Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series (2 page)

Sadly, this was the
longest conversation I’d ever had with a boy my age. Because of my dad’s strict
rules, my life was mostly solitary. Sure, I talked with my dad or Jessica and
occasionally librarians and shopkeepers on our trips to town twice a month. But
this was different. I smiled inwardly; I was pretty sure this didn’t qualify as
“keeping my head down.”

He stopped chuckling.
“Wait, you mean you’ve never gone to a
real
school?” he whispered in a
more serious tone.

“Nope. My dad has
homeschooled me since we moved here when I was six.”
Why am I admitting
this? First I can’t speak and now I can’t help but answer. And why does he
care? He must think I am a freak for being homeschooled my whole life.

His mouth opened to
reveal his surprise, and he tried to hide it quickly. Feeling uncomfortable, I
looked down, feigning extreme interest in the floor. There was a pause as he
hesitated momentarily. “What grade would you be in anyway?”

Before I could stop
myself, I responded. “I just turned eighteen, but I finished my high school
curriculum a few years ago and now study whatever I choose.”
Did that sound
like I was bragging? Why was I bragging to this stranger?

His eyebrow lifted as
his lips twisted to reveal a surprised smile. “Like codebreaking,” he whispered
conspiratorially.

My books were getting
heavy, and I shifted to relieve the weight from my forearm that had fallen
asleep. When he extended a hand to assist me, I felt a twinge of panic at the
thought that my dad would return soon.

If it was up to me, I’d
stay and talk to the cute guy all day. But Dad couldn’t find out about this
conversation. I had already taken too much of a risk by lingering, not to
mention the things I had told him.

I shook my head and
smiled. “Thanks, but I better get going.”

He reached up and
rubbed the back of his head with his hand. “Hope to see you around. Sorry I
knocked over your books!”

With one last small
smile, I quickly made my way to the circulation desk and flushed in embarrassment
once I realized how overdressed I was for the library. While the dress Jessica
gave me had a modest neckline, it left my shoulders bare and revealed a hint of
cleavage. I tried not to dwell on it; at least I looked pretty when I literally
ran into the cutest guy I had ever seen.

As the librarian
leisurely scanned each book, I cast a nervous glance at the clock. I tried to
conceal my impatience; my dad would be pulling up any moment, and I needed to
speed things up. Considering I was always on time, I didn’t want him to worry
or come in to the library.

With perfect timing, I
exited the library as Dad pulled up. It was time for dinner, and hopefully,
some answers.

Past, Presents, & Future

Hopping
into the truck, I playfully asked Dad, “Where to?”

He
smiled but shook his head. “It’s a surprise, kiddo. I’m not telling. We’ll be
there in about twenty minutes.”

I
figured I wouldn’t get any more clues from him, and my mind was already a
jumble of thoughts as I replayed
the
scene in the library on an endless loop in my head. I knew that I was probably
just obsessing over my run-in with the blue-eyed stranger because I didn’t have
any other experiences to compare it to. But, I honestly felt like we had an
instant connection. He seemed quiet but friendly, not to mention attractive.

Staring
out the window at the passing scenery,
I
realized that we were traveling in the opposite direction of what I expected.
Instead of heading to a restaurant in Minden, Dad was driving west on Highway
207 toward Lake Tahoe. We rarely ventured out this direction, and this section
of the road was new to me.

“Are you really not
going to tell me where we’re going? We’ve never even gone this way.”

Dad’s laugh echoed in
the quiet cabin of the truck. “Haley, I love your inquisitive mind, but
sometimes it really is okay to be surprised.”

With a playful tone, I
responded, “You know, it is my birthday. Aren’t you supposed to cater to my
every whim? You’re a terrible father. Really, just awful.”

Ignoring me, he turned
the volume up on the radio before glancing over at me. “Did you say something?”

