Дэвид Балдаччи - One Summer

Sammy yelled, “Jack, get your butt in here. There’s big trouble.”

Jack walked in from the kitchen and froze when he saw her.

Mikki took in all the males staring at her and finally said, “What?”

“Nothing, sweetie,” said Jack. “You look terrific.”

“Jenna helped me.”

Jack flashed her an appreciative look. “Good thing. I’m not really all that great with hair and makeup.”

Jenna chuckled. “Gee, don’t they teach that in the army?”

“So where are we going?” asked Mikki.

“Like I said, dinner with the family. To celebrate your sweet sixteen.”

She looked at Cory and Jackie watching cartoons and munching on cheese curls. Jackie’s face and hands were totally orange and sticky. Cory let out a loud belch. “Great,” she said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

Sammy looked at Jack. “Hold on a sec. You said we had to finish that job tonight. Promised the lady. Remember?”

“Oh, damn, that’s right. What was I thinking?” Jack slapped his forehead in frustration.

Mikki scowled, “Tonight? What job?”

Jack looked stricken. “A big one. I forgot, honey.”

Mikki’s face flushed and her eyes glistened. “Dad, it’s my sixteenth birthday.”

“I know, sweetie, I know. Thank goodness I had a backup plan.”

“What?”

He opened the front door, and Mikki gasped.

Liam was standing there dressed in pressed chinos and a white button-down shirt. His face was scrubbed pink, and he’d even combed his long hair. In his hand was a bouquet of flowers.

Mikki looked from him to her dad. “Uh, what is going on?”

Jack grinned. “Like you really wanted to go out on your sixteenth birthday with your old man and two little brothers? Give me a break.”

“That would’ve been fine,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.

“Yeah, right,” scoffed Sammy. He turned to Liam, who hadn’t budged an inch. “Well, get in here, son, and deliver the flowers to the lady.” He grabbed Liam’s arm and propelled him into the room.

Liam handed the bouquet to Mikki. “You really look great,” he said shyly.

“Pretty slick yourself.” She eyed her dad. “How did you possibly manage this without Cory or Jackie squealing?”

“That’s easy. I didn’t tell them. But Jenna was a major co-conspirator.”

Jenna did a mock curtsy. “Guilty as charged.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Mikki asked.

“Like I said, dinner. For two. Reservations have already been made.”

Jenna amended, “Not the Little Bit. At the fancy restaurant in town. I know the owners really well. They’ve got a great table picked out for you and a special menu.”

“Wow, I can’t believe this is happening. I feel like Cinderella.”

Jack put his arm around his daughter. “Nice to know I can still surprise you.”

“Thanks, Dad. Well, I guess we better go,” she said.

“Wait a sec,” Jack said. “Close your eyes.”

“Dad!”

“Please, just do it.”

Sighing heavily, she closed her eyes. Jack slipped the necklace from his pocket and affixed it around her neck. “Okay.”

She looked down and gasped. She rushed to a mirror hanging on the wall.

“This was Mom’s necklace,” she said in a hushed tone.

Jack nodded. “I gave it to her on our first wedding anniversary.”

Mikki turned to look at him, tears glimmering in her eyes.

“Happy birthday, baby.”

Father and daughter shared a lingering hug.

After Liam and Mikki had gone off on their date, Jack stood on the front porch staring at the sandy yard. Jenna joined him there. Jack’s eyes were moist, and he wouldn’t look at her.

“You okay, Dad ?” she asked.

“They grow up fast, Jenna.”

“Yes, they do. But growing up is okay. What we don’t want them to do is grow away from us.”

“You’re pretty good at this parenting thing.”

“You do something solo long enough, I guess you either get good at it or you crash.”

“So there’s hope for me?”

“I’d say definitely.” She slid her arm through his. “She’s a great kid, Jack.”

“Because of Lizzie.”

“Give yourself some of the credit. You did good tonight, Jack Armstrong.”

“You really think so?”

“Yeah, I really do.”

Mikki and Liam had just finished dinner when he excused himself to go to the restroom. A few seconds later, Mikki was stunned to see Blake Saunders walk up to her table.

“What are you doing here, you weasel?” she snarled.

“I work here.”

“You work here?”

“Busing tables. Sweat Town, like I said.”

“Gee, doesn’t sweet little Tiffany give you an allowance?”

“Look, I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be.”

“You’re wrong, Blake. If I were upset, that would mean I cared, and I don’t. You had your stupid fun, but Liam could have really gotten hurt.”

“I pulled those two idiots off him, in case you didn’t notice. I was on top of him to protect him. Nobody was supposed to get hurt. But then you jumped on my back and basically scratched my face off.”

“Hey, let’s not forget that none of it would’ve happened if you hadn’t set me up. And why exactly did you do that?”

Blake looked down. “Because of what you did to Tiff. She was upset. She wanted to get back at you.”

“And you do whatever Tiff tells you to? That’s beyond pathetic.”

“Yeah, I guess it is,” Blake admitted.

“Look, you’re not going to fool me with your ‘I’m all sorry’ act. Okay? So just save your breath.”

“Did you put the glue in her car seat?”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Well, in case you were wondering, she was pissed. She had to take off her pants to get out of the car. And she hadn’t bothered to put on underwear. She had to run up the steps to her house. But she slipped and fell over into the bushes, scratched her rear end up good. At least that’s what my mom said. Guess all the hired help got a good laugh about that later.”

Hearing this, Mikki could not suppress a grin. “It’s nice to know that bad things do happen to bad people.”

“I heard you entered the talent competition.”

“That’s right. Me and Liam. I’m sure you’ll be there to root on precious Tiff.”

“Actually, I hope you kick her butt.”

He turned and walked away.

After leaving the restaurant, Liam and Mikki drove to the beach, parked, took off their shoes, and walked along the sand.

“I never saw the ocean before coming here,” said Mikki as she drew close enough to the water to let it cover her feet.

“Mom and I have always been close to the water. Well, pretty close.”

“I really like it here. I didn’t think I would after living in the city all my life, but I do.”

“It took some adjustment on my part, but it can be cool.”

“Blake Saunders came up to me at the restaurant while you were in the bathroom.”

Liam did not seem annoyed by this, only curious. “Really? What did he want?”

“To apologize for helping Tiffany get the jump on me. He said he was trying to protect you, not hurt you.”

“Yeah, I actually believe him.”

“You do?”

“Blake is not your typical bully jock, Mikki. He’s actually a nice guy. Okay, he runs around with Tiffany too much, but I’ve never had a problem with him. In school he’s been cool with me. We even hang out and stuff sometimes.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah.”

It started to rain, and they ran toward an old lifeguard shack and took cover under the roof overhang.

“Your mom is really cool, Liam.”