Thea at Sixteen (13 page)

“Yes, I know,” Thea said.

“I can't wait to go to heaven if everyone's going to be that nice,” Gina said. “Do you think they have teddy bears in heaven?”

“Sure,” Thea said. Why not? “Lots of teddy bears and roses and beautiful angels.”

Gina nodded. “Mom says if I'm real good once I get to heaven I can become an angel, too. I'd like to be an angel. Then I'd look just like your mother.”

“You look pretty beautiful to me right now,” Thea said.

“I'll look even better when I'm an angel,” Gina replied. “When I'm dead and in heaven, I'll be the most beautiful angel there.”

“What's this about heaven?” Kip asked. Thea wished he weren't so light on his feet. His arrivals always startled her.

“When I'm dead,” Gina said. “I'll be an angel, and then I'll look just like Thea's mother. Hi, Kip.”

“Hi, pumpkin,” Kip said. He bent over and kissed Gina. “Uh, Thea, could I talk to you for a moment.”

“Sure,” Thea said, delighted to get away from Gina's discussions of heaven. She followed Kip out of the room into the corridor.

“What kind of garbage are you feeding her?” Kip asked once they were alone.

“Garbage?” Thea said.

“Heaven and angels who look like your mother,” Kip said. “Why in God's name are you talking about dying to Gina?”

“I'm not,” Thea said. “She brought it up. I never told her anything about heaven, except that there are teddy bears there, and that's because she just asked me. Your mother's the one who's been telling her about heaven.”

“I'll kill her,” Kip said. “I swear, I'll kill her.”

“Why?” Thea said. “She has to tell Gina something.”

“No, she doesn't,” Kip declared. “If Gina wants to know, she can ask me. Mom doesn't have to fill her head with fairy tales.”

“Maybe it isn't a fairy tale to your mother,” Thea said. “Maybe she needs to believe that Gina's going to go to a wonderful heaven where her grandparents will look out for her and she'll become a beautiful angel. It might not hurt you to believe it, either.”

“Do you?” Kip asked. “Is that what you believe?”

“It doesn't matter what I believe,” Thea said. “What matters is that Gina knows she's going to die, and she's made peace with it by picturing herself in some perfect heaven. If she wants the angels to look like my mother, then fine, they look like my mother. Would you rather she went around singing ‘The worms crawl in'?”

Kip rubbed his eyes, and Thea had some sense of just how tired he was. “I'm sorry,” he said. “I don't want her to die.”

“I know,” Thea said. “Kip, you're exhausted. Why don't you take the day off? I'll stay with Gina and we can talk some more about heaven, and you go for a walk or get some sleep while nobody's home or make some sketches for sculptures you want to do. Gina won't mind. She's had an exciting day, anyway. My parents came to visit. I'll stay until her suppertime, I promise.”

“Would you mind?” Kip asked.

“I wouldn't volunteer if I minded,” Thea said, uncomfortably aware that that was not always the case. “Let's go back, and you can say good-bye to Gina.”

“Thank you,” Kip said. “What are you doing here anyway on a Wednesday?”

“I wanted to be someplace where I was needed,” Thea said.

“You picked the right spot,” Kip said. He stared at Thea, and once again she had the sensation of a kiss not given. “Sometimes I think of how much we owe you, and then I can't even think about it, so I stop.”

“That's okay,” Thea said. “I don't know if this is the right moment, but my parents want your whole family to join us for Thanksgiving dinner.”

“What do you mean by whole family?” Kip asked warily.

“Your mother and Dani and you,” Thea said. “Gina also, if the doctors will let her.”

“Why?” Kip asked.

“I'm not really sure myself,” Thea admitted. “Holidays have always been just for family, but I guess they figure things are different now that Evvie's in college. She wanted to spend Thanksgiving with Sam last year, and Nicky and Megs wouldn't let her, so maybe they figure if they invite Sam to our house, that'll solve that problem. And then if they're inviting Sam, they might as well invite other people like Clark.”

“Who's Clark?” Kip asked.

“He's the guy everyone thought Megs would marry,” Thea said. “Think of him as an honorary uncle.”

Kip laughed. “My mother's brought home plenty of uncles,” he said. “We didn't think to call them honorary, though.”

