Holly's Heart Collection Two by Beverly Lewis Read Free Book Online Page A

Not in the least.

    On the way to Denver, Andie and I sat in the backseat, singing last year’s choir tour songs. When we ran out of songs, we played alliteration games, making sentences with words that started with the same letter.
    I started. “Pathetic Paula parades her perfect pose, posture, and clothes. She pampers pets par excellence with pink poodle pajamas.”
    Andie chimed in. “Paula ponders Paris, posh parlors, and Park Avenue!”
    “With palette paint on her cheeks and purple powder on her eyelids,” I finished, giggling.
    Mrs. Martinez turned around in her seat. “Girls, are you making fun of someone?”
    Andie and I looked at each other. “Not really,” Andie lied. We smothered giggles behind our hands.
    All too soon, we arrived at Denver International Airport. At least we had had two hours together before Christiana waltzed into our lives.
    While Andie’s dad parked the car, I looked at snapshots of Christiana. “Here’s one,” Andie said as we sat in the airport waiting area. “She’s standing in front of Mozart’s home in Salzburg. Can you imagine living in the same city as Mozart?”
    “Bet you’d like to see it for yourself,” I commented, studying the tall house with many windows.
    Before she could answer, Andie’s dad arrived, looking for the monitors posting departures and arrivals.
    “There’s one down there, Daddy,” Andie said. We hurried to look at it.
    “Let’s see, flight 227 from New York…yep, it’s on time.”
    There was a certain amount of ecstasy in Andie’s voice. I tried to overlook it. After all, this was a special moment for her.
    Andie hurried to the baggage claim area. “I can’t believe Christiana’s almost here!”
    I couldn’t believe it, either. I was trying hard to squelch the green-eyed monster. It sure was causing me trouble.
    Andie and I spotted the Austrian beauty right away. Being tall is an asset sometimes. She floated through the airport like some fairy-tale princess. A peaches-and-cream complexion graced her fair face, and she broke into a full smile at the sight of Andie. Hugging like old friends, the girls were quickly lost in conversation. For what seemed like several minutes I waited, rather impatiently, for Andie to introduce me.
    At long last, Andie turned to me. “Holly, I’d like you to meet Christiana Dertnig. And Christiana, this is a friend of mine, Holly Meredith.”
    Immediately my ears perked up. In just minutes I’d been reduced to a mere friend. What about lifelong best friend?
    Christiana extended her hand. “So very nice to meet you, Holly,” she said. Perfect King’s English.
    I reached out, warming up my smile. “Same here” was all I could say.
    “I’ve heard a lot about you from Andie’s letters,” Christiana said. “You’re the girl Andie made up so you could fool your college pen pal, right?”
    My face flamed. “Sort of,” I mumbled. I disliked her instantly. Why’d she have to bring up one of the most embarrassing episodes of my life? And at our very first meeting!
    Andie explained, “Christiana loves pulling tricks on people. They play jokes on each other all the time at her girls’ school. She loved hearing about our plan to trick Lucas Leigh.”
    “That’s nice,” I said, fibbing through my teeth.
    The entire trip home was spent discussing Christiana’s hopes for her visit to America. One thing was clear: She wanted to attend a rock concert.
    “Andie’s never attended one,” her mother said. “And I don’t anticipate her father and I will change our minds about that issue.”
    Christiana’s blue eyes widened. She was obviously shocked at the parental interference.
    “There’s a Mandee Trent concert in Denver next weekend,” Andie’s dad said. It was only a suggestion, but he seemed eager to steer the conversation away from rock concerts.
    “Mandee Trent?” Christiana said. “Who’s that?”
    “She’s a hot Christian pop singer,” I volunteered.
    “Oh,” she said, like it was