Bittersweet Sixteen (A Dodie Jenks Novel) (7 page)

“It has been many, many years since this table has been full of young people.” My Grandmother took her spot at the head of the table. “I believe it was about this time of the year too. I had just turned fifteen a few weeks before and my older sister Portia was a few days shy of her sixteenth birthday. Our older brothers, Gellman and Noel were home from boarding school that weekend. We wouldn’t all be together again like that ever, but we didn’t know it.”

“What happened?” Anson asked.

“My sister took ill and suddenly died a few days later. She’d never been sick a day in her life, but she contracted a high fever.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” Anson reached for his napkin and placed it in his lap.

“It’s okay. That all happened many moons ago. I have fond memories of my sister and our life together. There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

Halfway through the meal Leopold reached over and took hold of my right hand under the table when I put my napkin back in my lap. He’d never done that before and it startled me.  But I didn’t pull my hand away because it felt nice, kinda natural for him to be holding my hand. I glanced at him and he gave a quick wink.

The phone rang, and Grandma excused herself to go answer it.

“So Leo, help me understand exactly what it is you are doing here with my sister.” Brody glared across the table at us.

“It’s Leopold,” I corrected.

“Whatever. It doesn’t really matter what your name is because I don’t like you. I don’t care that my parents are okay with you being here or that my grandmother has given you free reign over her house.”

Leopold tightened his grip on my hand for a second. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

“How old are you?” Anson asked, looking smug.

“Old enough,” Leopold said.

“What kind of an answer is that to a straight forward question?” Brody asked. “He asked your age. Do you have something to hide?”

“He’s eighteen. Same as you.” I jumped in defending him.

Brody cut his glare at me. “Keep quiet, Dodie. No one asked you to speak.”

I opened my mouth to protest being treated like a child, but I held my tongue, not understanding what had gotten into my brother. Why was he acting this way? Could he still be peeved that I got to come live here with Grandma while he stayed at home and finished his senior year uninterrupted?  Would he change his tune if he knew I was about to die like poor Portia?

“I have nothing to hide,” Leopold replied.

“Then what makes you so special? Why are you her tutor? Shouldn’t you be in college?”

“I graduated Summa Cum Laude over a year ago with a degree in Chemistry. I think that makes me more than qualified to tutor your sister in the area.”

“What lively chatter!” Grandma exclaimed coming back into the dining room. “I could hear your voices across the house. What did I miss?”

Brody pushed his chair back from the table and threw his napkin on his plate. “Nothing. I’m going to walk Anson home. I’ll be back.”

The two got up from the table and left. Grandma looked at Leopold and me.

“What’s wrong with Brody? He didn’t finish his food or stay for dessert.”

I shrugged. “He’s angry that Leopold is here.”

“Well, he can just get happy. This is my house and I can have whomever I want here,” she said, taking her place back at the table to finish her dinner.

Chapter Thirteen

Leopold declined going to church with us Sunday morning. He said he had to go home to take care of some things and pick up supplies for the upcoming week, but would be back in the evening. His departure made Brody happy. Even Anson appeared happier when we saw him at church and he found out Leopold was gone. He invited me to sit with them and Brody didn’t object.

The other teens seemed to accept me better this week than last, but maybe that had something to do with Brody and Anson including me. Anyway, I didn’t feel like a third wheel which was a plus in my book. It also made me feel better about my choice in clothing. I’d ventured to wear a short plaid, pleated skirt and a cable knit sweater set with tights and loafers. Back home all the in-crowd girls wore outfits like that.  And when the group went to the soda fountain for lunch they asked me to come along.

Anson and I sat at a two-person booth while Brody and the others crowded into a large, corner booth. I ordered the burger platter with onion rings and a malted milkshake. Anson got the chili dog special and a root beer float. When we finished our food we ordered a piece of Hershey chocolate cake with a large scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to split.

“Can I ask you a question?” Anson asked.

I smiled. “You just did.”

He grinned. “You know what I mean.”

“Sure. Ask away.”

“Why do you have a tutor instead of being enrolled at Franklin High?”

“Well… I don’t know how long I’ll be here for one thing and Grandma thought it would be easier this way for another. I don’t have to go through being the new kid at school just to up and leave soon after I start. I’ve seen how new kids get treated who’ve moved to town. It’s not always nice.”

“Yeah, but…you’re missing out on so much by being stuck in that house all day with the dark one.”

I frowned. Did he just call Leopold the dark one? I didn’t find it funny at all, but decided to let it slide this once. “I’m not stuck anywhere. I want to be at Grandma’s and I can leave and go anywhere I want during the day as long as I finish my lessons first. I have much more freedom than you do at school.”

