We had almost made it without their finding out about the turmoil, but my grandmother just happened to be home the first morning I had to ride the bus, and I could see in her face that she was already full of questions because of that. The community gossip lines began ringing, so that by the time I was home from school, she and my grandfather had their ears stuffed. Like usual, they saved the discussion for dinner.
"Is there a problem between you and Craig, Alice?" my grandfather began. I could see from the look on my grandmother's face that they had discussed how to deal with me and Craig. They'd developed a strategy. My grandfather was, after all, a lawyer.
"Not between us, no," I said.
"Why isn't he picking you up for school then?"
"His father took away his car privileges," I said. I wasn't going to lie; I just wasn't going to spill it all out at once.
"And why is that?"
I put my fork down and folded my hands.
"Craig's mother is upset that he's seeing me," I began. "And especially upset that he asked me to be his prom date."
"1 knew it," my grandmother said, slamming her palm down on the table and making the dishes and silverware jump. "I just knew it. That woman--"
"Easy," my grandfather told her. He put her on pause. She barely blinked an eye. "Did Craig tell you why she's upset?"
"It's because of my mother, because of what happened in their house, because she thinks I've inherited evil or something." I said. "She's redone the house from top to bottom inside to erase the possibility that there is anything in it that my mother might have touched or walked upon or even seen."
"Yes, we knew the Harrisons had done that," my grandfather said.
"You were in the house then?" my grandmother asked.
"Just once. That day Craig and I met in town and he took me home. His parents weren't there," I quickly added. I wondered if I should tell them about the research he had done on the Pearson murder. Something told me to hold back on that.
"You saw the whole house?" she asked.
"No."
She was quiet. I could see she'd rather not know anything more about it.
"So what's Craig going to do? Has he decided against taking you to the prom?" my grandfather asked.
"No. He's, taking me."
"The Harrisons can't be pleased," my
grandmother told my grandfather. "It doesn't make for a pleasant experience, Michael. Maybe you should have a word with Tom Harrison."
"And say what? They have a right to control what their own son does, Elaine."
"We're going to the prom," I emphasized. "We've already decided. Craig has the money he needs, and he has access to another automobile, or we could join two other couples and go in a limousine."
"Not very pleasant," my grandmother muttered, shaking her head. "Damn that woman."
"Elaine."
"It's not fair to Alice," she said, gesturing at me as if my grandfather had to be told where and who I was. "If I hear that she is spreading any stories . . ."
"I doubt that she's doing that," my grandfather said, but not with confidence.
"I'm sorry, honey," my grandmother said. "If you feel you don't want to go to the prom with Craig now, don't worry about it. You'll have other uses for that gown. I'm sure."
"Oh no, we're going," I said. I had worked on my self-confidence and built my indifference and determination along with Craig. This was no time to retreat. "I'm not going to let someone tell me I'm not good enough."
"Good for you," my grandfather said, smiling "I'm sure Greta Harrison will realize how foolish she's being."