Destiny Cullen Week 29: Fight, Flight, and Follow

Destiny Cullen
Sunday

Picture 1

Picture 2


Destiny Cullen’s Choice: Picture 1


Title: Fight, Flight, and Follow
“Jess, where are you?” I heard Kyle whisper-yelling through the library. I heard chorus of shushing echo through the library’s walls.

“Oh shut up and get lives!” He mumbled from the aisle across from me.
With a resigned sigh, I closed my book and lay it on top of the others. He came around the far end of the aisle and saw me. “Jessica.”

I didn’t look up, messing with a loose string on my clothes. “How’d you know I’d be here?”

He bent down, sitting beside me. “The question is when are you never here?”

I laughed vacantly. “Fair enough….”

“You want to talk to me?” he asked softly.

“No.” I straightened my books, stacking them perfectly.

Kyle put his hands on top of mine to stop me. “Jessica...talk to me. I’m your best friend.”

I sighed and met his gaze. “I’m leaving.”

“What do you mean?”

I stood up, reaching for the books and placing them back on the shelf. “I mean, I’m leaving this town. For good.”

“But…why?” He stood up with me, his face was confused.

“Because I hate it here,” I rolled my eyes. “I’ll be eighteen this next Sunday and I’m leaving.”

“That’s not a good reason,” Kyle said calmly.

“It doesn’t have to be a good reason, it’s my reasoning. When does my reasoning ever make sense?” I laughed bitterly, walking out of the library with my shoulder bag slung over me.

Kyle followed close behind. “Jess wait!” He grabbed me by the elbow and spun me around.

“Just let me go, Kyle.” I tried to pull away but his grip tightened.

“Jessica, I love you. I can’t let you go,” he breathed.

My mouth fell open. “What?” I gasped.

He released me and sighed, looking down at his shoes. “I’ve always loved you.”

I didn’t know what to say. This moment I had been waiting for…and it happened so fast. “Um…wow.”

He looked up at me. “Wow? That’s all you have to say?”

I nodded, tucking my hair behind my ears. “Just…wow. This is…crazy!” I hit him hard. “Why didn’t you ever say anything before?!”

“Because it didn’t matter!” He rubbed his arm.

I exhaled sharply, looking around as I began to pace. “It did matter! Kyle,” I stopped pacing in front of him. “I loved you too.”

His eyes lit up with his smile. “You did?! Why didn’t you ever say anything?!” He picked me up and spun me around.

I laughed. “I didn’t think it mattered to you either…. I was leaving town because I couldn’t stand staying here any longer without being with you.”

“You were going to leave instead of just telling me?” He frowned.

“Actually…I was hoping you’d follow me,” I smiled slightly embarrassed.

He cupped my face and kissed me softly before pulling away and smiling. “I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth. Just point which way we go.”

I hugged him tightly, kissing him again. Finally, after years of silence and torment, I was released and set free. I could love him openly and have him love me. It was better than all the millions of daydreams I would have. Better than dreams because it was finally reality.

AJ Silent Voice Week 30: Time

AJ Silent Voice
Monday


Picture 1

Picture 2


AJ Silent Voice’s Choice: Picture 1


Title: Time
I walked right in the front door because I never had to knock.

There was conversation in the kitchen, so I rounded the corner and stepped into the living room. She caught my eye from the stove, tears threatening when she saw me, but she was quickly back in the conversation with her daughter. I sat my things down, greeted the cat and walked around the bar till we were side by side. It was torture to let her finish her conversation, but as the last word still lingered on her lips, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her onto her tiptoes.

She sniffled into my shoulder and buried her head in the crook of my neck, and I held her hard enough to break her. She finally let me go, pushing me away from her so she could get a good look. As if she was satisfied with what she saw, she casually reached out and took my hand. “I’ve missed you.”

I smiled, but my chest heaved, and my own tears sat heavily behind my eyelids. I blinked them back and walked past her to wash my hands in the sink. After my hands were dry, I leaned on the counter, steadying myself, and turned right around into a pan of lasagna.

“Whoa! Careful!” she said, bobbing and weaving around me to set the pan on the cook top. Her daughters laughed at me and I stuck my tongue out at them...which, they returned with zeal. And I laughed when she reprimanded them for their inappropriate gesture. I laughed right up until she turned on me.

“And you! You know better! You’re here less than an hour and they’re already getting in trouble!”

