Discovering by Wendy Corsi Staub Page A

right outside the doorstep.
    Obviously not fooled, her grandmother presses a hand to her forehead. “You don’t have a fever.”
    “I’m not sick, Gammy.”
    “You don’t have to have a fever to be sick.”Dad, his face tinted bright pink from his afternoon on the lake, looks concerned. “You haven’t said two words since we sat down.”
    “I know .”She puts down her fork, giving up the charade. “I’m just . . . worried. You know . About math.”
    A knowing gleam enters Odelia’s eyes behind her pink-framed glasses. She says nothing, going back to her own mashed potatoes and meatloaf.
    “What about math?”
    “I got a D on a test,”she tells her father, and it’s his turn to look sick.
    “I don’t blame you for being worried. That’s not good.”
    “No kidding.”
    “After dinner,”he says, “you and I are going to work on math together.”
    “Actually, Dad, I already have a study partner. Willow York is helping me.”
    “You can never have too many study partners.”
    “Dad, you don’t have to—”
    “What else have I got to do?”He spears a green bean with his fork.
    “I don’t know . . . isn’t Ramona waiting for you to get back over there?”
    Dad looks up from his plate. “Does it bother you?”
    Odelia, conspicuously silent, pours herself more cream soda.
    “Does what bother me?”
    “That I’m staying next door with Ramona?”
    “No, it’s fine.”
    He doesn’t look convinced. “Does it bother you that we . . . went fishing today?”
    “Why would it?”
    “I don’t know . Maybe it would. And that would be understandable, because—”
    “Knock-knock,”a voice calls through the open screen at the front door.
    Ramona.
    The three of them look at one another.
    It’s Odelia who calls, “Come on in!”
    Moments later, Ramona enters the kitchen, carrying a loaf of banana bread. “I thought you might want this for dessert. I always make two.”
    “That’s sweet of you. Thank you, Ramona.”Odelia takes it from her and carries it over to the counter. “Have a seat. Did you eat dinner?”
    “The kids and I had wings. I don’t want to interrupt, so I’ll just—”
    “No, stay,”Dad says, and pulls out the empty chair between his and Calla’s.
    “Are you sure?”
    “Sit down, Ramona.”Odelia opens a cupboard door. “I’m making coffee.”
    Ramona looks at Calla. “How are you, sweetie?”
    “I’m great,”she lies. “Thanks for bringing the banana bread.”
    As if that’s all the encouragement she needs, Ramona settles into a chair with a jangle of gypsy jewelry.
    She’s dressed slightly more conservatively than usual, though, Calla notices. Instead of one of her flowing dresses or skirts, she’s wearing jeans and a T-shirt—although it’s a tie- dye one. She’s got makeup on.
    Dad is obviously really glad to see her. He looks happy all of a sudden. Happy like Calla hasn’t seen him in a long, long time.
    Calla can’t help but forgive him for kissing Ramona. After all they’ve been through, he does deserve happiness— maybe someone to lean on now and then.
    Suddenly, she wants—needs—to talk to Jacy. She pushes back her chair. “I’m going up to my room. Good night, everyone.”
    “What about the banana bread?”her grandmother asks. “And I was thinking we could play cards.”
    “I’ve really got a lot of homework to do, Gammy.”
    “Now that’s dedicated.”Ramona gives an approving nod. “That’ll be the day when Evangeline passes up dessert to study. She’s only home right now because I made her stay and finish her social studies project that’s due in the morning.”
    “I’ll come and help you with your math,”her father offers, looking about as reluctant to skip dessert with Ramona as Calla is to have him come upstairs with her.
    “I’ve got to write an essay for English, Dad, actually. We can work on math tomorrow.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Positive.”
    She really does have an essay to write.
    Upstairs, she dials Jacy’s