Bridge to a Distant Star - Carolyn Williford [114]
“I love you so much,” Michal whispered.
“And I love you too, my darlin’ Michal.” Sarah looked into her eyes, noticed a vulnerability and insecurity that made her hasten to add, “Call me anytime you need to, okay? Promise me that?”
“I promise.”
Regretfully, Michal broke away from her aunt’s reassuring embrace. And felt the insecurity even more keenly. A voice within whispered, You’re going to need those arms again. Soon.
The dorm felt like an airport terminal on the busiest day of the year; it was so full of energy, suitcases, conversations, people. Everyone had a story from spring break she couldn’t wait to tell.
Michal patiently waited for her turn to share—gathered with Beth, Samantha, Jenny, Ruth, and Jessica in their suite’s lounge—but when she did she was equally exuberant, giving a full-body demonstration of riding a boogie board.
Only Beth seemed reserved, although she also told a few stories about her grandparents. How her Grandpapa Elliott—obviously suffering from some senility—called her Sandy the entire time, no matter how often she corrected him. She described how he’d laugh in embarrassment and then explain, ‘“Oh, Sandy. I’m losing my mind, I truly am.’”
Beth added, giggling, “It got so I just answered to Sandy. When Grandma would call me Beth, I’d sometimes catch myself thinking, ‘Beth? Who’s Beth?’”
Michal noted that the hollows in Beth’s cheeks were gone, which pleased her. “Is your grandma a good cook? You look … healthier, Beth. You look good,” she said. The other girls chimed in, agreeing.
“Oh, yeah. She fed me, all right. Fried chicken. Mashed potatoes. Ham. Butter beans. Pinto beans. Coleslaw. Biscuits.”
“Aunt Sarah made biscuits almost every morning too,” Michal interjected. “I think they’re addictive.”
There was a brief rap on the door. “Michal? Someone for you in the lounge.”
The teasing started immediately. “Wonder who’s here for you already, hmm?” and “Allistair maybe?—the guy she’s never going to date again.” Michal reddened. Considered dashing back into her room for a quick check in the mirror, but immediately thought better of it, knowing instinctively it would increase the teasing tenfold. So, consoling herself that she didn’t care anyway, she resolutely started out the door, the teasing following.
“Tell him ‘hello’ for us, will you?”
“Don’t forget to tell Allistair this is your last date.”
“Why not greet him with a holy kiss?”
Which immediately sent them all into fits of laughter. Michal could hear their carrying-on all the way to the dorm’s lounge when she pulled open the door.
Where she saw Stephen, sprawled on the couch. Punching buttons on the remote, exactly like before.
“Hey, Stephen. Good to see you.” The passing thought I wish it had been Allistair flitted across her mind, immediately producing a wave of guilt. Which then made her want to make it up to him somehow. “Have a good break?”
Stephen didn’t bother standing at her approach, but he tugged off the ugly hat, presenting the more pleasing visage again. “Oh, it was awesome. It really was.” Michal sat down, and he inched closer to her.
“Well then … you must’ve done something pretty exciting?”
His face lit up. “My parents surprised me. We visited my brother—he’s a doctoral student at George Washington University. We went to all kinds of neat places in DC. The Smithsonian—the aviation building is probably my favorite. And we visited the Holocaust Museum again. You know, every time I see those pictures of the people who died, I wonder about all those people who never got to … to fulfill their destiny, you know? You’ve been there, right?”
“No, I—”
“Oh, you’ve just got to go. It’s amazing. This is my third time. I’m surprised your parents haven’t …”
Feeling embarrassed, Michal said, “They’re in Ethiopia, you know.”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry. Well, anyway … I spent some time in the Library of Congress, too. Hours, as a matter