"Thanks, you're always thinking of me."

Bill gets an emergency call from work, which he has to take, and with an apologetic look at Mom, he disappears into the den.

There goes the father of my future half brother or sister, I think.

Hey, that baby could do a lot worse. I realize I really like Bill. I'm glad he seems pleased by the model pirate ship I got for him.

Mom wants me to try on the Big Sister shirt she got me. It ends up being a size too small. She keeps looking from my chest to her own pet.i.te one, frowning mournfully. I hope she doesn't ever consider getting implants after the baby.

"Violet, I have to tell you something."

Mom scoots over to me on her knees and hunkers down in front of me, looking me in the eye.

"What?" I ask fearfully. She looks so serious, it must be something bad.

"I talked to Zane."

I inhale sharply. My hands start to shake, and I have to suppress the sudden urge to pounce on my own mother and a.s.sault her with a barrage of questions. What did he say? How is he? Did he talk about me?

"Oh," I say finally. "I...uh...why did you...what did you talk about?"

Mom raises an eyebrow. "Quite a bit, actually. Turns out I have a lot to say to the young man who took my seventeen year old daughter's virginity."

I am absolutely mortified. I can feel my face pale with the horror. "Mom!"

"Wait, it was-Zane was your first, right?"

The blood suddenly returns to my face with a vengeance. "Yeah, Mom. Ugh."

"Hey, not like it isn't weird for me, too," she says, straightening her shoulders indignantly. "Zane is my stepson, after all. But...we came to an understanding-let's just leave it at that. Anyway, he wanted you to have something."

Mom hands me a little square-shaped box. I stare at her, stricken.

"Whatever it is, I can't accept it," I whisper, staring at the tiny foil wrapped present like it's going to bite me. "We broke up."

"He said he got it for you about a month ago, and he wants you to have it. No strings attached. He says you don't need to contact him, or anything, and he's not taking it back, so you might as well keep it." She chuckles a little. "He knows you so well."

I start to protest. "Mom...I-I...I can't-"

"He loves you, you know," she says softly. She grabs my hand and gently places the box in my palm. Then she lightly touches my cheek. "You love him, too, don't you?"

So easily, the tears start falling from my eyes. "Yeah," I half laugh, half sob. "I do."

"Oh, Violet." Mom reaches for me and hugs me sympathetically. "My poor girl."

I pull back awkwardly. "I'm okay," I say quickly, wiping my face. "So...do you know what this is?" I gesture with the box.

Mom grins mischievously. "Yep. And the only reason I'm okay with it is because of how he feels about you, and because I know he can so afford it. Come on-open it."

I take a shaky breath. The box weighs almost nothing. Is it...a ring?

I quickly banish that crazy thought. Of course not. It's a goodbye present, not a promise for the future.

I unwrap it carefully. Inside the box is a little black...remote? I look up at Mom uncertainly.

She's beaming. "It's the remote to your Bentley convertible! It's parked in the drive."

"No way."

We rush outside, Mom giggling like a school girl along the way. I run out the front door, and-there it is, sitting in the driveway, gleaming in the mid morning light.

A shiny purple Bentley convertible.

"Oh, my G.o.d," I gasp.

I can only stand there with my mouth hanging open. Mom takes the remote and uses it to open the doors. Then she pulls me over so we can check out the interior.

It's beautiful inside. All the b.u.t.tons and dials and displays overwhelm me. The dark gray leather seats are just luxurious.

I sit behind the wheel and feel like-like a rock star. "I can't keep this," I tell Mom in an awed voice.

She's sitting in the pa.s.senger seat, poking at what looks to be a phone in the middle console. "Zane was very clear that he wasn't taking it back," she says. "He wants you to have it, Violet."

I grip the steering wheel with both hands, my shoulders slumping. "Out of guilt."

"Violet. Keep the car. Enjoy it. Start smiling again." Mom smoothes back a lock of my hair. "You've only got a few more months until you're off to college. Just...take it one day at a time. Okay?"

I close my eyes and see Zane's face. I quickly open them again. "Okay," I say. "I'll try."

No regrets.

Yeah, right.

I help Mom clean up our Christmas morning mess, then I hop in my old Toyota with a bag of gifts and head to Lauren's. After doling out presents and accepting my own, I pull Lauren aside and hand her the keys to my car.

"It's old, but you know it runs good," I tell her while she stares at me, dumbfounded. "You can use it, or trade it in, or whatever."

"Are you kidding, V?" Lauren tries to hand me back the keys. "You can't give me your car. What are you suppose to drive?"

I rub my forehead uneasily. "Um...well, Zane kind of...bought me a new one."

Lauren's mouth falls open. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. Drive me back home and you can see it."

I have to bully Lauren into taking the Toyota. In the end, I guilt her into it by bringing up the fact that it would make it much easier for her family if there were two cars-especially when the baby comes. Finally, she gives in, and surprises me by giving me a tight hug. Lauren never hugs. Must be the hormones.

I debate all night with myself, and finally I decide to send Zane a simple thank you note, along with the mermaid sculpture and the Stirling engine model I was going to give him for Christmas. I know it seems stupid-he gives me a Bentley, I give him a mermaid and a toy. But...I don't know. I did buy it for him before we broke up.

I get his address from Mom and mail it off before I can change my mind. Then I immediately regret it. What was I thinking?! He's going to think I'm an idiot, playing games. He's going to think the statue is stupid. I'll bet he doesn't even remember that day at the gallery.

Oh, G.o.d, what did I do?

