Wendy Corsi Staub - Lily Dale: Discovering

Lily Dale
Tuesday, October 9
7:50 a.m.

Morning, Calla!

Startled to hear a voice as she slips out her grandmothers front door with her backpack, Calla spins around to see her father over on Ramonas porch.

Dad!

That was some storm last night, huh?

She nods. When did the power come back on?

Around midnight.

Oh.By that time, she had eaten herself into Coffee Heath Bar Crunchinduced oblivion, too zonked out to even dream.

Seeing movement out of the corner of her eye, she turns and spots a translucent little boy perched in a tree beside Ramonas porch. Hes wearing a 1930s-style newsboy hat and knickers, and shes pretty sure shes seen him hanging around before.

Are you wearing that to school?

She looks down at her jeans, long sleeved T-shirt, and sneakers. Um... yes?

Really.

Its a public school, Dad,she reminds him. As opposed to a private school: at Shoreside Day back in Florida, she had to wear a preppy uniform every day.

So everyone dresses down for school? Is that it?

Pretty much. Why?

The little boy in the tree crosses his eyes at her and giggles.

I just want to make sure that with your mother gone youre not... you know...

Letting my fashion sense go down the tubes?she asks her father dryly. That would be tragic.

He snorts.

What are you doing out here, anyway, Dad?

Guess.

She descends a few steps and peers closer at him across her grandmothers unkempt hedges, still glistening from last nights rain.

Dad is sitting on a wicker rocker, clasping a coffee mug in both hands. His hair stands straight up, hes got a face full of razor stubble, and hes wearing a pair of sweatpants and a rumpled T-shirt, looking like he just rolled out of bed five minutes ago.

I have no idea what youre doing. Why dont you tell me?

Nothing.He grins. Im doing absolutely nothing but relaxing. Enjoying the beautiful morning.He waves a hand at the sun slanting down through the misty treetops, a rare sight around here. And I get to see my daughter off to school. What do you think about that?

Its... uh, great.

You know, Cal, I dont know what I was thinking. Why have I just spent the last few months alone, on the opposite end of the country from the one person I care about? It doesnt make sense.

Ramona. Is he talking about Ramona?

Is that what hes trying to tell me?

Are he and Ramona in love?

Has he been having a secret affair with her since they met?

I dont know why I didnt figure out until now that the two of us belong together, after all weve been through lately.

Dad has been tragically widowed, but Ramona... her latest boyfriend dumped her for a Buffalo Jill. How does that compare? Clearly, hes lost touch with reality.

Dad, are you okay?

I will be now that I can start every day by saying good morning to my girl in person....

His girl?

Jealousy streaks through Calla.

Ramona is his girl now?

Thats what he always used to call...

Oh.

You idiot.

Thats great, Dad,she says with a relieved grin. Im glad youre here, too.

How could she even think he was talking about Ramona, when they barely know each other?

Im his girl. Im the one he belongs with after all weve beenthrough.

Of course thats what he meant.

Duh.

How could she have thought otherwise? Just because Dad and Ramona are staying under the same roof now...

The screen door squeaks next door and Calla looks up just in time to see Ramona step out onto the porch. Her long, curly brown hair is tousled and shes carrying a coffee mug. And wearing a snug- fitting pair of pink pajamas that look awesome on her.

Morning, Calla!she calls, waving. Then she turns and says something to Dad that Calla cant hear, and he laughs.

Hmm. They do look pretty cozy over there.

And Calla can try all she wants to ignore it, but her sixth sense is telling her that Folgers isnt all thats brewing next door.

Ive got to get to school,she announces, and heads down the walk toward the street.

The little boy is now dangling from his knees on a branch high above her head, gleefully swinging back and forth.

Youre going to get hurt doing that, she tells him silently.

He sticks out his tongue.

Whatever. How hurt can he get? Hes already dead.

Hey, Calla, wait for Evangeline. Shes right here!calls her father, who obviously hasnt heard the news bulletin about the two of them not walking to school together in over a week.

Before Calla can fill him in, Evangeline pops out the door, dressed almost identically to Calla and carrying a backpack.

Calla! Hi!

She looks almost pleasantly surprised, so Calla dares to say, Hiwant to walk to school?

Sure.

Great!

As Evangeline joins her, Calla cant help but note that it doesnt necessarily mean shes oozing with forgiveness. After all, theyre both going in the same direction at the same time. What was Evangeline supposed to say? No, I want to walk a fewsteps behind you?

Which, incidentally, is pretty much what she did all last week.

They head in silence down the road toward the gates. The moment theyre out of earshot, Calla says, kicking a pebble along with the toe of her sneaker, If you dont want to walk with me, its okay.

It is? You mean you wont, like, collapse in a heap on the ground and cry?

Startled, she looks up and is relieved to see Evangelines familiar, crinkly grin. I dont know, I might collapse, but Ive cried so many tears over you I think Ive run dry.

Evangeline laughs.

Im kind of not kidding, actually,Calla tells her. Im really sorry about everything, and Ive totally missed you since...

Since you stole my boyfriend and faked a date with him to homecoming?

It wasnt like that, I didnt

Gotcha.Evangeline pokes her in the arm. I know he wasnt my boyfriend. He never will be. Hes not into me, its obvious. I guess I just wanted to pretend there was a chance, you know? And you totally ruined my delusional fantasy romance. I so hate when that happens.

Calla laughs. Hard. Then she impulsively hugs Evangeline. Hard. Youre a good friend.

So are you.

Really? Even though I ruined your delusional fantasy romance?

Happens to the best of us.

They walk on.

Calla watches a phantom stagecoach pass them on the road, with a filmy driver wearing a top hat and a female passenger in a frilly bonnet.

Turning her head, she sees a Native American maiden with an infant in her arms watching from a thicket of lakeside cattails.

Tune out.

She focuses on Evangeline again, telling her, I just want you to know that I really am sorry.

Thanks. Im sorry, too, for acting like such a jerk about the whole thing. Do you forgive me?

Are you kidding? Of course.

Good. You know, the whole time you were away, I wanted to call you and tell you that. Plus, I was kind of worried about you.

You were? Why?

I dont know . I just had this feeling... you know? Like something might be wrong. So I was really glad to see you yesterday and hear that the trip was fine.

Far from it, but before Calla can tell her that, Evangeline asks, So, are you and Jacy... ?

Were really good friends.

Oh, please. Thats what celebrities tell nosy reporters when theyre madly in love with someone whos married or their kids nanny or thirty years older and filthy rich.

Calla cant help but laugh at that. Jacy is none of those things.

Yeah, but you two are more than friends. Ive seen him looking at you, and you said he kissed you.

Okay, we are more than friends. But only if its okay with you.

Why did I say that? Calla wonders as soon as its out. Is she really prepared to sacrifice her relationship with Jacy on Evan-gelines say- so?