Wishing Pearl (33 page)

Whoops
. Everyone, that is, except for one person.

Justin
.

His lips weren’t moving in song. His hands hung limp beside his hips. His body stood rigid and unmoving. He simply stared. At her.

Olivia peered a little closer, trying to read his expression. Was he angry that she was onstage, knowing about her recent past?
No
. Justin wasn’t that judgmental. Did he think she was weird for doing sign language like that?
No
. That sure didn’t seem like Justin either. What was he thinking as he watched her? Olivia couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Maybe all he could think about was how unattractive she had looked with a cigarette between her lips. That was what he had said about smokers. Disgusting. Gross. Unattractive.
That’s it. No more smoking
. Not only did she want to avoid looking gross to Justin, but she also wanted to move forward with good things in her life. Smoking, sneaking things, and being a slave to nicotine weren’t going to help her do that. It was time. She’d said that before—about a lot of things—but it really was. Time for change.

Justin gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head as if clearing his thoughts. A smile lit up his face and crinkled his twinkling blue eyes. He nodded once at Olivia then shut his eyes as he sang the worship song.

Olivia’s gaze shifted a few rows up and to the right of where Justin sat. Her heart sank as she saw Kira looking at the row behind her. Olivia didn’t have to wonder too long to figure out who had caught Kira’s attention.

Kira inched her shoulders back toward the front and shot Olivia a venomous glare that felt like it could burn holes right through her.

Her hands raised in midsign, Olivia faltered. She lost her place and had to pause to pick it up again a few words later. Kira lifted her chin with a smug look on her face. She might have messed her up once, but Olivia had no intention of giving Kira the satisfaction of looking at her again. She needed to focus on what she was there to do and the people who needed her. Not Justin. And certainly not Kira. That girl didn’t deserve a moment’s pause from Olivia.

Now, focus
. Too bad Jake couldn’t see her like this. He’d be so proud. Mom, too, most likely. Maybe the service was video recorded and she could send them a copy.
Argh. Focus, Olivia
.

The pastor took the podium as the bars of the last worship song faded into the air. The musicians continued to play background instrumentals as he prayed.

Olivia tried to get every word of his prayer just right. He spoke quickly—his words tumbling out much faster than the words to the songs had. She enjoyed the challenge—good practice, like oiling rusty hinges. After the prayer, when the congregation sat down, Olivia sat on a stool, but it still felt strange to be alone and exposed, above the people’s line of vision. Thank heaven she hadn’t worn a skirt.

Other than her select audience, most weren’t watching her as she continued signing through the service. But two people hadn’t peeled their eyes from her. Kira and Justin. Olivia tried not to look, but she felt their very opposite stares. One enthralled her; one terrified her.

Oh boy
. What had she gotten herself into?

The game room door flew open and banged with such force against the wall that it left a dent. Kira, with a pink digital camera in her hand and two cronies following closely behind, sauntered over to the treadmill area where Olivia raced against her personal best.

“Who you trying to look good for, little lady?” Kira’s voice oozed poison.

Little lady? Who did Kira think she was? Olivia kicked up her speed in a fury-induced adrenaline boost.

“Not going to talk to me?” Kira walked right in front of the machine and got as close as she could. “Still going to try to ignore me?”

Olivia punched up her speed.
Don’t fall for it. Don’t give her the pleasure
.

Ju-Ju stood up from her chair across the room and took a step toward Olivia.

Olivia caught her eye and shook her head slightly. All she needed was a gang fight in the game room. Not going to happen. She could handle Kira all by herself.

“It’s no use, you know. He’s in love with me.” Kira winked.

Her hands on the grips, Olivia hopped up and placed one foot on each side of the speeding belt. She leaned forward and peered down over the treadmill at Kira. “If you really believe that, then I feel sorry for you.” She held Kira’s gaze for a moment then jumped back on, notched the speed up a tad more, and put in her earphones.

Kira lifted her camera, pressed a few buttons, and then turned the display screen toward Olivia.

Olivia’s shoe caught on the edge of the treadmill platform, and she fumbled to grab on to the handrails to keep herself from falling flat on her face and then being thrown off the machine by the moving belt. She ripped the earphones from her ears and grabbed the camera for a closer look. Her jaw dropped at the close-up image of Justin in the woods lifting her cigarette to his lips with Olivia looking on. In the picture it appeared that Justin was enjoying a cigarette—not at all depicting what really happened. “Where did you get this?” A drop of sweat fell onto the display.

“You know where I got it. And in case you get any idea of erasing it, I have copies.”

“What are you trying to pull?”

“I don’t have to try to pull anything. You and Justin handed me all I needed on a silver platter. With evidence. I’m just waiting for the perfect time to use it.”

Olivia stared into Kira’s eyes. They were cold. Dead. “What do you want from me?”

“Ideally, I’d like you gone. But I’ll settle for you leaving Justin alone. Completely.”

“Or?”

“Or else.”