Shaking my head, I
turned to the window to soak up the scenery. The mountains rose on one side while
the other presented a valley dotted with homes and landscape much like our own.
As we traveled further from Minden, the two-lane road became narrow and windy.
Other than occasional turnouts, there were few roads that intersected it. The
pine trees became denser and the cliffs steeper. It was difficult to gauge
where we were and where we headed.

The road continued to
wind, and at some point we stopped climbing so much. Every so often I noticed
passing houses hidden in the tree
s until we
finally approached a small town complete with ski resorts and a casino.
Assuming our destination must be near, I was surprised when Dad bypassed the
center of town.

Not
long after, he turned onto a side street with a gated entrance and a guard
shack. A variety of ornamental plants surrounded a large, stylized log topped
with “Edgewood” in thick metal letters. After passing through the gate, our
speed slowed and the scenery subtly shifted to a more manicured look. We passed
gently rolling hills, pristine green grass, and a landscape peppered with
trees.

The
parking lot overlooked a beautiful lake with a large
chateau-style clubhouse perched on the edge of the
water.
Reminiscent of a chalet, it had a slanted
roof line and multiple A-frame windows that jutted out. The structure was
mostly glass with wood support beams accented by stone.

The
natural simplicity of the building’s design only served to augment its
opulence. Set in the middle of the magnificent surroundings, the many faceted
glass windows made it look like a jewel. I was speechless.

We
strolled into the clubhouse and immediately entered a sizable room. Guests
weaved their way through the lobby to their various destinations. Some were
dressed in casual golf attire while others wore suits with ties or colorful
dresses. The wood plank ceiling and oversized furniture placed throughout
created an effect that was both impressive and inviting. Large floral
arrangements gently perfumed the air as we made our way to the restaurant.

The
restaurant had immense glass windows that stretched from the floor to the
dramatic vaulted ceiling, showcasing the magnificent scenery. A medley of aromas
wafted tantalizingly through the air.
As
we followed the host to our reserved table, I was suddenly more grateful than
ever to Jessica for her gift. The overall grandeur of the setting combined with
the spotless white tablecloths and elegant china deserved no less than a
beautiful dress.

Our
table was located right next to th
e
windows, and w
e had arrived in time to watch the
sun set. The mountains beyond were reflected on the lake’s glass-like surface
as the sun dipped lower in the sky. The host pulled out a chair and indicated I
should be seated before placing a linen napkin in my lap and handing me a menu.
I had never been anywhere this nice in my entire l
ife; I
was shocked Dad brought me here and hoped we didn’t
look too out of place.

I
opened the cork-bound menu but was too busy scanning my surroundings to focus
on the offerings just yet. The dim lighting cast a warm glow on the already
picturesque scene. Elegant and well-dressed couples and families sat around
tables topped with water glasses, a candle, and a vase with delicate white
roses. The restaurant was fairly
busy,
and there was a hushed murmur as people conversed, clinked glasses, and ate
their meals.

I felt my dad’s eyes on
me while I drank in the scene. I sensed that he was pleased with my reaction.
The entire experience was overwhelming, and I so wanted to enjoy every moment
of it.

A waiter arrived at the
table and took our drink order, reminding me that I still needed to look at the
menu. After the waiter flitted away, I perused the options and stopped short
when I realized there were no prices listed.
Do they assume we are all
regulars and know the price? Or do they just figure price isn’t a consideration
for most of their guests?
Either way, I now dreaded that it was even more
expensive than I originally feared.

Apparently reading my
mind, Dad spoke. “Haley. It’s your eighteenth birthday and I wanted us to do
something memorable. Order whatever you like.” I started to protest, but he
shook his head firmly, clearly ending any further discussion on the matter. I
finally decided on chicken stuffed with dates and cashews, served with yam
dumplings and drizzled with a sherry shallot sauce. I assumed it was less
expensive than lobster or steak, and it sounded really delicious.

While
we waited for the food to arrive, Dad and I made small talk.
It was strange, because in that moment I felt both
grown up and incredibly unsophisticated all at the same time. Surrounded by
people in a nice restaurant, I wondered if this was what “normal” felt like.

