The People in the Park (12 page)

Julie smiled. “I was just thinking that I want to get through school to get a scholarship to college. I was even thinking about writing about my family’s ordeal in my college essays. You mentioning your story just confirmed for me that is what I should do.” She nodded her head. “I’ll help you with your story.”

We rode to school together in my car. I didn’t know that she’d taken the bus the days I saw her in the park. She was a scholarship student at our school and lived in the townhouses near the park. I didn’t know. The only thing I knew about her before this week was that she was very smart.

Before now, I hadn’t talked to or been friends with someone on scholarship. I had stayed in my social group of friends. I told her what Mrs. Wells had said about financial aid for college applications. She didn’t know about it.

We set a date for the interview and walked together to physics, our first period class.

25

Dad came home in a great mood.

He told Mom he was taking us out to dinner. Mom and I looked at each other, not knowing what to think, because we hadn’t been out to eat together in several months.

Naturally, Mom was nervous. She had made our home her prison, ordering groceries and anything else she needed online and having them delivered.

I knew Dad’s cheerfulness could only mean one thing, his name had been cleared. I was excited, even putting on a skirt and sweater and wearing the pearl necklace Dad had given me two Christmases ago. He’d said it was for special occasions. This was the first time I’d worn it. I’d say Dad’s name being cleared was a real special occasion.

Mom even dressed up in a lovely black dress that hugged her body. I could see the twinkle and hope in her eyes, hope that this nightmare was over.

Dad’s grin spread from ear to ear when he saw both of us. It was like old times when life held not a care in the world. A time when scandal hadn’t invaded our lives. A time when we had eaten out together at a steak or seafood restaurant at least once a week as a family.

Mom and I hoped those days were returning.

As we ate, Dad told us that the federal prosecutors could find nothing to tie his name to any fraud that had taken place with clients’ money. In fact, all the cases and attorneys whose clients he had overseen had shown no irregularities.

“Kitten, when you go out in the work world, always remember to document your work with copies for your own records. If I didn’t have my own records this could not have happened so fast.

“Although they are reserving the right to charge me with something in case they find it, no charges are being filed now. Take my word for it; no charges will ever be filed against me.”

“That’s great news, Dad.”

“But that’s not the greatest news I have to share,” he said.

Even Mom was glad to hear that bit of information. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense,” she said.

Dad looked from one of us to the other as if he had the biggest secret in the world. “I have been offered a position in Atlanta.”

“What?” Mom was indeed surprised and pleased.

“As a partner in a law firm there. In fact, it’s the largest law firm in the South. They want someone with my expertise overseeing their attorneys. And they’re willing to bring onboard several lawyers that I worked with here.”

“That’s the best news,” Mom said. “When will we be moving?”

“That hasn’t been worked out yet,” he said. “We’re still working out the kinks in my contract, but it’s such a done deal, I wanted to share it with the two special girls in my life who supported me through all the turmoil that was brought upon our family.”

“Is this for real?” Mom asked, tears forming in her eyes. “Is this finally over?”

Dad tenderly kissed her on the cheek. “It is for me. However, word on the street is that Peter will be indicted soon. Then, of course, the whole thing will be replayed in the media.”

“Hopefully, they will add that no charges were filed against you,” Mom said. “I’m ready to start a new life in Atlanta.”

“Kitten, you’ve been quiet,” Dad said. “What do you think?”

“I’m happy for you Dad,” I said, not really saying everything I wanted to say. This was Dad’s night, nothing should mar it.

I was really thinking that I wasn’t sure I wanted to move right now. I still had my senior year coming up and to start over in a new city, trying to make new friends for one year at a new school would be difficult.

But I was glad things were working out for Dad. He had been living with stress and uncertainty too long. So had Mom. She would get a much needed new start in a new city.

Me? It felt like I’d been along for the ride. I had no control over anything that was happening to us. I was happy that I was finally getting off this roller coaster.

I brought my attention back to the table. Dad was saying, “Our accounts are still frozen so we are still pinching pennies, at least until I start making money in Atlanta.”

