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"You're going to do that this summer, too?" "Yes. I'm going to be a waitress."
"Well, that's not too far."
I looked at him.
"Too far for what?"
"A visit or two or three," he said.
If there ever was such a thing as a magical, winning smile, Craig Harrison had it, I thought. It made me want to dive into his face. Again, I felt the heat rise up through my neck.
"You like riding the bus to school?" he asked. "I don't mind. I get some reading done."
"How about I pick you up tomorrow?" he asked as we drew closer to the Doral House.
"Why do you want to do that? It's out of your way."
"That depends on what my way is," he said, smiling again. "I'll be here at seven a.m. The bus doesn't come by until about seven-fifteen, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
He pulled into our driveway and looked up at the Doral House.
"Your house is the most interesting in the area. I think, anyway. You ever go up to the attic?"
"Of course. That's where I do my artwork," I said. "Oh. Well, how about quid pro quo? You know what that is?"
"Yes. Tit for tat," I said, and he laughed.
"So? Do I get to see it?"
"Not right now, but maybe," I said.
"I'd even volunteer to be a model," he added, now smiling impishly.
"I bet you would. Thanks. For everything," I added and got out.
"See you in the morning."
He waved and backed out. I watched him drive off. Why was he doing this? Was he really interested in me, or was he going to use me to amuse hims
elf and his friends? How do you know when to trust someone, especially someone like him, who, as far as I was concerned, could choose any girl in the school?
It was nice of him to think that my mother wasn't as terrible as she had been made out to be, and yet I had to wonder if he was saying all that and showing me all that just to win my trust. My family was right, I thought, I needed to get out and about more so I wouldn't be so naive and helpless when it came to socializing, especially with boys.
"That you, Alice?" I heard my grandfather call as I entered the house. He was in the living room, reading. My grandmother was in the kitchen. I could hear her moving about and then saw her peer out to see me.
"Yes, Grandpa."
"Where were you?" my grandmother asked. "We didn't know you were still outside."
"I went for a walk and ended up in the village." "Oh?"
Should I dare tell them I had been in my mother's home and even in her room? Should I dare tell them about the research Craig Harrison had done? I had to at least tell them about him. He was coming for me in the morning, or said he was. Maybe he wouldn't show up.
"Yes. I met Craig Harrison," I said. "And then he drove me home."
"Really?" I heard my grandfather say. He came to the living room doorway. He looked down the hall at my grandmother and then back at me. "We didn't know you were friendly with him."
