Into the Garden (Wildflowers 5)

Why had my father done this? What did he want? I thought and thought until a cold, terrifying reason reached the surface of my confusion. Could it be that he was actually jealous? That he didn't want to see me with anyone else? Was he hoping this picture would turn Geraldine against Stuart and have her forbid me from

ever seeing him again? Did he revel in the commotion and the dissension he would create in this house? He wanted her to keep me locked away. Maybe he hoped I would hate her so much, I would turn back to him.

Whatever his reasons, another thought occurred to me. He would be spying on me all the time. He might even be out there this very moment, I thought, out there with his camera, waiting, hoping to catch me in some compromising act so he could have more to use in his drive to turn Geraldine into an even worse ogre.

What was I going to do? I had to talk to the others to tell them about all this and get their advice. I went to the phone and called Star. Her granny answered and said Star and Larry had taken Rodney to the zoo. I thanked her and then I called Jade. Her answering machine came on and I left an urgent message. I imagined that she was still in bed, but would call me soon.

When the doorbell rang, I realized that in my turmoil I had completely forgotten about Stuart. It was just a little after eleven. For a moment I spun about in a fluster, the picture still in my hand. I didn't want him to see it. I shoved it under a magazine in the living room and then went to the door. He had rung again.

"Hi," he said. "I didn't mean to rush you, but I wanted to be sure you had heard."

"That's okay," I said.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes." I gazed back into the house as if I somehow still expected Geraldine to appear, especially after the picture had been delivered, and then I hurried out, closing the door behind me quickly.

As soon as I did step out, I paused, leaned on my crutches, and studied every automobile in the street. My father's car wasn't there, but maybe he had a different car, or maybe he had hired someone to follow me and take pictures. All sorts of scenarios ran through my terrified imagination. Stuart sensed my anxiety.

"Anything wrong?" he asked

"Oh, no," I said. "I was just looking to see if Misty was gone. She just left to go shopping with Chris," I added quickly, but I was never a very good liar. Geraldine had eyes that locked on mine and forced me to be truthful most of the time. She was always prying, checking, recon- firming.

"Do you have to be back any specific time?" Stuart asked as we went to his car and he opened the door for me. "No," I said.

"So your mother's going to be away today, too?"

"Oh, yes. She called and said she was staying over another night, maybe even two."

He nodded, smiling.

What would I do after two days? I wondered. I needed to talk to Jade or Star desperately. We had to come up with some sensible explanation. Hopefully, Stuart wouldn't keep asking me about Geraldine.

"I thought I'd take you to Laguna Beach," he said. "It'll take us a little over an hour, if that's all right."

"Yes, fine," I said.

"I had a great time last night," he continued as he started the engine and backed out of the driveway. I looked back, studying all the cars down the street, waiting for one to start up and follow. "I guess I've been shut up in my house of responsibilities too long. I almost feel like a guy traveling in a desert who reached an oasis. You're the oasis," he added

His words made me blush and I didn't know what to say. I started to laugh and stopped, recalling Jade's advice about giggling stupidly after something a boy had said.

"Jade says the trouble with most people she knows is that they don't balance their lives with fun and work. Star accuses her of putting too much emphasis on fun and says she doesn't know the meaning of work." Stuart laughed. Was I talking too much already, sounding like a little idiot?

"I guess you girls are all getting along pretty well, despite the differences. That's terrific. Most of the girls I know at school stay in their safe little cocoons, their own little cliques. I guess you all have something in common"

"Yes, we do."

"I kind of lost contact with my best friends?'

"Oh, too bad."

"It's okay," he said, smiling "I'm back. I'll have best friends again. I hope you'll be one of them," he continued. I didn't know what to say to that. It just about took the breath out of me. I didn't want to just say sure or of course I will. I wanted to sound sincere and smart.

"It takes time for people to become real friends," I finally said.

"You're right. I'm glad you feel that way, too. All I mean is I think you and I can be friends and I hope you feel the same way about me. Jeez," he said, shaking his head. "I must sound like the biggest jerk spouting off like this. I'm sorry."

"No, you don't. Really," I said, amused and encouraged that he had the same fears about himself.