Disclaimer: I don't own The Penderwicks

Chapter 10 (Skye's POV)

We were on our way to Arundel and all logic told me that I should have been knee deep in a mix or worry and nostalgia by now. But as it was I was too busy trying to figure out a physical way to close my ears.

Every other ride in Jeffrey's car had always been filled with some kinda classical score or something, but for some reason I was being forced to endure Jane's favorite pop CD. And don't get me wrong, I don't sit around and listen to monk dirges in my spare time, but any CD case that literally had pink glitter stuck to it? I mean really!?

Jane was lost somewhere between texting her 'biggest fan' and belting out the chorus line in the back seat. And I was glaring at Jeffrey wondering why he had that nutty grin on his face. But when he joined in and started singing with her it was all just TOO much. I mean isn't Jeffrey supposed to be a musical genius/connoisseur? Wouldn't listening to this be about like a gourmet chef eating at a burger joint?

Finally giving up, I collapsed back in my seat as I huffed out my own patterned "moan grumble."

Somehow hearing it over the music, Jeffrey's grin got bigger. And right then the whole reason behind him liking it got a lot clearer. When the track finally ended I frowned over at him accusingly.

"You enjoy my suffering don't you?"

He smiled as he kept his eyes on the road ahead. "Whatever gave you that idea…?"

Rolling my eyes I felt both annoyed and yet...slightly amused. That was the mystery of the whole thing I guess. Something about the universe I figured I'd never understand even in all the centuries to come. It was why Jeffrey could make me happy even when he was making me miserable. Jane would have chalked it up to love and probably burst into poetry. I on the other hand wasn't about to to venture anywhere near poetry, but I wasn't dumb enough to not get the rest. I'd always wondered if I was gonna end up immune to all those awkward emotions when I grew up. But of course I wasn't.

And what made it so hard was that I was actually glad…

No I wasn't ever going to be like Jane or Rosy, but somehow I'd managed to find a way to be me. To be Skye Magee Penderwick, and still...and still be in love.

As the next caffeinated track started I just slid a little further down in my seat. Jeffrey was laughing, and I reached over and decked him in the shoulder. He swerved a little, faked being offended, then started laughing again. My frown turned slowly into a smirk, and then finally a chuckle.

And well...I figured that would always pretty much sum up our relationship...

The rest of the drive may or may not have led to violence, but I will say that my head was officially hurting by the time Arundel Hall came into view. And when Jane let out her "squeal of nostalgia" I think it finally split right off my shoulders. Jane was the first to bolt from the car as soon as we stopped, but I was starting to feel like I'd swallowed about a gallon of butterflies. Maybe's being annoyed over Jane's music the whole way over had actually helped distract me. Now any thoughts of distraction were pretty much out the window.

All I could think was that I'd be seeing Mrs. Tifton any minute now. Not to mention I was dating her son! I was starting to wonder if I had a death wish after all. Sure Jeffrey had said she seemed to take the news okay, but I wasn't really convinced that seeing me again might not drive her over the edge of tolerance. I mean somehow I got the feeling I probably wasn't the someone she'd always hoped her son would end up with.

I bit my lip. Now even I was thinking we'd end up together? I needed to keep my head on straight, and rein in the confusion, if I had any chance of making it through this encounter alive. So hesitantly creaking my door open I stepped out and slung my overstuffed backpack on one shoulder.

"Ready?" Jeffrey asked with raised eyebrows. I couldn't help but think that was a kinda loaded question. So playing it safe I just nodded. I was ready to face whatever was gonna happen so I guessed that was honest enough.

"Well that makes one of us…" I heard him mumble under his breath.

I snorted back a laugh. "You're not afraid of your mom are you?"

"Hardly!" He huffed, before his expression took on a mischievous grin. "But just imagine the spot I'll be in trying to decide if I should bet on my mother or my girlfriend in a brawl."

"Haha very funny." I said dryly with a frown.

He laughed as he playfully ribbed me in the side. "Come on my lady, you know I'm only kidding."

I groaned out a "whatever" as I tried to focus on being face to face with Mrs. Tifton any second now.

But of course Jeffrey, being the overgrown eight year old that he is… "Because you know I'd bet on you, even if it was a whole herd of football players."

I spun around on my heels and pointed a half playful, half serious finger in his face. "How about one skinny musician?"

He laughed. "Point taken."

I breathed out a sigh before staring straight at the door ahead. It was show time. Now or never. I took one leap of a step ahead, figuring the only way out was through. But it was just then that Churchie appeared in the doorway. Not Mrs. Tifton. She was already scooping Jane up in a hug, and I wanted to enjoy every second of being back here, but as it was, I was cringing with every step.

"Oh Jeffrey look at you, you seem almost a foot taller than during your last visit!" Churchie said with a grin as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Then she turned to focus on me, and I felt myself shifting uncomfortably under the attention. Reaching out to touch the side of my face she smiled warmly.

