Chapter 25 #2
I plant the laptop onto the counter and scoot past, entering the kitchen where three trays of food await. I pick up one, and Jake follows with the other two. As we pass the counter, I glimpse the laptop screen. Call Failed.
Jake nudges me forward and whispers, “You got this, champ.”
We walk back to the table and place the trays down. Jake leaves, and I clasp my hands in front, standing tall against their penetrating stares. I know I should talk. The table is awkwardly silent as they wait for me to talk. It’s like my brain is on pause.
Christie’s mother clears her throat. Her smile is encouraging. “So, what do we have here, dear?”
“Umm,” I falter, rubbing the back of my clammy neck.
“It smells divine,” Mrs. Garcia says, gazing over the eye-pleasing array of treats.
The Logan’s Point local renews my confidence. I wave a hand over the display. “My aunt thought these were all cute and bite-sized, perfect for a garden party.”
Mrs. Fisher picks up a finger sandwich. “I’d agree with that.”
It might be a small dose, but it’s optimism none-the-less. I sneak a peek over at Kai and Milo’s booth. Both twins have their eyes locked on me while eating their burgers. Gosh, watching me must be the equivalent of an old-timey freakshow.
I look back at the table, and the ladies make yummy noises as they try the food.
I swallow the queasiness bobbing upward, and talk them through each of the mini quiches, the tarts, and finger sandwiches available.
They ooh and ahh over buzzwords like buttery, delicate, crumbly, luscious, honeyed, silky, and zesty.
Behind the counter, Laura turns on the milkshake machines. I gesture to her and say, “Seeing as it’s a day event, not a cocktail event, we thought you might like some petite milkshakes for your guests.”
Laura walks around the counter with a tray of mini shakes. I help her serve the chocolate and strawberry selections, and they get squeals of glee.
I backtrack to the laptop and say, “I’m just going to try my aunt again. Let me know if you have any questions about the food. Maddy’s happy to change the menu. I’ll let her explain it all when I get her back.”
I hit call and this time it doesn’t disconnect, but it seems to take a long time to get her back. I hope she’s not calling at the same time and that’s why she’s not answering. Ugh. Why can’t this be easy?
“Still having trouble?” Tabitha asks, sidling up beside me.
I disconnect and hit call again. “Yeah.”
“It must be so frustrating,” she replies. “I wouldn’t want to do a presentation in front of these ladies.”
As I cautiously watch Tabitha, Christie’s comment about Camila usually being at these meetings replays in my mind. I look across at the new Mrs. Garcia. I wonder if I can get more info out of Tabitha?
“So, have you been part of this committee for very long?” I ask.
“Kind of,” Tabitha says. “My family skirts the line of being in or out with this league. Mostly when numbers are down, my mother will get a call and she drags me along. Most people think high society is glamorous, but it’s mostly listening to ladies who love the sound of their own voice.
Afterwards, we get handed the most undesirable job for the event.
We’ll probably be given one of the worst tables at the garden party. ”
“Well, I’m just the help, so at least you’re not on the bottom rung of the ladder.”
Tabitha giggles. “My mom loves this stuff, so I act excited for her benefit. But it’s hard when I have three brothers at home who never get dragged anywhere. Boys totally have it easier.”
“I don’t know about that, but they’re certainly easier to deal with.”
Tabitha glances over at Kai and Milo’s booth, and then turns back to me with apprehension. “Sorry for acting weird after class today.”
I hug my waist, feeling tension between my shoulder blades. “What do you mean?”
“You and Kai are just friends, right?”
I smirk. “Yeah?”
Tabitha presses her fingers into her forehead and huffs. “Sorry. I just see him with his arms around you and it drives me nuts.”
A laugh busts out of me before I can stop it. “You’re jealous of me and Kai?”
Tabitha pouts and nervously plays with her curls. “How could I not be?”
I give her a sympathetic look. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. Kai’s my best friend, who happens to be a guy. He’s like my brother. The thought of being with him makes me want to hurl.”
Tabitha giggles, standing upright with her usual confidence. “Well, that’s a relief. My imagination has been going wild ever since you moved in with him.”
I snigger. “Kai is definitely not taking up space in my imagination.”
Tabitha’s eyebrows wiggle. “But someone else is?”
My breath hitches. Oh gosh, I’d better calm down, stat, or it’ll be all over my face. I slightly turn toward the boys’ booth but stop short. Why would I look at Milo right now? Why don’t I just hold up a sign that tells everyone I enjoy making out with him?
“Dang. I’m making you uncomfortable again,” Tabitha says. “Kai told me you’re not into dating. I just have a habit of asking other girls about their crushes.”
