True Love (48 page)

P.S. I think he’s over Beth, because on New Year’s Eve, he said he was sitting alone by the phone wishing he could hear my voice. If Beth were really important to him, he’d have been with her. That’s what I
think,
anyway
.

February 14

Jesse is so cute and original! He sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers for my desk for Valentine’s Day. My desktop on my computer, that is. His virtual roses arrived in this morning’s e-mail and I’ve had them up and running since I got home from school. I can change their color and their size whenever I want. I put them right in the middle of my screen and every time I look at them, I smile. He makes me so happy!

February 14

Dear Self
,

This is the first Valentine’s Day that I haven’t had a boyfriend since I can remember. No matter. Jesse’s the only boy I like. And I know he’ll never like me in the same way
.

Maybe I’ll become a nun.

(Sister) Bailey

May 23

Dear Lenny and Elana
,

No, you’re not seeing things. There really is a graduation announcement enclosed in this envelope. Isn’t it beautiful? I never thought this day would come, but I graduate from the Santa Cruz College School of Education on Friday. I can hardly believe it myself! I’ve even impressed Jesse—which is a hard thing for the mother of a teenage boy to do, don’t you know! I only wish you all could attend the ceremony and share my happiness
.

Now comes the challenge of finding a job. I’ve sent out résumés to high schools throughout the area and already have four interviews scheduled. Jesse wants us
to return to Atlanta, of course. Naturally, I know why. He’s still smitten with Melinda, even after all these years. Goodness knows I’ve tried to make a life for the two of us here, but he still yearns for what he can’t have. I’ve told him that he can apply to any college he wants, and frankly his grades are good enough that I know he’ll qualify for scholarship money somewhere. He tells me he wants to study medicine. Can you imagine? My son, the doctor!

Thank you for your encouragement over the years. Friends like you are few and far between
.

Ann

TO:
Melinda

Subject:
Summer Vacation

There’s no getting out of it. I have to spend most of the summer with my dad in New York. Mom and I had a fight about it, but she says her hands are tied, there’s nothing she can do to keep me from having to go. She says I have to do what he says until I’m eighteen. It sucks.

Jesse

June 25

Hello, dear Melinda. I hope this finds you well and happy. I am writing you this brief note because I wanted to tell you that I have spoken to our director, Jeremy McAllister, about your considerable talent. He is most curious to see your audition videos, so when you can, please send your tape to the address on the front of this envelope, to my attention. I will see to it that Jeremy views it immediately. Who knows, perhaps he will offer you a summer apprenticeship!

As you well know, the world of ballet is most competitive, and with companies folding continually for lack of funding, spots in a good company are difficult to earn. However, I do believe you have a chance of achieving your goals. Work hard this summer, and I’ll look for your package for Jeremy
.

Ciao
,

Natalie Blackbird

Dear Jesse
,

Paris is awesome. So far, we’ve visited the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, lots of shops and two art museums—the Musée du Louvre and Musée d’Orsay. Just walking through the galleries made me feel a part of history. When I saw the Mona Lisa, I got goose bumps, but when I saw some of the original Degas ballerina series, I cried. The paintings seem to glow and the dancers look as if they might stand or turn or smile at any moment. I was surrounded by the ghosts of greatness and long-dead images of once-living people. It was eerie
.

M

Hey Bailey
,

You would absolutely LOVE Paris! A paradise for a fashion diva like you. The teens are très chic like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I look so totally frumpy by comparison. Biggest turnoff for me is that they all smoke. I’m not kidding; kids 11 and 12
years old stand at bus stops with cigarettes, puffing away. Ugh. And little motor scooters dart around with girls holding on to some guy who’s driving. No helmet laws either. I bought you a present at the cutest little boutique (the salesgirl said Madonna shops there). You must come to Paris someday (maybe to visit me when I dance here one day in the future!)
.

Hugs, M

Jesse
,

Arrived in Madrid yesterday. Today it rained and we spent the day at the Prado. More art treasures to see. I guess this might be boring to most American teens, but not to me. Dragging around with my parents can be a bore—honestly, they are so CONSTANT—but still I’m having a good time. It would be more fun if you and Bailey were along on the trip, but I can’t have everything. Hope you’re surviving your stay in New York
.

M

P.S. Will try for e-mail hookup 8
P.M.
, July 4 (six-hour time difference should catch you at 2
P.M.
).

M
ELINDA’S
D
IARY

August 3

I’m glad to be home, but I’m so jet-lagged that I haven’t even unpacked. While we were away, Dad had a gazebo built in our backyard as a surprise for Mom. She’s always wanted one and it is really cool. I’m looking out my bedroom window and seeing her sitting there with her morning coffee and the newspaper. The lawn service planted vines around the base, and by next summer, it’ll be covered with flowers. It’ll be so romantic!

Bailey loved her B-day gift from Paris and had a fit over the things I brought back from all the countries we visited. My big project before school starts will be a scrapbook full of photos and ticket stubs and programs. I’ll call it “Europe on $500 a Day,” which Dad thinks is very funny (and accurate, according to Mom, because Dad spared no expense!)
.

Bailey has gone all summer without a boyfriend—some kind of record for her, I think. She says she’s not hooking up with any guy who doesn’t treat her good (the way Jesse treats me, she says). She told me he sent her a B-day e-mail, but she seemed kind of disappointed when I told her I’d suggested it to him. Probably my imagination
.

Back to the studio on Saturday, and boy am I ever rusty. Sooo glad I have the mini-studio in the garage to work out my kinks before Mrs. Houston sees me. But I am looking like my old self again. All hair has made a complete comeback. Weight’s gone. Boobs no bigger. Oh well.… Two out of three ain’t bad
.