“Ready when you are.” Justin leaned back against his family’s white Ford sedan, looking like he belonged on a billboard. He blew away a lock of long wavy brown hair covering one eye.

“We’re just waiting for Tricia. Where’s the van?” Olivia acted casual, like her heart wasn’t racing and her hands weren’t trembling as she pulled her legs into the car and laid her oboe beside her.

Justin closed the door for her then climbed into the driver’s seat. “Dad thought I should save on gas by not taking the beast down the mountain to school so often just so we could use it.”

We?
A bolt of electricity shot from her toes to the top of her head.

Olivia checked her watch. What could be keeping Tricia? There wasn’t much she could have been doing while Olivia practiced.

They waited in silence for a few minutes before Justin cleared his throat. “So, I have an idea. A sort of proposition.” He glanced at her.

He’s proposing already?
Olivia wanted to giggle at her silly thought that fizzled just as quickly as it ignited. He wouldn’t be proposing anything if he found out about Kira’s picture. In fact, Olivia probably shouldn’t even be talking to him. “I’m all ears.”

“I saw you onstage on Sunday.” He fidgeted and turned the heat up then down a little.

Was he nervous? “Yeah …?”

“So, I’ve been thinking.” Justin cleared his throat again. “How about we put together a duet for Easter?”

“A duet?” Olivia scoffed and waved her hand at him. “You’ve obviously never heard me sing.”

“No, no. Just hear me out. It would be so cool. We’ll do one of my favorite songs ever. ‘It Is Well.’ I’ll sing the first verse a cappella while you sign.” His nervousness fading, he talked quickly, his excitement mounting. “You’ll play the second verse on the oboe while I sign—you’ll have to teach me the sign language though. Then we’ll rotate again for the third and fourth verses.”

Olivia bit her lip. Would that work? They’d have to practice a lot. That would mean even more time together. Would Ben go for that? What would Kira do? It might push her over the edge. And she had that picture to hang over Olivia’s head.

“Liv?” Justin peered at her.

Ugh
. Another belly flop. Why did he have to call her that? So familiar—like he knew her well. Or wanted to. It just made her like him more. Just as he was slipping from her grasp forever. She had to cut him loose or he’d wind up in trouble—the last thing she wanted.

“What are you thinking?” He held his breath. Was he afraid she might shoot him down?

Like that would ever happen if she weren’t being forced. “I’m just trying to get a feel for how it would work—how it would go over with people.” Kira, mainly.

“You know, I’ve been singing and performing for a long time. I think it would be really cool—different. They always look for something special for days like Easter. It will be televised, too—not that that’s the reason to do it. But still.”

Olivia nodded.
Say no. Say no
. “If you think we should do it, I’m up for it. I do have an idea to make it even cooler though.” Why couldn’t she just say no to him?

His eyes brightened. “You do? What is it?”

“What if we bring Tricia in on it with her flute? That way there would be music playing the whole way through.” And Kira might not get so jealous.

Justin grinned. “That’s an awesome idea. Do you think she’d do it?”

“That’s going to be the problem. She’s really shy. It’ll take some convincing, that’s for sure.”

“Well, I hope you can pull it off. That way there wouldn’t be any issue about us being alone to practice either.”

Us
. How could one little word send such warmth coursing through her veins? “I’ll do my best. Oh, here comes Tricia now.”

Tricia opened the door and tucked her long legs into the backseat. “Hey, guys. Sorry I’m late. Had to use the restroom. You ready?”

“Yep.” Olivia glanced at Justin and then turned to face almost backward in her seat. “Trish, we need you to do something. Promise me you will?”

“Oh no. I’m not falling for that. You’re going to have to tell me what I’m getting myself into.”

Olivia explained Justin’s idea while Tricia shook her head the entire time. “No way. I can’t get up onstage in front of all those people.” She crossed her bony arms.

“You have to do it. It’s going to be so cool.” Olivia stuck out her bottom lip. “Please?”

Justin flashed a pearly smile toward the back. “I’m afraid we can’t take no for an answer. I’m really sorry, but the situation is completely out of my hands.”

“All right, all right. I’ll do it since I still have time to lose a few pounds.” Tricia laughed and waggled a finger at Justin. “I get it now. You get your way all the time because of that irresistible charm of yours.”

Tell me about it
.

“Ju? Can we talk before the others come back?” Olivia put her open book facedown on her bed. Tricia was at her counseling session—much needed after agreeing to do the song with Justin and Olivia—and Skye was in the shower.

Ju-Ju knitted her eyebrows in concern. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I just wondered about something.” Olivia chewed on her bottom lip. How to start such a topic? “You said some things that led me to believe that you had an abortion. Is that true?”

Ju-Ju turned her face away and nodded. “Only Tammy and Ben know. It was two abortions, actually.”

“Oh, Ju. I’m so sorry.” Olivia’s eyes welled up with unshed tears. “Are you okay?”

“Honestly?”