Girls Only! (35 page)

“I sure will,” said Mom with a wink.

Manda helped Tarin out of his jacket and things. “Want to see my room?” she asked, leading him toward the stairs.

“You have lots of ski posters?”

“At least four,” she said. “Ever hear of Picabo Street? I have one of her.”

“That’s a funny name.”

“Her parents named her after a trout stream called Picabo, which means ‘silver creek,’ ” she explained.

“Couldn’t they think of something else, like Annie or Shelley?” he asked.

“They wanted something unique, just like you wanted to be called—”

“But I’m
not
that name now, am I?” he interrupted. “I’m Tarin the Terrific, aren’t I?”

“Yep,” she said as they headed upstairs. “So . . . you must like the name Shelley?” She couldn’t resist. She had to know what he’d say about the little girl at ski class.

“Shelley’s a nice name. I think she likes me,” Tarin said with a big grin. “I can’t wait to go to ski school again.”

Manda didn’t press for more, although she could see the twinkle in the boy’s eyes.

Before they made the promised snowman, Manda sneaked around the house. She stuck the note—
Just walk in
—on the front door, still hoping Mr. Greenberg might find his way to them. She hoped increasingly harder while she helped Tarin pack and roll the white stuff for their snow creation.

Then, at close to five-thirty, she made an excuse to go inside. “I’ll be right back,” she told Tarin.

Praying and hoping that things might work out perfectly, she tiptoed into the house. She crept past the dining room and toward the living room.

Yes! She could see past the front window. Mr. Greenberg had just pulled up. Good, he’d found them.

Her heart was thumping hard as she waited—not for the doorbell, but for the sound of the front door opening. What would her mother say to the tall, handsome man? How awkward would it be for a stranger to come in the door?

Manda decided she wouldn’t observe the two of them for very long. She’d make herself scarce once the first hellos were exchanged.

Then the front door opened. Mr. Greenberg stepped inside cautiously. He spied Manda’s mother propped up on the sofa. “Well, hello again, Adelina,” she heard Tarin’s father say.

“How are you, Matthew?” came the curious reply.

Adelina? Matthew?

They knew each other! But how?

Mr. Greenberg smiled at her mother. “How’s your computer running now?” he asked.

“Perfectly fine, thank you,” Mom replied.

So that’s who had repaired their computer! She couldn’t wait to report back about this at
Girls Only
on Friday. Her friends would love every minute of it.

Manda turned and tiptoed to the back door and went outside. Tarin was delighted to show off his half-made snowman.

“Guess who’s here?” she said.

“Daddy?”

“Yep.”

He frowned briefly. “Can we finish Mr. Snowman on Friday?”

“If the weather stays cold, sure.”

By the time she got Tarin inside, his father was seated on a chair near the sofa. Still chatting with Mom, he seemed in no hurry to leave.

A good sign
, thought Manda, thoroughly surprised at the amazing turn of events.

“I want to come back to Miss Manda’s house. Please, Daddy?” he asked, describing their partially completed snowman.

“Well, let’s have a look at your handiwork, young man,” Matthew Greenberg said. “Miss Manda can lead the way.”

She was glad to. Anything to keep this man and his son on the premises a bit longer!

Later, when Mr. Greenberg and Tarin were gone, Manda sat on the floor beside the sofa. “Somebody’s been holding out on me,” she began, watching her mother’s face closely.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right,” Mom replied.

“You must’ve gotten acquainted with the computer man the other day.”

Mom’s face lit up. “Honestly, I don’t know what it was about him, but we just clicked. Right away.”

Manda could hardly believe her ears. “So . . . are you, I mean, is he going to ask you out to dinner or anything?”

“Well, let’s not rush this,” Mom said. “ ‘Good things come to those who wait’—you should know that by now.”

She wasn’t too keen on waiting. “My motto is: Take the bull by the horns, or in other words, take control of the mountain!”

“Speaking of which, you’ve got an important competition coming up in less than a month,” Mom said, adjusting her leg.

“I’ll reach for the stars,” Manda said.

“And maybe catch the moon, right?” Mom glanced at the mountain painting above her.

“No maybes for me. I’ll make you proud of me, Mom.”

“You already have, honey.”

Manda stood up, ready to make supper. “Downhill Dynamite needs a great, big bite. I’m starved.”

“Count me in,” Mom said, putting her thumb up.

“So . . . are you gonna invite
Matthew
Greenberg to the Downhill Classic?” Manda probed.

“I think that’s your department,” Mom turned the question back to her.

“Sure, I’ll invite him . . . and Tarin, too. Easy!” And she knew it would be. As Coach had said, “Nothing’s impossible.”

After all these years, she was beginning to believe it. With God’s help, of course.