Raw Deal (Beauty for Ashes: Book One) (55 page)

We did know our address, but I agreed with Carl just to save myself any trouble. Tanya looked at him momentarily. I think she could tell that he was lying. She pulled me into a hug. “Lovely seeing you again.”

“You, too.”

“Take care of yourself, Lexi,” Jace said. He’d been all over the place with his ushering duties, and we hadn’t had a chance to have our talk. He’d sent me a text though saying:
I’m in LA all summer. Hope we get a chance to meet up. Isaiah 61:1-3
. He must have got my number from Monica.

I could sense Carl’s eyes boring into the back of my head, so I just ignored Jace. “Hope to see you soon, Monica.”

“Yeah, we’re all home until college starts again in the fall, so we should try to meet up,” Monica said.

Carl pulled me back into his arms as soon as I stepped away from Monica. “We have to go now,” he announced.

We said our goodbyes, and then Carl and I went to get our car. When we got home, Carl went to bed straight away, but I sat in the den for a while watching TV.

After a while, I went to the study and found my Bible. I used the index to find Isaiah 61:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

I read it again, trying to understand it. Eventually I went to bed. I lay beside Carl unable to sleep, thinking about verse three. It was the first Bible verse that I actually liked.

I wanted beauty for ashes, so what was stopping me from accepting God?
He’s been unfair to me,
I reminded myself. If life were a game of cards, God had dealt me a terrible hand.

***

My phone rang from the other side of the room, and I got out of bed to answer it. I glanced at the clock and was shocked to see that it was noon. I wondered where Carl was. “Hello?” I answered.

“Morning,” Monica sang. “Wanna do lunch?”

“Sure.”

“Cool, I’ll see if Tanya wants to come too.”

“We’re not doing Indian, are we?”

“No. I was thinking we should go to
Piccolo Italia
.”

I turned to the mirror and fiddled with my hair, which was still stiff from all yesterday’s hairspray. “What time?”

“Say one thirty? Because you sound like you just rolled out of bed.”

“One thirty is good.”

I hung up, and my phone rang again almost immediately. It was Shawna. “‘Sup girl?”

“Have you just woken up?”

“Yeah, I didn’t get home from the wedding until past midnight.”

“I guess you don’t want to do lunch then?”

“I’m actually going with a couple friends from high school. You can come too though. They’re Christians, so you’ll fit right in.”

“Hmm, I don’t do lunch with strangers unless absolutely necessary.”

“You’ll love Monica and Tanya.”

“Tanya what?”

“Washington.”

“Really? Tanya’s my girl. I didn’t know she was back yet.”

“You know Tanya?”

“Yeah, we both used to volunteer at a blind people’s center.”

“Well it’s a small world. So are you coming? One-thirty at
Piccolo Italia.
”

“Okay, see you there.”

***

“Trust Monica to organize this and then show up last,” I said, opening my menu.

“I know.” Tanya looked at my menu. “Let’s just order, because I’m starved.”

“I can’t believe you know Lexi too,” Shawna said. “Really, this is just great.”

Tanya nudged me in the ribs. “You’re surrounded by Christians, Lexi. You hate us, but you can’t seem to get away from us. We’re everywhere you go. You should just surrender.”

“Yeah,” Shawna giggled. “Give it up.”

“Hey, stop nudging me like that. I’m pregnant.”

Tanya’s mouth dropped. “Sorry! Oh my goodness! Congratulations!”

“Thanks.” I grinned. I was definitely keeping this baby, so I may as well tell the girls about it.

“Wow, Lexi, that’s amazing,” Shawna said. “When are you due?”

“Not sure. I just found out a few days ago.” I rubbed my side where Tanya had nudged me.

“Sorry, did I hurt you?” Tanya asked.

“No, I’m fine.”

Just then Monica breezed in. “Sorry I’m late, girls. Some guy was trying to get my number in the parking lot. But here I am! Have you ordered?” She picked up a menu and started to fan herself.

“No, we were about to,” Tanya answered.

“I wish they’d turn up the air conditioning in this place. I’m gonna combust,” Monica wailed, almost slapping herself in the face with her menu.

Tanya signaled a waiter over, and we placed our orders. Monica asked the waiter to turn up the AC.

“You’ve just earned yourself a mouthful of saliva in your drink,” Tanya told her.

“I thought I was very polite.”

“Yeah, I thought she was polite enough,” Shawna agreed. “I’m Shawna by the way.”

Monica grinned. “I’m Monica.”

“Have you spoken to Spencer?” Monica asked Tanya.

“Yeah, he called me about an hour ago. He arrived in New York safely.”

“When am I going to meet Spencer?” Shawna asked. “On your wedding day?”

“You’ll meet him next time he comes to LA,” Tanya promised.

“And when will that be?”

“Christmas. He’s coming to meet my parents.”

“Spencer is pretty cute,” I said, remembering the tall guy Tanya had introduced me to.

Tanya grinned. “I know.”

“What’s his surname again?” I asked.

“Caldwell.”

“Tanya Caldwell,” Shawna teased. “Nice.”

“Can we not talk about fiancé’s and husbands? I feel so single,” Monica wailed.

“Enjoy it while it lasts,” I advised her. “I wish I was still single.”

Monica’s eyes sharpened. “Why? Isn’t it working out with you and Carl?”

“That’s a story for another day,” I said. “But my advice to you all is to just be careful. Make sure you’re marrying a good guy and make sure you’re one hundred percent convinced that you’re not making a mistake. Pray about it, or whatever it is that you do.”

