“From all the catastrophes that that damned beauty of hers causes. You ever wish Abby was born ugly?”
“All the time,” Scully said. “But you look like her.”
Eli shrugged. “I grew taller and put on some muscle. How tall is your dad?”
“Six-two and my mom was five-ten.”
“Then the odds are that in a couple of years you’ll shoot up.”
“But what do I do now?” There was such vehemence in his voice that he missed a pitfall and his warrior fell dead. He put down the controller. “Abby likes some dumb jock named Baze. He’s only asking her out because she’s so pretty and he wants to make his ex-girlfriend, Ashley, jealous. As soon as they get back together, he’ll dump Abby.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” Eli said. “Then you’ll have to listen to her heartbreak. Wait until you see pictures online where she’s laughing with some guy who’s not as smart as his horse.”
Scully’s eyes were wide. He’d never before met someone who truly understood his problems. “If all this about Peterson comes out, I’m afraid Abby’s mom will move. I heard her say she’s always wanted to see California. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because I’m seeing my past in your future. You ever wonder how you could do things differently?”
“Abby says I never asked her to the dance, but—”
“She would have laughed at you and not believed you were serious,” Eli said. “I know that too well. I have an idea. What if you went to the prom on your own? With someone other than Abby?”
“I don’t want to go with anyone else,” Scully said.
Eli picked up his phone and flipped through the photos to stop at a picture of his two cousins Lainey and Paige. They were very pretty young women, wearing thin summer dresses, their long hair blown by the breeze.
“They’re . . .” Scully said.
“Right. They are. Tall, beautiful, smart, talented. How about if I get them to fly down here and go as your date?”
“Both of them?”
“Sure. Why not? Actually, I think they should come sooner and spend some time teaching you a few dances.”
“I can’t dance.”
“Of course you can’t. At your age, I couldn’t either, but I learned. How does all this sound to you?”
“Great, but I need to help Abby. That man—”
“Chelsea and I will figure out Abby’s problems. Besides, it might do her some good to be told that you’re doing something she doesn’t know about. As for her moving, what’s your dad like? He’s a widower, right?”
“Yeah. My mom died when I was four and it’s been just Dad and me. He likes Abby’s mother a lot, but she won’t go out with him. Abby says she feels guilty over what she thinks her husband did.”
“Embezzled funds? Bankrupted a big company? Put Peterson and his sick wife on the poverty line?”
“Yeah,” Scully said. “All of that. Abby’s tried to get her mother to go to Richmond to see that the furniture store is still thriving, but she won’t do it.”
“Both stores are doing well,” Eli said. “And no matter what Peterson says, he still owns them.” The sound of the laughter of the two females as they came downstairs made them stop talking.
“What are you two up to?” Chelsea asked.
“We were looking at the polo scores,” Eli answered.
“Did Rodrigo win as usual?” Chelsea was smiling. “I think we should take these guys home. You and I have some things to do.”
“Can you take me to my dad’s store?” Scully asked Eli. “I’d like for him to meet you.”
“In that case, Abby and I need to do some shopping,” Chelsea said. “Just let me get some things and . . .” She gave Eli a look, then turned back to the teenagers. “Make yourselves at home. Kitchen is there, bathroom is to the left.”