Bobby's name was engraved ahead of die others on the trophy because he'd been the team captain. The same afternoon, Bobby received a scholarship offer from Cal Tech. “Can you believe it?” he shouted to Dana over the phone. “They're offering me
a full
ride, Dana. All expenses paid as long as I maintain a B-plus average.”
“No problem,” she said.
“Even my old man's impressed.”
“I'm happy for you, Bobby. You deserve the best.”
“I already have the best,” he said. “I have you.”
She felt a stab of guilt. “Take the scholarship.”
“That's what Steve told me to do too. But I can't leave until—well, until.”
Until Steve is gone
, Dana finished in her mind.
Neither of us con.
At six the next morning, Dana's phone rang. She grabbed the receiver, her heart poundingbecause she knew it would not be good news. “Yes,” she said, holding her breath.
“It's me.” Bobby's voice cracked. “The paramedics just left.” There was a long pause. “Steve died in his sleep during the night. They said he had a stroke and that he went without pain. That's a good thing, isn't it? “
Dana's throat had closed up and she couldn't speak.
“My brother's dead, Dana. What are we going to do without him? “
Ten
he humid heat of late August settled around Dana, and the scent of the last of her mother's blooming roses drifted in the air. She sat on her front porch reading the book of poetry Steve had given her for Christmas. Four months had passed since his death—four months, three weeks, and two days. She had missed him on every single one of those days. She smoothed her hand across the page of the poem Steve had marked as his favorite, “How Do I Love Thee.” She'd read it so many times that she could recite it from memory. It would always be her favorite too.
In another week, she would leave for NewYork and for Juilliard. She hadn't gotten a scholarship in the spring. She'd played well in the state competitions, walking away with Superiors and Excellents from the judges, but it hadn't been enough. Still, she was going to the college that it had been her lifelong dream to attend, and her parents were happy because they believed she was happy. She
was
, in a way, but she also knew that Juilliard was never going to hold the importance it had once held for her. Her life had been forever changed by a love she'd experienced for a man who'd died. The poem spoke eloquently of all she felt.
She heard the crunch of tires in her driveway and looked up to see Bobby getting out of his car. Quickly she tucked the book beneath the cushion on the porch swing and rose to welcome him. “How's it going?” she asked. “All packed?”
“All packed.” He came onto the porch, kissed her lightly, and returned with her to the swing. “The trailer is full, and Dad's raring to go. I still can't believe we're driving all the way to California together.” He rolled his eyes. “Six whole days in a car with Dad. It's going to seem like forever.”
“You'll talk.”
“About what? Ever since Steve—” Bobby interrupted himself. “I know Dad's trying, but we don't have too much in common.”
“You have Steve. And your dad's proud of you, Bobby. I think he's trying to make up for lost years.”
Bobby grinned. “You still work hard to make everything right and everybody happy, don't you, Dana?”
“Old habit, I guess.”
They had finished the school year as a couple, but things were not the same between them. Dana realized that she had created the sense of distance, but there was nothing she could do about it. Luckily, Bobby had been busy. He'd gotten a job as soon as school was out to earn spending money for college. He came by now and then, even took her out occasionally. To her surprise, he hadn't griped or complained about their lack of togetherness, just made himself available if she wanted to be with him. Winning the scholarship had gone a long way toward building his self-confidence; he seemed more at
a full
ride, Dana. All expenses paid as long as I maintain a B-plus average.”
“No problem,” she said.
“Even my old man's impressed.”
“I'm happy for you, Bobby. You deserve the best.”
“I already have the best,” he said. “I have you.”
She felt a stab of guilt. “Take the scholarship.”
“That's what Steve told me to do too. But I can't leave until—well, until.”
Until Steve is gone
, Dana finished in her mind.
Neither of us con.
At six the next morning, Dana's phone rang. She grabbed the receiver, her heart poundingbecause she knew it would not be good news. “Yes,” she said, holding her breath.
“It's me.” Bobby's voice cracked. “The paramedics just left.” There was a long pause. “Steve died in his sleep during the night. They said he had a stroke and that he went without pain. That's a good thing, isn't it? “
Dana's throat had closed up and she couldn't speak.
“My brother's dead, Dana. What are we going to do without him? “
Ten
he humid heat of late August settled around Dana, and the scent of the last of her mother's blooming roses drifted in the air. She sat on her front porch reading the book of poetry Steve had given her for Christmas. Four months had passed since his death—four months, three weeks, and two days. She had missed him on every single one of those days. She smoothed her hand across the page of the poem Steve had marked as his favorite, “How Do I Love Thee.” She'd read it so many times that she could recite it from memory. It would always be her favorite too.
In another week, she would leave for NewYork and for Juilliard. She hadn't gotten a scholarship in the spring. She'd played well in the state competitions, walking away with Superiors and Excellents from the judges, but it hadn't been enough. Still, she was going to the college that it had been her lifelong dream to attend, and her parents were happy because they believed she was happy. She
was
, in a way, but she also knew that Juilliard was never going to hold the importance it had once held for her. Her life had been forever changed by a love she'd experienced for a man who'd died. The poem spoke eloquently of all she felt.
She heard the crunch of tires in her driveway and looked up to see Bobby getting out of his car. Quickly she tucked the book beneath the cushion on the porch swing and rose to welcome him. “How's it going?” she asked. “All packed?”
“All packed.” He came onto the porch, kissed her lightly, and returned with her to the swing. “The trailer is full, and Dad's raring to go. I still can't believe we're driving all the way to California together.” He rolled his eyes. “Six whole days in a car with Dad. It's going to seem like forever.”
“You'll talk.”
“About what? Ever since Steve—” Bobby interrupted himself. “I know Dad's trying, but we don't have too much in common.”
“You have Steve. And your dad's proud of you, Bobby. I think he's trying to make up for lost years.”
Bobby grinned. “You still work hard to make everything right and everybody happy, don't you, Dana?”
“Old habit, I guess.”
They had finished the school year as a couple, but things were not the same between them. Dana realized that she had created the sense of distance, but there was nothing she could do about it. Luckily, Bobby had been busy. He'd gotten a job as soon as school was out to earn spending money for college. He came by now and then, even took her out occasionally. To her surprise, he hadn't griped or complained about their lack of togetherness, just made himself available if she wanted to be with him. Winning the scholarship had gone a long way toward building his self-confidence; he seemed more at
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