“It isn't the same thing,” Thea said. “Anyway, if they're going to have Sam and Clark, then I guess they felt the whole world was open to them to invite, and they decided on you next. Only they couldn't just ask you without asking your mother and sisters, too, so that's why you've all been invited.”

“I don't know,” Kip said. “Mom doesn't handle holidays too well. And Dani's likely to throw herself at this Clark guy, if not at your father.”

“We'd really like you all to come,” Thea said. “Please, Kip. It's important.”

“Why?” Kip asked. “From what I could see, your family is pretty self-sufficient.”

“We always have been,” Thea replied. “That's why it matters that you come. It's like Nicky's finally realizing there are other people on the planet. They're really making an effort. Inviting you, and coming to see Gina today. Please say you'll come for Thanksgiving.”

Kip smiled. “If it's that important, then of course we'll come,” he said. “After all you've done for Gina, the least we can do is eat turkey together.”

“Fine,” Thea said. “Come on, now. Let's get back to Gina before she thinks we've eloped.” She blushed as soon as she said it.

“She wants us to,” Kip said as they walked back into the ward. “She keeps telling me to ask you out on a date.”

Thea tried to laugh. It came out a cackle.

“Yeah,” Kip said. “That's what I do. Laugh.”

Why? Thea wanted to ask, but since she was the one sort of laughing, she decided not to pursue it. There was probably a perfectly good reason why Kip thought it was funny that he should ask her out, but Thea was in no mood to learn what that reason was.

“Good,” Kip said. “She's still awake.”

“Just barely, it looks like,” Thea said.

“Hi there, pumpkinhead,” Kip whispered to his sister.

“Are you going to stay, too?” Gina asked.

Thea could see Kip wavering. “No,” she said. “Kip has to go home and do some things. I'll stay with you instead.”

“Is that okay, pumpkin?” Kip asked. “If you want, I'll stay instead.”

“If you go away, will I see you again?” Gina asked.

“Tomorrow,” Kip said. “I promise.”

“What if I die?” Gina asked.

“Gina, you're not going to die,” Kip said.

“Maybe I will,” she said, “if you're not here, and then I'll never see you again.”

“Gina!” Thea said sharply. “Let your brother go home for a few hours. It's not that big a deal. He'll see you tomorrow.”

“No, it's okay,” Kip said. “It was a dumb idea. I'll stay here with you, pumpkin, just like I always do.”

“Good,” Gina said, and she snuggled next to her brother. “This is my new teddy bear. His name is Dirk and I'm going to take him to heaven with me.”

“That's good,” Kip murmured, and Thea watched helplessly as he cradled his sister in his weary arms.

C
HAPTER
T
EN

Thea woke up early Thanksgiving morning and felt herself surrounded by love. She and Evvie were crowded into Sybil's bed, while Sybil and Claire were sharing Claire's. Thea's bedroom was occupied by Sam and Scotty Hughes, whom Clark had brought along for the weekend. Clark was in Nicky's office, and Nicky and Megs were probably already starting the feast. In a few hours, Kip and his whole family would be joining them. Everyone would be there, except for Aunt Grace, who, as Nick had predicted, had refused to attend. Which was fine with all of them.

“Wake up,” Thea whispered to Evvie, and gave her a gentle kick to emphasize the point.

“Wha?” Evvie muttered.

“Wake up,” Thea said. “Let's get going.”

“Go away,” Evvie said.

Thea laughed to herself, and then realized she could live without the competition for the bathroom. So she used it while she had the chance, then went downstairs to see how things were going.

Not only were her parents up and about, but so were Sam and Scotty. Thea was glad of the chance to check Scotty out. She didn't know much about him, except that he was seventeen, went to some posh prep school, was a distant cousin of Clark's, and the younger brother of Schyler Hughes, the boy Evvie hadn't fallen in love with the summer she spent at Aunt Grace's. Now that Thea thought about it, that was a lot to know about a stranger.

“Did you sleep well, dear?” Meg asked, giving Thea a good morning kiss.

“Fine,” Thea lied. Actually she and her sisters had stayed up half the night talking and giggling.

“Evvie's still asleep?” Sam asked.

