The Gossip File (9 page)

As we close up the café for the day, I'm surprised to find Caleb outside in the grass, furiously gluing something together. When I get closer, I see that he's holding a few pieces of wood that look nothing like the trebuchet in his model.

“How's it going?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “It's not working right for some reason.”

“Do you need some help?”

He hesitates, like he's thinking about sending me away, but then he shrugs and says, “If you want.”

I kneel down and glance at the model he's working from. “So you're making the base first, right?” I might not know much about building things, but I know what I'd do if this were a cake.

“I don't know,” he admits. “I just started gluing things.” He laughs bitterly as he lets go of the pieces he's holding and they fall apart. “Maybe my dad's right. I'm not cut out for being an architect.”

I have to chuckle. “You sound like me a few weeks ago. I was convinced that I wasn't meant to be a pastry chef, even though that's what I've wanted to be since I can remember. I was ready to give up.”

“Why?”

“Because someone told me I was doing everything wrong. I thought that meant I didn't have what it takes. But it turns out, he was just trying to show me the right way to do things, and I was too stubborn to realize it.”

Caleb shrugs. “Whenever I ask my dad for help, he explains stuff so fast that I can't keep up.”

“So don't ask your dad,” I say. “Maybe someone else can help you. Or maybe you just have to try things on your own until something works.” I clap my hands. “Okay, let's start over and see what happens.”

As we start gluing pieces together, the frustration on Caleb's face turns into intense concentration. Even if he's having a hard time with this project, it's clear that he loves building things.

“Have you ever asked your mom for help?” I ask.

He laughs. “Yeah, right. She'd just try to make everything perfect and ruin it. That's what she did with my dad.”

My ears perk up. “What do you mean?'

“Dad works too much, so he's always late or has to cancel stuff. It stinks, but I guess I'm used to it. My mom took it really personally, though. The more she tried to make things in our family work, the worse they got. That's why she's so psycho with your dad. I think she's trying to make him the exact opposite of mine.”

For a minute, I feel kind of bad for Ellie. Imagine trying your hardest to make things perfect and your husband still choosing work over you. I guess part of me can understand why she's been controlling my dad's life, but that doesn't mean she can just bulldoze her way through my family.

“My mom keeps trying to get me to move here,” Caleb goes on, “but even though my dad works all the time, I'd rather be with him than with her. She only wants me around because she thinks it makes her look bad if her son doesn't live with her.”

I think about that for a second as I spread glue on the end of a dowel. Should I tell him about the phone conversation I overheard? It doesn't feel like my place to say anything.

“I don't know if that's true,” I say finally. “When your mom told me that you lived with your dad, she seemed really sad about it. I think she really does miss you.”

He shakes his head. “She misses telling me to tuck in my shirt and making me wear those stupid matching outfits. She thinks if something looks perfect, then it is.”

He's right about the perfect thing, but I'm not convinced that Ellie doesn't care about Caleb. She might be a weirdo, but I think she really does want him around. Why else would she have gotten so mad about Caleb's dad abandoning him?

“She wasn't like that before,” he adds. “Back when she was a nurse, she didn't have to try so hard to be perfect. I guess because she was actually pretty good at it. But ever since my parents broke up, she's like on this mission to be a robot or something.”

“What about Amir?” I ask. “What happened with him?”

Caleb shakes his head. “I wasn't really around last year when all of that went down, but I guess his kids hated her because she kept telling them what to do.”

“So she dumped him?”

“No, I'm pretty sure he dumped her. She moped around for months afterward, until she met your dad.”

“Do you think…do you think our parents will get married?” I say slowly.

“I don't know. I like your dad, and my mom seems to really like him.” He shrugs. “I think she likes the idea of us being one big family more than she'll like the reality of it, just like with everything else.”

That gets something ticking in my brain. What if I've been going about things the wrong way? Instead of trying to prevent Ellie and Dad from being together, what if I could show Ellie what life would be like if we were a family? Would she still want to marry my dad if she got a super-dose of reality? Maybe she'd break up with him if she realized just how imperfect our family would be.

