Page 40 of Something Like Summer
Mr. Cross’s face crumpledas his tears began to flow.
Ben made his way to thefront door, ignoring the sobbing behind him. “She’ll be home in afew hours,” he said. “Don’t screw it up.”
A block later and theadrenaline that had powered his confidence faded. Ben leanedagainst a tree, his hands and legs shaking. Had he really just saidall that to Allison’s father? Had he made things worse or better?The man had been crying when he left! What if he killed himself orsomething? Ben second-guessed his actions all way home, sometimesfeeling proud of himself, other times feeling like he should runback and apologize. But then, what difference would it make? In theend, all was said and done.
* * * * *
Allison wasn’t in schoolthe next day, which was worrying. She had returned home yesterday,giving Ben a short call in the evening to say that she was allright, and that her father was upset but not at her. Ben thoughteverything was going to be okay, but now a number of terrifyingscenarios were playing out in his mind. What if Mr. Cross had leftthe state with her? Even worse, maybe he had killed her beforetaking his own life.
As soon as he was home, Bencalled but there was no answer. He kept trying every half houruntil, a little past nine, Allison finally picked up thephone.
“Are you all right?” Benstammered.
“Yeah.” There was ahesitation. “Great, actually. What did you say to mydad?”
“Why?”
“Well, he’s like adifferent person. He apologized to me all day yesterday, and todayhe took off work so we could have a father/daughterday.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Allison laughed.“I’m even allowed to see you again!”
Ben wanted to cry inrelief. “Did he say why?”
“Something about howprotective you are of me, but he didn’t seem to want to talk aboutit. What did you say?”
Ben considered telling hereverything, but ultimately decided to give her an edited version.He didn’t want her to think that her father’s actions were theresult of blackmail. Ben didn’t want to believe that either. Heliked to think that he had appealed to Mr. Cross’s heart and thateverything would be fine from now on. That didn’t sound veryrealistic though. Ben would never be able to let his guard downagain.
__________
Chapter 12
A sea of green and redwrapping paper threatened to consume the living room as Ben and hissister tore into present after present, tossing paper and ribbonscarelessly away to better see what Santa had brought them. Karensquealed over some designer purse, while Ben admired his new pocketwatch.
The watch was silver witherratic maroon lines carved tastefully into its surface. He pressedthe button on top and the watch face swung open to reveal the time,which was already correctly set at 6:34 a.m. This was theirtardiest Christmas yet! Usually Ben and his sister would wake theirparents and be under the tree by five.
“You can use that watch toget home at a decent time,” his mother teased.
Ben smiled and thanked herbefore digging around for another present with his name on it. Notthat he was lacking anything. He had gotten his PlayStation, evenmore games, new clothes, gift certificates, a couple of books, anda wallet. There was still more to be opened, though. His motheralways went overboard when it came to Christmas.
Weeks of shopping andpreparation was over in half an hour. Mr. Bentley went back to bedthe second he was granted permission, and Karen scooped up herbooty in her arms, taking it back to her room like a rat returningto its lair. Ben played the part of the good son and stayed to helphis mom clean up the mess.
“We should probably startrecycling,” Ben suggested as he surveyed the enormous amount ofnow-useless paper.
His mother didn’t hear him.Her lips were pursed and her forehead wrinkled in thought. “Thinkhow much nicer it will be at home,” she said. “There’s plenty offood and we won’t get in your way.”
Ben didn’t need her toexplain what she was talking about, since it had been the onlytopic between the two of them for the better part of a week. Tim’sparents were in the Pompanos for the holidays, leaving their son tofend for himself. Ben didn’t know how they could do that, but hewas told this wasn’t the first Christmas they were absentfor.
“You know why I want to goover there,” Ben said patiently. “It’s going to beromantic.”
“But I still don’t see whyhe can’t eat Christmas dinner with us,” his mom countered. “You twocan go back to his place in the evening and have yourtime.”
Ben smiled and shook hishead. How could he truthfully tell her that being around family wasone of the biggest mood killers? As much as he loved them, it washard to maintain an amorous state of mind when Grandpa was tellingstories of his mall Santa days or while defending Tim from Karen’sconstant teasing. Ben’s mom might be respectful and give them theirspace, but the others were oblivious to such socialgraces.
“It’s just one Christmas,”Ben reassured her. “It’s not going to become atradition.”
“There’s only oneChristmas left before you move to who knows where,” his mom pointedout. “And what about your grandparents? They won’t get to see youat all!”
