White Chocolate Moments (15 page)

"No, we haven't. Is Brody telling people we have?"

Daisy nodded miserably and watched Arcineh turn and walk away. Her friend went into the women's bathroom and Daisy followed, but Arcineh wanted to be left alone. Daisy had just assumed

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that Brody was telling the truth. She felt terrible for having believed him, but not as bad as Brody was going to feel when Arcineh got done with him.

HONOLULU, HAWAII

Vacationing with her grandfather and Violet was more fun than Arcineh could have dreamed. Brody came to mind, certainly, but not because she missed him. At the moment, she was so angry that she didn't think she ever would.

Arcineh laid on the beach, tried to talk Violet into a bikini, tasted mahi-mahi, learned to surf, ate shave ice until her tongue began to peel, and vowed she wanted fresh pineapple every day for the rest of her life.

Sam's head was buried in a magazine most of the time, but Arcineh couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him so relaxed. Violet said she was naked without her stove, but she grew tan and even joined Arcineh in the surf and in looking for shells.

Flying back to Chicago on the red eye--much too soon in Arcineh's opinion--the 16-year-old hoped they would go every year.

Arcineh wasn't the only one in the family to have boy trouble during the 1996-97 school year. By Christmastime Quinn and Tayte had broken up, and all the older girl wanted to do was sit in her pajamas and watch television.

Austin and Lexa were doing better than ever, but Lexa was with her family and not in Chicago, so all Austin did was mope. And to

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top it off, Tiffany got it into her head that everyone should go to church on Christmas Eve. Sam hated the idea and didn't hesitate to say so. Tiffany's tears would not be stopped, and as usual, Arcineh retreated to the kitchen.

But Violet wasn't feeling well and had gone to her rooms to lie down. Arcineh ended up slipping quietly out of the house and driving herself to Geneva's studio. She knew she shouldn't do it--hiding behind her dancing was not healthy--but at the moment she was desperate.

Two hours later she got home to find her grandfather irate over her leaving, and the two of them argued. Arcineh never before remembered wanting the new year to start so much or even caring if she opened her gifts.

"She can finish with high school in December?" Sam clarified with the two people sitting in his office at the end of January.

"That's right:' Miss Knepper said. "She's already in college courses:'

"But she's only in her sophomore year:' Sam felt a need to point out. "She'd be done halfway through her junior year."

Both Miss Knepper and Mr. Stocco, the principal, nodded. "Does Arcineh know this?"

"No:' Mr. Stocco took this one. "It's entirely up to you as to how you want us to handle this. We can tell Arcie, or you can tell her, or we can keep her in school and advance the work, but to tell you the truth, it would be a shame to keep her from college if she wants to go:'

College two months after her seventeenth birthday,
Sam thought with a good deal of shock. He knew she was bright and a devoted student, but such a thing had never occurred to him. He didn't want

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her away from home that soon, and he wasn't sure she'd be willing to go.

"I hope I have time to think about this:'

"Of course. That's why we've contacted you so far in advance."

The three of them talked for another 30 minutes. Sam had several more questions, and in the course of that time he decided he would tell Arcineh himself. He left the office planning to discuss it with her that very night.

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Chapter Ten

"They didn't think I knew?" Arcineh asked after her grandfather explained.

"I guess not:" Sam smiled at the amused look in her eyes. "What do you think of all of it?"

"Being done at the end of this year? Great. Going to college? No, thank you:'

"Never?"

"I don't know. I'm so tired of homework and deadlines, Sam. I want to
really
be done and not ending each year knowing that it starts all over again in three months:'

"What would you do?"

"Work full-time with Carlee," Arcineh said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Sam thought about this. His staff loved having her around, and she was good at everything she did, but there was a tension in him when she was in the building, and it was all about the men in his office. He didn't trust some of them, certainly not their eyes or mouths, and his desire to protect Arcineh was very keen.

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"What are you thinking about?"

Sam thought about it for a moment and then told her. Arcineh's eyes showed her surprise, but then she gathered her thoughts and told her grandfather exactly what she thought.

"I think your wanting to protect me is special. I would be disappointed in anything else. But I also think your opinion of me needs to change:'

"How is that?"

"I'm not going to put up with lewd comments or spend any more time than I have to around men who try to look down my shirt. The men in your office already know that. They might fear you, but they're also learning from me how I expect to be treated:'

"Where did you learn this?"

"Violet:"

"I'm not paying her enough:' Sam said dryly, bringing a laugh from his granddaughter.

"So what do you think? Can I start full-time,at Bryant next year?"

"I don't see why not. Are you sure you want to stay an assistant to Carlee? She adores you, but there's quite a bit more to the business:'

"I like working with Carlee."

'All right, but if you change your mind, you know who to talk

to:'

Arcineh thanked him but didn't linger in his office. She was going to be done with high school in two semesters. She had to tell Violet and then Daisy, in that order.

April 4, 1997, fell on a Friday, a perfect day for Sam Bryant to turn 65. A party, much like the one they'd had for his sixtieth, was planned. At least 80 people had been invited, mostly business associates; and Violet, along with her regular cleaning crew, did a yeoman's

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service to get ready for the big day. The only blip on the horizon was that this weekend marked the five-year anniversary of the death of Arcineh's parents.

It was not something that Arcineh could ever forget, and much as she wanted to join in the fun, another party was a stark reminder of her last night with her folks. Nevertheless she put her best face forward, even with the Rowans coming to town, and joined in the celebration.

