SNOW GLOBE (15 page)

“If you’re lucky, the president will call.” Aja stayed on the floor, but looked up. Her mom was still twisted next to her. “You know, Walker, my life is more complicated than it should be. I’ve never been normal and probably never will be.”

“I know. I think that’s why I’m so confused about you. You’re like the forbidden fruit, everything I’m not.” He sighed. “I can’t even break up with my ex-girlfriend, and you’re out saving the world.”

“You did pose nude. That’s off the normal chart.”

“And you walked in.”

“And saw everything.”

Aja’s mom blew out a deep breath and smiled.

“Go reheat our tofu, Mom.” Then Aja asked Walker, “Why did you call my mom’s phone and not mine?”

“Your phone went right to voice mail.”

Aja remembered trying to charge it. “My battery dies every five minutes.” She sat up. “Walker, for now my first priority is to get out of jail and school. Then I’m leaving Texas. My life is a roller coaster; I never know what’s going to happen next. And you need to resolve your issues with your girlfriend.”

“That’s another reason I called.”

“Kendall?”

“Aja, she told my grandparents that she saw you putting the key back the night Mrs. Poston’s jewelry was stolen.”

Aja was stunned. “She’s lying.”

“This is why I’m so confused about everything. I want to believe you, but why would she make up a story about that?”

“You tell me. I am not a thief.” Again, Aja remembered the forty dollars. Maybe her mom was right. Karma
was
dictating the way this was playing out. “I didn’t steal that woman’s jewelry. Period.”

“Aja, I don’t know what to think anymore.”

Right now, Aja wished she were a better mentalist, like Kreskin, where she’d have to power to bend spoons, then take it another step further and fling them at someone’s head. “Believe what you want, Walker. I know the truth.”

Chapter 26

Aja stood in the school office, waiting for Mrs. Burnett to sign her attendance slip. It was such a hassle to run here in between each class. Plus, she was still steaming mad about Kendall’s accusation.

“Aja,” Mrs. Burnett stepped from her office. “Do you have a second?”

“I’ve got to get to my next class.”

“I’ll give you a pass.” Mrs. Burnett went to her desk. Aja followed her in and sat in a chair.

“Aja, I just got your SAT scores in.”

Most kids took the test their junior year, but Aja never lighted long enough in one school district to follow through. She’d just taken the test six weeks ago. “How’d I do?” Aja asked. She thought the test was pretty easy, but sometimes she saw life differently than others. She either aced it or totally flunked it.

“You’re in the top five per cent of students. You almost got a perfect score.” Mrs. Burnett slid the results to Aja. “Do you realize that this alone would have gotten you some amazing scholarship offers?”

“Would have?”

“Most of the scholarships are spoken for by now.” Mrs. Burnett clicked her computer and stared at the screen. “That said, I’m not giving up.” She navigated on her computer.

“I want to go to Stanford.”

Mrs. Burnett smiled. “Who doesn’t?” Mrs. Burnett pulled a thick file from her drawer. “Aja, these are your school transcripts, records, grades from your other schools. There is no continuity. Your grades, for the classes you finished, are good, but it’s like putting a puzzle together. Then you’re almost through with your senior year. You haven’t applied to any schools yet. Most students have already been accepted to schools.”

Aja shook her head. The application fees were always too expensive. She had to choose either applying to colleges or getting her car fixed so she could drive to work to pay for the application fees. The circle of life. And then she probably shouldn’t have bought any of the cute clothes from Abercrombie. Her small way of trying to fit in. “I can’t afford to apply.”

“With your grades and your…um, ambitious personality, you’d have many opportunities.” She continued to click on her computer. “This program shows you what your chances are for college admissions at every college in the U.S. Aja, don’t let the application fees stop you. I’ll help you.”

“No, I could barely pay you back the forty dollars.”

Mrs. Burnett sighed and stopped typing on the computer. “And there lies the other problem. Your background. You’re a little bit of a firecracker. Ms. Lewis would have to release you so your record doesn’t hold you down.”

“Keepin’ the poor man down.”

“Don’t get on a bandwagon, Aja. There are opportunities for students. Come back after school today, and we’ll work on getting your applications started.”