Caleb and I keep working in silence for a while until finally the pieces start to look like the model.

“This should probably dry for a while before you add anything else to it,” I say, again thinking about what I would do if we were baking something instead of building it.

“Thanks,” he says. “If I win, I'll give you some of the credit.”

I laugh. “That's okay. You can take all of it. That way your dad will be really proud.”

Caleb gets a far-off “if only” look on his face, and I find myself wishing things could be so easy for me. There isn't a competition I can win to get my dad's attention. It seems like no matter what I do, it's not enough for him to notice me anymore.

As I wait for Ellie outside her office, ready to put my new plan into action, Mark rushes past me with a fire extinguisher.

“Is everything okay?” I call to him.

Marks slows down and gives me a weary smile. “Nothing to worry about!” he says. “Just a little mishap with a flaming baton.”

“Can I help?”

He laughs bitterly. “Not unless you know how to teach a whole bunch of clueless people about Renaissance festivals. If someone asks you to host one, do yourself a favor and say no.” Then he rushes away, muttering about how he'll never let himself be talked into any of Ellie's crazy ideas again.

I have to hold in my laughter. After how excited Ellie's been about this festival, it seems to be falling apart before it even starts. And clearly her boss isn't too happy with her right now. That makes two of us.

A minute later, Ellie's office door swings open and she marches out. She jumps at the sight of me standing in the hallway with a huge, fake smile on my face.

“Rachel, what are you doing here?”

“I wanted to walk you home from work,” I say in my most cheerful voice.

She beams at me. “How nice! How's your head feeling today?”

Like it's full of thunderclouds, but I don't think that has anything to do with hitting it on the sink yesterday. “Great!” I say.

As we walk toward her apartment, Ellie chatters on about the Renaissance festival and how “super-duper” everything is going. After seeing how frantic Mark was a few minutes ago, I know it's all just wishful thinking.

“Of course,” she says, “it would be better if I could find more than one jouster, but we'll make do!”

“Isn't the whole point to have two people jousting with each other?” I ask.

She laughs. “Traditionally, yes, but I think we'll still get the spirit across.”

“You're totally right!” I say, even though I completely disagree. But I need to get her buttered up for what I'm about to say. I take a deep breath and add, “You know, I've been doing some thinking. I'm having so much fun in Florida that maybe I should move down here after you and Dad get married. You know, so I can live here for good!”

Ellie blinks at me. “Move here?”

“Yeah. That way I can be with my dad, and we can all be a family, and maybe we could even get a dog! One of those big, fluffy ones that plays fetch all the time and barks on cue.”

“You'd really want that?” she says.

“Totally! We'd be the perfect family.” I can't believe how fake this sounds, but Ellie seems to be eating it up.

“That would be great! Your dad would be so happy.” Her smile falters a little. “I'm allergic to dogs, but I'm sure we can figure something else out. Maybe a cat? Or a hedgehog? I've heard those are popular pets these days.”

Wow, is she calling my bluff or does she really think this is a good idea? Maybe I'm making this sound a little too perfect.

“I don't know if Caleb could live with us, though,” I say, feeling like a jerk as the words come out of my mouth. “I mean, I'm so used to being an only child that I don't think it would work to have both of us around. But he's moving back in with his dad soon anyway, right?”

Ellie's smile dims. “Well…”

“Great!” I say. “We'll have so much fun! I hope you don't mind if I use your kitchen all the time. I have to bake or I'll go crazy. Like lock-me-up-in-a-special-hospital crazy. But don't worry, I'm pretty good at cleaning up after my big baking marathons. We only got mice once at home, and that was only for a few weeks.”

I don't even know what's coming out of my mouth anymore, but it seems to be working. Ellie's smile is gone now, replaced by the kind of frown you'd see on a cartoon character.

“Well, this is a lot to think about,” she says as we finally get to her apartment. “I'll have to talk it over with your dad.”

“You'll talk him into it, won't you?” I say. “Puh-lease?”

I can tell she feels guilty and put out, just like I've been feeling ever since I got here.

