Rapid Falls(11)

As I caught his glance and smiled hopefully, his expression transformed. I tried not to overthink it. Jesse had been acting odd over the past few weeks, but I knew he didn’t handle pressure well. He was probably nervous about everything we needed to do over the summer: packing, saying our goodbyes, deciding whether we wanted to accept spots in the college dorm or try to convince our parents to let us find a place by ourselves. I wondered if some of it was nerves as he worked up the confidence to propose. I knew he felt the same way as I did, that he wanted to be married young.

“Honey, you look beautiful.” My mom’s eyes shone. My dad cleared his throat as he fumbled for the camera.

Jesse rushed to add, “You really do.” I wished he had been the first one to say it. I smiled carefully so lip gloss didn’t get on my teeth.

“Pictures!” my mom said. “By the lilac bush? It looks so pretty right now.” She herded us outside, and I reached for Jesse’s hand. I could hear Anna clunking around upstairs. I tried not to squint in the late afternoon sun as my mom arranged us in pose after pose. It was hot and bright. We pasted smiles on our faces as my dad clicked away.

“Do we have to do this all night?” Jesse whispered as my mom paused to reload her camera with film.

“Not all night,” I whispered back, turning toward him to make sure my breath tickled his ear. I knew it drove him crazy. A sly smile crept over Jesse’s face right at the moment my dad clicked the shutter.

“That’s a keeper,” my dad said.

I laughed, glad he couldn’t tell what Jesse was really thinking.

Anna burst out of the house.

“Are we done, Mom?” I asked.

“For now, honey.”

I turned to Jesse, about to make a joke about how hard models have it, but he was staring at Anna. He looked off again, even though Anna was smiling.

“Jesse?” I whispered. “What’s wrong?”

He jerked toward me like he had forgotten I was standing beside him. “Oh, Cara. Nothing. Just . . . it’s so hot in this suit.”

“Anna! You look wonderful. That dress is perfect,” my mom said. Anna was wearing a simple white shift, fitted in all the right places. It set off her brown eyes perfectly. It was the opposite of my dark, structured gown. She looked carefree and elegant at the same time. I touched my stiff hair self-consciously. I had admired it earlier, but now I worried it was too much. Anna looked effortlessly beautiful. I could feel my makeup drying on my skin.

“Hi, Anna. You look pretty,” I echoed as she walked toward us.

“Thanks,” she said, without returning the compliment. “Hi, Jesse.”

He smiled at her tightly and then busied himself with his corsage. He seemed uncomfortable, probably sensing the tension between us. I narrowed my eyes at her quickly, making sure my parents didn’t notice.

“Is it weird to be going to prom without a date?” I asked innocently. Anna’s boyfriend, Ross, had broken up with her a few months ago.

“I don’t care about Ross Armstrong, Cara.” She smiled brightly. “If he can’t understand that I want more for my life, it’s his loss.”

“Oh, good. I’m glad you’re not upset.”

Anna looked at me. “About what?”

“I heard he was going with Debra.”

Her smile slipped.

“Cara.” There was a note of warning in Jesse’s voice.

“You girls okay?” my mom called. “Can you get together by the lilacs?”

“I just wanted you to know the truth, Anna.”

“Yes, honesty is so important. By the way, I have a bit of a headache. Do you have any painkillers?” she said with a thin smile.

I returned the expression with my back teeth clenched, knowing what she was threatening to reveal to my parents.

“Okay, everyone. Stand together,” my mom said.

“Mom, we have to go.” I shifted restlessly.

“You’ve got time,” my dad said.

“Okay, squeeze in tight!” Anna, Jesse, and I dutifully arranged ourselves while the camera clicked. “Now, one of just Anna and Jesse. You both look so fantastic. Cara, can you move to the side for a second?”

Jesse and my dad spoke at almost the same time. “We do really have to get going, Mrs. Piper,” Jesse blurted.

“No, no more pictures,” my dad said as he walked into the frame. “It’s time to go.” He glanced at Jesse with an odd expression.

“What? Just one more. Clay!” my mom said, but Jesse had stepped away.

“We’ll get one at the prom, Mom,” I heard Anna say as I wobbled slightly in my high heels, trying to keep up with Jesse. I took a deep breath and relaxed my jaw. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. It was going to be the best night of my life. I wanted to spend the rest of it without Anna.





CHAPTER FIVE

June 2016

I can hear Maggie’s howls of frustration before I open the front door, which makes me all the more grateful that James took his dismissal well this morning. Sounds like I am going to need as much compassion as possible for my daughter tonight, and I’m happy I didn’t have to expend it comforting my intern.

“Hello?” I call.

“Did you buy milk?” Rick asks, rounding the corner. He glares when he sees my hands are empty.