“Neither do I,” said Josh.
They went into Lisa’s room and sat down on the window seat. Lisa felt giddy with excitement, but she was still confused. She looked out the window. Veronica and Stephen were splashing around in the surf, and Shannon was sitting on the hood of the car with her elbows on her knees and her suitcase beside her.
“I wish you didn’t have to leave,” said Lisa.
“Me too,” said Josh. “I never thought I would find anyone who could make me so happy. Why don’t we plan to spend some time together tomorrow? I’ll have to check with my dad to make sure he doesn’t need the car, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I would like that very much,” said Lisa. She gazed down the beach. In the distance, Molly was pottering around in her garden, tidying up the sprawling plants and rearranging the garden gnomes. Graham was nowhere to be seen. Lisa thought Molly looked lonely.
“Is something wrong?” said Josh.
“It’s been a while since I’ve visited Molly,” said Lisa. “I think I’ll go to her house this afternoon and see how she’s doing.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” said Josh.
“I don’t see why not,” said Lisa. “Graham doesn’t know I’m suspicious of him, and he’s always been friendly to me. It’s all part of his act. Don’t worry, Josh. If I thought it was dangerous, I wouldn’t do it.”
“Okay,” said Josh. “You know Molly a lot better than I do. If you think it’s safe, then it’s probably fine. It might even be a good thing. Maybe you’ll find out something useful. Just be careful. We’ve seen how far Graham will go to get what he wants.”
“I will,” said Lisa. She noticed Josh’s father beckoning to Stephen. Shannon was already getting into the car. The moment had finally come, but Lisa found it bittersweet. “It looks like your family is almost ready to go. You’ll let me know about the plan for tomorrow?”
“Yes, I’ll call you,” said Josh.
Lisa gave him her number, and they said goodbye. She looked out the window until she couldn’t see the car anymore, and then she went downstairs. Veronica was lying on the couch looking miserable.
“I miss Stephen already,” she said.
“You’ll see him again soon,” said Lisa.
“You don’t understand,” said Veronica, her eyes filling with tears. “He’s my favorite person in the whole world, and now he’s gone. What am I supposed to do? I can’t survive without him. I think I’m dying.”
“You’re not dying,” said Lisa. “You’re just in love.”
“What do you know about love?” said Veronica. “I bet you’re glad they’re gone. Just admit it, Lisa. This is what you wanted.”
“No,” said Lisa. She sat down beside Veronica. “I was wrong about them—especially about Josh.”
“Yeah, right,” said Veronica.
“It’s true,” said Lisa. “It’s hard to explain, but I can be myself around him without having to worry. I didn’t always feel that way, but I do now. I’m not even sure when it started. It might have been at the restaurant. When I saw who he really was, I couldn’t hate him anymore.”
Veronica sat up.
“Go on,” she said.
“I don’t know what else to say,” said Lisa. “He’s just a really good person, that’s all.”
Veronica stared at her in fascination.
“I can’t believe it,” she said. “You like him. Lisa, are you sure you’re not going soft in the head because of Mom and Dad?”
“What do you mean?” said Lisa.
“Are you kidding?” said Veronica. “They’re not on speaking terms. It’s been like that ever since the wedding. We haven’t even seen Dad for weeks, and Mom won’t talk. I asked what was going on, but she said I was too young to understand. She never ignores me like that unless it’s something bad. Don’t you wonder what happened?”
“It’s none of our business,” said Lisa.
“They’re our parents, of course it’s our business,” said Veronica, giving her a peculiar look. “Lisa, what’s wrong with you? It’s like you don’t even care.” She leaned forward, her eyes full of suspicion. “Do you know something?”
Lisa wished Veronica would stop asking uncomfortable questions. The last thing she wanted was for her to start poking around for answers.
“You’re jumping to conclusions,” she said. “Mom and Dad are probably just reevaluating their relationship. It’s perfectly natural. We’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“Stephen thinks they might be having financial problems,” said Veronica, her expression becoming gloomier than ever. “He said that’s usually why people get divorced.”
“They’re not getting divorced,” said Lisa.
“You don’t know that,” said Veronica. “I wish you’d stop lying to me to try to make me feel better. It doesn’t work. I could probably move in with Stephen’s family if I’m too expensive to keep. I don’t belong here anyway.”
Lisa heard the sadness in Veronica’s voice. She wondered if it had always been there and she simply hadn’t noticed. Maybe she had taken Veronica for granted.
“You do belong here,” she said. “Don’t worry. Even if Mom and Dad don’t work things out, we’ll always have each other.”
“No offense, but I’d rather have Stephen,” said Veronica.
She went upstairs. Lisa was surprised by Veronica’s despondency. Previously, she hadn’t even considered the possibility of confronting her parents about their decision to separate—if such a decision had been made—but now she wondered if it was somehow her responsibility to try. Still feeling unsettled, she told her mother she was going to visit Molly, and hurried out of the house.
∞∞∞
Lisa arrived at Molly’s house and rang the doorbell. No one answered, so she went around the corner and found Molly admiring her work. The garden was exquisite. Flowers glowed in the shade under the trees, and the sweet sound of a wind chime mingled with the faint roar of the waves. Molly turned and saw her.
“Lisa, where have you been?” she said. “I haven’t seen you since the wedding! You should have come sooner. I have so much to tell you. Come inside! I’ll pour us some lemonade and we’ll talk.”
They went into the
