Winter White (7 page)

Barbara’s voice suddenly filled the dead air. “Do you want me to put on some music?”

“No.” Izzie kept her hand pressed to the window and watched as the center disappeared from sight. She slumped back in her seat. There was nothing left to see as far as she was concerned. They’d pass the school next, and she couldn’t actually say she would miss the metal detectors and bag checks. She closed her eyes and thought about going to sleep, but the hum of the Taurus’s engine kept her from drifting off. Finally she opened her eyes again and looked outside, hoping for a distraction.

They were cruising down a forest-lined highway Izzie had never been on. She hadn’t traveled anywhere outside Harborside, except on field trips. After a while the highway turned into a local road, and they passed coastal towns with boatyards and tackle supply stores. The GPS alerted Barbara to make a right, and she slowed down. That’s when Izzie saw the large wooden sign.

E
MERALD
C
OVE
H
OME OF THE
F
IGHTING
C
ARDINALS
E
STABLISHED
1888

Harborside didn’t even have a sign. Emerald Cove’s was carved with gold Gothic lettering that seemed to hint at the town’s status. But fighting cardinals? Seriously? Izzie didn’t have time to debate it. She was too busy staring out the window. Forget sweet Victorians. Here, the houses all had a football field for a lawn. They sat on hilltops and were so big they could fit Izzie’s entire block inside (okay,
slight
exaggeration). Then the car passed more ornate signs that announced things like the Emerald Cove Yacht Club, Emerald Prep, Emerald Landing, and the Emerald Cove Elementary School Administration Building. Finally they crossed a bridge that led onto a main street that looked like it had been plucked from a movie. Small, one-story shops with pretty, identical storefronts passed by. There was an ice-cream shop, a Gap, two different bookstores, a swimwear boutique, Italian restaurants, something called the Library that actually looked like it served food, an Apple Store, bakeries, and a crazy cosmetic store with white plastic models in the window. The only thing that seemed out of place was a fifties-style diner called Corky’s that had neon lights. Barbara passed a park where a band was playing and then slowed to a stop in front of a guard booth.

“Hi. We’re going to the Monroes on Cliffside Drive,” Barbara told a guy in a uniform that had the words
Emerald Cove Estates
embroidered on his lapel.

“Name please?”

“Barbara Sanchez and Isabelle Scott.”

You need permission to actually drive down their street
, Izzie thought in awe.
Who exactly are these people?

The guard picked up a telephone and said their names to someone, and the next thing she knew the gate was lifting and Barbara had permission to drive past the most stunning homes Izzie had ever seen.

“This is it,” Barbara said, pulling up to a gorgeous moss-green Colonial with a wraparound porch. Izzie’s jaw practically hit the floor. This was not a house; it was a mansion! What looked like three brand-new cars sat in the driveway and a dirt bike she’d drooled over at the bike shop blocked the long brick path to the door. Every light in the house was on, and the front door was wide open. She was still upset, obviously, but she couldn’t help being impressed. This was where she was going to live now?

Her duffel bag was thrust into her arms. “Ready?” Barbara asked, startling her.

No?
Izzie felt slightly dizzy and too shocked to move, but she managed to get out of the car and follow Barbara to the front door. Barbara rang the doorbell and a blond woman in a navy dress came trotting out.

“You’re here!” she said, sounding both overwhelmed and excited. Izzie felt the same way. “She’s here!” she yelled to the empty hallway. Her smile was bright as her eyes darted from Barbara to Izzie. She slid the bag off Izzie’s shoulder before she could protest. “You’re beautiful!” she said, staring at Izzie intently before realizing what she was doing. “Sorry. Where are my manners?” She extended a slender hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Isabelle. I’m your aunt, Maureen.”

“Hi,” Izzie said, unsure of what to say after that. What did you say to someone who was taking you in without even meeting you first?
Thanks for having me
just didn’t cut it.

Her new aunt looked at Barbara. “Did you find the house okay? I hope the ride wasn’t too long. I meant to have Bill’s assistant send you directions for a shortcut, but…”

“Isabelle,” a tall, graying man in a dark suit said her name so seriously, Izzie felt like he was doing roll call at school. Barbara and her aunt stopped talking as the man took Izzie’s hand. “I’m your uncle, Bill.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said hoarsely, and let go of her hand. “I—we’re—so glad you could join us.”

The sentence sounded funny, as if Izzie were being invited to a party. “Thanks,” she said, and stared at her flip-flops.

