Chapter 2: Be Prepared To Change Lanes

 

I drag out of bed. Scrounge around for the clock. It’s dead, frozen at 6:00 a.m. The first day of summer vacation and I still have to get up for ranch chores.

“Winifred, breakfast,” yells Dad from downstairs.

How many Winifred’s do you know? Yeah, thought so. Dad named me after my mother. She died when I was born. I looked Winifred up in a baby name book once. It means ‘friend of peace.’ Not. With my red hair and temper? I wonder if it fit Mom? I think I miss her, but it’s hard to know what it’s like to have a mother.

My best friend, Jacinda Adoncia Belita Garcia, says I should live with her awhile. Then I’d know about mothers. But Jac, that’s what I call her, has five sisters and six brothers.

Her mom doesn’t need another kid hanging around.

Dad and I raise and train a Latin American breed of horse called Los Caballos de Paso Fino, the ‘horse with the fine step.’ The Conquistadors used them for conquering South America. Our ranch, Smith’s Paso Finos, is cool. Forests and snowcapped mountains in Oregon surround us. I try not to think about the mountains, ‘cause they are extinct volcanoes. School is twenty miles away in a small resort town called Sisters.

Lots of tourists and artists.

Dad and I make a great team. I help with the ranch, feed the horses, muck out the stable and do the cooking and housework in our two-story farmhouse. It’s old, but freshly painted outside. I like the way the white columns and trim contrast with the deep green of the house.

The stable and barn are newly refurbished. We have a hundred and thirty acres of fenced pasture and forest wilderness.

Dad trains our horses, except mine, takes care of the pastures, the barn and runs the business. Paso Fino is a popular breed of horse. These special horses have a natural, extra gait for a smooth ride. Very cool.

Being fifteen is not cool. I’m okay as long as I don’t look in a mirror. My freckles are not cute. Or using sunscreen all the time so my face doesn’t match my red hair. Plain is a nice word to describe me. The boys at school whisper ‘ugly’ behind my back. They know if I hear it, my face turns red and they think that’s really funny. Boys are jerks. I steer clear of all of them.

I pull on jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.

Kong barks and turns the handle on my bedroom door. Since his head reaches up four-and-a-half feet, it’s easy for him. He shoves through the door.

The smell of frying bacon filters up the stairs. I hurry down, my stomach grumbling.

“Morning, Win,” says Dad. “Happy Vacation. Thought I’d cook for you, to celebrate.”

I smile and kiss his cheek.

“Thanks, Dad. Do I dare?”

He smiles. “Who taught you to cook, Miss Smarty Pants?”

I tease him, “Guess you can’t really mess up bacon and eggs.”

Dad heaps a plate of dog food for Kong and sits it on the floor. It’s gone in ten seconds. Even I can’t eat that fast.

After breakfast, Dad and I watch a DVD about a stallion for sale. Dad uses Kong as a footrest. The dog sleeps a lot because he’s thirteen.

Dad admires the horse. “Look at that stallion’s footwork.”

“Great confirmation,” I say. “I think he would complement our mare’s bloodlines. Are you going to buy him?”

“I want to. What do you think?”

I’m proud that Dad values my opinion. We have researched stallions for weeks. “I like him best.”

Dad says, “Me, too. I’ll work on the finances and see if we can swing it.”

The telephone rings and I answer it.

“Hi, Win. How’s my favorite sister?” asks my brother, David.

“Ha, ha,” I say, without smiling.

I’m David’s only sister. He’s seven years older and in New York getting his post-graduate degree in landscape architecture. A genius, he was admitted to Cornell University when he was sixteen. I used to talk to him for hours on the phone. Not anymore. He hasn’t been home in a year.

“What’s new in your life?” David asks.

“School’s out.” I frown, not knowing what else to say.

“You’re talkative. Dad home?”

“Hold on.” I give Dad the phone.

“Hi, Son. What’s up?”

I watch Dad’s face ‘cause he isn’t talking, just smiling.

“Congratulations!” Dad jumps up, waving the phone. “Win, David’s getting married.”

“What?” My voice sounds funny. Like it’s coming from a dry well. David hasn’t even told us he has a girlfriend. How stupid is that?

Dad’s voice filters into my brain. “Sounds like that took some fancy talking. No, it’s the perfect place. Don’t do that. We have room. How many? Hold the phone.”

Dad turns to me. “David wants the wedding here. Are you willing to house six guests?”

“Where will they sleep?”

Dad replies, “David’s fiancée can have his room. I’ll move to my office in the stable and her parents can have my room. We’ll put cots in the study for David, his best man and his brother. The little girl can share your room. What do you think?”