“I still don’t understand.” Anson pulled a napkin out of the dispenser and began tearing it into shreds. “You’re missing out on so much. My literature class is taking a field trip into Dover to see a play next week at the university.”

“I’m sure if my tutor wanted me to see a play she’d arrange it.”

“What about Dr. Death? Will he be tagging along if you do?”

“Anson, that isn’t nice and I’d appreciate you not calling Leopold names. He’s done nothing to you.” I scooted out of the booth and stood. “I think I’ll skip dessert. I’ve lost my appetite.”

“Dodie wait!” he called as I walked away, but I didn’t stop. I went through the turnstile to the novelty portion of the store and browsed until Brody was ready to go.

“You should apologize to Anson for walking out on him. You left him with your portion of the check and an uneaten dessert. That wasn’t nice.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling a little guilty. I hadn’t even thought about paying for my meal when I stormed out of there.  “Well…he shouldn’t have said what he did.”

“He left pretty upset. He was going to drop you off at Grandma’s for me. Now I have to drive you there before I can leave town. Let’s go. I’ve got a date with Sasha tonight and I don’t want to be late for it.”

I trudged along behind my brother and got into the car without saying another word to him. He turned on the heater and the radio, strumming his hands to the beat on the steering wheel as he drove down the street. When we got to Grandma’s he pulled into the drive, slowed down for me to get out and took off without saying goodbye.

I had no idea if he’d be back again before the thirty days was up or not, but I didn’t like the idea of this being how we were leaving things if this was the last time I might see him. Sighing, I walked up the walk, stopping at the small stoop and staring at the black cat. It didn’t budge an inch this time, it only stared back at me before it cried out, arched its back and hissed.

“Yeah, well I don’t like you either.”

The front door opened and Grandma greeted me. “Were you talking to someone?”

“The cat.”

“What cat?”

“The black cat on the stoop. It runs away every time I come up the walk, except today it hissed at me.”

“Darling, there isn’t a cat there. I don’t own a pet.”

“You don’t?” A chill ran up my spine and I hurried into the house. If there wasn’t a cat there, did that mean I was seeing things? The thought didn’t set well with me, and I shivered.

Grandma put her arm around my shoulders and led me into the living room. She’d rearranged the furniture to create two seating areas. The first, in front of the fireplace she’d put the two arm chairs with an end table between them creating a cozy setting. The second, she’d pushed the loveseat and coffee table at an angle, off to the side.

“I’d thought we’d have some tea and enjoy a long chat while we’ve got the house to ourselves this afternoon. Have a seat while I go get the tea.”

I kicked off my loafers and curled up in the arm chair waiting for her to return.

“So was lunch good?” she asked, coming back into the room with a tea tray laden with cups, saucers, cream, a small dish of lemon wedges, a sugar bowl, and a pot of tea in a warm cozy.

“Yes, until Anson opened his big mouth.” Before I knew it, I was telling her everything he said. “Brody is upset with me and thinks I need to apologize, but how can I when Anson said what he did?”

Grandma poured our tea and handed me a cup. “I think you should tell him you don’t appreciate what he said and that you are sorry you walked out, but you will not tolerate him making disparaging comments about Leopold. And that if he wants to continue being your friend he’ll have to abide by your wishes.”

I nodded, liking the fact she didn’t mince words. She didn’t take Anson’s side like Brody had nor did she treat me like I was a child.  I took two small scoops of sugar and stirred it into my tea with the tiny tea spoon.

“Why do you suppose Brody and Anson dislike Leopold?”

Grandma prepared her tea and took a sip before she answered. “For Anson I’d say he’s a little jealous. He thought he had you all to himself when you first met, now here’s this older guy living under the same roof as you. He can’t very well compete with Leopold.”

“Compete? For what?”

“Dodie, you’re a girl. He’s a boy. What do you think?”

I laughed. “You think Anson likes me?”

She shrugged. “It wouldn’t be too far-fetched that he would?”

I sipped my tea and thought about that. I suppose it could be possible. “But what about Brody?”

“He’s sticking up for his friend. Plus you’re his little sister. Anson is closer to your age than Leopold—who has already graduated college, which makes him seem much older to Brody.”

“But there isn’t anything going on between me and Leopold.”

“I know that.” She balanced her cup and saucer on the arm of the chair, using her napkin to blot the corners of her mouth.

I sighed and stared into the fire for a few moments. “I’m not looking for a boyfriend, especially with the curse looming over my head.”

“Wise decision.”

“And even if there wasn’t a curse I don’t think I’m ready for one. I’ve just never been one to get all gaga over a boy…that is…until I met Leopold.”

“What’s different about him?” she asked.

“He’s quite breathtaking in looks. But we’re just friends. I don’t think he’d see me as anything more…after all…he has graduated from college. I must seem like a kid to him.”