The
setting sun painted a colorful display as vivid shades of orange contrasted
against the deep blue lake. The silhouettes of the mountains and trees were
still visible but gradually faded to darkness.
I
mentally snapped a photograph so that I could paint the breathtaking scene
tomorrow.

As I
grew more comfortable in the unusual su
rroundings,
questions began to creep into my mind. I could tell my dad put some effort into
planning the evening, and I didn’t want to ruin it with questions about the
past. But I also didn’t think I would be able to make it through an entire
dinner without blurting out at least a question or two. I started trying to
figure out how to confront him about our past and my future.

Out of the corner of my
eye, I noticed him reach for something in the interior pocket of his suit
jacket. Before I could see what the item was, he hid it from my view. He looked
me in the eye, and I sensed he was struggling with his emotions. “Haley, I
can’t believe you’re turning eighteen. I will always see you as my little girl,
but I’m so proud of the woman you’re becoming.” I blinked back a tear. Although
my dad and I were close, I wasn’t used to such emotional statements from him.

He
paused and shifted in his seat, running his palm over his short hair before
continuing. “I want to give you something special that belonged to your mom.”
Revealing the item he’d been hiding, he placed a small midnight blue, almost
black, leather box on the table in front of me.

I
gently untied the delicate white silk ribbon before opening the box. The inside
was coated in velv
et, and a sapphire and
diamond ring sparkled when the light hit it. I gasped as I removed it carefully
from the box, admiring the round-cut sapphires that alternated with diamonds
connecting all the way around the band.

His tone was solemn.
“It was your mother’s wedding ring. Sapphire was her favorite stone, and I know
it’s your favorite color. The sapphires always reminded me of the night sky she
loved so much and the diamonds, the stars. Considering sapphire is also your
birthstone, today seemed like the perfect time to give you her ring.”

I was breathless and
unable to respond as I slid the ring on my finger, smiling when it fit
perfectly. “I want you to have it, and she
would
have wanted that too. Wear it and remember how much we love you.”
The
small round stones shimmered in the light, enchanting me with their perfection.

I didn’t know if it was
a real memory or just my imagination, but in that moment, I could see the
beautiful ring on my mom’s finger as she placed my tiny hand in her own. Since
I didn’t have anything else of hers, the ring meant more than any other gift my
dad could have possibly given me.

I was
still staring at the ring
when
the waiter arrived with our dinner. With some fanfare,
he lifted the domed silver lids off the plates to reveal my chicken e
ntrée
and Dad’s salmon. After the waiter left the table, I simply said, “Thank you.”
I was too emotional to express the depth of my gratitude, but I could tell by
my dad’s affectionate smile that he understood.

Cutting
into the chicken, sweet and savory notes filled the air. Each bite was bursting
with flavors I had never experienced. Thanks to the pleasant atmosphere and
phenomenal food, it felt as though we were floating in a bubble of delight.

Suddenly,
my mantra floated back to me.
I can’t live like this anymore
. I didn’t
want to ruin the moment, but I knew Dad wasn’t on
his guard, and I needed answers. Besides, I figured he
opened the door when he gave me my mom’s ring.

I eased into the
conversation. “It’s nice to hear you talk about Mom. You promised to tell me
about what happened to her and why we aren’t safe.”

He gently dabbed his
mouth with his napkin, obscuring his expression. I could tell from the shift in
his eyes that he was not expecting this and was not pleased. “Let’s enjoy your
birthday dinner, Haley. We can talk about this later.”

I gritted my teeth and
smiled, then looked him straight in the eye. “Please, Dad, I’ve waited long
enough. I deserve to know.”

He folded his napkin
and replaced it in his lap continuing to smooth it despite its heavy starch. I
realized I was holding my breath in anticipation. He sighed, “I guess I can’t
put this off any longer.”