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“My my, I can already tell you and my daddy don’t agree on anything,” Robert said. “According to him, it all comes down to God’s will.”
Dad and Robert spent the next twenty-five minutes bonding over their mutual disagreement with Dr. Michaels’s take on religion. Then Robert and Mom talked over their favorite 1980s romance books, both of them being big fans of Jackie Collins, apparently.
Things were going just ducky until my mom asked about Tilt-a-Whirl. “So, this club you dance at? Is Peter safe there?”
Robert’s big eyes went all soft and tender when he reached out to take her hand. “I promise on my soul to keep an eye out for him. Barry and I love Peter to pieces, and his safety is important to both of us.”
“I’m an adult and can take care of myself.” It was the first thing I’d said in nearly an hour.
Robert rolled his eyes and ignored me. “I know he’s a baby. We’ll make sure he doesn’t get into any more—” He broke off and cleared his throat. “Well, any trouble.”
Mom squeezed his fingers. “I trust you.”
“You could trustme!” I gaped at her. “What have I ever done that you can’t trust me?”
“You’re not even nineteen yet.”
“I will be in less than a month, and when Dad was nineteen, he was in Jerusalem for his year abroad.”
“Your father was more mature.”
Robert swallowed a gulp of tea and blinked urgently at me to keep my lips zipped and just take it. That was easy enough for him to suggest when he didn’t have to live with his parents anymore.
But I didn’t want to make things awkward, so I just angrily ate another cookie.
After that, the interview was over. Mom and Dad went on their merry way, and Robert slung his arm around my shoulder as he waved them goodbye from the front porch.
“You have good people, Peter.”
“I think I liked it better when they weren’t so involved in my life.”
“Nah, that’s a lie and you know it.” He kissed the side of my head. “Get your ass on into the house and help me figure out what to wear tonight. Are you coming out with us?”
“To Tilt-a-Whirl?”
“Of course, baby.”
I shrugged. I guess I had my parents’ permission, and I was legally old enough to get in, but I wasn’t ready to return to the scene of my humiliation and violation. Maybe that made me a coward, but I just wasn’t ready.
“Maybe tomorrow,” I said. “To see your show.”
Robert slapped my butt. “Fine. But I still need your help tonight. Red dress or green? Blue or purple? Mauve or yellow? So many choices.”
“So many sequins.” I winked.
***
After work, Iwent home to an empty house. Mom and Dad had gone out for dinner, so it looked like another mac and cheese night for me. I didn’t mind. The flavor of powdered cheddar held the comfort of nights curled up on the sofa with my father watching the Buster Keaton films he loved.
The water began to boil just as the doorbell rang. Hoping it might be Minty or Windy or even Daniel dropping by to whisk me away to another used clothing store or to hang out at Cuppa again, I hustled to the front door.
“Peter!”
My stomach dropped, and I sagged against the jamb. “Leslie! Hey! Long time, no see.”
“No kidding!” She grinned, her blond hair glowing like a halo in the sun. I was struck again by how pretty she was. Her blue eyes glittered, and her cheeks glowed with a healthy tan. She wore shorts and a T-shirt and held a pale blue cardigan over one arm.
I cleared my throat.