“If you say so, dear.” Grandma refilled her cup then looked at me. “Would you like more tea?”

I shook my head and settled back into the corner of the armchair. I stared deeper into the flames, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the sizzling sound of the logs burning.

“I’ve been thinking, Dodie, and I’d like to throw you a birthday party. Since your birthday falls on a Saturday, I thought we could have everyone gather the night before so that at the stroke of midnight we bring out the cake and you can blow out the candles. What do you think?”

I blinked. “Do you think that’s wise? What if I drop dead? How will you explain it to everyone?”

She frowned. “You still don’t truly believe Leopold is going to break the curse.”

I slowly shook my head, but didn’t look at her. “I want to believe, but I’m almost afraid to…and it isn’t that I don’t have faith in him either. I do, but I—I can’t get past what Ambrielle warned.”

“Perhaps I should add her to the guest list to prove to her how wrong her prediction is.” I heard frustration in Grandma’s voice and I feared she was displeased with me.

“I’m sorry.” I stood and faced her. “I wish I could change the way I feel.”

“Don’t apologize, dear. I’d rather you be honest about your feelings and concerns than to keep them bottled up inside. And if you’d rather keep your party only family then we do not have to have a big affair.”

“I’d love to have a sweet sixteen party. It’s a big milestone for a girl. But I don’t know many people from here other than those I’ve met at the church.”

“You can invite your friends from home. I’ll arrange for them to stay at the hotel in town for the weekend. You can make a list of people you’d like to come and I’ll take care of the details.”

I nodded. “Have you talked to mom and dad about this?”

“I plan to call them this evening about my plans, but I wanted to know how you felt first.”

“I’d love to have a birthday party. We can celebrate my life or my death.”

“Dodie!”

I shrugged. “Sorry.”

The sound of the front door opening and closing warned us that we were no longer alone. I held my breath until I saw Leopold walk across the foyer to the dining room before disappearing. He hadn’t even popped in to say hi first.

“Don’t frown, it gives away your feelings.”

I looked at Grandma who sat there smiling at me.

“You should go see if you can help him.”

I thought for a moment, wondering if that would be too bold, before I slipped my shoes on. “Are you finished with the tea tray?”

She nodded.

“Then I’ll take it out to the kitchen.”

“Excellent idea.”

Leopold, dressed in dark corduroy pants, plaid shirt, and pullover sweater, was putting away supplies in the cabinet he’d designated for our chemistry class when I pushed through the swinging kitchen door. I noticed the copper pot still sat on the stove, but today there wasn’t steam coming from it or that pungent odor, and a lid covered it.

“Do you need any help?” I asked, walking across the kitchen to the sink.

“No. Is there any tea left?”

I set the tray down on the counter and checked the pot. It was empty. “Afraid not, but I can make you some if you’d like.”

“That’s okay. I might have some later or maybe a little cocoa. How was your day?”

I shrugged, rinsing the tea cups before putting them into the dishwasher. “Okay I guess.”

“Just okay?” A dark brow arched over his eye and I knew he didn’t believe me.

“Anson and I had a disagreement and that made Brody upset with me.”

“That doesn’t sound like things are okay then.”

I sighed, closing the dishwasher and putting the tray in the cabinet. “I guess not.”

Leopold chucked. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I shook my head.

“Then what would you like to do? There’s about an hour or so of daylight left. We could go for a walk?”

“I don’t know.”  I leaned back against the counter and hoisted myself up on it to sit, making sure my skirt didn’t rise up. I crossed my ankles.

He came over, stood before me and looked into my eyes, smiling at me. With me sitting on the counter we were practically nose to nose and I noticed the gold flecks in his eyes. I could also feel his warm breath on my face and I smiled back at him.

After a few moments of silence I felt a little uneasy being this close to him and my mind raced for something to say or do. With him standing in front of me I couldn’t easily jump down or move away from him.

“Have you ever seen a black cat sitting on the stoop out front?” I blurted out.

He frowned. “A black cat?”

I nodded and swallowed. “I thought it was Grandma’s cat, but she says she doesn’t have a pet. It hisses at me whenever I come up the walk. I saw it the first day my parents brought me here.”

“I haven’t seen it, but I’m glad you mentioned it. I’ll be on the lookout for it. Have you been seeing anything else strange around here?”

“No. Just the cat.”

“What about that walk?”

“If you want.”

He reached for my waist and put his hands there, helping me down, even though I didn’t need it. A warm flush raced up my body from where his hands rested and my heart beat faster.

I stared up at him, finding it hard to breath. I thought he was lowering his head toward mine when the kitchen door swung open and Grandma breezed into the room. He stepped back and dropped his hands from my waist and I turned toward the sink, turning on the water to wash my hands.