“It just threw me,” I reply. “I hang out with boys, so no one has ever thought to ask me that.”
“Yeah, I’ve never taken you for much of a girly-girl.”
“I wouldn’t exactly fit in with you and your friends.” I glance at the new Mrs. Garcia, and then back at Tabitha. “I’m surprised more of your friends aren’t here at this meeting.”
“Yvie has been to a few meetings, but her family prefers just to show up at the main event.” Tabitha sighs. “Camila and her mother used to pride themselves on coming here. It’s so sad what’s happened to their family.”
“Sad? Maybe it’s karma.”
Tabitha blinks away the water pooling in her eyes. “You mean about how she’s been treating you at school?”
“Doesn’t exactly make me sympathetic toward her.”
“I wanted to talk to you about this when I brought up your mother’s picture.” She shakes her head. “Oh my gosh, I had no idea how much that hurt you. I truly am sorry Camila brought it into school. She’s just so broken these days. I’m never able to reason with her.”
My eyes narrow at her. How could she not know that image would hurt me?
Tabitha motions at Mrs. Garcia and her daughter. “That’s Cammy’s new step-mom and step-sister over there. Her parents’ divorce absolutely crushed Cammy. She’s so angry and bitter these days. She just wants someone to lash out at.”
“And I’m the easy target,” I mutter.
“Mhmm.” Tabitha nods. “Camila’s dad is buying rundown property in Logan’s Point to redevelop. He took Cammy on a tour. She said she was walking through this abandoned building and found flyers from the previous business. As you already know, it was where your mother worked.”
I crack my knuckles, the heat of anger growing inside me. “She’s angry at her dad for leaving her family. In retaliation, she attacks my family. My mother’s not even here anymore to defend herself.”
“I’ve asked her to stop,” Tabitha says, her voice shaking. “But it just makes me a target. That’s why I’m so grateful to have Kai. I can tell him what’s really going on, and he protects me at school by letting me sit at your lunch table.”
My skepticism meter runs high. “That was protection for you? All you did was say snooty comments to me.”
Tabitha’s bottom lip wobbles. “You thought I was snooty?”
“Yes. All those digs about me letting my grades slip and not putting in any effort.”
“I didn’t mean to sound harsh,” she murmurs, clutching the space on her chest over her heart. “Sometimes things just come out of my mouth in that tone. I don’t even register it anymore.”
I fold my arms across my middle. “You should listen to yourself more often.”
She nods. “I will. And I want you to know Cammy doesn’t have your mom’s picture anymore.”
I stiffen, waiting for something worse to drop.
“I mean, she has the crummy picture on her phone,” Tabitha says nervously. “But it didn’t spread because she didn’t have the original.”
I frown, not following. “Where is it?”
“I took it.” She sighs heavily. “I was meeting up with Kai that Sunday, and he always raves about you. I just couldn’t let Camila taunt his best friend with the image. So, I took it before I left for the skatepark.”
My mouth hangs open as her words cement in my brain. “You did that?”
She nods humbly. “I knew the photo on her phone wouldn’t blow up because it was low quality. She expected to take another photo with better lighting. She suspects I took it, but I’ve played dumb.”
“No wonder she was so frosty to you in the halls.”
Tabitha shrugs. “She’s annoyed I’ve been ditching them. Plus, I’ve stopped agreeing with the nasty things she says.”
“Maybe it’ll rub off on her.”
“I just hope I can stop talking like her. It’s automatic, and my parents always snap at me for it. They’ll tell me I’m acting like a brat, and half the time, I don’t even remember what I said.”
I smirk. “My aunt calls me a brat too.”
“It was too bad we lost the video link with her. Do you think you can get her back?”
“Hopefully. The storm is messing with their internet. But maybe I’ll ask Milo to take a look in case it’s something else.”
“Or I could ask Kai,” Tabitha suggests. “He’s handy with computers.”
I click my tongue and grin. “He is, but if it’s too slow or doesn’t do what he wants, there’s a good chance his fist will hit the keys or the screen.” I motion to the older ladies. “I’m guessing you don’t want your mother to see that side of him.”
Tabitha scoffs. “I don’t think I want to see that side of him.”
I move over to the booth and the twins both have a mouthful of burger.
“Sorry to interrupt,” I say. “Milo, I keep losing the signal with Maddy. Can you take a look?”
He swallows and wipes his mouth. “Sure,” he says, sliding out of the booth.
Kai drops his burger. “Why didn’t you ask me?”
“Because Milo won’t take it as a personal attack when it doesn’t work.”
Kai smirks. “You have so much more faith in my brother than me.”