I completed grade eleven in Georgia but must live in Trenton for the summer. Dad is sent overseas on some mission for the Army until the middle of August. Living in Trenton will be horrible after spending my time away. However, Valerie is getting married, so Mom will concentrate on the wedding plans. I pray she leaves me alone. Grandma Mazur promises to keep me safe. I'll stay with her when Mom gets too overbearing.
Dad has to appear in court after deployment for the divorce ruling. I have Dad's lawyer's name and phone number to call if any issues beyond Grandma's control arise from living with Mom and Valerie.
After the courts dissolve my parents' marriage, I will live in Georgia with Dad. We take everything from my bedroom in Trenton. Mom is suing for custody of me, but I told Dad's lawyer that I want to live with Dad, not her.
As Dad and I assumed, living in Trenton with Mom and Valerie during the summer was the worst two months of my life. Mom was unbearable, and Valerie was ridiculously whiney. I'm glad Dad came home early.
Valerie and Steve's wedding is two days after Mom and Dad's marriage dissolution. It's strange how one marriage ends as another begins. I'm a bridesmaid in Valerie's wedding party. Steve has his best friend, Joseph Morelli, as his best man. Thankfully, Valerie's friend Sheila has to walk down the aisle with Joe during the recessional.
We arrive at the church ten minutes before the ceremony. Mom rides to the wedding with Grandma and Grandpa Mazur, leaving Dad to drive alone. He's happy about the arrangements. Speaking of going to the church, Dad didn't want the women in the bridal party arriving at separate times, so he rented a limousine for us.
Sheila and Valerie are drinking. I remove the bottle of wine from Sheila's hand and remind Valerie she can't get married drunk. She gives me her best pout and puppy dog eyes. I'm not falling for her tricks. I narrow my eyes before drinking the remaining wine from the bottle. Valerie giggles. She thinks it's hilarious that I will be drunk walking down the aisle.
Valerie narrows her eyes and points at me. "Don't go blowing things up or starting fires," she warns. The other bridesmaids laugh. Sheila stares at me in shock. I shrugged and dropped the empty wine bottle in the trash bag hanging off the seat.
Everything goes according to plan. I don't start any fires, though Mom glares when the candle Joe Morelli holds for Steve burns brighter than Sheila's candle. They pass them to the bride and groom without igniting Valerie's veil or Steve's jacket sleeve. I smiled when Valerie and Steve lit the unity candle. They extinguish the thin tapers when instructed by the priest.
I noticed Mom playing with her rings while Valerie and Steve exchanged theirs. Dad never wore a ring to signify he was married. It's unfair to Dad that Mom continues to wear the symbol of their vows after their divorce. Mom's likely trying to keep up appearances. The news of her divorce probably hasn't hit the Burg yet. Dad catches my eye and smiles. He whispers to his friend, my godfather Joe Juniak, who smiles. Uncle Joe tells his wife. An expression of shock barely passes over her face. She winks at me. I know she'll manage the bitches of the Burg.
Mom shushes my dad, hoping to stop the conversation between him and Uncle Joe. Dad pretends Mom is fussing about something else. He pays attention to the remaining wedding service.
Valerie's hand shakes as she signs the marriage certificate. Steve whispers something, making her smile. She quickly signs the document before passing the pen to Steve. He hesitates briefly before adding his name. Sheila and Joe add their names to the paperwork.
Joe smiles as he briefly glances my way. I look out the corner of my eye and see Mom grinning. She's looking from me to someone else and back. I wonder if she's planning my imaginary wedding to Joe Morelli. I'd rather be dead.
I'm thankful when the wedding reception ends, and I can go home. Unfortunately, we must meet at Mom's house for brunch with the bride and groom. The ushers and bridesmaids are attending to deliver their gifts directly to the newlyweds. I thought Valerie and Steve would take off to the Dominican for their honeymoon. Mom insists they aren't leaving until the wedding gifts are open.
Dad and I were leaving the reception hall when Mom grabbed my arm. "You never danced with Joseph," she hisses.
"I'm not obligated to dance with him," I argue.
"Yes, you are," Mom insists. She grabs my arm and attempts to pull me back inside. Dad steps between us, forcing Mom to let go. She steps back and stares at Dad with her mouth agape.
"Keep your hands off my daughter," Dad snarls. Mom takes a step backwards. "She's coming home with me."
Mom replies, "But…," before Dad cuts her off.
"Don't, Helen. I have interim custody of Stephanie. The court will rule in my favour," Dad snaps.
I arrive at Mom's house the following morning with Dad. Steve's parents came as we exited the car. "Oh. Did you have to run out for groceries?" Lorraine asks.
"No. I don't live here," Dad replies. "Helen and I are divorced." Lorraine gasps in shock. She didn't know my parents got divorced.
"Helen said you were working out of town," Lorraine argues.
"In a way, Helen was right. Stephanie and I moved away before she turned sixteen," Dad replies. It surprises Lorraine that Dad and Mom were separated for so long.
"Well, that's not what Helen said," Lorraine snaps.
"Mom lies," I add. Lorraine rolls her eyes and dismisses me. She doesn't believe I'm telling the truth. It doesn't matter. Mom probably told the neighbours I was pregnant or some other line of bullshit. I'm still a virgin.
I tolerate brunch with Joe making sappy eyes at me. I'm ready to get out of Trenton. Dad sees the problem and fakes a reason for having to leave. We said our goodbyes and exited the house. I'm thankful for Dad.
