Rosemary Danced: Ivy Book One Read online

  Mike rolled his eyes and muttered something Jake didn’t hear.

  “Studly got shot down.” Jake’s grin flattened when he looked at Mike’s face. “Okay. Done joking. What are you gonna do?”

  “Wait. Plan. Watch for an opening in the line. When I see one, I’m going to run the ball like my life depends on it.”

  Jake nodded. “Good luck, bro.”

  Chapter 26

  Miranda dragged Mike into the Fellowship Hall after church. When Rosemary looked up, he waved. She finally smiled slightly.

  “Mike Studor! Oh my, it is so good to see you here, finally!” Mrs. Anders rushed over and threw her arms around him, standing on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. “You must sit next to me at lunch!”

  “Mrs. Anders, I’ve already claimed Mike’s company at lunch. I hope you don’t mind,” Rosemary said from behind Mrs. Anders.

  “Oh, Rosemary, honey, of course I don’t mind! I didn’t realize the two of you were friends!”

  “Yes, ma’am, we’re friends.” Mike said quickly. “Rosemary and I spend a lot of time together.”

  “You two run along. Have a good time!” Mrs. Anders shooed them away after there was a big crash from the kitchen.

  “Thanks for saving me.”

  “I promised that I would.” Rosemary murmured.

  The carnival was in the huge side yard. Large inflatables, and several game booths beckoned. Coach A grinned at Mike from his seat over the dunk tank. “Hey, Studor—how’s that arm?”

  “Good shape, Coach. Want me to demonstrate?”

  “Put your money where your mouth is, Studor.”

  A dollar a throw, right? Here’s a five—I’ll take five shots.” Mike picked up a baseball, casually tossed it in the air first, then wound up and threw, dumping Coach A into the water. In rapid succession, Mike dunked the coach four more times. Laughing, Mike called out: “Had enough, Coach?”

  “I’ll see you at practice tomorrow, Studor. Have your running shoes handy!” Coach A yelled, as the crowd laughed.

  “That was fun,” Mike said to Rosemary. “What’s next?”

  “Hmm. Cake walk, or dance tent?”

  “What’s this?” Mike stopped in front of a tent with closed flaps. An elaborate sign next to the flaps of the tent that said ‘Madame Zola. Palm reader. Mind reader. Crystal-ball reader.’

  “Madame Zola. A fortune teller.” Rosemary leaned closer to whisper. “It’s Mrs. Percival.”

  “Sounds fun. Let’s do that.” Mike handed the girl in front of the tent two dollars. “Come on.” He tugged Rosemary’s hand.

  “You want to go in together?”

  “Sure. Let’s see what Madame Zola has to say.”

  “Sit down, my children,” the old woman commanded. Mike tried not to chuckle at his third-grade teacher in her turban and flowing purple robes in front of a ‘crystal’ ball. She demanded to see first Rosemary’s hand, then Mike’s hand, musing for several moments. “I see a trip in your future. A long, long trip.”

  Still holding their hands, she closed her eyes and swayed. “Ahh...I see love and romance.” The old woman winked at Mike before she gently dropped their hands and looked into her crystal ball. The ball clouded up for a few moments. As she ran her hands over and around the ball, the cloud cleared. Madame Zola smiled mysteriously. “Oh, lovely! I see your future quite clearly. You will have a wonderful life together!”

  Mike grinned. Rosemary looked skeptical, but finally smiled when the old woman winked at her. “Thank you, Madame Zola,” Rosemary said solemnly.

  “Yes, thank you, Mrs. Per…I mean, Madame Zola.” Mike said.

  “Mrs. Percival is quite the actress,” Rosemary observed once they were outside the tent.

  Mike crowed. “She used to do Madame Zola at Fun Night in elementary school. She would tell every kid they would get an ‘A’ on their next test if they studied hard, and told us to mind our parents.”

  Miranda ran up to them. “Mickey, do the cake walk with me!”

  “Okay, peanut. I will. Rosemary, are you going with us?”

  “I’ll just watch this time.”