“I think we’ll downsize our life in Atlanta,” Mom said. “We don’t need a huge house. Lauren will be going off to college soon, and then it will just be the two of us. I don’t want something we can’t pay for if some unforeseen event happens again.”

“Anything you want, sweetheart,” Dad said.

As I watched Mom and Dad, I realized that life moves on. The other weight, the biggest weight of all,
shame
, had been lifted from my shoulders. We could all hold our heads up high and face the world with smiles on our faces. Other than that, nothing had changed for me. I would go back to school tomorrow. I would work on my investigative piece for the newspaper. I was still without a date for the prom. And I still felt empty inside.

26

House for Sale.
I saw the sign as I turned onto our street. On the grass, near the curb, it stood out like a looming billboard proclaiming for the entire world to see that things were not normal here.

In this neighborhood, regardless of what was going on outside in the real world, everything was supposed to remain the same, because residents who lived here were supposed to be able to weather any storm. I was glad I was the only one on the street. Somehow, the sign seemed like a big advertisement announcing a failure in the neighborhood, even though in actuality the sign indicated a new beginning for Mom and Dad, for our entire family.

I wasn’t sure where I stood. I wanted to stay here around my friends. I had good friends. Steffy didn’t count. She had only entered our circle last year. I rarely saw her these days. After my talk with Mrs. Clancy, I started arriving at school after the first bell had rung so I wouldn’t run into Steffy. I waited until the last minute before changing classes so I wouldn’t run into her in the hall. I also started bringing a sandwich from home and ate outside under the oak tree so I wouldn’t have to see her in the cafeteria.

At some point, I realized that I had control over my actions, and I didn’t have to react to Steffy. My life was much calmer since this realization. My real friends stood with me through everything and never treated me differently.

Mom was busy making lists and humming a favorite tune as she flitted through the house. She smiled when she saw me. “Did you see the sign?”

I nodded. “Things are moving quickly,” I said.

“The firm in Atlanta wants your father to start at the beginning of the month. Isn’t it wonderful? Your father is such a brilliant man. I’m glad this whole situation is almost over, and we can get on with our lives.”

I walked from room to room behind Mom, not saying anything but imagining leaving this house. This house. My home. No place else would seem like home.

“We’re going house hunting in Atlanta next weekend,” Mom said.

“Do I have to go?” I asked.

“House hunting?”

“To Atlanta to live.”

Mom turned quickly, her attention fully on me. She grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen table. She got juice from the ’frig and poured glasses full for both of us.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “Talk to me.”

“I’m not sure I want to move away to a strange place. I mean, my friends are here. This is home for me. I only have one more year of school before college. I want to graduate with my friends. I realize that might not be possible now because of our finances, but what if I stayed here?”

“Where would you live?” Mom asked.

“Maybe I could live with Tiffany and Aunt Ira.”

Mom furrowed her brow as she did when she was in deep thought. “That’s an idea,” she said.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I’m just feeling disjointed, like my world is coming apart bit by bit.”

“I’ll discuss it with your Dad when he comes home,” she promised. “Don’t worry, we’ll come up with something that we all can live with.”

Their solution? I’d spend the weekend with Tiffany, Aunt Ira, and Uncle Bob. Anything else, we would discuss later. Of course, there was no promise that I could continue to go to my same school and graduate with my friends.

The weekend would be interesting, especially since I hadn’t spent any time alone with my extended family in recent years, except for the trip to Chicago. I drove over to Tiffany’s house after school on Friday.

Aunt Ira came out to greet me as soon as I drove into their driveway. She held out her arms. “Lauren, I’m so glad you are here!”

We embraced, then walked arm in arm into the house. “It’s been awhile since you’ve stayed the night,” she said.

At the foot of the stairs, a strong memory washed over me. I laughed. “I remember scooting down these steps with Tiffany.”

“You girls laughed and giggled about nothing.”

“It was a fun time.”