Thea smiled at Sam. This wasn't his first visit to the Sebastians', but he still didn't seem at ease, not without Evvie by his side. “She'll be up real soon,” Thea promised. “I kicked her a few times to rouse her.”

“Thank you,” Sam said.

“Did you sleep well, Scotty?” Thea asked, pouring herself some orange juice.

“Yes, thank you,” Scotty replied. He was handsome, Thea noticed, with light brown hair and hazel eyes. “It's very nice of your family to take me in for Thanksgiving.”

“When Clark explained the situation, we were only too happy to,” Meg said. “Scotty's parents are in Syria, and his brother Schyler is spending the weekend in Paris. Isn't that right, Scotty?”

Scotty nodded.

“Paris,” Sam said. “That sounds about right for Schyler.”

“I'd rather be here,” Scotty said. “I really liked Evvie that summer we spent at Eastgate. And Clark's told me so much about the rest of you, that it's a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“How are we shaping up?” Thea asked. “Compared to what Clark's told you.”

“You're much prettier than I thought you'd be,” Scotty said. “Everyone else is pretty much as described.”

Thea blushed. Sam laughed. “Schyler was better with compliments than anybody I've ever met,” he declared. “I guess it runs in the family.”

“But I'm sincere,” Scotty said. “That's how Schyler and I differ.”

“Better watch it, Thea,” Sam said. “Schyler's technique married to Scotty's sincerity. It's a dangerous combination.”

“What's dangerous?” Evvie asked, walking into the kitchen. “Thanks for kicking me, Thea. I'm going to limp all day.” She joined Sam by the kitchen counter, and they exchanged morning kisses.

“The Hugheses' way with women,” Sam said. “Scotty's been showing his stuff.”

“It can't be that potent,” Scotty said. “Evvie picked you over Schyler.”

“Yes, but I'm crazy,” Evvie said. “We all know that. How's Schyler doing? Does he like Brown?”

“He seems to,” Scotty replied. “He makes a lot of Brownie jokes, keeps waiting to run into the Girl Scout of his dreams.”

“Oh, dear,” Meg said. “People warned me that this was what having teenagers in the house would be like. Sex at the breakfast table.”

“And other places,” Sam said.

“Sam!” Evvie said, giving him a swat. “Megs, how does the day shape up? Where are Nicky and Clark?”

“Nicky took Clark to see the factory,” Meg replied. “Nicky's putting together a deal to convert a factory into condominiums,” she explained. “As far as the rest of the day goes, dinner's scheduled for two. Thea, do you know when Gina's going to get here?”

“Around one,” Thea said. “And they want her back at the hospital by four.”

“Maybe we should move dinner up to one-thirty, then,” Meg said. “I don't want to rush things.”

“What can I do to help?” Sam asked.

“Use him, Megs,” Evvie said. “I want Sam thoroughly housebroken before we get married.”

“You're not getting married for four years,” Meg pointed out. “He doesn't have to start learning domestic skills in my kitchen.”

“I'm full of domestic skills,” Sam protested. “My grandmother's seen to that. I can vacuum and sew buttons and make scrambled eggs.”

“That's more than I can do,” Scotty said.

“That's more than Evvie can do,” Sam said.

“It's against my religion to thread a needle,” Evvie said. “Besides, why should I sew buttons when Sam does it so well. He sews my buttons, and I give him endless sisters in exchange. It all works out equitably.”

“What's equitable?” Sybil asked, entering the kitchen. “Is there anything for breakfast?”

“Serve-yourself,” Meg said. “Morning, sweetie.”

“Morning,” Sybil said, promptly putting bread in the toaster. “Hi, Sam. Want to help me look for candy wrappers?”

“I thought you'd already found your hundred,” Thea said.

“I did,” Sybil replied. “And I mailed them off weeks ago. But then it occurred to me I could send in another hundred in Evvie's name. She has a whole different address, and I trust her with my money. I need thirty-two more wrappers, and I only have six days to find them.”

“A woman with a mission,” Sam said. “I'd be delighted to go wrapper hunting with you.”

“Not today,” Meg said. “There's too much to be done here. I've already made the pumpkin pie, but the apple pie still has to get baked. Scotty and Thea, I want you to peel the apples. Sybil, you're going to help me make the stuffing. And Sam and Evvie are in charge of setting up the dining room.”