people say before that they didn't really feel the pain of being hurt until afterward, but she had never believed it before. The time she got her thumb stuck in the door and the time she hit her shin on the kitchen chair, there was no doubt about it. Both had hurt right away, and plenty. But Elizabeth didn't really feel the pain of losing Todd for several days after seeing him with Emily. And then she wished for that other kind of pain, the kind that came at once and went away almost as quickly. Because this pain sat in her heart as though it were a bird that had built its nest there and would never go away. She had known it was over, really. It had never even started. But seeing him with someone else--that made it final as nothing else could have.

She decided to go on other dates, too. She couldn't just think about Todd forever. She went skating with Ken Matthews one Friday night when the team went out together. It wasn't a real date, though. Just a celebration of getting the football field back. Still, Ken picked her up and brought her home, under the watchful eye of Jessica. It seemed Jessica thought Ken still had a girlfriend, and if she had known he didn't . . .

After that, Elizabeth told herself she was over Todd for good and she would absolutely stop thinking about him all the time. But she thought about practically nothing else.

One night after a sorority meeting at Caroline Pearce's house--at which Elizabeth totally ignored Caroline, still angry at her for spreading the rumors about Kelly's--they all trooped to the Dairi Burger for hamburgers, and there were Todd and all the Phi Eps. Elizabeth tried not to look at Todd, and she could tell he was doing the same. Why is he acting this way? she asked herself. It was over. He never called her anymore. They avoided each other in the halls. Still, Todd was being careful not to look at her, and she was being just as careful not to look at him.

After their burgers, they climbed into the Fiat convertible--Jessica was allowed to drive again--

and off they went with three of their friends in the car.

They dropped off Enid and Cara first. When they dropped off Lila Fowler, Elizabeth noticed that they were being followed.

"Oh, don't be silly," said Jessica.

"I tell you, there's a car on our tail, Jess."

They both noticed it after that. A sleek black sports car trailed them as they drove, and it was getting closer and closer.

"Oh, Liz," Jessica gasped. "I'm scared."

"Never mind. Just head straight for home."

But Jessica managed to stall the Fiat at the next red light, and then, in her anxiety, she couldn't get it started again. The pursuing car pulled over to the curb behind them. The driver got out, walked up, and leaned over the side to leer at them.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Heaven and her sister, Heavenly."

Jessica exploded. "Rick Andover, you scared me to death! I didn't recognize you without your car."

"Aw, sorry," he said mockingly. "Mine's in the shop. I borrowed that little number. You like it? Or would you rather I took you for a ride in this one?"

"Jessie," Elizabeth whispered. "He's drunk."

"Now, is that nice?" Rick sneered. "I heard

you, Heavenly. And you're a smart girl. I am drunk, but not enough to matter. Look out!"

And before Jessica could stop him, Rick Andover pulled open the door and jumped into the driver's seat, squeezing her over next to Elizabeth.

"What are you doing?" Jessica raged. "You get out of this car!"

"Got to start it for you, Heaven," Rick slurred. "Can't let you sit here in the middle of Calico Drive."

"Well, start it and then get out," Elizabeth said.

As if on cue, the Spider's engine leaped to life. But Rick Andover did not get out. He floored the gas pedal, and the little red Fiat screeched down the drive as if it were in the Indianapolis 500.

"Stop!" Jessica screamed. "Stop this car!"

"You let us out!" Elizabeth shouted.

Rick Andover laughed drunkenly, stomping down harder on the gas pedal. The Fiat zoomed wildly, looping around toward the Dairi Burger on the bottom of the hill.

They careened past the Dairi Burger, and Elizabeth yelled out the window.

"Help! Somebody!"

Rick whipped the little car through the crowded parking lot of the Dairi Burger, swerving at

the last second to miss a crowd of Sweet Valley kids coming out.

Elizabeth caught a fleeting glance of a face startled and pulling back with sudden fright. Todd Wilkins!

Again the Fiat screeched around the parking lot, scattering people with terrifying bursts of speed and last-minute sharp turns.

"Out of the way, you idiots!" Rick Andover yelled. "We're coming through!"

Rick zipped the little car backward, spun around, and tore out of the Dairi Burger lot, almost sideswiping one car and rear-ending another. The car plunged into the traffic and sped wildly off in the direction of the beach.

Looking back, the last thing Elizabeth saw was Todd Wilkins standing near the front door, looking after them in bewilderment.

But Todd's bewilderment vanished the instant he saw the terror on Elizabeth's face and turned to sheer fury at the sight of Rick Andover at the wheel. Within seconds, he had jumped into his Datsun and was speeding after them.

The red Fiat zipped in and out of traffic on the freeway, passing cars and trucks on the inside or the outside as the whim struck Rick.

Jessica's contorted face was wet with tears. "Make him stop," she begged Elizabeth.

"Rick, you stop this car, or I'll--" Elizabeth commanded.

Rick uttered a harsh bark of laughter. "Scream as loud as you like. Who's going to hear you?"

Elizabeth shot Jessica a terrified look. Rick was really crazy. He could wind up killing them!

"Oh, no!" Jessica wailed as he made a screeching turn down a familiar road. "He's taking us to Kelly's!"

"I'll show that creep," he was muttering. "Nobody shows Rick Andover the door if he knows what's good for him."

"They'll never believe we're not with him," Jessica hissed to her sister. "They'll really arrest us this time."

Rick's only response was to hit the gas pedal harder. He didn't notice that a battered old Datsun was slowly gaining on them. Finally, with a screaming skid, Rick spun the Fiat around the parking lot of Kelly's in a boiling cloud of dust and sand. He grabbed Jessica with one hand and Elizabeth with the other, yanking them out of the car. He cursed loudly as the Datsun jerked to a stop in front of him, blocking the entrance to the roadhouse.