"How are you?" Mason Beck caught Arcineh at the back of the room about halfway through the evening.

"I'm doing well, Mason. Thank you. How about you?"

"I'm fine," Mason said quietly. "Are you enjoying the party?" "It's nice Arcineh said, trying to sound sincere. She looked up

to find Mason's eyes on her.

"Five years tomorrow, isn't it?"

"Yes:' Arcineh said, sighing a little. She had been getting a few pitying looks through the evening and was glad Mason was simply willing to say it. "It's a little unreal:'

"It certainly is. Do you think about your home much?"

"Not very often," she admitted. "Right after I got my license, I drove over there, just to look."

"How was it?"

"The same. A different car was in the drive, but no big changes." "Was that a comfort or did it hurt more?"

"It was a comfort:' Arcineh realized just as she answered.

"I'm glad:' Mason said, and then changed the subject. "I heard the good news about your graduating early"

"I'm so excited to be done. And I love working with Carlee." "The two of you make quite a team:'

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Arcineh smiled at the compliment and then noticed Mason's wife headed their way. She had a headache and wanted to leave. Arcineh saw them out, a little sorry to see Mason go. Violet was being run off her feet, and most of the people she knew from the office had already had quite a bit to drink.

Arcineh glanced at the clock. It was almost 10:30. With a little luck, they'd all be cleared out by 1:00.

"You can't be serious," Quinn screamed at her mother from behind the closed family room doors that did nothing to contain the sound.

"Calm down, Quinn," Tiffany said, trying to reason with her on Saturday morning.

"I won't! I can't believe she's graduating ahead of me:'

"It's not important, Quinn:' Tiffany tried again. "Think of all you have that she doesn't."

"Like what?" Quinn demanded, on the verge of hysterical tears. "Like Tayte!" Tiffany was able to say. The two were seeing each other again. "And you're far prettier:'

"I'm smarter too:'

"Of course you are," Tiffany agreed sincerely. "You know Arcie goes to one of those special schools. It's probably not even real:'

Standing out of view outside the glass-paneled family room doors, Arcineh felt as though she'd been slapped. She hadn't wanted to stay and listen, but somehow her feet would not move.

Noise behind her made her turn. It was Sam. She didn't know how long he'd been there or how much he'd heard, but Arcineh didn't want to talk to him or anyone else. She turned and headed toward the backyard. It was still a little cool for the patio in April, but that was perfect. No one would come outside and bother her.

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"I wondered where you'd gone off to:" Sam's voice came to Arcineh where she was settled on a lounger, a thick quilt swaddling her. "I don't feel like talking right now:'

"All right," Sam agreed, but still sat in the lounger next to her. He let a minute or two of silence fall between them. He knew she didn't want to talk, but he felt he had to say something.

"Quinn didn't mean any of that, I'm sure. She's just insecure and upset:'

"She meant every word," Arcineh said, doing nothing to hide her anger. "And so did Aunt Tiffany:'

"If you could just try to understand:' Sam began, but Arcineh bit back in.

"I understand plenty!"

"That's enough!" Sam rebuked her, albeit softly.

"You can tell me that's enough after listening to Quinn and Tiffany just now?" Tears she hated filled her eyes. 'And is that what you all think? That Fetterman isn't real and my diploma is some sort of sham?"

"No, Arcie, not at all," Sam said with some force. "I've known about your intelligence level since the time you were a child. Your diploma is real and worth every moment you worked for it."

More silence fell now, a cold silence, even worse because they'd shared angry words. Sam debated his next move and decided not to over think. Reaching over, he placed a small box on the quilt that covered her.

Arcineh eyed it before asking quietly, "Is that what I think it is?" "Open it and see:'

Arcineh found white chocolate hearts inside. She put a whole one into her mouth and just let it sit there. She didn't speak until it had melted.

"Why don't I ever remember that I love this stuff?" She said aloud, her voice completely calm.

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"Shall I have Vi stock some?" Sam offered.

"I don't think that's a good idea. I'd be in it all the time and wouldn't fit into my clothes."

Arcineh put another piece in her mouth.

"As good as last time?" Sam asked.

"Better, I think. Last time I was just mad at you. This time I'm mad at you and missing my dad."

This time Sam didn't try to answer or fix anything. He let Arcineh enjoy her chocolate, his mind dwelling on his son. He missed Trevor to the soul of his being and only wished that something as simple as white chocolate could heal some of the hurt.

"Quinn just isn't as mature as Arcineh is:' Austin told his grandfather. "Quinn knows it too, and that's always Made her jealous:'

How the two of them had ended up alone in the kitchen early Sunday morning and talking about Quinn, no less, Sam couldn't say. However, he heard his grandson out. He didn't agree with him, but he was glad they were able to talk. Austin's natural bias would be to take Arcineh's side against his sister. He knew the siblings had never been very close.

'And Quinn isn't always impossible Austin went on. "When Tayte is in her life, she's over the moon with happiness:'

"What about Lexa?" Sam asked. "Is she still around?"

"I'm going to marry her:' Austin said confidently. "I haven't told her that, but it's true

"She's a sweet girl:' Sam said sincerely, "and she'd be lucky to have you:'

Austin looked inordinately pleased, and Sam knew a moment of disquiet. He really didn't seek the boy out enough--he suddenly knew that--but found it easy to blame on Austin. He'd been a little

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odd as a child and a rather strange teen, but Sam now admitted to himself that college life seemed to agree with him.