Taking Terri Mueller by Norma Fox Mazer Page B

see any reason to stop calling you Philly. It’s just my affectionate name for my kid brother.”
    â€œHow do you expect my daughter to respect me when she hears me called a kid brother?”
    â€œWell, that’s what you are, Philly, and that’s what you’re going to remain, no matter how old you get!”
    â€œYou two,” Terri said, happily. Her father’s and her aunt’s bickering made her feel as if hardly any time had passed since Vivian’s last visit. She inched closer to her aunt. It was so good having her here. She wanted to savor every moment. She had been thinking about asking her aunt some of the questions that were bothering her, but she was afraid that would change things. Aunt Vivian’s visit was for enjoyment and happiness.
    At home, while Aunt Vivian unpacked in her room, Terri and her father made lunch. “Pastrami sandwich, Viv?” Phil called.
    â€œNot with my ulcer, Phil,” she said, coming into the kitchen. She set a bottle of Maalox on the counter and put the teakettle on to boil. “Tea and cottage cheese will do for me.” She’d brought a little packet of an herbal tea called Red Zinger.
    â€œIt’s really red,” Terri said.
    â€œTry it, darling, it’s lovely.”
    They talked about Terri’s school. Her aunt wanted to know about every class and how Terri was doing, and then all about Shaundra. “So she has two little brothers?”
    â€œWell, not that little. Barry is eleven.”
    â€œWell, poor Barry,” Phil said. “He’ll get to be thirty-five and as far as his older sister is concerned he’ll still be in short pants.”
    Vivian laughed. “That’s right. You little brothers can never catch up with your big sisters.”
    â€œNot in years, maybe,” Terri’s father said.
    â€œNot in anything. I’ll always have more experience and more wisdom than you.”
    Phil Mueller’s laugh exploded. “Vivian, you’re not only stubborn, you’re downright unbearable.”
    She stirred her tea. “No, I’m serious. Every year you live, you learn more things. I’m ten years older than you, you can’t get away from that. That gives me a perspective you don’t have.”
    Terri, slathering mustard on her sandwich, was aware of the crackle of some real tension between her father and her aunt. Secrets. They’ve got secrets. The thought came unbidden. It fell into place next to something is wrong.
    Nothing on her aunt’s visit went the way Terri had thought it would. Perhaps it was her? Terri herself? She kept seeing and hearing things in ways she wouldn’t have only a year ago. Did a year make that much difference? And then, too, all the plans they’d made with Nancy had to bescrapped, because a few days before, Nancy had come down with a hard case of the flu.
    Later that afternoon they drove over to Nancy’s so Vivian could at least meet her. Nancy was lying on the couch in a plaid bathrobe. “You don’t feel any better?” Phil said, kissing her.
    â€œAt least . . . I’m back with the living,” Nancy croaked. “You should have seen me yesterday.” She held out a limp hand to Vivian. “I’m really glad to meet you.”
    â€œWell! So you’re Nancy.” Vivian looked all around. The apartment was a mess. Leif was sitting on the couch next to his mother with his thumb stuck in his mouth. The shades were drawn. Terri was reminded that the week before when she’d come over to babysit, Nancy had said, “Frankly, Terri, I’m real anxious about meeting your aunt. She’s so important to Phil. I’m going to go all out to make a positive impression.”
    â€œPoor Nancy,” Terri said. Her hair looked sticky, her nose was red, and her big wonderful eyes were half-swollen.
    â€œI know, I look terrible ,” she said. She blew her nose. There was a wastebasket