The Dream - Whitney Dineen Page 0,54

a pose. Deepening his voice considerably, he announces, “I am Dance Man!” Then he grabs my hands and pulls me up. He spins me around three times before saying, “I will save the world through dance! I will tango until all crime is obliterated. I will cha-cha the bad guys into submission. I will paso doble the bullies into extinction …”

“God help us all.” As he dances me across the grass, I add, “Thanks for being my friend in high school, Buck. You saved me the embarrassment of having to tell my kids that no one ever asked me to the prom.”

“I shall regale them with stories of my valor!” he booms loudly. “I will assure them it was my greatest honor to elevate your standing. I will …”

Before he can finish, I interrupt, “I’ll show them pictures.”

“Killjoy. Fine, you’re welcome. But you have to know the truth, Ash. You’re the one who saved me.”

My heart melts. Yes, I want to make Davis jealous, but I think I want something to happen between Buck and me, too. The idea of getting to choose between one or the other fills me with equal measures of excitement and fear. Something has shifted inside me. Something that says that I’m in charge of my own destiny.

Chapter Thirty

September 25, 2009

Dear Molly,

I’m only two weeks into my sophomore year, yet here I am, back in Creek Water. Sammy called last week and told me that Mom has been diagnosed with lung cancer. She’s having surgery next month. In the meantime, she hasn’t been able to work because she’s not feeling well enough.

Donna wasn’t planning on telling me, but Sammy thought that was a load of crap, hence she called me. I’m praying everything goes well, and I’ll be able to go back to school next semester. In the meantime, I’m home to get a job and take care of Mom. How in the world could this be happening already? She’s only in her thirties.

I get home in time to brush my teeth and hair before Davis shows up. I’m retouching my makeup when he knocks.

“Coming!” I call out, grabbing my purse.

I open the door to find a decidedly tired-looking man on my stoop. “You look beat,” I tell him honestly.

“It’s been a day,” he says.

“Anything I can help with?”

He shakes his head. “Nah, just something I’ve got to figure out on my own.”

“Let me know if you change your mind,” I say, wondering if it’s something to do with Jessica, or me, for that matter.

“You seem perky,” Davis says, giving me a once over.

“Alexander and I had a fun afternoon.” I don’t go into specifics because it’s more satisfying to keep him guessing.

“Huh,” he grunts in a decidedly grumpy manner. After we pull out onto the road, Davis says, “I picked up a little something I thought you might like. The Best of Depeche Mode.”

With the push of a button, “Enjoy the Silence” fills the compact space and I unconsciously release a groan of sheer happiness. At one point we’re both singing along, but when the lyrics become a little personal, we both stop.

We blast through the next four songs without talking. The nostalgia of listening to this music with my mom transports me to another time. We’d dress us up in her favorite Madonna-inspired clothing, and dance around the trailer singing our guts out. It was one of my favorite things to do with her.

Once we get to the nursing home, I tell Davis that I’ll meet him in the family lounge with his grandmother. While I never know how I’ll find Mrs. Frothingham, I’m shocked to walk into her room and discover she’s still in bed.

I buzz her nurse. “Hey, Georgia, what’s up with Mrs. Frothingham?”

“Oh, shoot, I was going to call you. Hang on, I’ll be right in.” When my co-worker arrives, she says, “She had a rough night.”

“How so?”

“There was a lot of confusion. She kept getting out of bed and banging into the wall looking for the doorway. They finally had to sedate her.”

“I guess we’d better not take her anywhere then.”

“I don’t think so, hon. She needs her rest.”

“I’ll go tell Davis.”

“Sorry again, Ash. It’s been a crazy day, and I plain forgot to call you.”

“No problem.” Selfishly, I’m glad she didn’t because it gave me another opportunity to see Davis, if only to drive to Millersville and back. I’ve been running so hot and cold with my feelings toward him today, I’m a veritable faucet.

When I walk into