"...Yeah, he's cute but he called me shallow. And there's this other guy, Chris Owen, who wants to go out with me. And he has a really nice car. Frankie, do you think I'm shallow?"
I can't help it. I snort. Sam glares at me.
"Well, thank you. Listen, let me call you back upstairs. It's more private. Goodbye." She hangs up and then starts to go over to the stairs, deliberately not looking at me.
"Sam, wait."
She turns but crosses her arms. "If you want to apologize—"
"Apologize? For sitting in my own living room?"
"You know what I mean. You're always like this when I talk to Frankie. What's your problem, Jonathan?"
"What's my problem? I'm not the one who's acting like an idiot."
"You're just jealous that I've got a new friend, an adult who treats me like an adult."
"No, she doesn't. She just tells you what you want to hear. You want to hear you're not shallow? She'll say you're not. You want advice on boys? She'll give you the advice you'd give yourself. You want to hear stories about Brooklyn and your mom? She'll tell you those."
"You are so wrong."
"Hey, if you want someone to agree with you, go call Frankie."
"God, you're almost as bad as he is!"
"He who?"
"Jesse Nash. He's like Dad with a Greenpeace card, always thinking he knows what's best for me."
"Oh, that guy Tony tried to fix you up with?"
"Yeah, and Jesse had the nerve to—Well, never mind. And you're wrong about Frankie. She does tell me stories about my mom but that's because she knew her."
"So did a lot of people in Brooklyn. But I don't see you hanging on the every word of Philly Fingers."
"Philly doesn't know—"
"Doesn't know what?"
She hesitates and then quietly says, "She told me. She told me about how Mom agreed to elope with Dad. See, Dad was 19 and still in the minors. Mom had just finished high school. They had nothing. The team owner's checks were even bouncing. But they were in love, so when he asked her to marry him, she didn't even think about it, she just jumped into his arms and said yes. Then she yelled up to Grandpa Nick and Grandma Venetia—"
"Venetian? Like the blinds?"
"Venetia. Never mind, I don't want to tell you this story."
"I'm sorry, go on."
"So she yelled up to my grandparents on the third floor, 'Hey, Ma! Hey, Pa! I'm marrying Tony.' Well, Grandpa Nick thought they were too young and poor, even by Pitkin Avenue standards. But once my mom made up her mind about something, she was determined. She confided in Frankie that she was going to elope with Dad. Frankie thought Mom was crazy but she was happy for her."
There's something off about that story. I can see Sam's parents and her grandfather acting like that. Nick and Tony have never gotten along and I get the impression that Nick never thought Tony was good enough for Sam's mom. Tony will probably be like that with whatever guy is crazy enough to marry Sam someday. And I can definitely believe that Sam's parents would be that much in love. Tony seems like the kind of guy who when he does fall in love totally goes head over heels. (I used to hope he'd fall for Mom that way, but I think they've settled into this weird sort of not-quite-a-marriage thing without ever having gone through the romance part.)
What's off about the story is the Frankie part. "Why did she confide in Frankie? They weren't like best friends or something, were they? I mean, you never met her when you were little, before your mom died, right?"
"I don't know. I guess they were good enough friends. And Frankie could keep a secret. I think I'm the first person she's told that story to. She can't tell Dad, for obvious reasons."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Come on, Jonathan, it must be true. Why would she make up something like that? And I know Mom and Dad eloped because he's told me that."
I wonder if he told Frankie. And maybe some of the other details in the story. She could've made up the part about Marie confiding in her. But why? Just to tell Sam something she wanted to hear? To make points with her?
What is she after? Does she think she has to win over Sam in order to be sure of Tony? None of the other women Tony has dated have done this. Does she want to marry Tony? What will happen to our family if she does?
What will I do if I lose Tony and Sam? I know he once promised me that we'd be pals forever, but that won't be the same as having him here in the house, like a dad. And even though Sam can be annoying, she's like my big sister and I'd really miss her. So would Grandma. Tony's like her best friend and Sam's like the granddaughter she's always wanted.
And Mom, poor Mom! I don't know how she feels about Tony. I don't even know if she knows. But they're so close. And she treats Sam like a daughter. How can Frankie come in here and break us all up?
I want to tell Sam this but I can't. I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm in junior high. I've got to start watching what I say. Because I don't want to say anything I'll regret, something that will make things worse. If Sam thinks I'm attacking Frankie, then she's not going to listen to anything I ever have to say on the subject.
So I say, "I'm going to my room. You can call your friend back from down here." And I push past Sam and run up the stairs.