Unlikely Allies (22 page)

I shrugged my shoulders "We're working on it, I guess. She came clean for her reasons in Colorado and I forgive her, but it just still feels off. I have so many other things to deal with that I've pushed it to the back of my mind for now."

"So, tell me everything about your accident and trip," she said, switching gears. "How was your dad? And how did you get lost
in the mountains with your step
brother."

"Foster brother," I corrected, sharper than I intended.

"Oh, foster brother, I see. Everything is looking a little bit clearer," she said, arching her eyebrows at me.

"Very funny," I said, not knowing where to start.

Figuring the beginning was probably the best approach. I told her about discovering that Rick owned a camp and how worried I was about fitting in, how Mason made it his mission to point out my every flaw and mistake.

"What a jerk," she
interrupted,
sounding pissed that he dared criticized me.

"Let me finish," I said, breaking her tirade as I bit into one of the chocolate chip cookies my mom had dropped off for us.

"Fine," she teased
, snatching up two cookies at once.

Smiling at her loyalty, I filled her in on the rest. Like how Mason and I started to have feelings for each other, how I grew to love teaching the kids about art, and then finally I told her about the accident. I tried to paint a visual picture with my
words of what our little cave looked like and the way Mason had held me in his arms at night.

"He sounds dreamy," she interrupted again.

"He is," I agreed.

"So, you don't believe he doesn't have feelings for you, do you?"

"No, I know he feels the same, but he has to recover from his injuries first
,
and then we can re
-
evaluate."

"You little minx.
You think he'll come after you."

"I hope he does," I said honestly, knowing the risk of
calling his bluff. "But still, w
hat if he doesn't come after me?" Panic seized me at the thought.

"He will. Clearly he knows of your fabulousness," she teased. "So, what are your plans for school?" she added, once again switching gears.

"Originally, I planned on withdrawing my application from UCLA and going to a community college for a year in Colorado, but I guess I'll hold off on that. I'm planning on doing a dual major so I can get my degree in education."

"Wow
,
it’s seriously wigging me out to hear you say you want to work with kids. If I didn't know any better, I'd think your body was abducted by aliens while you were lost in the mountains."

"I know, right? Believe me, it sort of wigs me out too, but seriously, you should see how some of the kids opened up. They were like sponges as I took them through so
me of the
basic art steps..." M
y voice trailed off when I noticed her studying me appraisingly. "What?" I asked, paranoid.

"Nothing, it’s just, I've never heard you talk like this. You sound so inspiring."

"Well, I guess that's because it's really inspiring. The kids changed the way I look at art."

"That's great, Kim," she said, giving me hug. "I'm a little sad you might be leaving me behind soon, but I'm glad you have direction," she said, sighing dramatically.

"You have direction. I thought you were going to major in set design," I said, trying to remember if that was the last major she had mentioned.

"I'm thinking I
should do something more worth
while like you. Think about it. You’ll be sculpting the minds of young children everywhere, that could be me," she said, holding back a smile.

"Right," I said, starting to giggle. Carol had six brothers and sisters and though she loved them all, she had vowed that when we went to college, she wouldn't spend mo
re than a day with anyone younger than
the age of eighteen for the next ten years. "Of course, that might make your vow a little tough or maybe you plan on teaching college boys," I said, wagging my eyebrows at her suggestively.

"Hmmm, that's not a bad idea. I'll make every class a nude study," she said, saucily.

I laughed because it was something I could totally see her doing.

"So, what are you going to do now?" she asked.

"Well, I can't go back to work until I'm done with those aluminum torture devices, so I plan on catching up on a few pieces for my portfolio. I
want to catch the Rocky
Mountains on canvas before the images fade away."

"What about school?"

"I guess I'll stay at UCLA for this semester. If Mason doesn't come around by Christmas break, I'm still moving to Colorado," I said, ignoring the dread that filled me at the thought. "I've made up my mind, boy or not, spending time with my dad is important to me."

"Sounds good, and at least I get you for a semester," she said, giving me a quick hug before darting out my door. "Bye, Ms. H," she said, passing my mom on her way out.

"So, you're going to UCLA this semester?" she asked nonchalantly, unzipping my suitcase.

"Eavesdrop much?" I asked.

"I was on my way in when I heard you tell Car," she said, defensively.

"Right," I said, sinking back against my pillow.

"Kim, are we going to be able to move past this?"

"Past what?"
I asked, running my fingers through the fringes of my throw blanket.

"The hostility and sarcasm.
I miss the old you. I miss us."

"I miss us too. I just don't know how to let go of the pain you caused. You hid the truth for eighteen years. Why did you even bother to tell us?"

"I promised myself I would tell you when you were eighteen and an adult."

"Because you knew by then he wouldn't be able to swoop in and steal partial custody from you," I said, seeing through her answer.

"Yes," she said, meeting my eyes before sinking on my bed beside me.

"Do you at least regret not telling us sooner?" I asked.

