Her Best Catch Page 21

  I’m surprised I can hear anything over the rushing of blood in my head as my heart, soul, mind, body, as every part of me weeps.

  Ashton is gone.

  CHAPTER 27

  I turn to the only source I know in times of trouble. The Bible.

  Our lesson from last week, (which, yes, I’m just now studying), brings tears to my eyes. Yes, more tears. They’ll be gone soon, I’m sure. Because I have my mother to think about.

  I glance at the fifth chapter of James. In the face of perseverance the Lord will bring about what is good. He is full of compassion and mercy.

  I know this.

  And I will persevere. I have to.

  My heart may be sadder than usual, but it’s all good.

  I think about the people I love. Ashton.

  Okay, I know he’s not around any more. And that’s because he persevered after his injury. He struggled, practiced, tried, and kept trying. He never gave up and look where he is now.

  Heading for Seattle. To be on a professional baseball team.

  On to my mother. After my father died, she totally flipped. She didn’t know how to live without him. Then as time passed, it became clear she didn’t know how to live without a man.

  But she landed herself a part time job, didn’t go totally off any deep end and now, three years later she seems to have found a sense of peace.

  And then there’s Trelvet. I know it’s only been two months, but they have grown together. They are persevering as a team.

  They have been nothing but helpful to me this week. Between the food issue, (Omigosh! I still don’t know who is bringing the food!), and my mother’s untimely disappearance, they have come through for me.

  Together. They came through for me.

  It’s just as good as coming through for me separately isn’t it?

  No. It’s better.

  After showering, I head over to Trent’s. His parents should be here soon since it’s almost noon.

  I check my cell phone as I walk across the grass to Trent’s. Full battery, full signal, no messages.

  I need to find my mother.

  A big, white car, pulls into Trent’s driveway. Dara and Mike climb out, stretching for a moment before enveloping me in a hug.

  “How are you holding up, dear,” Dara asks, her plump face as pretty as ever.

  “Good. Just waiting on my cell phone to ring.”

  “She’ll call. You wait and see,” Dara says.

  We head inside. Trent bear hugs his mom, practically lifting her off the ground. He and his dad do the manly thing by shaking hands. We head into the living room where Velvet has done a really great job redecorating. Unfortunately our focus isn’t on the new contemporary style. It’s on finding my mother.

  Dara, Mike, Trelvet and I sit in the living room and go over Dara’s address book, the phone book and print-outs from the Internet.

  “While we were on the road I called everyone we could think of,” Dara says.

  “And you were great,” Mike adds. “It was a tricky call considering almost everyone she called is on the guest list, and she didn’t want to let on to the problem.”

  Guests. We are determined to find my mother in time to have her at her party. One thing I’m sure of. She hasn’t gone far.

  She’s just now venturing into this new life. She’s not going to take a chance that it won’t work out and she can’t be home within a reasonable time.

  We have just over four hours to find her and bring her back.

  We can do it.

  Trent has split up the mountain resort phone numbers. We all take a small list to call. Trent thought we should wait as long as we could because checkin times are so late.

  “Remember,” Velvet says. “Thirty minutes and we meet in the backyard to finish the decorations.”

  The five of us head toward different parts of the house with our cell phones.

  “Velvet,” I say as she drifts toward the kitchen, “you still haven’t told me yet who’s catering the party.”

  She laughs. “I wondered how long it would take you to ask me. I still can’t say. But here’s a hint. Wait until Ashton comes.”

  My heart speeds up at the sound of his name. “Ashton has already come. And gone.”

  “Surely he’s coming back for the party?”

  I guess I’ll be breaking the news to everyone. “Not unless we move the party to Seattle.”

  She frowns. “What are you talking about?”

  “This morning, you guys couldn’t have been gone five minutes when he came by the house. Seattle called him up. His plane left this afternoon so he can’t come to the party. He left her a card, though.”

  “Well, I’ll be. He’s not even going to be at the party to enjoy his own food.”