Chapter 35.

I work on New Year's Eve, which is fine since I didn't have any plans, anyway. One of the resident's nephew brings fireworks, and we bring everyone outside to set them off. The residents are delighted with the small display, gazing up at the burst of lights in the sky with big smiles. Then we go back in for hot chocolate and root beer floats.

I've been doing good at acting cheerful and full of happy energy, but by the end of my shift, I feel exhausted with the effort. Helize notices how quiet I'm being and asks if I'm okay.

I force a smile. "I'm fine. Um...can I ask you a personal question?"

She's having a particularly lucid day today. She meets my eyes in the reflection of the mirror as she brushes her thin white hair. "Well, you've wiped my b.u.t.t and washed all my odds and ends, dear. I guess that earns you the right to ask. Go on."

I laugh. "Ew. Okay. Do you...do you ever regret not marrying, and starting a family?"

Helize's gaze suddenly turns inward, her expression far away. "No, I wouldn't say so," she says finally. "I had a lot of amazing experiences-done things that I don't think I would have the opportunity to do, had I settled down. Traveled a lot. Did I tell you about the time I hand glided in Paraguay?"

"No, but it sounds like a good story," I say.

"Well, I'll tell you..." And she launches into an amazing story about her adventures in Paraguay. This story doesn't end with her in jail, for a change.

Later, when I'm pulling her blanket and comforter up to her chest, Helize's eyes suddenly take on a sheen.

"Sometimes I wonder what might have been," she whispers as I lean over her. "The thing is...I was a very proud girl. I never wanted to take the chance I might get hurt. Isn't that funny? I was game for any exciting adventure that came my way, but when it came to risking my heart, I was a coward. Charlie used to say..." She lets out a little chuckle. "He used to say, 'Helize, you're going to regret not forgiving me. I could have been the greatest adventure of your life.' 'Course, last time I saw him, he had gained two hundred pounds, and lived in an Arby's."

"Wow," I murmur, fixing her nasal canula. "Bullet dodged."

"Indeed."

"Well, Helize," I say, tucking her in. "You'll always have me."

"Yes...what was your name again, dear?"

She's kidding, of course. See, no one ever told Helize she's not funny. Big mistake.

It's the dawn of a new year, and I'm lying in bed by myself, full of regrets. Did I do the right thing by breaking it off with Zane? He lied to me. Maybe he didn't use me, but he didn't trust me with the truth, either. Even if I could forgive him that, how would I ever fit into his rock star life? I couldn't stand all those girls chasing after him constantly-I would have to beat them down. And being with him would put me in the public eye. Could I handle that? No, I don't think I could. Oh, G.o.d, I can just imagine the paparazzi catching me off guard, surrounding me-and I start shouting "p.e.n.i.s!" at them. Then Mom would jump in and tell them about the summer her sweet daughter turned tricks in her grandma's bakery.

I can just see the headlines now: Aiden Cross Dating Girl with Family History of Tourette's.

No one wants to see a headline like that. Way too long.

Yeah. It wouldn't be good.

So being back at school sucks-especially without Lauren. At least everyone is too busy talking about what they did over break to gossip about her and Mr. Jensen. I'm sick of yelling at everyone about it, anyway. Like it's the first time a teacher hooked up with a student at Hidden Cove. It's not even the fifth, if the rumors are true about Ms. Goolihan and Edward Alva.

Oh, there's a new rumor going around that my drug dealer pimp bought me the Bentley. I may have inadvertently started that one when that snotty cheerleader b.i.t.c.h, Alissa asked who I had to do to score a car like that. I may have replied something about my drug dealing pimp daddy. But who really knows how these things get started, right?

I'm at home , working on my book when my phone rings. I look at the display in surprise. It's Kim.

"Hey, Kim," I answer. "What's up?"

Kim's cheerful voice comes through loud and excited. "Oh, my G.o.d, Violet! Did you watch The Joanna Show today?!"

"Uh, no. I don't really watch..."

"Aiden Cross was on, and he was talking about you!" she shouts.

"W-what?!" Holy c.r.a.p! "What did he say?!"

"Oh, my G.o.d! I saved it-you have to come over and watch!"

"What did he say?!"

I'm already running around, looking for my shoes, while Kim squeals in my ear.

"You have to come over and see for yourself. Violet! I'm so j! He is sooo hot!"

"I know!" I shout back. "Can I pick Lauren up and bring her over, too?"

"Yeah, of course! Oh, my G.o.d!"

I text Lauren on the way to let her know I'm coming to get her. She just barely opens the door when I'm already dragging her out by her arm. I'm so jittery I can barely drive. Zane talked about me?! On a nationally televised talk show! What did he say? Oh, my G.o.d-did he say my name?! What was he thinking? Or was he talking about some other chick, and Kim is just confused? Grr, if that's the case.

Matt answers the door as I'm raising my hand to knock. I'm so fl.u.s.tered, I almost rap my fist against his forehead.

He looks shocked to see me. "Violet! What are you-?"

"Yeah," I mutter and practically push him aside.

I drag Lauren in and spot Kim bouncing around at the top of stairs. Her eyes are sparkling excitedly as she waves us up.

I take the stairs two at a time, Lauren following much more slowly behind me. It's inevitable that I trip, but I bounce right back up.

"What did he say?" I gasp, reaching the top.

Kim shakes her head grinning. "No, you have to watch it!"

"Wait, just tell me-was it good or bad? I mean..."

"Definitely good. Come on!"