“I'll see what I can do,” she says. As she hurries off to her room, I can't help the triumphant smile on my face. Finally, I feel like I'm fighting fire with fire.

•••

I sit on the balcony with my Gossip File notes before dinner, trying to figure out what else to write. Finally, I find myself scrawling: “Mark hates Ellie for talking him into doing the Renaissance festival. He said it's the worst mistake he's ever made.”

I stare at the words, realizing they're not really true. Mark was unhappy, sure, but he never said he hated Ellie. For all I know, he'll be over it by tomorrow.

Before I can erase what I wrote, there's a knock on the door. I shove the notes under the balcony chair and head into the room just as Ellie pokes her head through the doorway.

“Rachel, I have some good news,” she says, coming to sit on the bed. “I spoke to your father and he agreed that you moving down here is a great idea.”

“He—he did? I thought he'd still be mad at me after everything that happened at the restaurant.”

She sighs. “He is a little moody at the moment, but you're his daughter. Of course he wants you to live with him.” She gives my hand a reassuring pat. “You'll have to work out all the details with your mom, but if this is what you want, then we'd love to have you.”

“But what about Caleb?”

“You're right that at some point he'll be going back to live with his dad. That's what he wants, after all.” She frowns, and I bet she's remembering the conversation she had with her ex-husband. Somehow she's going to have to convince him to take Caleb back. “But in the meantime, I'm sure we can all figure out how to coexist, don't you?”

“I guess so.”

“As for the pet hedgehog—”

“Dog,” I say. “It has to be a dog. I know you're allergic, but a dog makes every family complete and perfect, don't you think?”

She thinks for a minute, and I start to wonder if maybe she'll finally crack. But then she nods and says, “I'm sure I can just take allergy medicine.” She reaches out and squeezes my arm. “I can't tell you how happy I am that our family is finally coming together! Once I propose to your dad, it's all just going to be perfect.”

Then she gets up and practically dances out of the room. I sit there staring after her, feeling like someone slapped me with a bowling ball. For the first time, it dawns on me that maybe this is one fight I can't win.

It doesn't surprise me when my dad calls that afternoon to say that he and Ellie are giving me and Caleb “the night off” so we don't have to meet them for dinner. He makes it sound like he's doing us a favor by letting us hang out by ourselves. Yeah, right. I can tell it's because he's still mad at me about our fight last night.

“Dad, don't you ever want some time to yourself?” I can't help asking before he can hang up the phone. “I mean, Ellie wants you to spend every second with her. Isn't that exhausting?”

He sighs. “Rachel, when you care about someone, you want to spend a lot of time together. Don't you feel that way about Evan?”

My cheeks grow hot. I'm definitely not used to talking to my dad about my boyfriend. “But Evan lets me do what I want. He doesn't try to control everything.”

“Ellie is just particular, that's all. Your mother isn't much different, in fact.”

I want to laugh as I hang up the phone. Yes, my mom can be a little psycho about details, like always wanting things to be clean and organized, but she doesn't smother us every second of the day. I can't tell if Dad really thinks that Ellie and Mom are so much alike, or if he's just telling himself that. But if he knows what Ellie is really like, why would he stay with her? Why would he let her tell him what to do? And, most of all, why would he let her get between us?

When my phone rings again, I'm afraid it's Dad calling to tell me he doesn't want to see me tomorrow, either, so I'm surprised to hear Carrie's voice.

“Hey, Kai and Taylor and I are going to get pizza later. Do you want to come?”

“Oh, I can't…” I start to say before realizing that for once I don't have any plans. In fact, why shouldn't I go out with them? “Actually, yes. Count me in!”

As I hang up the phone, I start getting really excited about the whole idea. Dad thinks he's punishing me by not hanging out with me tonight, but I'll be the one actually having a good time. I must admit that as much as I hate lying about who I am, being Ava has its perks. Rachel would never get to go out with a bunch of older kids.

Uh-oh. Except that I doubt Dad will let either Ava or Rachel go. He might not be nearly as strict as my mom is, but considering how much he complains about teenage drivers, I know he would definitely not be okay with me being in Carrie's car. My excitement deflates.