  “His food?” I ask. Now it’s my turn to be confused.

  “He came through for you, Allison. He called me while you were gone to see if you needed any help with the party. I was at that ‘fit to be tied’ moment.”

  “And?” I asked.

  “He told me he’d take care of it. And trust me, he more than took care of it.”

  “No more cat and mouse games, Velvet. Just spill it.”

  “Panos.”

  My eyebrows shoot up so quickly they hurt.

  “Panos?”

  My already sped up heart takes off even faster. Dollar signs crash into each other and visions of my credit cards explode right before my eyes.

  “I have to cancel,” I say picking up my cell phone. Not that I know the number, but I do know how to dial four-one-one.

  “Sweetie,” Velvet says as she grabs my phone. “Why would you cancel?”

  “Because as generous as the gesture is, I can’t possibly afford it. I probably don’t have a credit card with a big enough limit on it to afford the tip.”

  “I told you Ashton handled it.”

  She tosses my phone to me. If she’d aimed a little higher it would have landed in my mouth, which is hanging open.

  “He paid?”

  “He paid. So accept it and smile.”

  So Ashton, not Velvet has saved my you-know-what. As soon as the party is over, I will call and thank him. An unsettling thought nestles its way into my brain.

  Ashton is able to save-the-day from miles away.

  Interesting.

  It’s three-thirty. We have all the tables, Tiki torches, and chairs set up. The people from Panos have just arrived and they are busy setting up the food. A fabulous aroma fills the air. The weather is beautiful. There’s a nice breeze, which makes the heat bearable. Besides, Trent’s backyard has plenty of shade.

  Everything is perfect.

  Except the guest of honor is still A.W.O.L.

  David Crowder’s voice sings out once again. I look at my caller ID.

  Mother’s cell.

  I motion for Velvet to take over helping the caterers and I turn away, seeking a quiet corner. “Mother! Where are you?”

  “Hello to you, Allison.”

  Wherever she, is there’s a lot of background noise. Hopefully it’s the radio in her car as she’s driving home.

  “Mother. I’ve been worried sick,” I say. “Didn’t you get my messages earlier?”

  “I’ve been busy, sweet girl. I just now have a minute to check in. I’m in Miami, by the way.”

  Miami? She’ll never be back in time for the party.

  “Mother, what are you doing in Miami?”

  “I’m on a cruise ship.”

  She actually sings those words to the tune of “I’ve got a secret.”

  “C-cruise?” I squeak.

  Okay. There goes my theory about how she wouldn’t venture very far from home.

  “Yes, I’m going on a cruise. There were so many specials last week, I decided why not. And I didn’t tell anyone because I knew you would try and stop me.”

  “We wouldn’t—” I don’t finish the sentence because she’s right. I would have tried to stop her. And Grandma Fola would have done the
same thing.

  And not just because we wanted to have a party, although that would have been reason enough.

  “Like I said in my letter,” Mother continues, “I’m fine with being alone. This vacation is just what I need.”

  “But you’ve spent the last three years looking for somebody so you wouldn’t have to be alone.”

  “Allison, being alone when you have someone isn’t the same as being alone when you don’t.”

  “What?”

  “Your father and I spent most of our time apart, yet I loved it when he came home. It gave me something to look forward to. I had to adjust to the fact that he wasn’t coming home anymore, ever.”

  Sad, yet happy feelings washed over me. Happy for my mother because I think she’s finally figuring herself out after Daddy’s death. And sad for me. Sad that I let Ashton walk out of my life. I had it wrong all along.

  “Now, aren’t you going to tell your Mother happy birthday?”

  “Happy birthday, Mother.”

  “Thank you. What are you doing? I hope your grandmother didn’t buy too much food for tonight. If she did, freeze it until next weekend.”

  If she only knew how much food we have.

  “We’re just hanging out,” I say, leaving out the part about a hundred people hanging out with us. “You have a great trip, and be careful. We’ll see you when you get home.”

