Fifty Frogs (The Anti-Cinderella Chronicles Book 4) Read online

  “He did?” I gripped my mother’s arm. “Seriously? After all these years?”

  “I know! We didn’t believe it when he got the call, but it’s true.”

  I’d been aware of the Kripke Grant since I was a little girl, when my dad had first begun applying for it. Alfred Kripke, a well-known and philanthropic business man, had been obsessed with our National Park system. After his death, his family had established the grant to advance studies, promotion and protection of National Parks, awarding the money annually to college professors in the fields of botany, ecology, zoology and history.

  My father, as it happened, was obsessed with Civil War battlefields, most of which also fell under the auspices of the National Parks Services. While most families spent summer vacations enjoying theme parks, staying at mountain resorts or relaxing at the beach, my parents, my sister and I were tromping around fields and forests where epic battles had been waged over a hundred years before or meandering through museums filled with old letters and barbaric-looking medical equipment. Winning the Kripke Grant had been the focus of his professional life since I’d been in elementary school. I’d gotten used to hearing his rants about the committee showing favoritism to science professors over those in history, as he was.

  “Daddy must be over the moon.” I glanced at the carousel, which hadn’t begun to move yet.

  “Oh, he is. It’s so exciting, Vivian. The committee loved his proposal to spend a full year driving around the country, visiting the battlefields in the order that they occurred, following the paths of the various armies. They’re providing us with an RV and living expenses, and guess what? They’re going to film us, too. A crew will meet us at certain battlefields, and they’ll follow your father around while he does his commentary on the battles. They’re going to put that up on the YouTube channel.”

  “Wow, that’s exciting.” I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, wishing like hell we could get out of here.

  “And it seemed like a sign for us, with you winning the Amerails residency, Shelby getting the scholarship for her graduate work and moving to Maine—”

  “It’s been a banner year for the Rexland family,” I agreed.

  “—so Daddy and I decided to sell the house.”

  “Absolutely.” I paused. “Wait, what? You’re selling the house?”

  Aunt Gail coughed. “Past tense. They sold the house.”

  “Mom, how could you do that without telling me?” My voice rose several octaves, and around us, several people turned to stare. Some of them I recognized from the baggage check line, and I cringed a little. These folks were going to be happy to see the last of me.

  “Sweetie, I didn’t want to get into it over the phone when you were on the train. The connection was always so poor. And I figured it would be a nice surprise!” She smiled brightly, as if that might convince me that this really was the best news ever. “You haven’t lived at home in three years, since you moved in with Teddi. Shelby’s moved out now, so it makes a lot of sense. Why would we want an empty house while we’re on the road for a whole year?”

  “Um, maybe because I don’t live with Teddi anymore, remember? Shane moved in with her. All of my crap is in your garage. You said I could stay with you when I got back to Florida, until I figured out where I was going next.” I swallowed over the sudden lump in my throat.

  “We thought you’d decided to move in with Jeremy.” Mom flipped over her hand. “Isn’t that what you told your father and me right before you left? When we were driving you to the train station?”

  I remembered that morning. I’d been a little nervous about telling my parents that Jeremy had asked me to live with him; I wasn’t sure how they’d react. While I had a healthy adult relationship with my mom and dad, maybe they’d be upset that their little girl was considering shacking up with a guy.

  But their reaction had been less about the shacking up and more about the guy himself. Mom had looked faintly surprised.

  “Really? You want to live with him? I didn’t realize that things were that serious between the two of you.”

  “Um . . .” Neither had I. I didn’t say that, though. “Well, I’m going to think about it while I’m gone. I might do it. But then again, maybe I won’t. I’m taking time to think.”

  My dad had made a small noise in the back of his throat. “No offense, honey, but that boy has the flattest aspect I’ve ever seen.”

  I wasn’t precisely certain what that meant, but I didn’t think it was anything good.

  “You can stay with us as long as you want, sweetie,” my mother had put in. “Don’t feel like you have nowhere else to go.”

