Part 12
“Pacey Witter; nice to meet you.” Pacey stuck out his hand to Mrs.Roberts with a friendly smile. Joey followed suit from behind him. Mrs.Roberts had a bright smile on her face and invited the couple inside.
“It’s nice to meet some of Kaylie’s new friends,” Anna Roberts enthused, all the while hiding her trembling hands in the pockets of her pale gray wool skirt. “I’m sorry Kaylie isn’t here, she should be back soon.” At least Anna hoped she would be. She also hoped Tamara would stay in the guest bedroom a little longer. She looked over the two teenagers as she headed to the kitchen to get some drinks. The boy was tall and handsome. He had twinkling blue eyes just like her daughter had said. He was obviously in love with the girl, too. Anna smiled watching him place a hand on Joey’s knee. She remembered when her husband used to do that. Now touches were few and far between.
“Mrs. Roberts, are you sure you don’t mind us waiting? We could come back later,” Joey called from her position on the couch. She didn’t want to trouble Kaylie’s mom.
“It’s a pleasure to have you here,” Anna assured her, returning with sodas. She sat on the edge of an armchair. Pacey admired the graceful manner about her. He could see Kaylie in her. He jiggled a leg nervously and wondered where Kaylie might be. Her parents didn’t seem the type to let her run around town. Kaylie had finally admitted that the reason they were in Capeside was because of Steven. Her parents had reached their breaking point and made a decision to move their daughter away from him. “Joey, Kaylie tells me you’re quite the artist.”
“I don’t know about that,” Joey replied humbly, blushing. Pacey smiled and squeezed her hand once.
“Joey doesn’t take compliments well,” Pacey explained. “But she’s great. Amazing....like your daughter. She has a beautiful voice, Mrs. Roberts.”
“Thank you, Pacey,” Anna replied, smiling sadly. “I wish I could take credit for it....she didn’t get it from me, though.” She darted a furtive glance to the hall. She flashed a distracted smile at Pacey and Joey.
“She must get it from her father,” Pacey suggested helpfully.
“No, he can’t carry a tune.” Anna looked back towards the guest room again. “Would you excuse me for a second?” She stood and headed upstairs without waiting for an answer.
“Well, that was...” Joey looked at the empty armchair with a raised eyebrow.
“Odd,” Pacey finished. “Very odd.” He stood and stepped over towards the stairs, staring up into the darkness.
“Yeah,” Joey agreed. She turned, hearing the front door open and slam shut quickly. Kaylie appeared in the hall, out of breath, hair strewn about her face messily. “Kaylie?” Joey rushed to her side. Kaylie was shaking, her face tearstained.
“Joey?” She asked so quietly, Joey struggled to hear her. “What are you doing here?”
“We came to see you, invite you out,” Pacey replied, jogging up to join the girls. “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” Kaylie whispered. It was her new favorite word. Chalk up another lie. She’d seen the blue convertible on her way in...where was she?
“You’re not fine.” Joey pushed the stray hairs off Kaylie’s forehead. “What can we do?” Her voice was softly maternal.
“Kaylen,” Mr. Roberts called out from the top of the stairs. “We’ve been worried. Where’d you run off to?” Her father strode down the stairs and pulled Kaylie into a hug.
“I went to town. I just wanted some breakfast, Dad.” Kaylie looked down and scuffed her foot against the hardwood floor. “I’m sorry I worried you.” Pacey and Joey watched the two from their position a few steps away. Anna Roberts hurried down the stairs with a carefully placed smile.
“See, I told you she was fine. Dear, have you met Joey and....Pacey?” Anna indicated the two with a turn of her hand.
“No, I haven’t.” Mr. Roberts straightened and stepped away from his daughter. He offered a gentle hand to Joey, who shook it quickly. Then he took Pacey’s hand. Grasping it firmly, he held Pacey’s hand in a deathgrip for a minute before letting go. “Nice to meet you, Joey. Pacey.” He spit out Pacey’s name in a way that made Pacey take a step back and startled Kaylie enough to convince her to step between the two men.
“So, we’re going out? Where?” Kaylie focused her eyes on Pacey’s, trying to grab his attention away from her father. He blinked once, raised an eyebrow, and stared at Kaylie with a look of blatant confusion. He flexed his sore hand, which Joey rubbed gently between her hands.
“We thought we’d go to the Rialto and catch a movie,” Pacey murmured, avoiding Mr. Roberts’ glare. “But if it’s a bad time....”
“We can do it later,” Joey finished, smiling a little too brightly. The whole place was beginning to creep her out.
Kaylie touched her tongue to her teeth in a concentrated effort to dissolve into thin air. Sighing, she was saddened to discover she wasn’t a real live witch. “A movie sounds great. Let’s go.” She grabbed Pacey’s sore hand, linked an arm with Joey and dragged them out of her house with a dismissive wave towards her father.