“The drive here okay?” he asked, looking from Barbara to Izzie and back.

“Yes, Senator, no traffic at all. We made good time,” Barbara told him, and her voice petered out.

Senator
, Izzie reminded herself. Her uncle was a senator. No wonder they had a place like this.

A grandfather clock in a nearby room ticked loudly as everyone stood there awkwardly. No one seemed to know how to make conversation with a girl who’d landed on their doorstep with a few hours’ notice. It didn’t help that Izzie could feel her uncle staring at her. She finally looked up, and he blushed.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to… You just… you look a lot like Chloe.”

Izzie’s breath caught in her throat. She was always this way. Even though it had been a few years since her mom passed, it hadn’t started hurting any less. She couldn’t talk about her mom. Not tonight. Losing Grams, her home, coming here… Her mouth felt too dry to find words that made sense.

“But of course, I haven’t seen your mom in a long time….” Izzie’s uncle trailed off. “Are you hungry?” he asked quickly, his voice changing gears. “You must be hungry. We can make something for you. Or maybe you’re tired? Do you want to see your room?”

“Yes, your room,” Izzie’s aunt said exuberantly. “Mirabelle is going to show it to you. She’ll be in the same grade as Isabelle this year,” she told Barbara, “which should ease Isabelle’s transition to Emerald Prep immensely.”

Izzie’s eyes glanced around the spacious foyer. A living room with a huge fireplace was to her left and a formal dining room to her right. The chandelier that hung over the table was so big it looked like it would crack the table if it ever came crashing down. That’s all she could think about as two boys in dress pants and pressed shirts approached her. The younger one was carrying a soccer ball. Both had white-blond hair and green eyes and looked like their mom.

“Isabelle, right?” the one who appeared to be close to her own age asked. She nodded. “I’m Hayden,” he said. “And this is Connor.” The younger boy smiled and shook her hand gruffly. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Izzie’s aunt frowned. “Where’s Mirabelle?”

“I’m here!” A beautiful girl with wavy brown hair ran down the stairs. Izzie noticed the girl quickly give her a once-over, her hazel eyes lingering on Izzie’s beat-up flipflops. Mirabelle was dressed like she was on her way out to a party. “Sorry! I was on the phone. Friend drama!” She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Hi,” she said to Izzie, shaking her hand. “I’m Mirabelle, but everyone calls me Mira.”

“Your friends are always fighting,” Connor moaned.

“Here’s your first piece of Monroe advice,” Hayden told Izzie. “If Mira is on the phone with someone named Taylor or Savannah, you might want to use your cell to make a call.”

Mira swatted him. “Don’t give her the wrong idea!” She smiled brightly at Izzie. “It’s not like I’m on the phone twenty-four-seven. And I’m never late.”

“That’s true,” Izzie’s uncle agreed. “Punctuality is a family motto to a fault.”

Izzie wasn’t about to mention that the Scott tradition was the opposite—never on time.

“Do you need help with your stuff?” Hayden asked, and the whole family peered out the door at Barbara’s old Taurus.

“Good idea,” Izzie’s aunt said. “Do you have boxes in the car, dear? Or did you need us to send a moving van? I’m sorry we weren’t there to help you move. This all happened so quickly,” she said, and pushed her hair behind her ears. She had on diamond studs the size of golf balls. “Or we can go pick your stuff up in the morning before we get you fitted for your school uniform.”

“I brought everything with me,” Izzie said, coloring slightly at the fuss. “Unless you need to send for my bed and dresser.” Barbara had carried two large boxes in with her, and there were a few left in the car, but she had taken everything that was important. At least she thought she had. Her head was still spinning from packing.

“That’s her bike strapped to the top of my car,” Barbara said, motioning to the Taurus.

“I can’t believe that’s all you brought,” Mira said. “I would have needed a U-Haul.” Her mother gave her a look and Mira instantly stopped talking, but it was too late. Izzie could tell already that her cousin was nothing like her, and she had a feeling Mira was thinking the exact same thing.

Izzie’s aunt wove her arm around Izzie’s awkwardly. “I guess we have some shopping to do this weekend. You’re in good hands, Isabelle. I’m an expert shopper.”

“She is American Express’s best customer,” Izzie’s uncle said, and Hayden and Mira laughed.