  But of course, that had been then, when she actually had a freaking house to share with me. Now, apparently, I really didn’t have any place else to go.

  “I told you that I was thinking about it. I hadn’t made up my mind.” I took a deep breath. “When are you moving?”

  My mom’s lips twitched, but she didn’t answer.

  “They moved last week.” Aunt Gail apparently was willing to cut to the chase when my mother was still beating around the bush. “They’re living in one of those residential hotels until the great RV adventure is launched in a couple of weeks. All of your crap, as you call it, is now currently residing in my garage.” She slid an around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. “And I have a room for you to stay in for as long as you need.”

  “Thanks.” I felt like the bottom had fallen out of my world, which made no sense. I hadn’t depended on my parents for room and board for a long time now. But maybe I hadn’t been ready for them not to be five minutes away, still in the same house we’d lived in since I was five. I hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye to my bedroom, or the backyard where I’d daydreamed away afternoons . . .

  Nearby, the baggage carousel finally lurched to life. I edged closer, desperate to find my suitcase and get the hell out of here before anyone else could drop a house on my life. Although, come to think of it, maybe a house was just what I needed.

  One thing was for sure, though. If I’d been asking for a sign to help me decide whether or not to move in with Jeremy, the universe had just come through big time.

  My mother chattered non-stop all the way to Aunt Gail’s house, telling me about the RV they’d be living in for the next year, the battlefields they were going to visit and how excited everyone at the college had been by the announcement of the grant. I hadn’t had to contribute much to the conversation, nor had Aunt Gail. We made the appropriate noises of appreciation here and there, and that kept my mom going.

  Aunt Gail’s neighborhood was actually one of my favorite parts of our small central Florida town. It was in one of the more established sections of Summer Meadows, with quiet, tree-lined streets and older homes. All of the houses backed up to a large spring-fed lake. When my sister Shelby and I had been younger, we loved to spend weekends there, taking out Aunt Gail’s paddleboat and fishing off the shore. It was peaceful and restful there; although it wasn’t one of the many over-fifty-five communities that dotted our area, the residents tended to be long-time homeowners. Their kids had grown and moved away, and there was only the occasional visit from grandchildren.

  My mother turned the car into Aunt Gail’s driveway and shifted into park, but I noticed that she didn’t turn off the ignition.

  “Daddy and I have a reception at Dr. Andrews’ house this afternoon, sweetie.” She had the grace to look a little guilty about abandoning me for a party with the college president. “I feel terrible that you’ve just gotten home and everything is changing so suddenly, but they’re honoring your father as one of the noteworthy faculty members. We have to be there.” She brightened. “Maybe we can meet for breakfast tomorrow, and you can tell us all about your residency. And Daddy can give you some details about our trip, too.”

  “Sounds peachy.” I opened the car door. “I’ll talk to you later, Mom. Right now, all I want is a shower and a bed.”

  “All right, honey.” She ro
lled down her window and presented her cheek for me to kiss. “I’ll text you later.”

  “You do that.” Yeah, I was just a little pissy. But in my defense, I was tired, hot and sweaty . . . and feeling very discombobulated right now. I carried my backpack, while Aunt Gail wheeled my suitcase up to her front porch. My mother backed out of the driveway and was off to her new and exciting life.

  Aunt Gail unlocked the door, and I sighed with relief as we stepped into the blessed coolness of her air-conditioning. Her small dog Buster, a white Maltese-Havanese mix with black patches, skittered across the shiny tile in his rush to see us.

  “I know this whole thing is kind of a shock to you, Viv.” Aunt Gail hung up her keys on the hook just inside the foyer. “I told your parents that they ought to call you when the grant came through. But you know them . . .” She shook her head. “Your mom had this whole scenario in her head about greeting you at the airport with the good news. And to be honest, it has been a little bit of whirlwind for them, finding out about the trip and then having to make it all happen so quickly.”