He drops me at Mary Lou's house while he takes care of urgent business with his lawyer. I'm not sure what Dad is sharing with him, but I imagine it has to do with Mom and her lies.
Mary Lou is happy to see me. We spend time changing our nail polish colours. I chose a blue to match my eyes. It's better than the pale blush colour Mom chose for the wedding. "So, have you done it yet?" Mary Lou asks.
"No," I reply. "Why is someone saying I have?" I wonder, tilting my head to the side as I examine my freshly painted fingers.
"Your mom said you got pregnant, and that's why you were out of town with your dad," Mary Lou replies.
"Lou, I'm still a virgin. Have you and Lenny done it?" I ask. She blushes. Smiling, I ask, "How was it?"
"It pinched a bit, but not uncomfortable. Lenny didn't last long. I don't think I orgasmed," Mary Lou whispers her confession.
"How do you know?" I ask.
Mary Lou leans closer. "Mom said I'd feel sensitive or sore on my clitoris. She said before then, I might get wet, and the muscles in my vagina may contract once per second up to eight times," she whispers.
"That sounds like the description from a medical book," I tease. Mary Lou rolls her eyes.
"I never felt any of that," she hisses.
"Was it Lenny's first time, too?" I wonder.
"Mmhmm," she replies. Mary Lou pauses our conversation and blows on her fingers to dry the polish faster.
Her face turns pale when I say, "I'm sure it will be better the next time you have sex. Did Lenny use a condom?" Mary Lou violently shakes her head. Her braids slap her face as she's freaking out about the lack of protection. "Hang on, Lou. When was your last period, and when did you and Lenny have sex?" I ask.
Mary Lou carefully lifts a page on the calendar, protecting her wet nails from smudging. "Um… my period was twenty-one days ago. We had sex Friday night. Do you think I'm pregnant?" Mary Lou asks. I know she's afraid of becoming another teenage pregnancy statistic.
"There's a small chance. Your cycle is a perfect twenty-eight days without fail. If you don't get your period in a week, then you could be pregnant. Talk to your Mom, Lou. You know she won't judge or tell anyone," I suggest. She shakes her head.
"It's one thing to discuss sex with your mom and not do the act, but a whole other when you have sex and worry about a pregnancy," Mary Lou replies. I have to respect her decision. However, I think she should get tested to be sure.
"Lou, you should discuss birth control if you and Lenny aren't using condoms," I wisely suggest. She grins and nods. It's a relief to know she'll protect herself.
I grimace when Dad sends me a text message. He can't pick me up from Mary Lou's house. I'll have to walk to Uncle Joe's home a few blocks away. "Is something wrong?" Mary Lou asks when I blow the hair off my forehead. She recognizes my signs of frustration.
"Not really," I reply. "Dad can't pick me up. I know your family has dinner plans. Uncle Joe's house is only five blocks away. I'll walk there."
Mary Lou and I talk about our course selections for September. I'm taking whatever is necessary to graduate. "If I tell you something, will you keep it a secret?" I ask.
Rolling her eyes, Mary Lou replies, "Have I ever shared a secret?"
"No, but this one is crucial to keep. Nobody knows except for my dad. You have to swear, Lou," I beg.
"Steph, I won't tell anyone," Mary Lou promises.
"Okay. When I turn seventeen, I'm enlisting in the Army. I'll start basic before I turn eighteen," I reply. Mary Lou's mouth pops open from shock.
She stares at me for several minutes before shaking her head. "Wow. I wasn't expecting that," she replies. "Are you sure? Oh. You mentioned boot camp. Who sent you there?" Mary Lou is expecting the details. I hope I'm not disappointing her with the story.
"Positive. Dad put me in boot camp. We ran obstacle courses and trains. I love the obstacle course the best, especially when I beat Santos and Brown. A new man started at boot camp. His name is Pierre Sherman," I reply, giggling. It feels great to share more with my friend.
"Is he French?" Mary Lou asks. I grin and shake my head. Giggling, I search through my photos to show my friend the guys. She raises a brow. "Which one is Pierre? The blond?"
"Nope," I reply. "Pierre is the tallest boy."
"Holy crap! He's black!" Mary Lou shouts.
"Shhh," I say, trying to get Lou to lower her voice. "He's freaking huge. I call him Tank."
"Because he's huge?" Mary Lou asks. "Steph, that's rude."
"His last name is Sherman. It's a type of Tank. Also, there isn't any barrier he can't break through," I explain. Mary Lou giggles when my words register in her mind.
"So… is he in your sights to break your barrier?" Mary Lou asks, wiggling her eyebrows like Lester Santos would. I shake my head no and let her know I'm not going to have sex with the boys in boot camp. I'm still snickering when I have to walk to Uncle Joe's house.
I message Dad, telling him I'm going to Uncle Joe's house. When I walk past the Morelli's house, I hear Joe say, "Hey, Plum."
"Hi, Joe," I politely reply. I continue walking past his house. He catches up with me.
"I forgot to give a gift to Valerie and Steve. It's in the garage. Do you mind taking it to them?" he asks. My intuition says it's a lie. However, I'm curious about what he truly wants from me. He has no clue what I can do to protect myself.
"Sure. I guess I can do that," I reply. I follow Joe inside the garage. He closed the door, and I immediately got defensive. "It's obvious you wanted to trap me. Let me go," I demand.
"Oh, come on, Plum. Let me have a taste of your nectar," he says. Joe grabs my arm. I want to know how far he'll take things. I'm curious about sex, but I refuse to lose my virginity to the Burg's golden boy.
He makes his move. Neither of us could predict what would happen next.