Dinner was fantastic, and conversation was lively. Her husband finally came home after a long day at work, and she popped his plate in the microwave while he changed clothes. When he returned, he kissed her on the cheek and sat down, pulling her into his lap. We talked like that while he ate. I caught him up on my husband’s job, he caught me up on his, and we dished and bitched about mutual acquaintances until his last bite was gone.

When she cleaned up, and he retired to the bedroom to read, we sat outside on the patio (the patio with the recently built awning that I didn’t even know about) and stared into nothing. While she was looking that way, I looked at her. I studied her, drank her in, and felt like I could finally breathe.

I noticed she’d highlighted her hair, but I didn’t say anything. Those kinds of observations tended to lead to the comment that said event was old news...that it’d happened so long ago. I knew I’d been away too long, so I just admired the soft red and caramel streaks from afar.

Age was lost on her. Her skin, smooth and tan, made me ache to touch her face, to let my fingertips graze across her lips, or feel her turn her face into my palm. Instead, I settled for her tiny fingers on the foot I’d propped on her chair. She’d scratch a little, then wiggle her finger over the top. No matter how small her touch, I still cherished it.

She’d thrown on a black hooded sweater just to keep the chills away, and I laughed at her when she pulled up the hood and tucked her ponytail in. She looked so small and fragile with her ears tucked in and the top sticking up from the height of her ponytail. I imagined her, tiny and pigtailed, bundled up in a jacket, beanie and gloves, waiting for the school bus. She was just as beautiful then as she was now.

Seeing me chuckle, she slapped my leg playfully and tied the drawstring on her hoodie, making her look even more like the little girl in my mind’s eye, and I couldn’t help the belly laugh that followed. She was, of course, laughing with me, but then she stopped and sighed.

She never frowned. Her lips always held a smile just in case she needed it, and she was a master at hiding anything under that smile. I’d heard enough stories about her life, seen her in action a few times, to decipher that smile from a real one. And tonight, she was wearing the real deal.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

This time I smiled, genuinely as well, and shook my head. “Nothing, for once.”

I was graced with her genuine feelings as they brushed across her face. The last one was a sort-of frown, so I quirked my eyebrow at her. She fake-scowled but replied, “Don’t stay gone so long.”

We held each other’s eyes for what seemed like hours. I poured every ounce of feeling I had into the next four words. “I won’t. I swear.”

Conversation flowed, albeit sparingly, as we caught each other up. Most of the sentences started with, “Do you remember?” or “Oh! I didn’t know that!” Finally, though, it seemed like we made it to present day.

After the last ember of my cigarette burned out, we turned indoors, greeted with a glass of wine from her husband. Clinking glasses, we each sipped and giggled, walking slowly towards couch. I sat down on the love seat, her husband on the couch, and she hesitated. I helped her when I stretched my legs all the way across, giving her no other choice but to sit by him. That’s where she was suppose to be.

She never took her eyes off me, enraptured as I told stories from my job. Her husband and I now shared a similar profession, so office talk was the new thing. She laughed at the appropriate times, gave the obligatory one word answers, and even punched him in the shoulder for a crass comment.

I watched. I laughed, too. But I wished it was me.

SnappleApple450 Week 29: Oblivious to Love

SnappleApple 450
Saturday


Picture 1

Picture 2


SnappleApple 450's Choice: Picture 2


Title: Oblivious to Love
Have you ever been in that moment when you realized you’ve been in love this entire time? Realized that every look he gave you had something hidden from your eyes. He wanted to tell you every chance he had, but you never gave him the chance he wanted. Does true love know distance and time? Is it ever too late for love? When should you realize it’s over and move on?

Mark was my best friend’s older brother. He was two years older than us, but his maturity level brought him down to our level. I’d been friends with Kim since we were toddlers and so I knew Mark for the same time. As we grew up, he was a bully thinking he was too big to play with babies; personally I think he was afraid we had cooties. When we reached middle school, he ignored us. He got his own group of friends and I became the “baby sister’s best friend” and nothing more. The most we’d talk to each other was when he came to snatch a cookie from us when we would have a sleepover. I was fine with this, completely. He was just the older brother to my best friend and not a second thought on the topic.

I remember very clearly when we reached high school. Everything seemed to change. He got a girlfriend and I remained happily single. Kim remained my closest friend I could ever ask for. I remember when her parents told them they were going on vacation and leaving Kim and Mark in charge of the house.They couldn’t say “no parties” faster than we had sent out a universal text to the world. Turned out, hardly anyone showed up. Talk about the lamest thing ever. It was just Mark, his girlfriend Brittany, Kim, her boyfriend John, Sara, Max, Joyce, Liz, and Derik that was there. We decided that since the party couldn’t get any worse, we’ll make it worse. So we decided to play Spin the Bottle. Not even with an alcohol bottle. We used a two liter coke to play with, still full and unopened.