Like I’m gonna’ tell him I don’t want anyone in my house. Dad and me, that’s how I like it. “I don’t know,” I murmur.

His smile falters. “Don’t you want David to have the wedding he’s dreamed of?”

“Boys don’t care that much.”

“David does. It’s been quite a task to get his fiancée’s mother to agree to come here.”

Uh-oh. Not good. “Dad, maybe they should have it there.”

“We can’t leave the ranch now, not with two pregnant mares due to deliver the end of next month. Having the wedding here is a good solution.” He looks in my face. “Come on, Win. It’ll be fun.”

“Are you going to delegate chores or is it my job to do everything?”

”Don’t be silly. We’ll all pitch in.”

What an optimist. Dad spends so much time with the horses, he doesn’t have a clue that people are way different.

I look at his strained face. “Okay.”

Dad smiles at me. “We’re on, David. I can’t wait to meet your fiancée.”

Dad writes in the tablet on his lap while he listens to David.

I itch and twitch. Not a good sign.

“Got it,” he said finally. “When are you due home? Win and I will be ready. Take care, David. Love you.”

“When’s he coming?”

“In a week.”

“Who else is coming?” I ask.

“David is bringing his best man, John, and his younger brother, Scott. A few days after that, his fiancée, her parents and sister will fly into Salem and rent a car. They’ll be here for a month.”

“A MONTH.” I yell, jumping up. “I thought you meant a day or two. Call David back and cancel the whole thing.”

“I will not.”

“We can’t have six extra people here for thirty days.”

“Sure we can.”

“Dad, you don’t understand. Strangers can’t live together for a whole month.”

“Why not?” he asks. “We’ll be related soon.”

“Dad, get real. All families have problems and we don’t know these people.”

“I think the adults can handle it.”

I stare at Dad and wonder what planet he came from. “We only have two bathrooms.”

“There’s another one in the stable.”

“You gonna’ send the parents out there?”

“That’s enough, Winifred.” Dad stares at me like I’m a stranger.

I look away, knots forming in my stomach.

“Maybe you’ve had your way too much,” he adds thoughtfully.

“Dad, we don’t know how to plan a wedding. What about the cost?”

He continues cheerfully, “The bride’s parents are responsible for the wedding. They live in Boston. Staying here will make it easier for them to plan the wedding.”

I plead, “You don’t know anything about them.”

Dad paces the floor, frowning. Kong squishes under the coffee table.

“It’s time you grow up, Winifred. Life changes. It can’t always be just you and me. I’ve been selfish not to expose you to different experiences.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “I do lots of things.”

“For the ranch,” he says. “I’m talking about socializing with others. David’s new in-laws will be an extended part of our family. I’ve always felt bad because you had no grandparents or other relatives as you grew up. Think about it. You’ll be gaining something you’ve never had, sisters.”

“Sisters?” My mind starts spinning.

“Daria is younger than you are.”

Cold shivers streak down my spine. “Who’s Daria?”

Dad looks at his notes. “Claire’s younger sister. She’s seven.”

I blink in confusion. “Who’s Claire?”

“David’s fiancée,” answers Dad.

Fiancée. A sharp pain twists through my chest. I haven’t seen David forever and he’s getting married.

“I’d better get busy,” says Dad. “I wonder what David’s plans are for the garden.”

“Garden?” I fight to hold down my breakfast. Spasms clench my stomach.

“Yeah, didn’t I tell you? David wants the wedding in the garden.”

I jump up and get in his face. “No.”

He stares at me in shock. “Why not?”

I don’t answer him.

“What’s the matter with you?” he asks. “David designed it when he was seven. He has every right to get married in the garden. You should be happy for him.”

“Mom’s ashes are buried there,” I gasp.

Dad gets real quiet.

I yell,” “How can you be so happy? He’s never mentioned one word about a girlfriend and suddenly he’s getting married?” My gut churns in misery.

“Winifred, calm down. I trust David’s judgment. It’s settled.”

“Wait and see. I’ll end up doing all the work.”

“I’m sure everyone will help.” With that illusion, Dad walks out the kitchen door.

I sink onto the sofa, exhausted. The nightmare and now this? I don’t even want to think about a wedding in my special garden, the coolest place in the whole world. David and Mom planted the garden when she was pregnant with me. David said flowers and plants grow there that shouldn’t in our climate.

Nobody knows how I feel about the garden. Not even my best friend, Jac. My Dad never talks about Mom, so the garden is the only place where she’s real to me. The only place where I can talk to her. I can’t imagine the garden being trampled by wedding guests.

The knot in my stomach tightens. Dad and I never argue. Until now. And the strangers aren’t even here yet.

A tiny crack splinters into my heart.