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1994-1995 - Junior Year
At the start of the summer, Amelia answered her front door on a Saturday morning and released a soft gasp. “Mrs. De La Cruz. Is Leo alright?”
“He’s fine, darling. Of course, he is. I came to speak with your parents for a moment if they’re available.”
It was only then that Amelia noticed the way Leo’s mom was dressed. She looked ready to attend a function with the Queen Mother. Her red hair was coiled expertly at the base of her neck. She wore a crisp raw silk suit in a blue so dark it looked black, matching heels, and a little pillbox hat with a veil.
“I…” Amelia met the woman’s eyes. The lovely Scotswoman nodded with a secretive wink. “Of course, Mrs. De La Cruz. Won’t you please come in? I’ll get my parents.” She was confused for a moment about what to do next.
“I’ll wait here, darling.”
Amelia walked rapidly down the hall to her father’s den. “Dad? Can you come out for a minute? Leo’s mom is here.”
He stood immediately and came around his desk. Placing his arm around Amelia’s shoulders, he asked, “Is Leo alright?”
“Yes. She wants to talk to you...and Mom.”
“Hmm.” They returned to the foyer and her friendly father extended his hand. “Gil Whitehall. It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Mrs. De La Cruz.”
“Likewise. Please, call me Sarabeth. I feel like I know you already from the many wonderful stories Amelia has shared with us.” Amelia could tell she was tightly controlling her accent so her dad could understand her. “I’m sorry you haven’t been able to attend the dinners we’ve invited you to but I truly hope you’ll accept in the future.”
Frowning, Gil started to reply and caught himself. It was clear he didn’t know what Mrs. De La Cruz was talking about.
“I-I hope we will, too. Leo treats Amy so well.”
“I’m glad you think so, Gil. May I call you Gil?” Stumbling a bit, he nodded. “Our families - my husband’s and my own - we have certain traditions. They go back hundreds of years.” She smiled at Amelia. “Your daughter has become part of our family and we’d like to include her, with your permission.”
Amelia’s dad smiled broadly. “That sounds lovely.”
“Now that our children are almost seventeen, dating for two years, and mature well beyond their years, we’d like to take Amelia with us when we travel to see our family.”
Amelia was stunned. She admired Leo’s parents but she never imagined they’d invite her to visit their extended family.
“We spend two weeks in Madrid in the summer and two weeks of early December in Edinburgh. Naturally, we’d have her back to celebrate Christmas with you and her mother. Amelia will have a personal assistant who acts as her chaperone and bodyguard. You can trust her safety in our hands.”
Reaching out to take Amelia’s hand, her dad smiled. “Spain and Scotland, Amy! Won’t that be nice?” He added shyly, “I haven’t traveled much myself but love the photos I’ve seen in National Geographic.”
“They’re even more beautiful in person, Gil. Perhaps you’ll consider joining us for a getaway. We have plenty of room and you’d be most welcome. And your wife, of course.”
“Oh, Augusta refuses to leave the United States. Sh-she worries about being robbed and murdered.” He sighed. “I’ve tried to tell her we can take tourist trips to work her way into it but…”
His voice trailed away and Amelia was relieved he didn’t repeat some of her mother’s other reasons for refusing to travel.
“That’s too bad. I think you’d love the history of my family estate in Scotland and the views from the castle passed down through generations of my husband’s family would take your breath away.” She smiled gently. “The invitation is open.” Reaching out, she handed Amelia an envelope. “All the details of the trip - where we’ll be and when. There’s also a passport form and we’ll need to get that back quickly.”
Behind them, the front door slammed open. Amelia’s mother stood in the entry staring between the three of them.
“What’s going on?” she asked too loudly.
“Mom, this is Sarabeth De La Cruz. Leo’s mom. She came to meet you and Dad.”
Mrs. De La Cruz turned and said crisply, “Mrs. Whitehall. You’ve raised an exemplary young woman.”
“I know,” Augusta said suspiciously.
“I wish to take Amelia with us to Madrid for two weeks…”
“Absolutely not. Amy isn’t leaving the country. Everything she needs is here.”
