When Cardinals Appear by Katie Eagan Schenck

Author:Katie Eagan Schenck [Katie Eagan Schenck]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Faery Whisper Press
Published: 2023-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“You’re coming to the Valentine’s Day dance this weekend, aren’t you, Lanie?” Rose asked as we sat together on my bed, pretending to pack. It was a convenient excuse for hiding from Steven and Dad as they continued preparing the house for sale. The real estate agent planned to list it the next morning, and I struggled to come to terms with the idea that someday soon, my childhood home would be in the hands of strangers.

“I’m not really a Valentine’s Day person.” I flipped through an old magazine I’d found when going through my desk drawers. “Besides, isn’t it for couples and singles? My plus-one is on the other side of the country.”

“It’s for anyone who wants to attend,” Rose replied with exasperation. “Come on. You have to go. You know it raises money for the fire department. Who cares what your relationship status is?”

“Ugh, this town has too many events!” I cried as I shut my eyes and mimed banging the back of my head against the wall.

“I heard Nate is going,” Rose said a little too innocently as she flipped a page in her magazine. Her eyes flicked briefly to mine.

I kept my face blank, picking up the magazine again and feigning interest in an article. “I’m trying to keep my distance.”

“Is that what you’re doing?”

Glowering at Rose, I climbed off my bed and tossed the magazine into the trash. At the rate we were going, I would still be packing when the new owners moved in. How had I accumulated so much stuff in my short lifetime?

“Have you talked to him since karaoke?”

“No, as that would defeat the entire purpose of keeping my distance.” I opened a drawer and pulled out a pile of papers, mostly old notebooks from my emo poetry phase. After shooting a quick glance over my shoulder, I paged through them, cringing at my angsty rhymes.

“Well, you shouldn’t let it fester. Half the town saw the sparks flying between you two, and I imagine they’ll be keeping a close watch on any interaction you may have at the dance.”

“Which is why I have no intention of going,” I retorted, debating what to do with the notebooks. Tear them up and save face, or save them for a laugh when I was back on the West Coast?

“Lanie,” Rose said, her tone gentle.

With a sigh, I turned and looked at her.

“You need to talk to him. Things are clearly not as over between you two as I thought.”

“As long as I’m with James, there can be nothing between Nate and me,” I insisted. At least, that was what I kept telling myself.

I ripped out the most cringeworthy poems and shredded them before tossing the rest of the notebooks into a box. Upon opening the next drawer, I found a heavy book.

“Ooh!” Rose squealed. “I love old yearbooks.” She waved her hands, gesturing for me to hand it to her. After I did, she flipped through the pages and skimmed the signatures, reading a few of particular interest aloud.

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