Page 17 of The Heiress
I nodded, definitely not wanting to get drawn into that conversation. I could just imagine how these girls would react if they knew I had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving.
“Where is home?” Siri asked, but I was saved by the vibrating of my phone in my pocket.
“Oh, excuse me,” I said, jumping up from my chair. With my phone up to my ear, I retreated from the cafe, ensuring I was on the sidewalk away from prying ears before I answered the call from Dad.
“Elisha.” From the way he said my name, I knew he had his chief executive hat on. That meant emotions weren’t going to come into play. Any tears I cried were not going to have an effect on Mr. Stephan Millar. “I’ve just arrived in London. Mom and Ya-Ya are here too. I know this is hard for you, but it’s harder for your mother. I don’t want you to be angry at her, do you hear me?”
All I could do was sniff because my chin was trembling, and I realized that a deep part of me had been hoping that Mom would magically appear in River Valley.
“I’m going to sort out with the school somewhere for you to stay. They have a homestay program where you’ll get to spend the weekend at a local family’s home.”
“What? With strangers?” I cried in alarm. Staying in the dorms on my own was more appealing than that.
“They won’t be strangers,” Dad pacified. “It’s usually a family from the school. Mrs. Pritchard will arrange it.”
“Do I get to choose?” I asked, a fleeting vision of staying at Addison O’Day’s house flashing through my mind.
“Is there a friend you’d like to stay with?” Dad asked. “I can see if—”
“Bianca Holbrun,” I said in a rush, with no brain cells actually functioning. “She’s my student ambassador. I can ask her.”
“Let me know her family’s details and—”
“No! I can do it,” I insisted. “I’ll arrange it. You want me to be independent, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“And you want me to do regular things? Like arrange to stay with a friend?” I challenged him.
“Yes, of course,” Dad said, “but I need to know about this girl. Tell me about her and her family.”
“She’s the one who showed me around the school on the first day,” I said. “She’s in the tennis team and just won the state championships. And we’re just having coffee together. Please, just let me sort it, Dad.”
Dad sighed loudly. “Well, it would certainly ease your mother’s mind to know you’re with a friend. Mom was worried you weren’t making friends.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. Quite apart from the fact that I’d just lied, I’d never stopped to think how much Mom was stressing about me or how she was just as unhappy to be apart at Thanksgiving.
“We miss you princess,” Dad said and it was like all the tension had left his voice, “but Mom will be rapt to know you’re making friends. It’s all we want for you, to make friends, enjoy school and have fun.”
My chin twitched again, picturing Mom, Dad and Ya-Ya so far away, but there was some comfort in knowing how much they missed me. Now was not the time to keep up my stoic, ice queen facade. “I miss you too,” I said. “Is Mom there?”
“She’s already in bed. It’s late here and they’ve got an early flight tomorrow,” Dad said. “And no guilt trip on your mother, okay?”
“Okay,” I squeaked out, tears welling in my eyes.
“Love you, princess” Dad said.
“Love you, too.”
“Talk soon,” he said, efficiently hanging up before I could confirm just when.
A peal of laughter shot out, Bianca, Siri and Addison leaving the cafe. I put on a burst, heading back to school.
“Hey!” Bianca’s voice could only be directed at me. I reluctantly stopped and turned around, furiously blinking away the unshed tears. Bianca was beckoning. “I’ll give you a ride back to school if you like.”
“It’s—” I cut myself off. A ride in the Mercedes would be nice, it would help my aching feet, but I had a sudden thought that if I could send a photo of me in Bianca’s car it would make it more believable for Mom and Dad. “Sure,” I called, jogging to join them.
“Nice car,” I said as I joined Siri in the back seat.