  “Yeah, I get that.” I dropped my backpack onto a kitchen chair. “But when I left here just three months ago, my parents owned a house, and my sister was still living with them. I never dreamed that I’d come home and find myself homeless, with everyone scattering to the winds.” My lip pushed out in what I might have called a pout on anyone else. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Shelby. Now she’s up in Maine, and God only knows when I’ll see her again.”

  “She’ll be back. And Maine isn’t exactly the hinterlands, you know. You can be up there in a couple of hours or so by plane.” She fastened me with a look. “Just how often did you and Shelby hang out when you lived five minutes from each other, anyway?”

  I frowned. “Maybe not all the time, but I liked knowing she was there. Just like I wanted to know that my parents would always have my childhood home available if I needed to go back.”

  Aunt Gail laughed. “Welcome to the real world, Viv. Shit happens. Life changes. Deal with it, or get run over by it.”

  “Thanks. Always good to know I can rely on you for support and encouragement.”

  “You’re very welcome. Now come on. I’ve got your room all ready for you. I even changed the sheets on the bed, and I dusted. You know that’s going all out for me.”

  I followed her down the short hallway to the room that had always been my favorite whenever I came for overnight visits when I was a kid. It was large and airy, with lots of windows and an attached bathroom. If everything else were equal, I’d have to admit that these were nicer digs than I’d have had at my parents’ house.

  “I brought in a few boxes that your parents left in my garage—some of your books and clothes from the apartment. Teddi packed up all your stuff, so you know it’s organized. Oh, and your car is in the storage shed at your old apartment. Teddi took it there after the house sold. I’ll be happy to drive you over to get it whenever you’re ready. Make yourself at home here, honey, for as long as you need.”

  “Thank you, Aunt Gail. Really.” I gave her a quick hug, though I could barely feel it through all my clothes. “I appreciate you letting me land here. I think I’m going to get a shower and go see Jeremy, if you don’t mind me using your car.”

  “Of course.” She hesitated in the doorway of the bedroom. “Vivian, don’t make this decision to move in with Jeremy because of what your parents did. You really are welcome to stay here indefinitely. I promise, I’m a wonderful roommate. I won’t butt into your life as long as you don’t butt into mine. I think we’d get along wonderfully.”

  “I know, and I love you for that.” I managed a smile. “But Jeremy wants us to take this step. He told me right before I left that he thinks we’re ready.”

  “Do you love him, Viv?” Aunt Gail tilted her head, frowning. “Does he love you? Has he said that?”

  I took a deep breath. “I . . . like him a lot. I think. And he told me that I was worth waiting for, so that sounds like love, doesn’t it? Jeremy isn’t the type to get all mushy about feelings and emotion. He’s very analytical and practical. I think that was his way of letting me know how he feels.”

  “Maybe.” Aunt Gail sniffed. “Personally, I couldn’t deal with that kind of person. But you have to make your own choices. Just remember that he isn’t your only option.”

  “I will.”

  She winked at me before closing the door, leaving me alone. I began the process of stripping off my clothes, leaving them in a pile on the tiled bedroom floor before I climbed into a blessedly hot and perfect shower. As the water sluiced over me, I replayed the events of the day, my tired mind spinning.

  I understood Aunt Gail’s point, just as I had listened to the woman on the plane. But nevertheless, my mind was made up. And as soon as I was clean, I was going to give my boyfriend the good news.

  My answer was yes.

  Jeremy lived in a townhouse that was part of a planned community about fifteen minutes from Summer Meadows. The development reminded me of the man himself: it was neat and orderly, and seldom did anything unexpected happen there.

  I drove Aunt Gail’s Mini-Coop slowly down the road. I hadn’t want to take the time to retrieve my own car; honestly, I hadn’t wanted to tell Teddi my plan and risk one more person weighing in when my mind was already made up.

  On either side of me, the wide sidewalks were filled with runners and couples walking dogs. There were no children biking or skating; this was a restricted, adult-only community. It was one of the things that had appealed to Jeremy.

