The Gingerbread Boy by Lori Lapekes

wanted to tell Joanne all about her nightmare and how Daniel rushed in to help her, but Penny’s imploring look made her uncomfortable. Maybe it was because Catherine knew that anything she said about Daniel would get aback to Beth as soon as Penny was alone with her. Still, came the thought, maybe it’d be good for people to learn the truth about Daniel. He wasn’t just an egotistical rock and roller. Far from it, in fact. She then decided to tell the whole story, including Daniel’s missionary background, the scare with Yoo-Hoo, and their morning cup of coffee over Looking Glass River. Just as she was about to finish her story, though, the front door squealed opened. In stepped Beth.
    “Hi, Beth, did you get your shopping done?” Penny asked sweetly.
    Beth didn’t reply. Her mouth tightened as she kicked off her shoes and glared at the girls. She didn’t even bother to take off her coat as she strode over to Catherine, her hands jutting firmly into her coat pockets.
    “I see our resident groupie has made it home,” she hissed.
    Catherine squinted her eyes. “I am not a groupie.”
    “I’d have to say otherwise making a fool of yourself by falling all over Daniel like you did last night. Honestly, it was all rather sleazy, Sealey. You know,” she added, putting her finger on her lip, “that’s probably what people will call you from now on. Sleazy Sealey.”
    Catherine took a deep breath. Her hands balled into fists. “Not unless you start the rumors. I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of.”
    “Oh?” Beth raised her voice. “Daniel could have dropped you off here, but no you spent the night with him. Just like a common groupie. He’s using you, you know.”
    Catherine resisted the urge to slap Beth. She fought the urge to shout that Beth was all wrong, that Daniel wasn’t the kind of person who’d use anyone. She wanted to add that anyone like Daniel who grew up with South American Indians and had missionary parents and still had a pet Macaw named ‘Yoo-Hoo’ wasn’t going to even be the kind of person Beth would be interested in anyway. She wanted to shake Beth until her false eyelashes fell off. But she bit back her anger, as she’d realized some time ago that Beth was in the same league as Calvin, and just as pitiful. Catherine had already lost herself in an immature display of anger with him. She wasn’t going to lower herself even more by succumbing to that girl’s childish ploys and accusations. Finally she merely smiled.
    This made Beth all the angrier. “Daniel would never be truly interested in a nobody like you,” she continued. “I’m telling you this for your own good, Sealey. You’re a novelty to him is all. It would never work.”
    “Your jealousy is embarrassing.” Catherine grinned again.
    “Beth,” Penny hesitantly interrupted, “You just missed Daniel. Catherine introduced us to him a few minutes ago. Did you pass him on the road?”
    “No.” Beth snapped. “I did not. What would you expect me to do if I had, jump out of my car and flag him down?”
    Penny laughed nervously. “No. I guess not.”
    “Of course not. Oh and Catherine,” Beth added, cocking her head, “thank you very much for being the reason that a psycho now knows where we live. If that ‘friend’ of yours from the bar ever shows up here to see you again, he could have a gun or a knife. You certainly made him look like a fool. I was scared to death here last night! I couldn’t sleep at all.” Beth looked from Penny to Joanne, who just glared icily at her. “We’re all going to have to stay on our toes now, girls,” she added, ignoring the look,
    “I doubt Mr. LaMont is always going to be nearby to fend off Catherine’s enemies.”
    Joanne and Penny traded troubled looks after that statement. It was the only thing Beth could have possibly been right about.
    Catherine had no reply.
    The thought of Calvin Prigg hanging around the neighborhood chilled her, too.
    ****
    Daniel tossed the pen