“Perfect. Say, how do you know so much about everything here?”
“Ava,” I said.
“Oh, right. I was hoping you were going to say you’ve been here many times watching me from a distance or something romantic like that.”
I looked to my right and left, but I didn’t see Ava. Even so, I felt her eyes were on me.
“So, how did things go when your father returned?”
“He was understanding, and he was wonderful in school today when he had to meet the principal. Things are back to normal.”
“Well, he sounds like a neat guy.”
“Neat? He’s immaculate.”
Buddy laughed. “I should have said cool. No one says neat anymore. I’m so excited about seeing you so unexpectedly like this. I can’t think.”
He took my hand, and we continued walking. It was another beautiful California day. The afternoons in spring were like this so often that people here took it for granted. I’d miss it when we moved away. The bright sunshine and deep blue skies washed away the darkness that could seep in from other places, troubling thoughts and fears. Daddy would say, “We’re having a little bit of Eden today.” No one could have put it better. I didn’t know why Ava had told Marla she was the best at quoting him. I knew I was the best. I was confident that among the three of us, I clung to his every word the most.
“I take it you’re no longer worried about Ava seeing us together or anything,” he said as we crossed the street.
“No. I told her about my seeing you, how determined I was. She was the one who said I’d have to bring you to meet Daddy.”
“Really? That’s great.”
We entered the coffee shop, and I ordered a tall chai tea. He got a coffee, and we sat at one of the tables outside.
“So, what’s the plan?” he asked immediately.
“I can see you Saturday. In fact, Ava will bring me to meet you.”
“Why c
an’t I just pick you up? That way, I can see your father before we go out.”
“He won’t be there. He’s returning between nine-thirty and ten, and the plan is that you’ll bring me home and we’ll spend some time with him.”
“But I could do both. Why involve Ava?”
“She wants it this way,” I said. “She likes to be in charge, and right now, I don’t want to upset her.”
“Oh.” He thought a moment and then shrugged. “Well, that’s great, actually. We’ll get something to eat, spend some time at my uncle’s, and then I’ll take you home. I wish I could see you Friday night, too.”
“I have something with my sisters.”
“How come you’ve changed your mind about Ava and us? I mean, you were warning me off her as if she had the plague or something, and now—”
“I told you. I had a long talk with her. She understands now that you’re not just any guy and that I’m going to see you no matter what she thinks or even what my father thinks. However, she likes playing the older sister looking out for the younger. It doesn’t do us any harm to let her think what she wants, does it?” I tried sounding annoyed with him for asking so many questions, but he didn’t pick up on it.
“No, I guess not.” He nodded and smiled.
Why can’t he see the deception in my face? I wondered. I was secretly hoping he would and that it would end there, but I guessed I was underestimating my skills at deception, or maybe his love for me simply blinded him.
“Where will we meet? Where should I tell you to have Ava bring you? My uncle’s house?”
“That’s fine,” I said.
Finally, he looked a bit surprised, even skeptical. “That’s fine? How much did you tell her?”