“I guessed that you might be too involved in the tree to hear someone ringing you up, so I answered.”
“Thank you, Myra,” I said, and went to the phone in the living room.
It wasn’t Aaron; it was Lila, and from the sound of excitement in her voice, it was clear she couldn’t wait to get to a phone to call me. “Something happen between you and Aaron?” she asked as soon as I said hello. She was breathless. Maybe she had run to the nearest phone.
“Why are you asking?”
“A bunch of us got together at the Meadows for lunch.” The Meadows was one of the half dozen upscale restaurants in Prescott that featured a buffet lunch on Saturdays. They had a few rooms for dining, and Prescott teenagers laid claim to one occasionally.
“No one called me about it, not that I could have gone.”
“Well, I just assumed you’d be with Aaron, so I didn’t call you. I’m sorry.”
“That’s all right.”
I sensed her hesitation in the pause. “Aaron showed up,” she blurted.
“And?” Did he start telling everyone what was going on at my home? Most of my classmates avoided the subject of the poisoned boy and what my grandfather was doing for him. At least, they didn’t want to ask me questions directly, but I was sure Aaron was enjoying being a source of information about it all. To be fair, I never said he shouldn’t say anything. In fact, I had hoped the attention would give Grandpa Arnold second thoughts. But that was all a while ago. I didn’t know what I wanted to happen now.
“And almost immediately, he began flirting with Sandra Roth. Vikki Slater is having an open house tonight. I heard Aaron tell Sandra he’d see her there. He made it sound like she should wait for him. Won’t you be going?”
“No. No one told me about that, either, but it doesn’t matter. My grandfather and I are doing our Christmas tree. It’s a tradition for us to have dinner together the night we finish.”
“We did ours already. We usually have it up a week or so before Thanksgiving.”
“We had some distractions,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
“So what about Aaron? He’s not going to see you tonight if you don’t come to the party?”
“He’ll live,” I said.
“What?”
“We’re having some serious problems at my home, Lila. My social life is not at the top of the list at the moment.”
“Oh, that boy. Your grandfather still wants to keep him there?”
“Yes. Until more is known, at least. My grandfather’s constantly checking with the police,” I added. “Thanks for calling to cheer me up.”
“I thought you’d like to know what’s happening,” she whined.
“Sometimes it’s better to be stupid,” I replied.
“You’re really weird sometimes.”
“I wonder why,” I said.
She giggled nervously.
“I have to go, Lila.”
“Do you want me to tell you what happens at the party?” she quickly asked.
“Enjoy yourself, Lila. You don’t have to be my little spy.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” she said, ignoring everything I was saying.
“Whatever,” I replied. “Gotta go.”