She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, feeling shame well up in her chest but trying not to let it show. I was angry and upset. And I was going to tell you, but you left before I had the chance.
Youre saying it was my fault?
No, not at all. Theres a lot of stuff that was going on that doesnt have anything to do with you. Its been difficult for the past few days. She ran a nervous hand through her hair. It felt so hot in the garage.
Will took a moment to absorb what shed said. Why would you believe her in the first place? You dont even know her.
She closed her eyes. Why? she wondered. Because Im an idiot.Because I should have trusted my instincts about her. But she didnt say those things. She simply shook her head. I dont know.
When she didnt seem willing to add anything else, he tucked his thumbs into his pockets.
Is that all you came to say? Because Ive got to get back to work.
I also wanted to apologize, she said, her voice subdued. Im sorry. I overreacted.
Yeah, you did, Will shot back. You were completely irrational. Anything else?
And I also wanted you to know that I had a really good time yesterday. Well, up until the end, anyway.
Okay.
She wasnt sure what his answer meant, but when he flashed a brief smile, she felt herself begin to relax.
Okay? Thats it? Thats all youre going to say after I came all the way down here to apologize? Okay?
Instead of answering, Will took a step toward her, and all at once, everything happened too quickly to even make sense of it. One second he was standing three feet away from her, and in the next he had a hand on her hip and was pulling her close. Leaning in, he kissed her. His lips were soft, and he was surprisingly gentle. Maybe it was simply that hed caught her by surprise, but even so, she found herself kissing him back. The kiss didnt last long, and it wasnt the kind of earthshaking, soul-destroying kiss common in movies these days; but even so, she was glad it happened, and for whatever reason, she realized it was exactly what shed wanted him to do.
When he pulled back, Ronnie could feel the blood flood her cheeks. His expression was kind but serious, and there was absolutely nothing wishy-washy about it.
The next time youre mad at me, talk to me, he said. Dont shut me out. I dont like playing games. And by the way, I had a great time, too.
Ronnie still felt a little off balance as she walked back home. Replaying their kiss a hundred times, she still wasnt sure how it happened.
But she liked it. She liked it a lot. All of which begged the question as to why shed simply left afterward. It felt as though they should have made plans to see each other again, but with Scott in the background staring at them with his mouth hanging open, it seemed easier to give him another quick kiss and let him get back to work. But somehow she was certain theyd see each other again, probably sooner rather than later.
He liked her. She wasnt sure why or how it happened, but he did. The thought was amazing, and she wished Kayla were here so she could talk to her about it. She supposed she could call her, but it wouldnt be the same, and besides, she wasnt even sure what she would say. She supposed she just wanted someone to listen.
As she approached the house, the door to the workshop swung open. Jonah stepped out into the sunlight and headed toward the house.
Hey, Jonah! she called out.
Oh, hey, Ronnie! Jonah turned and started jogging toward her. When he got close, he seemed to study her. Can I ask you a question?
Sure.
Do you want a cookie?
What?
A cookie. Like an Oreo. Do you want one?
She had no idea where this was going, for the simple reason that her brothers brain ran on tracks perpendicular, not parallel, to her own. She answered with caution. No.
How can you not want a cookie?
I just dont.
Okay, fine, he said, waving it off. Lets say you did want a cookie. Lets say you were dying for a cookie, and there were cookies in the cupboard. What would you do?
Id eat a cookie? she suggested.
Jonah snapped his fingers. Exactly. Thats all Im saying.
What are you saying?
That if people want cookies, they should get a cookie. Its what people do.
Aha, she thought. Now it makes sense. Let me guess. Dad wont let you have a cookie?
No. Even though Im practically starving to death, he wont even consider it. He says I have to have a sandwich first.
And you dont think thats fair.
You just said youd get a cookie if you wanted one. So why cant I? Im not a little kid. I can make my own decisions. He stared at her earnestly.
She brought a finger to her chin. Hmm. I can see why this bothers you so much.
Its not fair. If he wants a cookie, he can have one. If you want a cookie, you can have one.
But if I want a cookie, the rules dont count. Like you said, its not fair.
So what are you going to do?
Im going to eat a sandwich. Because I have to. Because the world isnt fair to ten-year-olds.
He trudged off without waiting for a response. She had to smile as she watched him go.
Maybe later, she thought, shed take him out for an ice cream. For a moment, she debated whether or not to follow him into the house, then she changed her mind and headed to the workshop. She figured it was probably time to see the window that shed heard so much about.
From the door, she could see her dad soldering some lead together.
Hey, sweetheart. Come on in.
Ronnie stepped inside, really taking in the workshop for the first time. She wrinkled her nose at the weird animals on the shelves and eventually wandered to the table, where she saw the window. As far as she could tell, they still had a long way to go; it wasnt even a quarter complete, and if the pattern was any indication, there were probably hundreds of pieces to go.
After finishing with the piece, her dad stood straighter and rolled his shoulders. The tables a little low for me. It gets to me after a while.
Do you need some Tylenol?
No, Im just getting old. Tylenol cant do much to fix that.
She smiled before walking away from the table. Tacked to the wall, next to a newspaper article describing the fire, was a photograph of the window. She leaned in closer to get a better look before she turned to face him. I talked to him, she said. I went over to the garage where he works.
And?
He likes me.
Her dad shrugged. He should. Youre a catch.
Ronnie smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude. She wondered, but couldnt quite remember, if hed always been this nice. Why are you making the window for the church? Because Pastor Harris is letting you stay in the house?
