The Truth about My Success (30 page)

Right now, the girls stand over by the buffet table, watching the party together. They don’t look as if they might be sisters.

“Who would’ve thought your dad and Maria would wind up getting married,” says Paloma. “Don’t you think it’s kind of amazing?”

Oona laughs. “I don’t know if I can tell any more. My amazement readometre’s broken. So much that’s happened has been amazing. I mean, who’d’ve thought?”

Oona has a point, of course. It’s been two years since Paloma and Oona first met, and in those months quite a lot has happened that could be called amazing. Or at least unexpected.

Paloma did finish the season of
Angel in the House
. When she told Mrs Buckminster her story, Mrs Buckminster said that if she didn’t want to stay in the same house as her mother after the way she behaved, she would be happy for Paloma to stay with her. This was another instance when Paloma didn’t have to be asked twice. She stayed with Mrs Buckminster for the year she took off to finish high school, and has just moved into an apartment of her own. Now, having decided that she doesn’t want to abandon her career, after all, just change it, Paloma has a new agent and a new business manager, and has been offered a serious part in a film.

Abbot found an interest in living again, and started doing odd jobs besides his work at El Paraíso. Encouraged by Maria, he eventually started up a handyman business of his own, which, though small, is proving a success. Oona has finished her first year of college and is walking very surely up the pathway of her dreams.

“I mean, will you look at my dad?” Oona gestures to the bridegroom, dancing around the lawn like a man who doesn’t think he might trip or strain his heart or be hit by something falling out of the sky. “He doesn’t look like the same person.”

“I guess none of us is the same person,” says Paloma.

“No, I guess we aren’t.” Oona sighs, her eyes still on the happy bride and groom. “But I’m really going to miss them next year.”

Paloma gives her a quizzical look. “You’re moving out?”

“Just while college is on. This house is a hassle for getting to the campus. And I’m going to need to be there a lot more next term.”

Paloma’s look is still a question. “You know,” she says, “if you wanted you could move in with me. My new apartment has two bedrooms. And it is conveniently located.”

“Move in with you?”

“Why not? We’re good friends, aren’t we?”

There is, of course, no reason why Paloma and Oona shouldn’t share an apartment. Not after all they’ve been through together.

“Yeah,” says Oona. “We are good friends.”

Who would have thought?

Dyan Sheldon is the author of many books for young people, including
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
;
One or Two Things I Learned About Love
;
The Crazy Things Girls Do for Love
;
Tall, Thin and Blonde
; and
My Worst Best Friend
, as well as a number of stories for younger readers. American by birth, Dyan lives in North London.

And Baby Makes Two
Away for the Weekend
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Confessions of a Teenage Hollywood Star
The Crazy Things Girls Do for Love
I Conquer Britain
My Perfect Life
My Worst Best Friend
One or Two Things I Learned About Love
Planet Janet
Planet Janet in Orbit
Tall, Thin and Blonde