Shawna raised her eyebrows. “That’s very sound advice, especially coming from someone who doesn’t believe in God herself.”

Our drinks arrived, and my stomach grumbled.

“Hungry?” Monica asked with a smile.

I nodded. I wished they’d hurry up with our food. I sipped my ice-cold water. “How’s Sam?” I asked Shawna.

Shawna screwed up her nose slightly. “He’s cool.”

“Got a wedding date yet?”

“Things are a bit weird between us at the moment.”

I was surprised. “Things are weird between you and Sam?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, I thought you guys were like Barbie and Ken. Thought ya’ll were perfect.”

“Well, we’re not. We have our moments too.”

I don’t know why, but that really shocked me.

“He’s transferring to New York in three weeks, and he hasn’t said anything to me about us. I think it’s over.”

“Sam’s not like that,” Tanya said. “He’ll tell you if it’s over.”

Shawna’s eyes got a little watery, but she blinked it away. “I really don’t know what’s going on with him.”

“Would you move to New York with him?” Tanya asked.

“Only if we set a wedding date. It has to be concrete, or there’s no point following him to New York. I’ve had enough garbage from guys in the past. I’m not taking it anymore.” Shawna played with her engagement ring. “He’s leaving in three weeks, and he still hasn’t said anything. I’m guessing he isn’t going to. He wouldn’t leave it so late. I know it’s over.”

“I’m sure it isn’t,” I said encouragingly. The first time I’d met Sam, he’d told me that he was getting married soon.

“Maybe.” Shawna didn’t look convinced. “Just going the bathroom.”

“Listen, ya’ll,” Tanya said gleefully when Shawna left the table. “Sam is gonna ask her to transfer to New York with him on Friday. I spoke to him the other day. He wants to marry her in January.”

“Really?” I said delightedly. “So why’s he leaving her in suspense?”

“He told me he knows it’ll be a big decision for her to make, so he’s scared that she’s going to say no. He doesn’t think she wants to leave LA.”

“How can he not see that Shawna’s crazy about him?”

“I don’t know. He said he’s waiting for the right time to ask her, and I told him to just set a date to tell her, or he never will. So he said he’ll tell her on Friday.”

“What are you all smiling about?” Shawna asked when she got back.

“Nothing,” we all chorused. Shawna looked at us suspiciously.

“Don’t worry about Sam,” Tanya advised. “When is the next time you’re seeing him?”

“Friday, I guess. We’re going shopping because he wants my advice for a present he’s getting his parents for their wedding anniversary.”

“Friday? Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you guys will work it out.”

Shawna nodded, and Tanya changed the subject. By the time we were leaving the restaurant, Shawna had cheered up.

I drove home, hoping all the way that Carl wouldn’t be back from wherever he’d gone in the morning, but his car was outside when I got there.

I braced myself as I let myself into the house. I had only been hanging out with my girls, so there was nothing to be agitated about, but I knew Carl. He would be suspicious.

Carl appeared in the doorway of the den. “Hey.”

I started up the stairs. “Hey, I smell pizza.”

“Yeah, I was hungry.” He followed me upstairs and watched while I changed. “Where’ve you been?” he asked eventually.

“With Tanya, Shawna, and Monica.”

“And Jace?”

“No,” I said in annoyance. When was Carl going to get off my case, if ever? “Where’ve you been? You were gone before I woke up.”

Carl ignored my question. “I know you’ve been with Jace. You don’t dress up that much when you’re meeting your girlfriends.”

“We went for lunch. Jace wasn’t there, okay?”

“You still have a crush on Jace. I know you do,” Carl snarled. “I saw the way you were looking at him yesterday.”

“You have an overactive imagination,” I said turning from the closet.

“Well, would you like to tell me where you disappeared to at the beginning of the reception? I couldn’t help noticing that Jace disappeared too.”

“I went with Monica to see Michelle.” I knew that Carl didn’t believe me.

My phone rang, and I looked at the caller ID. It was Tanya. “What’s up?” I answered.

“Nothing, just calling to make sure you got home safely. You looked a little tired.”

“I’m okay. Are you still with Shawna and Monica?”

“Yeah, we all came back to my place…”

I didn’t hear the rest of what she said, because Carl came and grabbed the phone from my hand. “What are you doing, Carl?”

He put the phone in his pocket. The expression on his face was sour.

“That was Tanya.”

“I know you only talk to Tanya, because she’s Jace’s cousin. Anyway, you’re not talking to our friends from high school anymore. High school is over, and those friendships are over.”

“Give me back my phone, Carl.”

Carl took the phone from his pocket and threw it vehemently against the wall. The screen smashed, and it fell to the floor. I walked out of the room and went to get my car keys. I’d had enough of this!

I was unlocking the front door to leave the house when Carl came down the stairs. I opened the door and slammed it behind me. Carl opened it and was upon me in a flash. “Where do you think you’re going?”

He dragged me back into the house, and into the den, and flung me down onto the sofa. I stared up angrily at him. His face was red, and his blond hair was spiked up roughly as if it, too, were angry. He was trembling with restrained fury, and his handsome face was contorted with jealousy. I had married a monster.

Chapter 62

I tore open the letter from college, not really bothered about whether it would be good news or not. These days, I didn’t care about anything. My heart was growing colder by the day, and I felt numb. If I had failed my exams, who cared?

I unfolded the letter and scanned through my exam results. I had passed them all. I put the letter on my dresser. Well, my mom would be pleased.