CHAPTER SIX
I still don't know why Logan called me that day. Why? Because I, Mary Anne Spier, am a humongous scaredy cat who can't even make a simple phone call, not even when I have raging questions flying around my brain... not even when my very happiness is at stake. Nope. No matter how many times I took out my phone and imagined I was dialing Logan's number over the next few weeks, I couldn't seem to make my fingers actually go through the motions.
(Oh, by the way, I knew for sure now that it was indeed Logan who'd called me. When I got home from shopping with Stacey, Kristy, and Claudia that day, I did a little detective work. Which is to say I Googled the mysterious phone number, and voila... Logan Bruno's name popped right up. I really don't know how my friends and I ever solved so many mysteries back in the days before they invented the internet, honestly.)
And I heard through the grapevine that Logan was no longer visiting his parents here in Stoneybrook, that he had gone back home to Boston.
Good. Out of sight, out of mind...
Except not really out of mind because aughhhhh I'm still in love with him!
I feel so alone. I can't talk about this with anyone... not anyone who'd actually understand, I mean. I tried talking to Kristy, but she basically told me I was crazy... told me to get over Logan, told me I didn't need a man anyway, and for pete's sake, would I please stop wallowing?
Jessi thinks I'm crazy, too. Claudia says Jessi told her that I need to remember that I've had a million chances over the years to reconnect with Logan if I really wanted to, and it was a bit strange of me to wait until he'd already put down roots (you know, got Stacey pregnant) to start declaring my passion for him. But I forgive Jessi. She's two years younger than I am, so what does she know?
Claudia is sympathetic toward my plight (she knows a thing or two about losing a guy) but she's also fiercely loyal to Stacey. So I can't talk to her about this, either.
Which is why I decided to call Dawn. Actually, I decided to Skype with her. We'd done this a few times, and it had been a long while since our last chat. I texted her to arrange a time, and she agreed.
This is how our conversation went:
Me: Dawn?
Dawn: Mary Anne? Can you hear me?
Me: I can hear you, but I can't see you. Can you see me?
Dawn: Hang on, one sec... oh yep, heyyyy!
Me: Eeee! You look great!
Dawn: (Laughing) I just got my roots done... can you tell?
Me: Your hair always looks great!
Dawn: Well, it didn't this morning! I like your blouse, that's cute!
Me: Thanks!
Dawn: How've you been? Oh hang on, Greer's here; she wants to say 'hi'?
Me: Aww! Hi Greer!
Greer, Dawn's 7-Year-Old Daughter: Hi...
Dawn: Greer, do you remember when Aunt Mary Anne came to visit you when you were little?
Greer: No.
Me: Do you remember last time we Skyped and you read The Cat In The Hat to me out loud?
Greer: I can read chapter books now.
Me: Wow! You're really growing up!
Greer: I know.
Dawn: Honey, say 'bye' to Aunt Mary Anne, okay? Go play with your sister for a little bit while mommy talks.
Greer: Okay... bye!
Me: Bye, sweetie!
Dawn: So what's up?
Me: Ugh, everything!
Dawn: I heard about Stacey.
Me: You did?
Dawn: Yeah, Claudia told me.
Me: So... you heard who the father is?
Dawn: Yes... ugh, you look like you're about to cry! Don't cry!
Me: I can't help it! That's basically all I've BEEN doing since I got the news!
Dawn: Is it because of Logan?
Me: Yes.
Dawn: Do you think he and Stacey are going to get married, or what?
Me: Augh! No! I hope not! I mean, no! They're just... no!
Dawn: Is Logan with somebody else?
Me: Not that I know of...
Dawn: So what's the problem? If you're still in love with him...
Me: How... do you know... that?
Dawn: Well, for one thing, you're blushing. And because I know YOU, Mary Anne.
Me: So what do I DO?
Dawn: I think... you just have to decide if Logan is worth it. If he's worth the risk... and... if you think
your heart is up to it, and...
Me: That's the problem. Every time I think about even CALLING him, my heart starts going POW POW POW, like it's going to fly right out of my chest.
Dawn: That's... never actually happened to anybody in the history of ever.
Me: Well, then I'd be the first!
Dawn: Silly.
Me: I know. But I can't help it. Ugh, I miss you! I wish you were here so we could talk all the time. It's been eons since you visited!
Dawn: I'd love to come, but you know, with my job... I have to be here to fill orders and with Delilah getting ready to start school... yeah, traveling's just not in the cards. Buuut... YOU could come HERE! Oh, you totally should!
Me: Is... that an invitation?
Dawn: Oh, come, come! We'd love to have you. You can have Delilah's room; we'll put her with Greer for a few days! Oh, please come!
Me: When?
Dawn: Whenever! How soon can you get here?
Me: Um, well... I'd have to check... but I think the girl I nanny for's family has a vacation coming up...
Dawn: That's perfect!
And that's how I ended up on a plane to California.