In Search of Tomorrow ✓

Nineteen

I was working on homework Saturday morning, a coffee mug at my elbow and papers spread out all along the breakfast room table, when the doorbell rang. I started, my gaze flicking from my American history essay towards the front door, and then pushed back my chair with a squeal.

I figured Cameron would be on the other side, probably with a bouquet of flowers, and my stomach filled with butterflies at the thought. I didn't even check who was outside before I opened the door, and I was greeted with a nasty shock when I saw an unfamiliar man standing on the other side.

"Um, hi," I said, gripping the door handle tightly in my hand so that my knuckles turned white, just in case I was forced to slam it shut. "Can I help you?"

"Actually, you can." The man was well-dressed, wearing a business suit and a purple tie, and in my driveway I could just see a polished black car. I shifted nervously from foot to foot as he adjusted his coiffed dark hair and said, "I'm your neighbor—I live in the brick house next door. I've been keeping an eye on your place for a while, and I can't help but notice that I haven't seen your parents around for a long time."

Suddenly, a wave of recognition washed over me. The man was Mr. Klein, and he'd lived next door to us for as long as I could remember. He had a son who was probably in college by now—I vaguely remembered my family going over to his house for dinner once or twice.

"Um..." I said, trailing off; then I thought it best to answer honestly and said, "I'm not sure how to respond to that."

"I've called the house several times," he said, smoothing down his starched tie. "Nobody's answered."

I chewed down on my lip, hard. "We had the line disconnected."

"I see." His eyebrows plucked up in a way I thought was only possible from Ashley, the drama queen. But his eyes narrowed as he said, "Where are your parents, Evelyn?"

"Don't you know?" I asked, brushing back my hair nervously until it fell smooth, "Mom passed away in a car crash, years ago. If you've been keeping as close an eye on this place as you say you are, you'd know that. So maybe your claims are inaccurate."

"There's no need to be rude. I care about you and Maddie and Clare, and I'd like to know what's going on."

Rolling my eyes, I resorted to my excuse I'd now become well-versed at. "Dad's on an extended business trip."

"For six months?" asked Mr. Klein coolly.

Another bite down onto my lip. "No. For a few weeks. He should be back soon."

Mr. Klein adjusted his jacket and narrowed his eyes at me once more. "I'll be checking back," he said, "and your father better be home then. It's ridiculous to leave a seventeen-year-old girl in charge of the house and her little sisters while he goes off on some business venture."

Forcing an innocent shrug and smile, I waved goodbye to him and then shut the door as he descended down the porch steps, my nerves still jumping.

I'd barely locked the door behind Mr. Klein and returned back to my position at the table when my cell phone rang. One glance at the caller ID and I knew it couldn't be good news.

"Hi, Katie," I said, twirling my pink pencil between my fingers. "You don't usually call on weekends."

"Sorry, honey." Katie's typical gravelly voice was edged with something that sounded like remorse. "I don't mean to bother you on top of everything else you're managing right now. I just thought I should let you know you don't have to come into the shop on Monday."