I hoped Mother was right. That would be one argument in which I would support her. I so wanted Haylee and me to be what anyone would call normal teenage girls, despite what made us so different from everyone else. I knew this was something Haylee wanted even more.
Just before Matt arrived, Mother did exactly what Haylee had predicted, inspecting us with microscope eyes. She fixed Haylee’s hair where there was a slight difference from mine with her bangs, something neither of us had caught. Then she stepped back, smiling and nodding.
“You’re so alike that even in different dresses, you are like one, my Haylee-Kaylee, Kaylee-Haylee.”
Neither of us said anything, but I could see that Haylee wanted to scream.
Fortunately, Matt pressed the door buzzer just at that moment.
Mother immediately began to attend to herself. “I look like a disaster,” she said, fluffing her hair and straightening her blouse. “I didn’t even put on any lipstick today.”
“Don’t worry, Mother. Matt’s Kaylee’s date. He’ll only be looking at her.”
“Date?”
“Sorta,” Haylee added quickly. “Right, Kaylee?”
“We’re both fond of him,” I said.
“I see,” Mother said. Matt pressed the buzzer again. “He’s quite anxious. Anxious boys often turn into abusive men. Remember that,” she warned.
Haylee squinted as if she was in pain. Was something going to stop our night out after all? I could see that she was holding her breath until Mother turned slowly and went to the front door. We followed, both of us trying not to look too eager.
I could have kissed Matt right then and there. He had brought a bouquet of red and white roses, not for me but for Mother. He was also wearing a dark blue sports jacket, a matching tie, and blue slacks, instead of jeans and a sweatshirt. He looked a century away from how most teenage boys dressed for dates. I could see that he’d had his hair trimmed today, too.
“Good evening, Mrs. Fitzgerald. I’m Matt Tesler,” he said.
Mother looked lost for words.
“Oh, these are for you, Mrs. Fitzgerald,” he quickly added, holding out the flowers.
“For me? Why?” Mother asked suspiciously, hesitating. If there was one thing she wouldn’t tolerate, it was pity. Her fear was that word of her impending divorce was out and might be the subject of gossip. Poor Keri Fitzgerald, left to care for identical twin teenage girls.
“I thought anyone who had daughters as nice and as beautiful as yours should be rewarded,” Matt said. Then he leaned in, looking past her at me, and added sotto voce, “My father said it was the proper thing to do.”
His confession made Mother laugh. She took the roses and stepped aside. Matt entered.
“I’ve always admired your house, Mrs. Fitzgerald. And the way you keep the grounds.”
“Thank you, Matt. These are very pretty. Now,” she said, returning to her stern demeanor, “I want you to drive very slowly and carefully. You have quite valuable cargo, double the value.”
“Oh, yes, ma’am, I will.”
“They have to be home by eleven thirty,” she said firmly. Haylee groaned. Mother glanced at her, and Haylee quickly wiped the disappointment off her face.
“I’ll make sure of that,” Matt said.
“And there had better not be any drinking or any drugs.”
“My parents laid out the same rules, Mrs. Fitzgerald. We have a no-tolerance policy. I’d lose my driving privileges even if there was suspicion.”
“Yes, well, let’s hope the parents of everyone else attending this party laid down the same rules,” Mother said.
I could see that Matt was just about to say, Everyone else?
“We should go,” I said. “We’re helping to organize the party.”
Matt raised his eyebrows but opened the door quickly.