Just then, I hear Ellie whistling in the other room. Wait. Ellie!

I put on my most innocent face and go out into the living room. “Hey, Ellie. I was wondering if I could go out with some friends from the resort tonight. I tried asking my dad, but he wasn't answering his phone.”

She blinks at me in surprise. “You've made friends here already?” she says. “That's great! Where are you planning on going?”

“Oh, um, some pizza place nearby.” I have no idea if it's nearby, but I want to downplay the driving part. “Since I can't get ahold of my dad, I thought I'd ask you, since, you know, he values your opinion so much.”

Ellie's skin seems to actually glow at the compliment. “Are you walking there?” she asks. “Do you need a ride?”

“No, um, I think I'm okay.”

“Well, I don't see why you can't go. Your dad and I were planning to see a movie tonight, so you have the evening free. Just don't stay out too late, or you'll be tired for work tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Ellie!” I cry. “You're the bestest!”

Then I do a little skip and triumphantly run off to my room.

•••

“Hop in!” Carrie says, rolling down her car window. I always imagine high school kids having duct-taped clunkers, not shiny sedans that only look a few years old.

Kai is in the front seat, so I climb into the back with Taylor. Before I can even say hi to everyone, Carrie guns the engine, and we speed out of the parking lot.

As we whip around corner after corner, my stomach starts sloshing back and forth like I'm on a boat. Then we get to a stop sign, and Carrie slams on the brakes so hard that my tongue actually pops out of my mouth.

After that I close my eyes, too busy imagining fiery car crashes to pay attention to what Carrie is saying about the “ah-MAY-zing” pizza place that we're going to. My dad would have a heart attack, stroke, and brain hemorrhage all rolled into one if he could see me right now.

When we slam to a stop in the parking lot, I stumble out of the car on shaky legs, shocked that we got here in one piece. Would it be too bizarre if I begged Carrie to let me walk back?

The four of us grab a table in the corner as we wait for our pizza. As my stomach finally settles down, Carrie chatters on about pizza toppings while Taylor and Kai keep exchanging shy glances. Suddenly, I feel like my old mute self again. I can't believe I'm hanging out with a bunch of high school kids all the way in Florida. What the Shrek am I supposed to say to them?

Be Ava, I tell myself. Be outgoing and funny. But I'm too nervous.

Then Kai takes out a pack of cards and insists that we play a game. During the first round of a wacky Go-Fish-like game that I'm pretty sure Carrie made up on the spot, I barely say a word, my hands shaking every time I put down a card. But by the second round, we're all laughing so hard that the last of my nerves disappear.

I can't believe how comfortable I feel with these kids, like they're my real friends. Okay, yes, they think I'm someone else. But I feel more like myself with them than I have with anyone else during this whole trip.

“So, Ava,” Carrie says when we finally give up playing her fake game. “Has Ellie told you what you're doing for the festival yet?”

“Does she have you practicing sword-swallowing or something?” Kai asks. “I swear, she's trying to kill us all. I'm pretty sure I saw Mark's tie catch on fire the other day.”

“As long as the whole festival is ‘perfect,' she doesn't care,” Taylor says. She pitches her voice up to make “perfect” sound high and Ellie-like.

I let out a weak laugh. “Um, no. I won't be in the festival because I won't be working at the café next week.”

“You won't?” asks Carrie. “But Ellie told us you were here for two weeks.”

“I'm visiting for two weeks, but she said she'd find someone else to take over after tomorrow.”

“Oh,” Carrie says. “So what are you doing next week?”

“Going to Disney,” I say. “If I survive it.” And suddenly, as if the words are just waiting to burst out of me, I find myself telling them about everything that's been happening with Ellie and my dad. I don't tell them that Ellie is the mysterious woman I'm talking about—I just call her “the girlfriend”—but everything else is totally true. It feels good to finally share my real life with them.

When I mention that my dad's girlfriend is planning to propose at Disney, Taylor gasps. “But this is your dream trip,” she says. “This woman can't just ruin it for you!”