No. I would have made one anyway He trailed off. In the silence, Ronnie was looking at him expectantly. Its a long story. Are you sure you want to hear it?
She nodded.
I was maybe six or seven when I first wandered into Pastor Harriss church. I took refuge there to get out of the rainI mean, it was pouring and I was soaked. When I heard him playing the piano, I remember thinking that hed tell me I couldnt stay. But he didnt. Instead, he brought me a blanket and a cup of soup, and he called my mom so she could come pick me up.
But before she got there, he let me play the piano. I was just a little kid, banging on the keys, but anyway, I ended up going back the next day and he eventually became my first piano teacher. He had this great love of music. He used to tell me that beautiful music was akin to angels singing, and I just got hooked. I went to the church every day and Id play for hours beneath the original window, with this heavenly light cascading around me. Thats the image I always see when I recall the hours I spent there. This beautiful flood of light. And a few months ago, when the church burned
He motioned to the article on the wall. Pastor Harris almost died that night. He was inside doing a last minute rewrite on his sermon, and he barely got out. The church it went up in minutes and the whole place burned to the ground. Pastor Harris was in the hospital for a month, and since then hes been holding services in an old warehouse that someone is letting him use.
Its dingy and dark, but I figured it was only temporary until he told me that the insurance covered only half the damage, and there was no way they could afford a new window. I just couldnt imagine that. The church wouldnt be the same place I remember, and it wouldnt be right. So Im going to finish it. He cleared his throat. I need to finish it.
As he spoke, Ronnie found herself trying to picture her dad as a child at the church piano, her gaze flitting from him to the photograph to the partly constructed window on the table.
Youre doing a good thing.
Yeah, well well see how it turns out at the end. But Jonah seems to like working on it.
Oh, about Jonah. Hes pretty bitter about the fact you wouldnt let him have a cookie.
He needed lunch first.
She smirked. Im not arguing. I just thought it was funny.
Did he tell you he already had two cookies today?
Im afraid he didnt mention that.
I figured. He stacked his gloves on the table. You want to have lunch with us?
She nodded. Yeah. I think I do.
They headed toward the door. By the way, he said, trying to sound casual, am I ever going to have a chance to meet the young man who likes my daughter?
She slid past him, into the sunlight. Probably.
How about inviting him over for dinner. And maybe afterwards we can you know, do what we used to do, her dad said tentatively.
Ronnie thought about it. I dont know, Dad. It can get kind of heated.
Ill tell you what. Ill let you decide, okay?
18Will
Cmon, man. Youve got to keep your head in the game. If you do that, well crush Landry and Tyson in the tournament.
Will tossed the ball from one hand to the other as he and Scott stood in the sand, still sweating from the final volleys. It was late afternoon. Theyd finished up at the garage at three and had raced over to the beach for a scrimmage against a couple of teams from Georgia that were spending the week in the area. They were all preparing for the southeastern tournament later that August, which was going to be held at Wrightsville Beach.
They havent lost yet this year. And they just won the junior nationals, Will pointed out.
So? We werent there. They beat a bunch of scrubs.
In Wills humble opinion, the competition at the junior national tournament werent scrubs.
In Scotts world, however, anyone who lost was a scrub.
They beat us last year.
Yes, but last year you were even worse than you are now. I had to carry the entire load.
Thanks.
Im just saying. Youre inconsistent. Like yesterday? After that chick from the Lost Boys stormed off? You played the rest of the game like you were blind.
Shes not the chick from the Lost Boys. Her name is Ronnie.
Whatever. Do you know what your problem is?
Yes, Scott, please tell me my problem, Will thought. Im dying to hear what you think.
Scott went on, oblivious to Wills thoughts.
Your problem is that youre not focused. One little thing happens, and youre off in never-never land. Oh, I spilled Elviras soda on her, so Ill miss the next five digs. Oh, Vampira got mad at Ashley, so I better miss the next two serves
Would you stop? Will interrupted.
Scott seemed confused. Stop what?
Stop calling her names.
See! Thats exactly what Im talking about! Im not talking about her. Im talking about you and your lack of focus. Your inability to concentrate on the game.
We just won two straight sets, and they only scored seven points total! We crushed them,
Will protested.
But they shouldnt have even had five points. We should have shut them out.
Are you serious?
Yeah, Im serious. Theyre not very good.
But we won! Isnt that enough?
Not if you could win by more. We could have broken their spirit, so that when they meet us in the tournament, theyd give up before the game even starts. Its called psychology.
I think its called running the score up.
Well, thats just because youre not thinking straight, or you never would have ended up mashing faces with Cruella de Vil.
Elvira, Vampira, and now Cruella. At least, Will thought, he wasnt recycling any material.
I think youre jealous, Will said.
No. Personally, I think you should go out with Ashley, so I can go out with Cassie.
Youre still thinking about that?
Hello? Who else would I be thinking about? You should have seen her in her bikini yesterday.
So ask her out.
She wont go. Scott frowned in consternation. Its like a package deal or something. I dont understand it.
Maybe she thinks youre ugly.
Scott glared at him before forcing out a fake laugh. Ha-ha! That is so funny. You should really try booking yourself on Letterman. His glare remained fixed on Will.
Im just saying.
Well, dont, okay? And what is it with you and
Ronnie?
Yeah. What was that about? Yesterday, you spent your whole day off with her, and then she shows up this morning and you kiss her? Are you, like serious about her or something?