“You girls can still have fun times,” Aunt Ira said. “Tiffany has the whole weekend planned for you.”

“She does?”

“Absolutely! You’re our guest this weekend.”

I followed Aunt Ira upstairs. “Let’s put your bag in Tiffany’s room. You’ll stay in here this weekend. She has an extra bed. This is where her girlfriends stay when they spend the night.”

Aunt Ira put the bag on one of the beds. “I hope you don’t mind staying here instead of in the guest room. I want you girls to be close again.”

“I don’t mind.” And I didn’t. I wanted to be close to Tiffany, too.

“Tiffany has debate practice after school. She should be here by six. Come on downstairs while I finish preparing dinner.”

Their house was warm and cozy. I’d noticed the warmth as soon as I walked through the door. The heat wrapped itself around me and exuded from every nook and cranny. I relished it as I followed Aunt Ira to the kitchen.

A regional basketball tournament was being held at Tiffany’s school. As soon as she got home and we ate dinner, it was time to leave. Aunt Ira and Uncle Bob were going out to dinner and a movie. It was a hectic time, everyone arriving home at one time, getting dinner, and leaving for the evening. Like it used to be at my house.

I rode to the game with Tiffany in her car. As we entered the gym the atmosphere was electric. Students from the various schools wore school colors and cheered avidly for their teams. Parents were there also and just as pumped. The crowd yelled at the players and gave the referees grief when they made a wrong call or what was perceived as favoring the other team.

The atmosphere was totally different from the basketball games at my school. We cheered for our team but it was more subdued. Here at Lincoln Prep there was history. Grandfathers and grandmothers, and fathers and mothers, and aunts and uncles attended school here before their kids, and they came back for games. It may not have been a prep school all those years ago but the name Lincoln was a source of pride and honor.

In some strange way I felt at home even though I had never set foot on this campus before. There was a tugging at my heart that this was where I belonged. I soaked up every ray of joy and pride, as if this were my school. I fit right into Tiffany’s circle of friends. Her boyfriend, Napoleon—‘Nap’ for short, reminded me of Jay.

Nap arrived at the game with friends. He quickly left them to sit with Tiffany. They held hands throughout the evening, as if it were the most natural thing. When Nap left to get refreshments he always asked me if I wanted anything.

Tiffany’s girlfriends hugged me and made me feel as one of them and even suggested that I transfer to their school for my senior year. I was sure they knew all about our situation, but they didn’t have that strange look on their faces as if they pitied me. They made me feel as if I were their equal, as just another girlfriend.

Saturday we spent all day at the tournament too. At meal time we ate hot dogs and chili dogs, and nachos and drank energy beverages. It was a fun time. If I had been with my friends, we would have left the game and gone to a restaurant to eat.

This was more fun. We didn’t miss a minute of the tournament. Tiffany and her friends knew people from all over the district. They had met them in their debate competitions and through just being around at various events. I felt like part of this community of students.

Mrs. Stevens would be here next year teaching journalism. If I transferred here, I could learn a lot more from her.

When I found my mind wandering to Jay and wondering what he was up to, I pinched myself. I didn’t have time to think about such heavy issues. I was having too much fun.

The tournament ended at midnight. I hated for it to end. At this moment in time I was just a teenager, a normal teen, having a good time with new friends. I could be myself without sad eyes following my every move. I was free to construct my own life script without worrying about what was expected of me.

Aunt Ira and Uncle Bob had waited up for us. When we were safely home, they went to bed. Both Tiffany and I were tired. It had been a very long day. I easily drifted off to sleep and slept more peacefully than I had in a long time. Tiffany wasn’t interested in staying up half the night getting my life story and prying into my family’s affairs. She treated me with respect and gave me space. Besides we had to go to church tomorrow.

Sunday was family day at Tiffany’s house. They went to Sunday School and church together. Each had their individual duties to perform at church. Tiffany sang in the teen choir. Aunt Ira was a greeter who welcomed each person into the church with a smile. Uncle Bob was a respected deacon who handled problems that arose on Sunday mornings.