"I always said I wouldn't, that I would stand by my decision, but the moment I told Rick, I regretted it deeper than I've ever regretted anything. I'm not proud that I strip
p
ed you of a father figure, just as I'm not proud that I stripped him of a daughter. He and I talked about it a lot when you were in the hospital, and the impact of my decision hit m
e like a two-by-
four. He wanted to know about all
the things I got to experience:
where we were when you took your first step, the first time you lost a tooth, your first day of kindergarten and most recently, the day you got your diploma. I'm sorry I robbed you both of sharing these experiences, so yes, I regret my decision. Not because I'm afraid you'll always hate me, but because of the reasons I listed."

"I don't hate you
, M
om. I just need time," I said, reaching over to give her a hug.

"I love you, sweetie," she said, kissing the top of my head.

"I love you too, Mom."

"I'll let you rest for a
while and then maybe we can order out Chinese."

"Sounds good," I said, sinking down on my bed until I was lying flat.

She covered me with my blanket like she used to when I was little before leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The silence of the room assaulted me and the emotions I had worked to
keep at bay for the last twenty-
four hours bubbled over. Mason's rejection the day before simmered in my heart like an open wound and tears of hurt burned their way down my cheeks. I thought coming home would be better by giving us a little space, but I felt the distance more acutely than I would have thought possible.

My tears ran down my cheeks hot and fast as my repressed sobs finally broke free. Muffling them with my pillow, I cried until I had nothing left and finally drifted to sleep.

Chapter 1
7

The weeks leading up to the
start of term passed in a crazy-
busy blur of activity. I pushed Mason to the back of my mind and threw myself into getting ready for dorm life. Mom surprised me by giving me a thousand dollar gift card to Bed Bath and
Beyond
. I suspected it was a guilt gift, but was grateful for it
,
regardless. Car and I had a field day spending it, from buying matching comforters for our beds, to completely outfitting our bathroom in deep plum shades. Car's parents kicked in with our appliances so we'd be the envy of the other rooms with our mini fridge, microwave and coffee maker. We'd wanted a hot plate, but all the parents balked at that, claiming we'd forget about it and leave it turned on when sudden inspiration distracted us. We both tried to act hurt over their accusations, but couldn't deny it.

My biggest surprise arrived the day before I headed off to school. Carol and I were dragging my crap down the hall when our doorbell rang. My heart skipped a beat like it had every time our doorbell rang since I got home.

"I'll get it," Carol said, dropping the box she was carrying on the hall table. "Well, well, I know who you are," she said to the visitor.

My heart thudded painfully in my chest and my palms began to sweat. He was here.

Carol swung the door open wide and I had to swallow back my disappointment when I saw Rick and not Mason on the doorstep.

Shoving my hurt back to its safe place, I dropped my box before throwing myself in his arms. "Dad, what are you doing here? Is Mason okay?" I asked, pulling back. I instantly wanted to bite my tongue. I was supposed to be acting nonchalant here.

"Mason's fine. He's at home now and goes in for physical therapy every day," he said, giving me a look that spoke volumes.

"Good, I'm glad," I said, swallowing hard. This is what I had wanted. "But, what are you doing here?" I asked again.

"You didn't think I was going to miss out on the opportunity of helping my daughter settle into college, did you?"

"I guess not," I said with a genuine smile. "Are you sure you're ready for the mayhem though?"

"Bring it on," he said, winking at me.

"Ahem
," Car said behind me.

"Oh, sorry.
Dad this is my friend, Carol or Car. Car, this is my dad, Rick," I said, introducing them.

"Nice to meet you, Car," Rick said, reaching out to shake her hand.

"So, what's with your boy hurting my girl here?" Carol shocked me by saying.

"Car," I hissed, kicking at her foot.

Rick raised his eyebrows at her question and started to answer it, but I interrupted him. "We don't need to talk about it," I said with steel in my voice as I gave Carol the evil eye.

She shrugged her shoulders in her typical so-sue-me kind of attitude.

Rick watched our silent exchange, looking confused about whethe
r he should say something
.

"It's fine. Car just shares my gift of diarrhea of the mouth," I said, leading him into the family room. "Did Mom know you were coming?" I asked.

"Yeah, I told her I wanted it to be a surprise.
Figured you could use me for manual labor."

"Great idea, my dad is sooooooo old, he'd be more of a hindrance," Carol piped in.

"Car," I said, trying to chastise her, but wound up having to agree with her. I loved her parents dearly, but they were older than most of the parents we knew. Poor Carol had put up with jokes about them looking more like her grandparents than actual parents for years.

"They're just a little older," I explained to Rick.

"I see. Well, I'm glad I can be of service. I r
ented an Expedition since your
mom told me you'd have to take several vehicles."

"Tha
t's awesome, though I'm sure Ms.
Go Green might feel differently," Car teased.

"Go Green?" Rick asked.

"Seriously
,
Car, you need a gag," I said, sighing. "I'm just a
little picky on environmentally-
friendly vehicles," I added, grabbing the box I had set down.

"Uh-
huh, I'm guessing my vehicle back home doesn't meet those standards?" he joked, grabbing the box from me.

"Um, no, not really," I admitted.

He laughed
.
"It's practical for the mountains, but I see your point."

Carol laughed at his words and followed him outside with her box. Conversation after that was left to short phrases as I dragged the rest of the stuff we had accumulated to the e
ntry
way. The majority of Carol
's stuff was already at my house since we had been stowing our purchases in my room. Space at her house was limited at best, even with her and her two older siblings off at school.