  “See you next week. Bye, sweet girl.”

  I close my phone and shove it in my pocket. I look up at the crowd gathered around me. Anxious faces stare at me. Trelvet, Grandma Fola, Dara and Mike.

  “Well?” Trelvet asks, in unison.

  “She’s in Miami on a cruise ship,” I say.

  “What?” Trelvet exclaims.

  “You’re kidding,” Dara says.

  “Did you say a cruise ship?” asks Grandma Fola.

  I hold up my hands. “Look. We’ve done all this work. There’s a fortune’s worth of fabulous food. We’ve got about twenty minutes until the guests start to arrive. Let’s just welcome the guests, and don’t say anything about Mother being on a cruise. If some of the people we called earlier ask, just say everything’s fine. Then when everybody’s here I’ll explain what happened and tell everyone to enjoy the evening and the food. And we’ll take lots of pictures and tell Mother all about it when she comes home.”

  Everyone nods their head and agrees to the plan.

  “I have an idea,” Mike says. “Dara and I brought the video camera. Why don’t we go around and ask everyone to tell your Mother happy birthday and maybe tell a quick story about her?”

  “That’s a great idea,” I say. “Make sure you get some of the food on camera. She’s going to be mad she missed Panos.”

  “Except all she’s going to do on the cruise is eat,” says Dara.

  We all laugh.

  “Yoo-hoo,” a voice calls from the back deck.

  Liza Spreen is waving at us.

  The guests are arriving already. Except Ashton, of course, who’s on his way out of town, out of my life.

  But not forever. Not if I have anything to say about it.

  CHAPTER 28

  Trent’s backyard is filled with people, music and excitement. The DJ is playing festive songs from way back when. A few brave souls are already shaking it up on the wooden dance floor we created. We have beach chairs set out, and beach umbrellas set up. Velvet even bought little wading pools. She placed floating candles in them and when the sun sets, they’ll look really cool. The Tiki torches are lit, waiting on the darkness to fully show their glory.

  I hope our guests are still around to see the beautiful night display, and I hope our guests take the news well.

  I’ve already told the DJ I need to borrow his mike at five fifteen.

  “Allison. Hi. Look who I’ve brought.”

  I turn at the sound of Braedyn’s voice. She stands before me looking really cute and happy. Her escort is Ryan, from the small church in Kentucky.

  Wow. A lot happened while I was in Cleveland.

  “Hi, Braedyn. Ryan, good to see you again.”

  “Good to be here,” Ryan says. “I hope you don’t mind me tagging along at the last minute.”

  Braedyn looks so happy. Happier than she ever looked around Ashton.

  “Not at all. I’m glad you could come. Are you in town for a while?”

  “No. Heading back tomorrow night.”

  Braedyn’s smile fades, then brightens again. “I think he’ll be coming again for a visit though,” she says.

  “For sure,” he replies.

  So Braedyn has a minister interested in her. More than interested if he’s traveled all the way from Kentucky to see her.

  Traveled. Ryan. Ashton.

  Hopefully, in a couple of hours, Braedyn’s not going to be the only one with a long-distance boyfriend.

  I glance at my watch. It’s five-sixteen. I’m late.

  “There’s something I need to do. I’ll talk to you guys later,” I say.

  I gather Trelvet for moral support. We walk to the DJ’s table. After the Elvis song is over, I’m going to make The Announcement.

  A hush falls over the crowd as the music stops. The silence needs to be filled. I grab the mike. “Hello!”

  “Hello,” comes to me from a variety of voices from all over the back yard. People are looking around, some on tip-toes. Probably looking for my mother.

  “I would like to thank you all for coming here tonight to celebrate my mother, Nina’s birthday. But tonight, folks, the surprise is on us. She is very clever. She took off on a cruise, and didn’t tell me, so she won’t be attending tonight’s festivities.”

