Starcrossed

Chapter 5b: Duchas (part 2)

CHAPTER 5 (part 2)

Duchas (doo-kas): normal Earth humans

   

"Um, hi," I said, and they all looked up—the three I'd already met smiling and Mr. O'Gara with the slightly awed expression his wife had when I first got into her car today.

Uncle Louie, oblivious as always, stood up to make introductions. "Marsha, these are the O'Garas—Lili, Quinn, Sean and Molly. This is our niece, Marsha." I guess they hadn't had time to tell him we'd mostly already met.

He continued before any of us could speak. "They bought a minivan from me yesterday and when we did the paperwork, I saw they'd moved in just around the corner, on Opal. So I told them to stop by, especially since their kids are about your age." He beamed around at all of us.

Right around the corner? No wonder Mrs. O'Gara had known where I lived. Or—a niggling suspicion arose—did they move into that house because it was right around the corner?

"That's great," I said, and hoped my cheerfulness didn't sound forced. "So we'll be riding the same bus and everything?"

"I guess," Sean said. "At least until I get my Indiana driver's license. And, er, a car."

Mrs. O'Gara raised an eyebrow, then turned back to me. "Marsha, I have a favor to ask. I understand you take the same U. S. History class that Molly and Sean do, and it's a subject neither of them has ever studied. Would you be willing to tutor them a bit, since they're coming in mid term?"

"Sure." My smile was genuine now, which seemed to reassure Molly, who'd been looking embarrassed. "It'll be fun. And a good review for me, before finals."

"That's very kind of you, your, er, Marsha," said Mr. O'Gara, who still looked a little nervous. "I'm sure Sean and Molly will appreciate your help enormously."

They both nodded, Molly eagerly and Sean looking a little sheepish.

"Marsha is a very good student," Aunt Theresa informed them, managing to sound pompous instead of complimentary.

There was an awkward silence, then Sean asked, "So, you like to run?"

I glanced down at my sweats and running shoes. "Um, yeah. It's an easy way to keep in shape." I wondered how soon I'd be able to get away. The clock over the fireplace showed it was almost eight-thirty now, which meant Rigel was probably already waiting in the arboretum.

"Marsha, why don't you bring out coffee and some of those cookies I baked yesterday," Aunt Theresa said, dashing my hopes. "You can run any time," she added, which meant my disappointment must have shown. Oops.

"Sure, no problem." I headed to the kitchen, wishing for the umpteenth time that I had a cell phone, so I could send Rigel a quick text or something to let him know what was going on. I got out coffee cups and a plate for the cookies, then glanced at the phone on the wall. Maybe, if I was really quiet—

"Need any help?" I turned to see Sean standing in the kitchen doorway wearing an apologetic smile. "Sorry to descend on you in force like this," he whispered, coming over to pour coffee into the cups. "It was Dad's idea to take your uncle up on his invite tonight."

"That's okay," I lied, edging away from him. "Like Aunt Theresa said, I can run anytime. You're new neighbors, and this is just standard Indiana hospitality. You might as well get used to it." I gave him my best smile—the best one I ever gave to anyone who wasn't Rigel—to gloss over my earlier reluctance, which he must have noticed.

I wondered if he also noticed how I avoided touching him as we put the filled coffee cups, cream and sugar on Aunt Theresa's antique black and gold tray. Sean carried out the tray while I followed with a plate of oatmeal-cranberry-walnut cookies.

As the next half hour ticked past, Aunt Theresa and Uncle Louie made small talk with the O'Garas about mundane things like grocery stores and churches and dentists' offices. Everything seemed so . . . so normal, it was hard for even me to believe our new neighbors had come to Earth from Mars barely over a year ago.

Finally, after receiving way too many details on what little Jewel had to offer, the O'Garas stood to go.

"Once we're all unpacked, we'll have to have you over for dinner," Mrs. O'Gara said to Aunt Theresa as everyone headed slowly toward the front door.

"Why, how kind. We'd be delighted." Aunt Theresa seemed to genuinely like these people, which seemed unfair considering how stand-offish she'd always been toward the Stuarts. I'd assumed it was because they weren't third generation Jewelites, like she and Uncle Louie were, but apparently not.

By the time all the goodbyes were said and the O'Garas gone, it was a quarter past nine.

"So, um, can I go running now?" I asked without much hope.

Of course, Aunt Theresa shook her head. "Not this late, on a school night. You can get your exercise in taekwondo class tomorrow."

"But the reason I've started running is so I'll have more stamina for taekwondo," I explained in a last-ditch effort.

"I said no, Marsha. Not tonight. Now take all these cups into the kitchen and wash them so they can dry overnight."

With a sigh, I complied. Rigel had probably given up and gone back home by now anyway. I dawdled around the kitchen, drying and putting away dishes, hoping for a few moments alone so I could call him. But Aunt Theresa and Uncle Louie stayed within earshot, mostly talking about how nice the O'Garas were, until it was too late to call. I'd just have to explain to him tomorrow.

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