“Why don’t you get hold of Troy?” Marcy asked, some life coming back into her face. “You two could come with us.”
“I’m fine, thanks. I don’t want to leave this paper for tomorrow. We’ve got a lot of math and science, too.”
“She’s right,” Claudia said. “We’re not going to have another night like last night.”
“Don’t you become Grandma, too,” Marcy warned. “I’m going to take a twenty-minute shower. We should dress warmly, Claudia. Terri the weather girl predicted the possibility of snow showers.”
“I’ll be right behind you,” Claudia said.
I gathered the things I needed for the library.
“I hope you have a better time tonight,” Marcy told me.
I realized Terri would be talking to her soon.
“Listen,” I said. “I wasn’t in the mood to be talkative last night, but I had a very good time. The sundae was just dessert.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Figure it out,” I said, and walked out.
“You’d better tell me what that means!” Marcy shouted after me.
I kept walking. When I was outside, I went to one of the benches along the pathway to the library and called my father back. He answered quickly, which told me he hadn’t called just to see how I was doing.
“I’m sorry I missed your call, Daddy. I left the phone in the room when I went to breakfast. Is anything wrong? Mother all right?”
“She’s fine. Nothing has changed there yet, but it might soon.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Dr. Alexander has approved Haylee going home for Thanksgiving,” he said.
“You mean she’ll be there when I’m there?” I asked. I was actually trembling.
“It’s part of what Dr. Alexander describes as taking baby steps toward a full recuperation, but Dr. Alexander wants to see you first before she puts her stamp of approval on the idea,” my father said. “I told you I didn’t want you ever to speak with her after she treated you like the bad one last time, but I’ll tell her whatever you want anyway, Kaylee. Just think about it and let me know.”
“When would I see her?”
“I’d bring you to her home office the weekend before Thanksgiving. Don’t answer now. Think about it.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
“How are you doing there?”
“I like my teachers.” I hesitated, and then I told him, “I became friendly with a boy who took me to have an ice cream sundae last night after dinner.”
“Oh?”
“He’s taking me for pizza and a movie tonight.”
“That’s very good, Kaylee. What’s he like?”
“He’s very good-looking and an honor student, but . . .”
“But what?”
“He’s sort of a loner. The other girls think he’s arrogant because his family is wealthy.”