“Let’s let Kim go!” Joyce exclaimed.

Kim shook her head. “If it lands on anyone else but John, I’ll hear about it for the rest of the night.”

John laughed. “No come on, we all have to play! No one holds anything against anyone around this circle. Agreed?”

A chorus of agreements went around the coffee table and Kim hesitantly spun the large bottle. It went around the table and landed on Max. Max wiggled his eyebrows as he leaned over the table to kiss her. Kim was about to give him a peck on the lips when Mark spoke up.

“Wait!” Kim stopped, grateful for her brother. He continued. “We need rules. This isn’t middle school anymore.” A grin spread out on his face. “Kiss has to be longer than 5 seconds and same gender is allowed if it’s a girl, but no guys are allowed to kiss another guy. Same goes for family.” Everyone laughed at his rule, but agreed to it.

Kim glared at him as he told her to continue. She pressed her lips to Max’s and counted in her head, pulling away quickly when the time was up. Max laughed sitting back down. “I’d say include tongue rule, but I don’t think Kim would appreciate that.”

John’s arm tightened around Kim as he glared at Max. “No tongue. Get your own girlfriend.”

Max shrugged. “Why when I can steal yours?”

Everyone laughed, knowing he was joking; even John was in good spirits. It was soon my turn and I took the bottle, spinning it with all my might. I didn’t really have any preference for anyone at this table so I just wanted to get it over with and move on. The bottle spun around and around and finally slowed down, landing on Mark across from me.

My eyes raised to meet his shocked ones. “Um, this doesn’t count. He’s practically family,” I tried to get out of it.

Brittany smirked. “No, come on, baby. Kiss her. It’ll probably be her first kiss anyway.”

I glared at her. I never liked her at all. She seemed like she was trying too hard to be the next Megan Fox and I guess that was her allure to the guys.

Mark chuckled nervously. “I think Rachelle is right. She’s practically family so it--”

“Doesn’t count,” Kim interrupted smiling deviously.

My mouth was open in shock at the betrayal of my best friend. “Who wants to play Twister?” I asked suddenly.

Everyone at the table started yelling at us to kiss already. “In fact, just to show you how confident I am about my boyfriend. Let’s up the stakes here. Since you have so much opposition for this, Seven Minutes in Heaven.” Brittany smirked at me.

Mark stood up and sighed. “Rache, any longer and they’ll have it Twenty Minutes in Bed.”

I scrambled to my feet and followed him to the hall closet with a blush on my face. He opened the closet door and waved me in. Everyone stayed in the living room with the timer to count down. He closed the door behind him and turned the light on. It was a very faint light, giving just enough light to show where he was standing.

He chuckled. “This is embarrassing.”

I nodded, rubbing my arm. “Yeah, kinda.” I stayed quiet for a few seconds. “You know, I can’t figure out why you even like that girl,” I blurted.

Mark didn’t say anything, but finally chuckled. “I don’t. I mean not really.” I stared at him, waiting for an explanation. “She’s hot.” He shrugged off the question.

I bit my lip. “Figures. That’s all guys ever look at.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Are you kidding? Brittany is right! I’m the bookworm type, no guy ever goes for that...” I felt my eyes start to tear up, embarrassed that I was admitting this to him.

Suddenly I felt his hand touch my arm gently, pulling me closer to him. “Rachelle, what are you talking about? You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met. I’ve always thought that.”

My brain was fuzzy, I couldn’t process what he was saying to me; his close breathe fanned across my face. “We have about three minutes left in here...” he faded off as he leaned in to kiss me. His lips were so warm and tender, moving with mine perfectly. I felt his tongue barely touch my lips wanting access. I opened my mouth, inhaling as we deepened the kiss. His hands wrapped around my waist, holding me against his body as I intertwined my fingers around his neck and into his hair. He pushed me against the closet wall, kissing me passionately.

“Times up!” Kim swung the door open, letting in the bright hallway light. She gasped, eyes open when she caught us.

Mark ripped away from me and ran to his sister. “Kimberly, you can’t say anything! Brittany would freak out!” Kim still couldn’t speak and I was breathing deeply trying to regain my thoughts.

Kim closed her mouth, swallowed, and nodded. “Just...wow.” She turned around and walked back to the living room. “They’re so lame, just in their talking.”