  Mike nodded and took Miranda by the hand. Rosemary chuckled while Miranda stood on Mike’s feet while he walked around the circle. He was laughing when they finished, and so was Miranda. “Yum, we won Mrs. Anders’ lemon cake.”

  “How about ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey,’ peanut? After that, I’ll be ready for lunch.”

  “Okay,” Miranda agreed.

  Rosemary smiled while Mike helped Miranda pin the tail on the donkey after he paid ten dollars to play a one dollar game. Rosemary seemed much closer to normal by the time they walked into the fellowship hall for lunch.

  Mike went through the line three times and had two pieces of pie while Rosemary marveled at his appetite. “Are you full? Or should I get you more pie?” Rosemary asked, only partially joking.

  “I dunno. Maybe I should let other people eat. I can always eat again when I get home...now that we have cake.” Mike grinned, not a bit embarrassed about eating as much as three people. Rosemary shook her head, still smiling.

  The next morning, Mike manufactured an excuse to stop by Rosemary’s locker. She blushed when he teased her about Madame Zola’s predictions, and again when he cut out of his class early to meet her for lunch. They had such a good time, he even considered asking her to Homecoming, but he lost his nerve at the last minute. He was playing the long game and he would rather not risk scaring her again. He didn’t really care about the Homecoming dance; he wanted Rosemary forever and he could wait until she was ready.

  “Miranda had a great time at the Homecoming dance last night.” Rosemary looked up from correcting a math problem.

  “We both had a great time. She had fun and I had a good time watching her.”

  “It was a very wonderful thing for you to do for her.”

  “Well. I’m kind of a wonderful guy.”

  Rosemary smiled. “Great plug, Studor.”

  “Was that a rare Rosemary smile that was actually directed my way?”

  “I guess it was.” Rosemary ducked her head slightly.

  Mike studied her. “Rosemary, why don’t you smile very often at school?”

  “I don’t know.” Rosemary looked down and fiddled with her pen.

  “Yeah, you do.” Mike continued to look at her steadily.

  Rosemary’s head dropped further. When she finally spoke, Mike had to strain to hear her. “It mostly has to do with my first stepdad. He didn’t want me and…he didn’t want Connor, either. It wasn’t bad enough that we had to put up with him at home, but he was the principal at our school, too.”

  Rosemary doodled in the margin of her worksheet. “He was strict with everybody, but especially with us. I always had to sit in the back row because I was so tall. He would come into my classroom and stand behind my desk for what seemed like hours, watching me work. At home, he would critique what I’d done in class that day and criticize me if I didn’t raise my hand enough. If I raised my hand and got an answer wrong, I’d get punished at home that night, if my mom wasn’t home. If she was home, he’d let it wait until she was gone.”

  “He was even worse to Connor. Connor was sent to the principal’s office several times a week. It was so much worse watching it happen to Connor than having it happen to me. I know it’s silly to still be affected by that, but school has never stopped being scary, no matter how many times I tell myself to get over it.”

  Mike shook his head and wiped his hand over his eyes. “I’m sorry that happened…to both of you, but I understand a little better now. Let me ask something else. Have you always been bullied by other kids?”

  “Pretty much, yeah. Roger didn’t pay any attention when it happened to me. My height didn’t help. I think when I started modeling in middle school that ticked some girls off, too.” Rosemary grinned weakly. “One of the first things you learn as a model is to keep your face neutral and I used that at school. That irritated those girls,
too.”

  “Did you ever tell anyone? I mean, your mom or your grandparents?”

  “Not really. There were things that came out during the divorce, because Mom took us to a therapist. At home, Connor only spoke if asked a direct question. Except he did talk to me. He’d talk at Nonnie’s, if Roger wasn’t there. Otherwise, he almost never talked. At the end, before Roger left, Connor was practically mute. Mom took him to a therapist in her office during the divorce, but he wouldn’t talk unless I was in the room.”

  “So he’s actually come a long way.”

  “He has. When he’s comfortable, he’s a good conversationalist. He’s witty and he’s funny. He speaks in class when he’s called on, although I doubt he ever raises his hand to volunteer an answer. He’s usually the smartest person in the room, so that has helped his confidence. Having John in his life has helped, too.”

