American Girl

Utah

The Beach family gathered in the living room, waiting for an important phone call. The father's phone sat silently on the table. Erwin Beach sat in the middle of the sofa, his wife Elizabeth by his right. Emily squeezed in between Elijah and her father. Ephraim—the youngest—perched on Mama's knee.

The rest of the family ranged around the room. Evangeline and Eden stood behind the sofa expectantly. Ezra sprawled in the recliner with his twin, Eva, sitting on the arm. Ester lounged in the armchair. Ethan leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

Ethan was the most relaxed of the nine Beach children. The eldest, he had already completed his mission in Switzerland. Emily viewed him as a world traveler and man of the world. Evangeline would go next year. In the meantime, they had to think about the near future and the expected phone call.

"We shouldn't sit here like this," their mother stated. "A watched kettle never boils. Emily and Eden do the lunch dishes. The rest of you, find something to do."

"Aw, Ma," Emily complained, remaining firmly seated. "As soon as we get busy, it'll ring."

"Do as you're told," Elizabeth Beach ordered, rising herself. She carried Ephraim into the bathroom and put him on the toilet. Popping her head out the door, she waved to urge the rest of them up.

The family grumbled but did as their mother suggested. Emily began stacking the dishwasher while Eden hunted through the fridge. Ester pushed in and, grabbing an orange soda, swigged it down. Both girls helped themselves to chocolate cake.

"You're supposed to help, not make more dishes." Emily turned toward her sisters, hands on hips. Eden shrugged, and Ester giggled. "Really?"

Before she could protest further, Ezra and Elijah appeared. They dug into the cake, too. Emily threw up her hands and joined them. Sometimes, she felt she was the only one who did anything in the family. She deserved a break, too.

"Do you believe in love," Ester suddenly broke into song.

"Do you believe it's true," Elijah joined in.

The rest of the Beach family raised their voices on the third line. The Huey Lewis and The News tune was their go-to. It was the song they auditioned with. Each of the nine children was pitch-perfect. They inherited their musical talent from their father. Erwin Beach was one of the Beach Trio. Along with Uncles Earl and Evan, they had topped the charts two decades earlier.

Emily often found herself gazing at the Gold Records above her father's desk in his study. Along with three Grammy Awards, they took pride of place in their Salt Lake City home. Her mother, Elizabeth, sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Ethan and Evangeline would also join when they were old enough. In the meantime, they continued to wait for their special phone call.

"Please, please, please," Emily prayed, clasping her hands beneath her chin. She wanted the call to come soon and with positive results. It was their chance, their opportunity. She wanted it desperately—perhaps more desperately than her singing siblings.

"They did say today, didn't they, daddy?" Emily asked, peeking through the kitchen door. She felt both nervous and excited.

"Yes, today," Erwin answered.

Ezra plopped down next to him and stared at the phone. He picked it up, fussed with it, and put it down. Drawing out his own phone, he called his father's number. It rang to the tune of Stand By Me. Erwin grabbed it and said a breathless hello. Then he glared at his son.

"Just checking," Ezra shrugged. "I wanted to make sure it was working."

"It was working," the father snapped, then apologized. The whole family was edgy.