White Chocolate Moments (8 page)

"Grandpa, are my parents in heaven?"

"What did they teach you about that, Arcie?" Sam asked, having wondered when this question would surface.

"We never talked much about God and all of that. I'm not sure there is a God:'

"Neither am I, honey. I think all the heaven and hell we have is right here, and I know that the love your parents had for you and for each other made this heaven for them:'

Arcineh smiled in such relief that Sam's heartbeat became even again. He didn't believe in God, and even though it was hard to imagine his son lying dead in the grave, it was easier than trying to believe in some fairyland where a superior being ruled at his whim.

"Can you sleep now?" Sam asked, hoping she would not want to talk about God again. He might not be able to hide his cynicism, and he wanted her to decide for herself what she believed.

"I think so. Can you stay a little bit?"

"Sure. I'll turn off the light, and you just go to sleep:'

"Your door's open?"

"Yes, it is."

Arcineh's sigh when she heard that was audible, but Sam's was very quiet. This wasn't what he'd bargained for, but at least he had this precious girl. He missed Trevor and Isabella more every day, but Arcineh was his, and she was here to stay.

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"Chapter Five

good information at the library last night:' Landon told Arcineh as soon as the afternoon session began. "Look at this book."

"Oh, wow" Arcineh's eyes widened when Landon put a thick book full of photos and articles concerning the fire on the library table. Landon's job was facts and details. Arcineh was concentrating on the people and the more personal stories.

"There isn't as much in here for you, but there are some names you might want to check on:'

Arcineh took notes when Landon turned pages and pointed or read out loud. Her grandfather had wanted to know more about Landon over breakfast, and for a moment, Arcineh's mind went back to that conversation.

"How old is he?"

"Just a year ahead of me."

"Did you decide to do this project together, or were you assigned?"

"We decided."

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'And you're allowed to do that?"

"Sure. I always do well on my projects, so Mr. Sutter trusts me to do it my way."

'And does Mr. Sutter trust Landon?"

"Landon just got here from New York, so Mr. Sutter doesn't really know him yet."

"And you feel like you do?"

"Grandpa," she had said impatiently, "I'm not marrying the guy. We just like each other and decided to do this project."

"What does
like
mean exactly?"

Arcineh rolled her eyes. "You know."

"No, I don't. Explain it to me, please."

"Tonight, Sam," Violet cut in. "Arcie is going to be late."

Sam had not looked thrilled, but he'd let her go. Arcineh knew,

however, that the topic would return to the table that evening.
"Are you listening?" Landon's voice came to her.

"Oh, sorry," Arcineh said. "I was thinking about something" "What?" Landon smiled, hoping it was him.

"My grandfather wanted to know all about you:' she explained with a small shake of her head. "He's so funny"

"You
told
your grandfather that we like each other?"

"Sure."

It was Landon's turn to shake his head.

"What's the matter?" Arcineh asked.

"Just that: You tell parents something and they want to know everything."

Arcineh made herself ignore the word
parents
and even laughed a little. And it was funny in this case because it was proving to be very true.

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"How much do you know about boys?" Sam had barely taken a seat at the dinner table before he asked.

"I don't know?' Arcineh felt confused, not having expected this. "What's to know?"

"How old is he, this Landon?"

"He'll be 13 in two weeks?'

"Oh, Arcineh:' Sam's voice was pained.

"What's the matter?" Arcineh's eyes had grown a little, and she looked tense.

The upset in Arcineh's face stopped Sam. He had been on the verge of telling her how young men thought, not knowing any other way to handle it. Tiffany had been promiscuous from the moment she turned 12. For a moment Sam had forgotten that Arcineh was nothing like her aunt.

"Nothing's the matter:' he tried again, "except that boys sometimes have different thoughts than girls. I don't know this boy personally, and I want to know that
you're
going to be careful."

"Okay?' Arcineh agreed, sounding a bit at sea.

"Can you tell me a little about him?" Sam asked.

"Like what?"

"Maybe his full name for starters:'

"Landon Rybeck III?' Arcineh said with a small laugh. "He likes cars and he misses New York sometimes?'

"Why did he move here?"

"His father's job changed. I don't know what he does:'

"Landon Rybeck III, huh?" Sam worked to keep his voice light. Arcineh laughed again before answering.

"He says his family has no imagination when it comes to names?'

"And why do you like him?" Sam asked, feeling calmer now. "Well, he's cute and nice, and he liked me first?'

"Of course he liked you:' Sam's voice was utterly sincere. "You're smart and fun and beautiful?'

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"You think I'm beautiful?"

"I know you're beautiful."

Arcineh smiled at him, a shy smile that told him she appreciated hearing that.

Did your dad ever talk to you about boys?"

"I don't think so."

"Well, their minds move faster. You might like it if he holds your hand, but he might want to kiss you:'

"I don't think Landon does," Arcineh said innocently.

"I'm not talking about Landon right now:' Sam answered, knowing she would not accept any criticism of this young man. "I'm talking about boys and men in general."

Arcineh nodded. She looked accepting, but Sam was not quite done.

"Has he held your hand?"

"No, it's not like that."

"What will you do if he wants to?"