Aja squirmed in her chair. This afternoon, she was going to try and sneak into the hospital wing at the assisted living center to visit Mr. Jensen, since Edna told Lauren that under no circumstance could Aja visit. Aja had talked to Janie, who was going to pick her up on the way to work. Then Aja was going to have to haul butt to get home by seven.

“I can’t today. I promised to, uh, do something for somebody.”

Mrs. Burnett raised an eyebrow. “I’m here to help, but you’re already too late for most of the scholarship money.”

“Can we do it tomorrow?” Aja asked.

“Here, get these papers filled out tonight and bring them to me first thing tomorrow. Now, let me write you a pass to get back to class.”

At four fifteen, Aja sat in her car in the mall parking lot waiting for Janie. They’d agreed to meet here, since it was pretty close to the assisted living center. Aja put her long hair up in a bun and wore a ball cap and big sunglasses just in case someone recognized her. Aja wondered if Walker was going to be there with his grandparents and whether or not he and Kendall were really over.

She had one of her “feelings,” an underlying sense that someone was watching. She’d kept looking over her shoulder. Probably just nerves because she was doing something wrong—again.

A horn sounded, causing Aja to jump. She looked and saw Janie waving and rolling her window down.

“Come on, hurry, I’m late as usual,” Janie said.

Aja got out of her car and slid in beside Janie. “Thanks for doing this.” Janie’s aura was warm and friendly. Aja had missed her.

“Anything for Mr. Jensen, even if it makes me an accomplice to a life of crime,” Janie said, laughing.

“I know, right? We’ve got criminals out raping and pillaging, but you and I have to worry about our butts because we want to visit the elderly.”

“You’re such a bad influence.” Janie sped out of the lot. “Do you have a ride back to your car in case Gabe or I can’t get you back here on time?”

“I think so. My mom is seeing someone at five-thirty, but should be able to meet me at six forty-five. That should get me home by seven.”

“Is she driving to the hospital?” Janie asked, with the implication that even Aja’s mom wasn’t allowed on the property.

Aja pulled her baseball cap lower. “I’m going to make a mad dash to the road, she’ll meet me there.”

“I’ll see if I can find you a tablecloth to cover you up. The residents will think you’re a ghost.”

“Then maybe they’ll quit harping on the theft and get some new juicy gossip to talk about.” Aja sunk low in the seat when they drove into the lot. “I just need to be home by seven in case that awful court advocate shows up again.”

“What about Lauren Jensen? I thought she said she’d take you home.”

“Not tonight, one of her kids has a soccer game. She was going to send her husband, but I said no worries, I’ll find my way home. Besides, I’m not planning on being here long. I could even walk to the mall to get my car.”

Janie laughed. “I admire you. I don’t think I’d work this hard to get out of high school. But then, you’d wind up like me. Thirty-one-years old, a waitress, with no future and not sure what I want to do with my life.”

“But you’re good here. Everybody loves you.” Aja knew Janie was comfortable with her life. She sensed that Janie was satisfied working with the residents, a contented happiness.

“And I like them,” Janie said. “Even if it is sad when it’s their time.”

“Yeah, I don’t know why I’m so worried about Mr. Jensen, since I hardly know him. It was just strange seeing the pictures of them when they were younger. So different from what they became. It’s like, poof, a whole lifetime of memories are saved in photo albums. All that’s left are pictures and dentures.”

“And memories,” Janie said. “And seeing their children grow.”

“And love, I guess,” Aja sighed. “He really loved his wife.”

They pulled into the circular drive of the resident’s hospital. Aja opened the door. “I didn’t even bring a gift or anything.”

“That’s okay. He’ll be happy to see you.” Janie leaned back to look at Aja. “No one should recognize you in here, but just in case, keep your head down. He’s in the second room on the left. Call me if you have any trouble.”

“Thanks, Janie,” Aja said, and lowered her cap visor and threw her purse over her shoulder. Again, she felt the ominous threat of someone watching. She looked back and didn’t see anybody.

Aja’s heart pounded as she opened the door. The one-desk nursing station was empty, so Aja quickly walked to Mr. Jensen’s room. His door was ajar, and she could hear voices. She hoped there were no visitors from the home who would be happy to report her.