I bit my lip as Mark looked back at me before rejoining the group in the living room. I could hear Brittany’s laugh. “She probably didn’t even know what to do with the seven minutes.”

I couldn’t hear Mark or anyone else. “Yeah, I’m so glad to have someone experienced like you.”

I didn’t know how to react. I sucked in a deep breath and walked into the room, heading straight for the door as I grabbed my coat. “I’m going home, I’ll call you tonight Kim.” I ran out before I could hear Brittany make a snide remark.

“Rache!” Kim yelled from the porch, I was already one foot in my car. She ran up to me and glared. “What the hell is up with you? Kissing Mark, are you serious?!”

I sighed, rubbing my face. “Yeah, he kissed me and I kissed him back. It was a game okay?” I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “I’m going home. Just tell them I was suddenly feeling sick or something.” I got in my car and pulled out, leaving Kim in the driveway.


That was my freshman year of high school. Mark was now heading off to college in a month and so much had changed since two years ago. Brittany was long out of the picture along with a numerous other amount of girls over the time. I had a boyfriend until a couple months ago when I found out he cheated. Now I was single as was Mark.

After that night at their house, when Mark kissed me, things had been awkward between us. I was a little more hesitant on staying over at night because he would be there. We didn’t talk in school anymore, we hardly talked at all. After a few months had passed, Mark cornered me in the hallway.

“Rachelle, wait!”

“What?”

“You’ve been avoiding me like the plaque. Why?”

I stopped and glared at him. “Why? Maybe it was...” I faded out, not wanting to continue the conversation.

He smirked “Say it. The kiss, right?”

I looked away angrily and almost hurt that he didn’t think it was a big deal. It was huge to me, it occupied every thought in my head. I never stopped thinking about it over the past months. I would replay it in my head, wondering what could have happened next for us. I remember what he told me in the closet. That he always thought I was beautiful. Did that mean nothing? Tears threatened to overflow, but I batted them away and glared. I tried to push past him but he grabbed my arm, pulling me back as he kissed me. I was so shocked and taken by surprise; I didn’t know how to respond.

He broke the kiss and looked at me without a smile. “The truth is I meant everything that happened in that closet.” He wanted to say something else, but he sighed and walked off, leaving me alone in the hall.

I leaned against the lockers and stared at his retreating figure. The bell rang letting school out; kids filled the hallways, running for the exit. I didn’t move; couldn’t tell my feet to move. Kim walked up to me, holding up her phone for me to read.

“It’s from Mark, just texted me. He wants you to meet him on the pier.”

My heart flipped, but I wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad thing. Kim shoved her phone in her pocket and crossed her arms.

“How long will you keep this up?”

I stared at her blankly. “What are you talking about?”

Kim glared. “You’re seriously going to deny being in love with him?” My mouth opened but no words came out. She nodded, “that’s what I thought.”

“How long have you known?” I whispered.

Kim chuckled, taking my arm with hers as we walked out to my car. “To be honest, I knew he did, but when I caught you in the closet all over him…” She laughed.

“So you’ve been playing Cupid this whole time and I didn’t even know.” I pulled out of the school parking lot and headed for her house.

“Sweetie, there’s a lot you’re not aware of,” she laughed. I came to a stop and let her out in her driveway. “You’ll go to the pier, won’t you?” she asked in all manner of seriousness.

I bit my lip, thinking. She whined out loud and I rolled my eyes. “Yes, fine I’ll go!”

She squealed. “Ooh goody! Have fun! But not too much fun, I don’t want to be an aunt yet.” She slammed the door before I could respond, not that I had a good response anyway.

I stared straight ahead and took in a breath. I made my way to the ocean and parked. No one was in sight, not even cars were passing by. Not many people were coming to the ocean this time of year. Slowly, I walked out onto the long walk. Halfway out I sat down and dangled my feet over the edge of the water. I looked around, trying to see if any cars were pulling in. I knew what Mark’s car looked like, but I didn’t see it anywhere.

With a sigh, I leaned back and raised my face to the sky, closing my eyes. It was a couple weeks before school was out and you could feel the weather getting warmer. It felt great to me, just enough cold air to wear pants.

“Hey…”

I looked up into the sun and saw Mark’s silhouette. “Hey.”

He sat down next to me. “Kim said to come down to the pier, I didn’t know you’d be here.”

I started to say something, but stopped and smiled. Kim once again played her tricks on me. “Yeah Kim said you wanted to see me.”