  “Now I understand why you’re so protective of Connor.”

  “I’m protective of all of them, but Connor is…different. I think he always will be.”

  Mike leaned a little closer. “He’s lucky to have you. Also, for the record, you have a great smile. I hope I’m able to see it more often.”

  “I’ll try.”

  Mike went to answer the doorbell. Rosemary heard a scream and turned to see Amy pushing past Mike.

  “You!” Amy screamed as she rushed at Rosemary.

  “Amy, get out of my house.”

  “What is she doing here?”

  “It’s not your business, but I’m tutoring her in math.”

  “Oh sure, you are. Mike, how could you leave me for…that?”

  Rosemary started piling up her books and notebooks. “I am so out of here.”

  “No, Rosemary—please stay. I want you to stay. Amy’s going to leave.” He reached out to take Amy by the arm.

  “Don’t touch me, you bully! You can’t push me around anymore!”

  “Amy, I’ve never touched you.” Mike dropped his hands and reached for his phone. “But you are leaving.” He punched in a number.

  Amy screamed and rushed towards Rosemary with fists flying. “This is YOUR fault!” In one fluid move, Rosemary captured Amy and held her arms down against her waist while Amy screamed.

  “Calm down, right now!” Rosemary ordered the smaller girl.

  “You ruined my life! You sent that video to Daddy.” Amy accused Mike, but she did stop flailing.

  Mike reached for Amy and dumped her into a chair. “I didn’t send anything to your dad.”

  “He knows.” Amy sobbed. “He has video—of the graffiti thing and the tires. Somebody gave a video to the principal. Four of us got kicked off the cheerleading squad and the dance team.”

  “That’s your own fault, Amy.” Mike pointed at her. “Stay there! I called the police. You are leaving.”

  “You called nine-one-one?” Rosemary was startled.

  “No, I called the non-emergency number, but they’re sending someone. I want her out of the house.” He went to answer the knock on the door.

  After the officers talked to all three of them, Amy agreed to stay away from Mike and Rosemary. The officers let her drive herself home, while they followed to talk to her parents. Mike walked them outside; he sat down next to Rosemary after he came inside. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, but that’s a lot more drama than I like.” She finished zipping her bag. “I’ve got to get to the church for my class.”

  “Let me drive you over.”

  “Mike, I have the truck.”

  “Yeah, I know. But I want to take you over. I’ll pick you up after class and bring you back to get your truck.”

  “That’s kind of silly.”

  “Humor me.” He hesitated. “Please?”

  She sighed. “Okay.”

  At the church, Rosemary slowly gathered her backpack and keys. When she looked over at Mike, her eyes were soft. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” Mike answered, his warm caramel eyes watching her.

  “Thanks for the ride. For everything.” Impulsively, she kissed him on the cheek. before jumping out of the car and making her way to the door. She didn’t see his face, but Mike was smiling like he’d just won a lottery.

  Patty was in the kitchen when Mike came in the back door. “Everybody okay? I didn’t think the appearance of Mama Bear would help defuse the situation.”

  Mike hugged his mom. “You’re the coolest, Mom.”

  “Thanks, honey. Is Rosemary okay?”

  “Yeah. She isn’t too easily rattled.”

  Patty watched him spread peanut butter on bread. “I wasn’t trying to listen, but I overheard your comment to Rosemary about her smile.”

  “She hardly ever smiles at school. She doesn’t smile that often anywhere. I’ve wondered why.”

  “If you want to see her smile more, come to church. She smiles a lot on Sunday morning.”

  “Mom. You know how I feel about that.” Mike frowned.

  “I do, and I don’t give you a hard time about it, do I?”

  “No, you don’t. You never have.”

  “But, I’m saying if you want to see that girl’s beautiful smile more often, that would be your chance.”

  “I hear you, Mom. I’ll think about it.”

  Mike waited outside the studio as Rosemary’s class was winding down. He had to hide a grin more than once. It was obvious some of the pre-teen boys had great big crushes on their dance teacher.