  Murmurs, guffaws and everything in between came from the crowd.

  “But I do have a favor to ask. We’ve got this great DJ, a dance floor, fabulous food. Please stay and enjoy the party. And make sure you find Dara and Mike Miller. They have a video camera, and since Mother ditched us, leave her a birthday message she can view when she comes home. Tell a funny story or just something fun you remember about her. Thanks again for coming. Now enjoy the party.”

  I hand the mike back to the DJ.

  “Stay here, Allison,” Trent says and grabs the mike from the DJ.

  “Most of you know me. I’m Trent Miller. This is my house and I’m proud to be co-hosting the party with Allison.”

  A round of applause follows. That’s not fair. I didn’t receive any applause.

  “I want to second what Allison has said. Stay. Enjoy everything and make sure you find my dad and tell Allison’s mom what you think about how she didn’t show up at her own surprise birthday party.”

  He puts his arm around Velvet. She looks at me and grabs my hand. And grins.

  And then I see it.

  A ring.

  A huge diamond ring.

  On her left hand, fourth finger over.

  Omigosh!

  “I have one more thing to say before we really start the party,” he says. “I’ve asked Velvet to marry me and she said yes. We’re engaged.”

  A huge round of applause and shouts of congratulations resound across the summer night.

  Tears of happiness fill my eyes at Trent’s words. I hug her, then him. Then it’s a three-way hug.

  We break it up as his parents and Velvet’s parents come to congratulate the couple.

  “I’m so happy for you,” I whisper in Velvet’s ear as we separate.

  She smiles her special Velvet smile.

  The DJ spins into action and “Going to the Chapel” rings out over the backyard.

  I slowly fade off to the side, no longer the center of attention, which is fine with me.

  To say it has been a day is an understatement.

  I slip into Trent’s house unnoticed. No one will miss me if I’m gone a few minutes. There’s something I need to do.

  Ashton’s cell phone number is on the end table in my living room. I need to call him.

  It’s taken a day of small crises to make me see the
truth.

  We all have fears. We all have to conquer them. We can’t let them control our lives. Mother conquered her fear of being alone.

  Trent, well, he didn’t really have a fear, but then again I don’t know if he ever thought he’d have a wife. And look at him now.

  I love Ashton. And I don’t know if he loves me or not, but he is crazy about me. That much I do know, thanks to Braedyn.

  I’m not going to let unfulfilled dreams of my mother and father ruin my chance at happiness. Real, true love doesn’t come along every day.

  So I’m going to call Ashton, leave him a message because he’s probably still in the air, and tell him I’ll be waiting for him when he comes home.

  CHAPTER 29

  I’m walking across my driveway, on my way to retrieve Ashton’s phone number, when I’m almost run over. In my own driveway.

  By a taxi.

  I stand there wondering who the late arrival is. I mean, we told them not to park close to the house, but they didn’t have to park far enough away to take a taxi.

  Whoever they are, I’ll have to explain the whole vanishing mom thing all over again before I can make the most important call of my life.

  Not necessarily. Who says I have to stick around?

  I run across my yard, up the stairs, through my front door and into the living room. I stop in front of the end table.

  There’s the paper with his number on it. Tears threaten behind my eyelids. Not at finding his number, but encompassing the whole day. Happy tears, sad tears, grateful tears, comforting tears.

  Hopeful tears.

  I pull myself together, dab the corners of my eyes, then grab the paper. I hold onto it really tightly, close my eyes and say a silent prayer.

  Slowly, I open my eyes and look at the slip of paper. Now the tears really threaten. My fingers must have been wet, and the last four numbers are smeared beyond recognition.

  Well, maybe. I kneel, turn on the table lamp and shove the paper underneath it. Can I make anything out?

  Six, seven, three, six?

  “Six, seven, eight, five?” I say out loud, in hopes that speaking will help. “Eight, seven, or is that a one? Three? Oh—”

  A shadow falls across me.