At least someone else sees it the way I do.

“You know what you should do?” Carrie says. “When you're at Disney, don't leave them alone for a second so she can never ask him to marry her.”

“But what if she does it when I'm there? I bet she'd want me to be part of it, just to make it even more horrible.”

“Don't give her a chance,” Taylor says. “Make it the least romantic day you can.”

Kai laughs. “Yeah, if nothing else, feed both of them tons of garlic. That'll kill the mood.”

I giggle as my phone starts ringing. I glance at the number and suck in a breath. Oh no. It's my dad.

“Hello?” I whisper.

“Rachel, where are you?” His voice sounds boiling-teakettle mad.

“I'm out getting pizza with friends. I told Ellie about it. You can ask her—”

“Come back to Ellie's right now,” he says. Then he hangs up the phone.

•••

On the drive to Ellie's apartment, I'm sweating like crazy, and it's not from Carrie's terrible driving or from the insane heat. I can't get over how mad Dad sounded.

I ask Carrie to drop me off at the end of the street, but she insists on bringing me right to Ellie's doorstep. Luckily, she doesn't realize whose doorstep it is. I rush to say good-bye and dart out of the car. But just as I'm about to make my getaway, Ellie and my dad come bursting out of the front door of the building.

“Whoa,” Carrie says. “What's she doing here?”

My dad marches over to the car and yanks the back door open. “Rachel, get out here right now.” I've never seen his face look so red.

“Dad,” I say weakly.

“Rachel, now.” Then he shoots Carrie and the others a scalding look before marching back over to Ellie, who puts a comforting arm around him. Together, they disappear into the building.

The car is suddenly totally silent as Carrie, Taylor, and Kai all stare at me in shock. Oh my goldfish. They heard my dad call me Rachel. They saw him canoodling with Ellie right in front of them. They know I've been lying to them. They know everything!

“Guys,” I whisper. “I'm…I'm sorry—”

But Carrie cuts me off, her voice icy. “You better go, Rachel.” She spits the name out like it's poison.

I climb out of the car and slowly close the door behind me. As I numbly make my way toward the building, I hear the car speed away.

My heart is pounding like a death-march drum as I walk up the stairs to Ellie's apartment. When I open the door, I find Dad and Ellie perched on the couch waiting for me.

“Sit,” Dad orders as I shuffle into the living room.

I sink down into an armchair, not sure I'll ever be able to get back up.

“Where were you?” Dad demands.

“I told Ellie—”

“You told her you'd be going to a pizza place nearby with friends. You didn't tell me that your friend would be driving, or that she fancies herself a race-car driver.”

“How did—?”

“I saw you leaving with Carrie,” Ellie says apologetically. “When I saw how she drives, I was concerned, so I called your dad.”

“How could you be so irresponsible, Rachel?”

I can't stand the accusing tone in his voice. “I wasn't irresponsible! Ellie's the one you should be mad at. She's the one who told me I could go!”

“I don't care what Ellie said!” Dad cries. “You should have known better than to get into that car. You know I would never approve.”

“But Ellie…,” I say weakly.

“You got permission from Ellie because she didn't know the whole truth. She said you tried to call me, but I didn't have any missed calls from you. I don't know what's going on with you lately, but this behavior has got to stop.”

There's nothing I can say to that.

“Go to your room,” he says.

I stand up without a word and obey, but when I go to close the door behind me, Dad appears in the hallway.

“Ellie tried to tell me this trip was a mistake,” he says from the doorway. “She said you weren't ready to handle seeing me with someone else, but I wouldn't listen. I thought I knew my little girl, but clearly I don't.”

I stare at him. Ellie's the one who put all that “this trip was a mistake” stuff in his head? I can't believe it. She's been acting like she wants us to be this one happy family, but she's been poisoning my dad against me from the start. No wonder he hasn't wanted to spend any time with me!

“Don't think for a second that this kind of behavior can continue. Got it?” He sounds just like my mom.

“Fine. Sorry.”

But I'm not sorry. In fact, I'm more determined than ever.