Tentatively she tapped on the door and pushed it open. “Hello, Mr. Jensen?”

He was lying on a bed hooked to IVs, apparently asleep. Aja saw Lauren and her sister, Katie, sitting next to him. The room was warm. Near the bed were a small couch and two chairs.

“Aja, I’m so glad you came.” Lauren held her hands out to welcome her.

“Hi,” Aja said, and let Lauren lead her inside. She pushed the door closed with her foot, in case someone walked by and saw her here. “How is he?”

“He sleeps so much now,” Lauren said, as she dabbed her eyes. “Dad, look who’s here.”

Mr. Jensen’s eyes fluttered open, and he took a moment to focus on Aja. He grinned. “It’s Princess Bride.” He struggled to sit higher. “You helped with Buttercup.” He held a liver-spotted hand out to Aja. She sat in one of the chairs next to the bed. His face became sad. “I’ve lost her. My Buttercup.” He closed his eyes as if to hold in tears.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Jensen. She knew you loved her.” Aja wasn’t sure what to say. She took his hand and scooted the chair closer. “Tell me about her.”

His eyes opened again and he smiled.

Chapter 27

Aja lost track of time sitting in the hospital room with Mr. Jensen. Lauren and her sister left soon after Aja arrived. But when Mr. Jensen started talking about his wife, he became animated and happy. His girls had brought a few photo albums, and he told Aja about each picture. From their wedding to family vacations. She laughed to see a much younger version of him and Mrs. Jensen wearing Mickey Mouse ears at Disneyland. He held her in a dance dip while Lauren and Katie, much younger, laughed next to them.

Aja asked him some questions about physics, a class she needed to finish. He explained the answers with such clarity and eagerness that Aja wished she’d had him as a teacher.

A nurse had brought a tray of food, set it on the portable tray and left. Aja smiled, wondering if Janie had added the piece of chocolate cake for him. “Here, Mr. Jensen, have some dinner.” Aja pulled the tray closer to him.

He waved the food away. “I’m not hungry.”

Aja’s phone rang and she looked at the clock. Six forty-five. Damn, she was supposed to be at the road for her mom to pick her up. Then they still had to get Aja’s car from the mall.

She answered the phone. “Mom, give me a few minutes. I’ll be out as soon as I can.”

“I need to get home. I have a seven o’clock appointment. Let me drive in and pick you up.”

“No, I’ll come out. Just wait.”

Aja hung up and took a forkful of food. “Mr. Jensen, please take a few bites for me. That was my mom. I have to go soon.”

He nodded and let Aja spoon some meat into his mouth. Then he pointed to the mashed potatoes. Aja scooped some for him. Before she knew it, the plate was empty. Her phone had rung a few more times, and it was already after seven.

“I have to run, Mr. Jensen. I’ll come back again.”

He smiled. “And bring your physics book. I’ll go over those formulas with you.” He patted his tummy and closed his eyes.

Aja moved the tray away, grabbed her purse and ran out. She flanked the back of the building and tried to hide in the shadows of the trees. She called her mom, who didn’t answer. Probably already at her appointment. She always made a point to let Aja be independent and take care of her own life, but still it pissed Aja off that she couldn’t wait a few extra minutes for her. She dialed Janie on the off chance that the dinner rush was over. Seven o’clock, and these people were already heading for bed. Janie didn’t pick up.

She hoped Ms. Lewis wasn’t planning on checking on her tonight, since it was already after curfew. She’d been riding Aja’s ass hard since the night they’d called the police.

Aja ran toward the road. The sun was still hot and had just started to go down, but there was still more than an hour of daylight left. The way the shadows hit the trees made the ground seem to move. Aja considered calling Walker. Maybe he was finishing dinner with his grandparents (and probably Kendall), but Aja was desperate. He could think what he wanted about her, but now she needed to be home, and he was the only person left to call. She slowed down and pulled her phone out. The battery fell off the back. Stupid phone. She missed her old phone that Freddy Krueger crunched. It wasn’t a cool phone, but at least it held a charge and the battery.