“We’ll have time to get you everything you need before school starts,” Izzie’s aunt said confidently, and Izzie tried not to feel weird that her aunt still had her arm. “I’ve already called ahead to make sure they have various sizes of the school uniform for you to try on at the town shop. We might even be able to get you a few dresses this weekend if we have time.” She winked and peered at Izzie’s duffel bag. “And I guess you’ll need a laptop, too, and—do you have a cell phone? No matter. We’ll have to switch you to our family plan anyway. I wonder if we have time to get to the Apple Store before brunch at the club. Hmm…” She waved her hand before Izzie could answer her. “Never mind. There will be time to go over all this. Things will be well in order by Monday. I promise.” She smiled. “This is a whole new start for you, Isabelle, and we want you to have everything you need to succeed.”

Uniforms? Laptops? Dresses? Izzie didn’t think she’d worn a dress since her sixth-grade graduation. She felt like she had just entered the twilight zone. How could people who barely knew her be so willing to give her everything she needed and more? The idea would have been exciting if she wasn’t still so upset.

“Why don’t you three give Isabelle a tour of the house while we go over a few things with Ms. Sanchez?” Izzie’s aunt suggested. “We can meet up for dessert in, say, half an hour?” She looked at her watch, and Izzie wondered if she was about to set a timer. “If you think of anything you might need for tonight, Isabelle, just let Mirabelle know. Pajamas, a toothbrush—she’ll get it for you.” Izzie watched her aunt, her uncle, and Barbara turn and walk down the hallway. They were talking in hushed tones.

“They are probably headed to Dad’s office. We’ll just go this way,” Mira told her, smiling as she led the group in the opposite direction. “So this is the living room,” she said, gesturing to the cobblestone fireplace and massive built-in bookshelves that covered one wall. Lights shone on several trophies and photographs, one of which looked like Izzie’s uncle with the president.
Yowza.

“What grade are you in?” Hayden asked as they headed back through the foyer, past the dining room, into the first of what appeared to be two dens.

She was so busy trying to count the fireplaces she’d seen so far that she almost missed the question. “Tenth,” she said.

“Me, too!” Mira squealed. “So fun! Hayden’s in eleventh and Connor’s in first, but he won’t be in Emerald Prep till sixth grade. Do you play any sports? I play field hockey.”

Izzie ran her hand along a mahogany table. “I swim.”

“My best friend is on the swim team!” Mira gushed. “You’re going to love Savannah.”

Hayden coughed. “You’re so not.” Izzie bit her lip. She had a feeling she would like Hayden.

“Tryouts are the second week of school,” Mira continued. “What team were you on? Have you been swimming long? Because”—Mira thumbed the gold necklace around her neck and looked solemn—“our school is supercompetitive. It’s the most prestigious high school in the state. It’s tough to get into, but don’t worry, you’re already in. They didn’t name the new sports complex after my dad for nothing! Wait till you see the swim center.” Mira was talking so quickly, Izzie could barely keep up. “Our swim team has won our division the past two years. Not that you’re not good, I’m sure, but just so you know what you’re up against.” Izzie’s stomach started to churn with nervousness. Her new school sounded both incredible and horrifying.

“Don’t worry,” Hayden assured her. “You can practice here before tryouts. We have a pool in the backyard and a lap pool, too. No one uses it. Dad thought he’d take up swimming, but I guess he forgot you need
time
to exercise.”

“It is so cool!” Connor added. “It counts the laps and times you and everything. Sometimes I go in with a tube just to get bounced around.”

“What is your best time?” Mira pressed. “Best stroke? When did you learn how to…”

Izzie stared at the den. It was her favorite room so far. A fireplace roared underneath a flat-screen TV, and the brown leather sectional looked so inviting, Izzie wanted to go lie on it and sleep for a week. On one wall were framed photos of each of the Monroe kids. Hayden running, Connor on rocks at the beach—Mira’s garden shot could have been ripped out of
Vogue
. Maybe it had. Her cousin looked like she could model.

Izzie couldn’t concentrate. How did she get here? Three hours ago she’d been biking home from the boardwalk, worrying about what Barbara wanted, and now she was in a mansion that she was supposed to call home and was talking about private schools and personal lap pools. She knew she should be excited. Connor was right—a lap pool
was
awesome. So were mall trips for new clothes and a laptop, which she’d always wanted. But as soon as she started to get excited, she thought of Grams and Harborside and felt guilty. She was so confused. Was it okay to be amazed by this new life being dangled in front of her? Or should she feel bad?