Arcineh made a face. "I think I'd be embarrassed:'

Sam had to smile. She was so mature at times and utterly childlike at others. She was only about a month from her twelfth birthday, and somehow he thought she'd be more interested in hand-holding and such.

"Are we done with Landon now?" Arcineh asked.

"I think so, why?"

"I don't know. It just seems like a lot of talk over nothing."

"It might seem like nothing at the moment, but if you could remember this conversation for future reference, I think that would be wise."

Arcineh looked at him, her face intent.

"The nerds kiss sometimes:'

"Who are the nerds?"

"A pair of seniors at our school. All they did was study until last year--now they study and kiss."

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For the first time Sam thought that Arcineh's school might not be so bad. Had she been in a public school, or even a larger private one, she would have witnessed kissing all along.

"Do you do much kissing?" Arcineh asked, and Sam knew that he'd not cut off soon enough.

"As a matter of fact, I don't"

"Who do you kiss when you do?" Arcineh asked, her face as open as though they were discussing the weather.

"No one you would know:'

"How about Vi? Do you think she kisses much?"

"I don't ask her, and you're not going to ask her either:'

Arcineh leaned back in her seat, her smile slow and mischievous. Sam caught the look and threw back his head as he laughed. She'd been having him on, and until the smile peeked out, he'd not caught it. It was something her father would have done to him and also gotten away with.

"Eat your dinner, you little monster:' Sam growled at her as he speared a piece of now-cold potato.

Arcineh picked up her fork and began to eat, but a satisfied smile lurked in the depths of her eyes.

"We're leaving for Creve Coeur on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving:' Sam informed Arcineh a week ahead of time. She'd come to his office and found him working on his home computer.

"We're having Thanksgiving at the Rowens'?"

"Yes. Where did you think?"

"I don't know:' she answered quietly, still glad the family hadn't come up for her birthday. "I guess I thought we'd be here "What does it matter?"

Arcineh didn't answer out loud but knew it did matter. Here she

67

could disappear in many different directions. At Quinn's house, the locations to escape her moody cousin were much more limited.

"Are you still thinking about the last time they were here?"

"Yes:' Arcineh answered, deciding to be up-front.

"I don't know what's happened between the two of you. You used to get along so well."

"Do you really not know?" Arcineh asked, having finally figured it out.

"Do you?" Sam stopped studying the computer screen and looked at Arcineh.

"Yes. Quinn's never had to share your

"What are you talking about?"

"She's the favorite. She knows it. We all do. She's always had you all to herself. Now I live here, and I'm with you every time you go there, and she hates it"

Sam was so stunned he couldn't move. Quinn
was
his favorite, but he didn't think anyone knew that. He studied Arcineh's face to see if this bothered her and realized she'd known all along. He also knew in that instant that Austin knew too.

Sam Bryant, not normally a fool, realized he had been just that. Quinn had always been special in his heart. She was his first female grandchild. He would never forget the day she was born, and all the memories that came flooding back of how he'd failed her mother. In his mind, Arcineh had never seemed as needy as Quinn, and neither had Austin.

Sam almost started when he realized Arcineh was still standing there watching him.

"Do we have to go?" she asked.

"Yes'

"Can we come home on Friday?"

"Arcineh," Sam said patiently. "You could try getting along with her'

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"I'm not the problem:' Arcineh replied, her voice becoming tight with anger.

"It takes two to tango:' Sam said, causing Arcineh to roll her eyes and walk away. Sam watched her, thinking he might do some eye rolling of his own. He wondered if any of them would survive Quinn and Arcineh's adolescent years.

"I missed you:' Arcineh told Violet when she arrived home the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

"I missed you too. How did it go?"

"It was good:' Arcineh said, still surprised. "Quinn and I had a lot of fun. Even Austin wasn't too much of a jerk:'

Violet wanted to laugh at this description. She'd seen Austin in action more than one time, and the name
jerk
usually came to her mind as well.

"Did you eat a lot of turkey?"

"And gravy!" Arcineh said, one of her favorite foods.

"Stuffing and mashed potatoes?"

"Of course, but I like your stuffing better:'

"When have you had my stuffing?"

"Last Thanksgiving. Did you go with Ed and his family?"

"He doesn't have family, Miss Nosy. And if you must know, we ate out:'

Arcineh looked into Violet's eyes, her own becoming serious. "Will you marry Ed?"

"No:' Violet said without hesitation, serious as well. "I've been married, and I'm not doing it again:'

Arcineh stayed very close, and Violet suddenly saw tears in the little girl's eyes.

"What is it, honey?"

"I miss my mom:' she whispered as words came pouring out. "We

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always ate gravy together. She loved it too, and Aunt Tiffany kept talking about Christmas, and I don't even want Christmas this year. Not without my dad and mom. I don't want to shop or even have a tree. It won't ever be the same, and I just don't want it at all:'

Arcineh would have run from the room then, but Violet's arms were around her. The older woman thought that life was cruel just then. Arcineh had enjoyed her holiday, only to remember that Christmas was less than a month away. Sam had never wanted Violet to go overboard with decorations of any kind, so this house would probably not even remind Arcineh of Christmas at her own home, but it would still be painful.