Free The Icing on the Cake by Elodia Strain Page A

with a guy who may possibly be interested in me. I don’t know. She’s up to something.”
    “Well, Annabelle, as your father and I have always told you: Leave it in the Lord’s hands, and everything will turn out the way it should.”
    “I don’t want everything to turn out the way it should if it includes Isaac and Rona Bircheck being together.” I smiled to let Mom know I was joking. At least, halfway joking.
    Mom and I heard a victorious holler coming from the living room. Grinning, we went to see what was going on.
    Isaac looked up at me as I entered the living room. “Your Dad’s beating me.”
    “Don’t give up hope,” I encouraged, standing behind Isaac. Without thinking, I began rubbing his shoulders the way I’ve seen trainers do to boxers in the movies. And there was that electric feeling again. I quickly moved my hands away.
    Dad ended up winning the chess game, and Isaac accepted the defeat wonderfully. We were all talking and laughing as we ate strawberry shortcake in the living room when we heard the doorbell ring.
    “Oh man, is it already eight o’clock?” Isaac asked, looking at the grandfather clock in surprise. “I told Rona to pick me up at eight. I didn’t want to overstay my welcome.” He sounded apologetic, regretful even.
    I closed my eyes and tried to think good thoughts about Rona.
    Mom got up and answered the door. “Rona, please come in,” she offered kindly. Just like me, Mom has never been unkind to Rona, just a little . . . cautious.
    Rona reluctantly entered the house, and I forced a smile onto my face. Good thoughts, I reminded myself. Good thoughts.
    “Would you like to join us for some shortcake?” Mom asked.
    I turned my head away so no one could see the how-canyou-possibly-invite-her-to-have-shortcake-with-us look on my face.
    “All right,” Rona replied slowly.
    Mom sent Dad into the kitchen to serve the shortcake. Then she invited Rona to sit down. “Annabelle tells me you are engaged,” she said as Rona lowered herself onto Dad’s recliner. “Congratulations.”
    Isaac looked at Rona like he was hearing the news for the first time, and silently I profusely thanked Mom for finding a way to reveal the news to Isaac.
    “Yes, uh, I, uh,” Rona stammered, her eyes suddenly taking on a strange look. Then, without finishing her rambling sentence, she said, “My mom and sister threw me a surprise party yesterday. It was supposed to be a bridal shower, but it was more of a, well, anyway, it was down at Pebble Beach. The band Gidget Goes Graceland played. My mom surprised me with that. They had a show in San Jose last night, so she arranged for them to play at my party first.”
    I looked at Rona. Was her little party supposed to impress us or something? I mean, sure it’s impossible to have a function at Pebble Beach unless you’re extremely rich or extremely famous, and it’s pretty much the most coveted party location ever. But who was this “Gidget Goes Graceland?” It didn’t even sound like a real band.
    Then I remembered. That was the name of the band Isaac had played for me on our way to Vaz Plaza. His favorite band.
    “That’s my favorite band,” Isaac said, his eyes wide with excitement.
    Rona angled her body toward Isaac. “Really?”
    “When does your fiancé get back?” I blurted out. The room grew extremely quiet, and everyone looked at me like my head had just fallen off. I shrugged my shoulders in it-was-just-an-innocent-question fashion.
    A look of confusion came over Rona’s face. “I’m not quite sure, but . . .”
    Then Mom attempted to save the day. “Speaking of bridal showers, Annabelle says you’re throwing Carrie a surprise bridal shower.”
    “Yes,” Rona replied, obviously eager to change the subject. “Annabelle is arranging the menu for the shower.”
    “Really, Annabelle?” Mom looked at me with surprise.
    “Mm hmm.”
    “By the way, how is that progressing?” Rona asked, taking the opportunity to put the hot