"And Skye… Oh you're just beautiful." She leaned to hug me. "But then you always were my dear girl…"

In spite of my nerves and my embarrassment, I liked the warmth that Churchie radiated. I always had, and right now I think I needed it more than ever. So just this once I tried to let myself believe that she was right… And dad too. I wanted to believe that I was at least half as beautiful, and more importantly, capable, as mom would have been at handling all this.

"Where's Mrs Tifton?" I asked directly with what bit of courage I had left.

Churchie smiled. "Oh she ran into town to get something ready for the party tomorrow, she'll be back this evening. No need to worry."

I had to stop myself from letting out an audible sigh of relief. I had a little more time! Though truthfully I wasn't sure if I'd been better off getting it over with. But either way I at least had a chance to run through a few more possible opening lines.

"Anyway," Churchie continued. "Why don't you girls go leave your things at the cottage, and wash up, I have a surprise for you."

Jane's eyes beamed. "Could it be gingerbread?! I mean possibly?"

Churchie laughed. "Why yes it just might! Fresh out of the oven even, just for old times sake."

"Oh Churchie!" Jane bellowed as she hugged her again. "I think we should have made you a Penderwick all along!"

She smiled. "I'd like that Jane dear, I truly would."

We were halfway to the cottage when something Churchie had said finally registered. Turning to Jeffrey I eyed him suspiciously. "Wait...what party is your mom getting ready for tomorrow anyway?"

He gestured as if playing a piano in the air in front of him. "Garden party with musical scores by non other than the very talented Jeffrey Tifton!"

"This is gonna be high society isn't it?" I asked with a deeper frown.

Jeffrey shrugged. "Does my mother know anyone that isn't?"

"True…" I mumbled.

"Well," Jane chimed in. "At least your mother is proud of your music enough to have you play for her big shot friends right?"

Jeffrey smiled. "Yeah I guess that's the glass half full side of it."

I sighed. "And I bet I know the half empty side. This is why you told us to pack a dress isn't it?"

He nodded with a grin. "Guilty as charged, but I was afraid to tell you why in case you decided to suddenly catch some incurable disease."

I moaned. "You know I get even more awkward anytime I even think about heels and all that junk. I'll probably trip over a plant and end up destroying that prized creepy statue." I frowned again. "And I'll probably take your mom's reputation down with it."

He reached to squeeze my hand reassuringly as I ran a few more "worst case scenarios" in my head.

"No one is worried about my mother's reputation. But you're not going to trip over anything anyway. You are going to look absolutely gorgeous though. And if anything affects mom's social status, it will be having a son who is dating someone as perfect as you. So there Ms. Penderwick! "

I frowned, not letting on that I was at least a little comforted by what he'd said. "I'm not perfect. And in heels I think everything just gets a lot worse…"

He swung our joined hands playfully between us. "Then why don't you where your old hat with the outfit? I think it would make a lovely fashion statement. You could tell them it was the latest French trend or something."

I rolled my eyes. "Sorry somehow I don't think your mother is that into nostalgia."

He laughed. "Maybe, but you're not here to become my mother's idea of perfect. You're here so she can meet you halfway. Besides, as already proudly stated, you are my idea of perfect."

I cringed a little even as I was sure my face was probably going red. Finally I mumbled out a faint "thanks." We both went quiet then, and Jeffrey even seemed a bit more uncomfortable suddenly. But looking up from my feet I noticed Jane juggling her luggage in one arm and scribbling something furiously down with her other hand.

"Jane what are you writing?" I asked suspiciously.

She looked up sheepishly. "Oh...it's just you two make writing romance so easy." She shrugged. "I mean a writer must taken advantage of inspiration wherever it's found right?"

I just held out my hand silently, daring her not to hand it over. She looked between my empty hand and her paper, before she smiled and took off running.

"Sorry Skye, it's for the sake of art!"

"Huh!?" I groaned in disbelief. But her head start didn't last because I was after her in nothing flat.

"Hand it over Jane! I mean it!" I shouted as I chased after her.

I could hear Jeffrey laughing behind us, and I guess a part of me wanted to laugh too. I mean besides the part that wanted to kill Jane.

It really was almost like being a kid again… I half expected to hear Mrs. Tifton yelling across the yard. To see Batty race down the cottage steps with those ridiculous butterfly wings. I guessed this was nostalgia at it's best. I wouldn't have cared if I'd stepped back in time to that first summer. To the summer where I met Jeffrey and lost my temper more times than I'd like to admit.

But it wasn't summer anymore. It was just becoming fall. The crispness in the air, and first fallen leaves crunching under my feet said so. And just like that, I knew I wasn't really going backwards even if it felt like it. In fact I was probably about to go further forward, than I'd ever have thought possible…

Thanks as always for reading an reviewing! And please stick around for the next chapter coming soon! (I'm curious myself to see how Mrs. Tifton is going to handle this... lol)