  “Hi.” Rosemary smiled at him after she had sent her last student out the door and turned off the lights in the gym.

  “Hi. Can I carry that?” Surprised, she handed him her tote bag and followed him to the car. After she slid inside, he handed her the bag and gently closed the car door. He said to himself, I’m going to win you over yet, Miss Bakker. It’s all in the long game.

  Chapter 27

  Patty’s comment rolled around in his head all week. Even for Rosemary, he didn’t think he could go to church. He couldn’t go to church without his dad. He just couldn’t. Still thinking about it when he went to bed on Saturday night, he stretched out and buried his face in his pillow. He’d worked fourteen hours with Vince on a garage build after playing a long football game the night before and he had no trouble falling asleep. Hours later, he woke up and smelled cinnamon gum. The gum his dad had chewed every day. Without thinking about it, he whispered, “Dad?”

  “Hey, Mick.” Mike could have sworn he could feel his dad’s big hand lightly rubbing his back. “How’ve you been, champ?”

  “Pretty good, Dad. How about you?”

  “I’ve been great, Mick. Heaven is the best.”

  Mike wished he could see his dad’s face. “I miss you, Dad.”

  “I know, Mick. I miss you, too. I miss all of you.” His dad sighed. “It was my time to go, Mickey. It was just my time.”

  Mike gulped. “Okay, Dad.”

  “But, hey, I only have a few minutes to tell you something.”

  Mike gulped again, swallowing tears. “What?”

  “About church. I wish you’d go, champ.”

  “I don’t think I can, Dad. It was always…you and me and Mom and Miranda.”

  “Mick, I can’t explain all this—you’ll understand it all someday.” Mike could feel his dad’s big hand rubbing his back in slow circles. “I watch you. Sometimes I even help a little. But, son, God helps you all the time. I know you think God has deserted you—but He hasn’t. I know you haven’t felt Him since the accident, but He is there and He loves you.” There was a long silence. “I know it’s hard, Mick. I see you helping your mom and Miranda and I couldn’t be more proud. I only worry that you’ve lost your way a little spiritually.”

  “Dad…”

  “Let me say it, Mickey. I don’t have much time. But—about Rosemary. God brought Rosemary into your life. He brought Rosemary into your life to make you happy. Her life hasn’t been easy and she doesn’t trust easily, so you may have your work cut out for you. But, champ, she’s worth it.” There w
as a silence. “Rosemary will make you happy, Mick. Happy in ways you can’t even imagine. Your way back to God will be easier with Rosemary in your life. I can’t explain it better than that.”

  “Dad…”

  “Son, I have to go. I love you more than ice cream.”

  “I love you, too, Dad.” But Mike knew his dad wasn’t there. He felt the dark void in his chest that he’d felt so many times. He cried then, for all of them, but for himself the most.

  Mike’s covers were in a tangle around his legs when he woke up. He remembered the dream, but he didn’t want to remember it. He grabbed his pillow, trying to relax enough to go back to sleep. The sun was shining through his window so he buried his face in his pillow. He had to raise his head because his pillow was wet.

  He was dressed and sitting at the kitchen table, with a cup of coffee and the remains of breakfast in front of him when his mom came into the kitchen. “Hi, Mom.”

  “You’re up early, honey.” She went to the coffee pot.

  “Yeah. I thought…” Mike stared at his coffee cup. “I thought I’d go to church with you.”

  Patty took a deep breath, looked to the ceiling briefly and tried to hide a smile while she poured her coffee. “Okay, baby. We’ll leave at ten.” She brushed her lips over his forehead as she went past him.

  Rosemary’s dark hair fell in thick waves down her back while she chatted with Mrs. Percival in the sunny church vestibule. Her simple knee-length, long-sleeved dress was a large colorful print that she wore with black leggings and black flats. Her smile was brighter than the bright autumn sunlight streaming through the windows and Mike was mesmerized. His feet moved towards her like he was pulled by a magnet. When she turned to him, he said, simply, “hi.”

  “Hi.” Another smile lit up her face. All of his angst about attending church disappeared.

  “Hello, Michael,” Mrs. Percival said tartly.