Chapter Two
“Don’t you want any pasketti, Kenzie?”
Mac looked at Lily and said, “Spa.”
As usual, Lily repeated, “Spa.”
“Get.”
“Get,” Lily said.
“Tee,” Mac finished. “Spa-get-tee.”
“Pasketti,” Lily said, and frowned.
“I found a new route back from my clients in Jersey today,” Stan said. “Completely avoided all the rush hour traffic. And guess what else I got today?”
“Bunions, from so much dance practice?” Mac responded without raising her eyes from her plate.
“I hate onions,” Lily said, wrinkling her nose. Mac couldn’t help but smile at her sister. Barb burst out laughing.
Mackenzie pulled the ribbon on the case in her lap and out slid her chopsticks, satisfied to note her father’s chiseled face pinch into a grimace. She retied the bow and placed the case back under her napkin. She then counted out thirty-two strands of pasta as she placed them in a neat pile on her plate and cut one meatball into perfect quarters.
“Um,” said Barb, wiping her mouth and putting her napkin down. “Isn’t anyone going to ask me how my day was?”
Lily looked up at her mom. “Yes, Mama! I will! How was your day flying on the airplane two times? How far away is—is—what is that town called again, Mama?”
“Canada. It’s a whole entire country, sweetheart.” Barb folded her arms and smiled. “I got the promotion!”
Lily clapped her hands and kneeled on the chair to kiss her mom. Then she burst into tears.
“Oh, sweetie, what’s wrong? Aren’t you happy Mama’s got a big new job?” Barb said, comforting Lily.
“But you won’t be here anymore! Who’s gonna take care of me?”
“I won’t travel much more than I do now. And I’ll be home after school most days. Don’t you remember you’re going to help me decorate my home office?” Barb said. “I’ll only go to Canada sometimes, and Kenzie will be here, and Daddy. You’re going to be a big kindergarten girl next year, and go to school for the whole day!”
Stan mumbled a congratulations and something about how they could use more income to pay for the higher fees at the country club.
“Congrats, Barb,” Mac said. “When do you start?”
Barb nodded her head toward Lily and suggested they talk about something less dramatic for now.
Stan made a big deal of clearing his throat and said, “As I was trying to tell you before I was interrupted, I got a new name for my collection. There was a little salon in the town where I stopped for gas on my way back. And this one’s a doozy: A Breath of Fresh Hair. I mean, I thought Shear Delight was bad, if only for the sappy factor. But A Breath of Fresh Hair has got to be the worst. I love it.”
Mackenzie rolled her eyes. “Whoever heard of collecting bad hair salon puns, anyway?”
Her father frowned. “How about everyone who is a member of Shairpuns.com, that’s who,” he said.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Mac said. “Why don’t you collect something normal, like stamps, or, hey, I know—better dance moves.”
He said, “I don’t know what you have against practicing for the dance, honey. Unless you’re jealous. But Lily and I are going to practice just as much as we did when it was your turn.” He took a swig of his beer, the foam collecting on his upper lip. He licked it off and gave Mac a look. “You loved it. You loved the fireworks, and the barbecue, and the whole thing.”

YOU ARE READING
Dancing with the Devil
Teen FictionTo move on from her past, an extraordinary girl must tear down the walls she has built to protect herself. Mackenzie Douglas seems to have it all: good looks, a great boyfriend, a passion for biking, and a little sister who worships her. But under t...