The next day was game day.
Isaac would arrive today. Isaac would be here, at Golden Doors, staying down the hall from me.
After showering, I worked my curl-enhancing mousse through my hair with precision and massaged my favorite rose-scented body lotion into my dry skin. Wrapped in a towel, I returned to my room, hesitating briefly in the hall to listen to the sound of adults scrambling, getting last-minute preparations ready for the Danzigers’ arrival.
Miri lay curled up in bed, reading a book featuring a girl in a fancy dress wielding a sword. She looked up. “Morning.”
“Sounds like chaos downstairs.” I perched at the vanity, where my pots of creams and powders sat in satisfying clusters, and glanced briefly at the air mattress. Abby had already leftbefore I went to shower—or had never come to our room.
“Want a CLIF Bar?” Miri offered. “I keep a bunch in my drawer in case I’m starving and don’t want to face the music.”
“Good point. They’re probably drafting everyone into cleaning.” I smoothed primer over my face, then pulled out my foundation. I wanted to look good today but natural; Isaac shouldn’t be able to tell I wore makeup.
In the mirror, I saw Miriam cock her head. She’d always been the most watchful of the cousins. “Tyler came sledding yesterday.”
“He did,” I said carefully, dabbing on some highlighter.
“Is... anything going on with you guys?”
I pinned her with my most Grandma-like stare. “No. We’re friends.”
“Oh.” She frowned. “I thought you hated him?”
“I don’thatehim.” Miriam was only two years younger than me; she’d definitely noticed the rise and fall of my affections for Tyler. “I’d... He embarrassed me when I was little. But it was a long time ago.”
“He seemed into you. He was smiling at you and touching you a lot.”
Because of our agreement, not because he liked me. “That’s just how Tyler behaves with girls. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“If you say so,” Miriam said skeptically.
“I do.” Turning my head from side to side, I studied the finalresult. I looked cool, mature. Definitely like someone who could date a nineteen-year-old.
Next, I regarded my closet with some dismay, suddenly worried I had nothing to wear. My dresses felt too fancy.Iknew I wore dresses as a matter of course, but would Isaac think I was trying too hard if I wore one? I settled on an oatmeal-colored sweater and my favorite jeans. Time enough for dresses with all the parties coming up.
Downstairs, I piled a plate high with toast and eggs and sat alongside the triplets. They spoke over each other to tell me about all the travesties of being twelve, which, to be fair, were many. I listened and gave what advice I could, all the while aware of the knot in my stomach tightening, my toast losing taste. What if I froze up in front of Isaac? Last night I’d been so sure I could do this, but what if I couldn’t?
Tyler had offered to meet up today, before the Danzigers arrived. I pulled up our message thread.Around for more practice?I texted. And then, because I was still curious about the contents of the box and because I wanted to kill every last hour before Isaac arrived:Could also stop by the Whaling Museum after, if you’re interested.
Tyler replied right away.
Tyler:
Hell yes I’m interested
how often do I get to investigate drowned sailors
we probably need to figure out how he died or he’ll haunt the shores of Nantucket forever
I smiled, then tried to concentrate as the triplets told me about the injustice of other kids winning a history fair project.
“This isridiculous.”
Our heads swiveled toward the fireplace, where Grandpa scowled at Dad and Uncle Harry. All three of them looked like steam might burst out of their ears any second.
The triplets’ faces swiveled to mine. “Do you think everything’s okay?” Iris asked.
I gave them my brightest, most genuine smile. Who said they were the only actors in the family? “Of course. You know how people get at the holidays.”
