Chapter Thirteen

Rory nodded and stood up, following her mom outside to the patio at the back of the house. “What's wrong?” she asked, concerned with her mother's pallor.

“It's Grandpa,” she whispered. “He's in the hospital, and they don't know if he'll make it. I have to go to him. That means I won't be able to talk to Dalen's father until we get back.”

Rory's heart fell. “I understand,” she said, hugging her mom. She hadn't seen Leigh's dad since she was six or seven. She had a vague memory of a big guy with a robust laugh, who'd given her Tootsie Rolls when no one was watching. “I hope Grandpa makes it through,” she consoled.

Leigh nodded, trying to suppress her tears. “Me too, honey. I want you to stay in the house while we're gone. Don't go to school and don't let Dalen in. Maybe you could get Carson or someone to stay over for protection.” She gave Rory a trembling smile. “Of course, since Ricky is in the house, I would expect Carson to sleep in a guest room.”

Rory nodded. “I know but I'm not going to ask him. I wouldn't want him to get hurt if Dalen does show up. I've been able to reason with Dalen until now. If something comes up, I can handle it, Mom,” she assured with what she hoped wasn't too obviously false bravado. “When you get back, we'll settle it once and for all.” She hugged Leigh tighter to her for a long moment and then broke away.

Leigh and Dan left at eight p.m. for the airport. Their flight took off at nine forty-five and they would arrive in Des Moines in about five hours. Rory watched them go with a heavy heart, feeling more than a little frightened. She'd also sensed a strange tension between her parents. Every time her dad offered support or touched Leigh, she'd jerked away. Dan also had not made eye contact with Rory and that made her sad. Was he ashamed of her for what had happened? If he was, she felt like crying. It didn't matter if the attitude was fair. She just couldn't handle her dad being ashamed of her.

***

She and Ricky watched a movie before going to bed. She waited until he left for school the next morning before getting in the Mustang and picking up Carson. She filled him in on recent events as they drove to the beach. “Do you still want to be here today?” he asked as she pulled into the public parking area.

Nodding, Rory grabbed her bag and raised the top. “I don't want to sit home and wonder what's going on.”

“What if your mom calls?” he asked, taking her hand as they staked out a spot on the still quiet beach.

Rory pulled a cell phone from her bag. “I forwarded the calls to my cell phone.”

“You're a naughty girl,” he teased, tweaking her nose. Rory stowed the phone back in the bag, and they ran into the water. It was just a little chilly but still refreshing. It was a bright day in mid-September and the temperature was in the eighties by eleven. They left the beach and drove to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Afterwards they drove back to Breckridge and went to Rory's house. They borrowed the Jacuzzi tub attached to her parents' bedroom and bathed together. Then they made love in Rory's bed before she dropped Carson off at his house.

She was lying on her bed, studying, when Ricky came home. Leigh had told him not to let anyone in the house while they were gone but Rory wasn't surprised to see Dalen towing behind him when he came thumping up the stairs. She groaned under her breath. “I'm grounded,” she told him sullenly. “I'm not allowed to have visitors and Ricky wasn't supposed to let anyone in the house while Mom and Dad are gone,” she snapped, shooting her little brother a baleful look. He squirmed painfully.

“It's okay, Rory,” he explained. “Dalen can't stay long anyway. He has to be back at the school for a special practice in forty-five minutes. I don't think Mom and Dad will mind.” He knew his mom would have been angry if she were here, after telling Dalen yesterday she couldn't have visitors, but Dalen was so persuasive he'd ignored his inclinations.

Rory shrugged. “Let’s go have a snack,” she suggested, herding them out of her room and closing the door behind her. They followed her down the stairs and watched as she opened a can of pineapple rings with the electric can opener. Maria had left earlier in the day, as she usually did on Thursday afternoons, so Ricky and Rory were used to fixing their own snacks those days. “Will you get the cottage cheese from the fridge?” she asked Ricky, trying to sound and act normally.

He took it from the fridge and slid it across the counter to her. Rory spooned cottage cheese into the hole of the ring and gave everyone a dish. Ricky poured a glass of juice for each of them and they sat at the kitchen table. Dalen watched Rory intently, frowning every so often. After they'd eaten, he looked at his watch. “Time for me to go,” he announced sadly. “Walk me out,” he suggested to Rory, and she knew it was an order.

She followed him reluctantly to the garage, where he'd parked his Porsche. “I've missed you,” he whispered.

“Have you?” she asked off-handedly.

Dalen pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She concentrated on the beautiful things she'd done with Carson and was able to block out what he was doing to her. “There's something different about you today,” he said, studying her. “You're a little sun-burned. What have you been up to?”

“I sunbathed outside,” she said disinterestedly. “After swimming for a while. I forgot my sunscreen. How odd of you to notice.”

Dalen laughed. “I notice everything about you. I know everything about you. I know you better than you know yourself.” He kissed the tip of her nose, and Rory giggled. Not at the kiss of course, but at what Dalen didn't know. He seemed pleased. “I could come back tonight after practice,” he suggested.

Rory took a deep breath. “You can't, Dalen. I'm grounded, and I don't want to get in more trouble. I'll see you when my grounding is over. You shouldn't try to see me until then,” she added. “My brother is pretty cool, but my mom has a way of applying pressure that could crack anyone. If she finds out you were here today, she'll be a little angry. If she finds out you came over at night or kept coming back, I'm going to be in deep, deep trouble.”

Dalen studied her with narrowed eyes but apparently, he accepted what she was saying. “Okay,” he said regretfully. “I'll miss you,” he added, kissing her again. Rory forced herself to stand there. When he lifted his head, he touched her cheek. “Soon you'll love it when I kiss you,” he promised. “You're going to love me so much you can't live without me.”

Rory remained stubbornly silent as Dalen got in the Porsche and roared off.

Ricky came home alone after school and Dalen didn't show up. He knocked on her door around seven.

“Hey, Rory,” he said. “Do I look okay?” he asked bashfully.

He wore gray slacks and a hunter green button-down shirt. His hair was combed, and he'd gotten a haircut that afternoon. His face was smooth, and he smelled like Dad's cologne. “You look great,” Rory complimented. “Moriah will love it,” she added.

“Thanks,” he answered. “You want to come with us? I won't tell Mom, I promise.”

Rory shook her head. “Thanks, but I don't want to risk it. I appreciate the offer though. Who's going to be there?”

Ricky shrugged. “We’re riding with Dalen and Perry. They should be picking me up soon. We're going to a dance club in L.A.” He bit on his lower lip. “Mom doesn't know about that, so don't say anything, okay?”

“I won't tell her,” Rory assured him. “Just be careful, okay, Ricky? And don't drink or anything. Promise?”

“I promise,” he agreed as a horn honked downstairs. “I'll see you later,” he called and took off. Rory watched him go, happy he had found friends here and maybe even a girlfriend but worried also. She didn't like Ricky hanging out with Dalen and his friends.