  Each townhouse had an attached garage, with a short driveway. Alongside the curb, there was one designated GUEST spot per unit. Jeremy always kept his silver compact in the garage, and usually, I parked in the driveway when I came to see him. But today, there was red convertible taking up my space. Frowning, I pulled into the guest spot, wondering who might be visiting Jeremy.

  He had friends, of course, and office colleagues, and he entertained for business reasons. But he wasn’t the type to have buddies over to watch a baseball game and toss back some brews. He didn’t like the unpredictability of social occasions that weren’t carefully planned, with a clear beginning and a designated end time.

  I climbed out of the car, stopping for a minute to check my reflection in the window of the driver’s side door. I’d been in a rush to get over here, but still, knowing that this might end up to be one of those moments I’d remember for the rest of my life—the day I’d made the decision to move in with the man I’d someday marry—I had taken the time to blow dry my hair and put on makeup. I’d even managed to dress cute, in a short flouncy black skirt and a pretty camisole top edged with lace. I wanted Jeremy to remember why he’d asked me to move in with him. I wanted him to see me at my best.

  Butterflies flittered around my stomach as I walked up his front path and knocked on the door. I didn’t have a key to Jeremy’s house, and he hadn’t had one to my apartment. Our relationship hadn’t required that up until now. Of course, if I moved in with him—no, when I moved in with him—he’d have to remedy that.

  I heard voices from inside, and I wondered for the first time if I should’ve called before I came over. Jeremy didn’t like surprises, I remembered too late. He got flustered when anything unplanned or unexpected happened.

  The door swung open, and there he was. I was taken aback, because Jeremy was dressed in T-shirt and shorts, and for the first time since I’d known him, he looked less than put together—in fact, I’d almost have to say he seemed disheveled. I waited for the rush of gladness I’d hoped to feel when I saw him again, but anything I might’ve felt was extinguished by the expression of utter dismay on his face.

  “Vivian.” He couldn’t have sounded unhappier to see me. “What are you doing here?”

  “Umm . . .” I inhaled and began the speech I’d been rehearsing since I was in the shower. “I just got home, Jeremy, and I couldn’t wait to see you, so that I could tell you . . . my answer
is yes.”

  His fingers were clinging to the edge of his door with a death grip, his knuckles turning white. “Yes?”

  Trepidation washed over me. Had he fallen and bumped his head, forgetting what he’d asked me? For a dizzying moment, I began to doubt my own sanity. I hadn’t imagined him asking me to live with him, had I?

  “Babe, what’s going on?” An unfamiliar voice came from inside the house, and a tall redheaded woman ducked under Jeremy’s arm. She was lovely in that casual way some woman seemed to achieve, her hair messy and not a drop of makeup on her pretty face. But what nailed my feet to their spot on the porch was that she was wearing an over-sized men’s dress shirt . . . and nothing else.

  “Uhhh . . .” Jeremy seemed to have misplaced the power of speech. He looked down at the woman who’d called him babe and then glanced back at me. “Tess, this is Vivian.”

  Her eyes clouded in confusion. “Vivian?” And then realization dawned. “Oh! Vivian. Yes, she’s the friend you told me about, the one who was living on a train, right?”

  “It was a residency on Amerails,” I corrected stiffly. “I won it. I competed against other writers, and it was an honor. I wasn’t living on a train like some hobo.” I straightened my back. “And I’m not just a friend. I’m Jeremy’s girlfriend.”

  Part of me hoped that this chick would react badly to this new information. But she only shook her head. “Jeremy said that you two had dated for a while.”

  “Dated for a while? How about we dated for a whole year, and right before I left for my residency, he asked me to move in with him?” Hands on my hips, I tapped my foot. Somehow, apparently, I’d landed in a weird bizarre version of my former life, an alternate reality where my parents didn’t own our house anymore and Jeremy was sleeping with this redhead chick. I didn’t like this world.

  “I think we should take this conversation inside.” Tess stepped back, running her hand along Jeremy’s arm. “It sounds as though there are a few misunderstandings you two need to clear up.”