He chuckled, “as a matter of fact, yes.” I waited silently for him to speak. “Rachelle, ever since seventh grade, I’ve had a crush on you, a huge crush.” He paused to gauge my reaction. “I only dated other girls because I knew I didn’t have a chance with you. Brittany was just my futile attempt to distract myself and to be honest… I failed at it.”

“Mark—“ he interrupted me.

“No listen. That night at the party when we were in the closet… I’d been waiting for that moment for too long, I’m sorry if you don’t feel the same. I shouldn’t have kissed you without asking.” He sighed.

“I’m sorry for putting you in an awkward position, it wasn’t my intention. I only came here to apologize.” He stood up and started to walk away.

I followed. “Mark wait!” He stopped but didn’t turn around to face me. “Mark, I wanted to kiss you. I like you…a lot!” He slowly turned around. “I was afraid you didn’t like me,” I laughed briefly.

A smile exploded on his face as he took me up in his arms and spun me around. He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me. I pulled on his shirt sending him flying into the water with me. When my head broke the surface he kissed me again as we laughed, wading in the cool water.

“Rachelle, I love you!” He breathed with a smile.

I closed my eyes and floated on my back. “I love you, too.”

New Author! I Wish I Was Esme

We'd like to welcome a new author to the blog. I Wish I Was Esme will be sharing Tuesdays with Romantic Vamp. We look forward to her photos and her inspiration.

Burntcore Week 29: Seeking Truth

Burntcore
Thursday

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Picture 2


Burntcore's Choice: Both

Title: Seeking Truth
I sat in my apartment as I mulled over my meeting with Cory. I was still amazed over everything he had told me last Saturday. He still loved me, even after all this time. Even more so, it was what propelled him to finally seek treatment for his addiction. I still cared about him, I always would, but was a solid, successful relationship with him realistic?

The photo album I had flipped through before we met up rested on my coffee table. Before last Saturday, I couldn’t remember the last time I flipped through its pages. Now, I had that album opened so many times, it couldn’t collect dust. I was scared. Did I really want to start new? Or were these feelings just longing for what was? I felt like I had to find out, to know that I did all I could, but by doing so, I would be giving Cory the power to hurt me all over again. I had to see the truth.

When they were together before, all I wanted was for him to be sober. That was the one thing that I wished and prayed for every night. Now my wishes and prayers were answered. It was up to me to decide what to do with it. Cory told me what he wanted, but what did I want?

This kind of conversation I needed to have with Moira. Eileen and Joann were great friends, but Moira, she was my bestie. She and I had been friends for years. I met her in college, long before I met Cory. She was there that night at the Superbowl party when we went from just friends to something more. She was there every night when Cory chose the bottle over me. She was there to help me pick up the pieces when he left for the last time.

It was a Thursday afternoon. I was off of work from the Center that day and kept picking up my phone and putting it back down. I had been ducking Moira’s calls since Sunday. She knew I had planned on meeting with Cory on Saturday, and I’m sure she expected an immediate update. I just wasn’t ready to give it. I was still wrapping my head around everything. How could I explain it to anyone if I didn’t understand it completely myself?

Finally deciding that I had waited long enough, I grabbed my phone and thumbed open the dial-pad. A few moments later, Moira’s ringback tone played in my ear as I waited for her to pick up. She had recently changed her tone to something old school. I smiled as I listened to the song.

-Sometimes you feel, sometimes you feel, sometimes you feel just like a god
all of the things you're envying
no but you never worked so hard
and then you wake up with an empty gut
too bad you never got the not-

“Well, as I leave and breathe!” my best friend’s voice came over the phone, with just a hint of sarcasm.

She was familiar with my methods of coping. I tended to bury my head like an ostrich until I had a better handle of things. Some may consider this a method of avoiding, but I didn’t agree. I wasn’t avoiding anything, I just needed quiet time to contemplate and mull over the problem. When pressed, I could make a decision without giving it deep, in depth thought, I just preferred to look at all my options before making a decision when it was something important.

“Har, har, har, Moira,” I snipped with a smile in my voice.

“So how are you?” she asked.

“I’m good, going a little nuts, but good...I think.”
“Does this have anything to do with a certain dark-haired man that contacted you out of the blue last week?

I rolled my eyes. “You know it does.”

“Well, what are you waiting for?” she asked eagerly.

“I don’t know, what am I waiting for?” I retorted with a chuckle.

“You’re waiting for me to uncork the bottle of Shiraz I just happen to have and can’t drink myself. And I’m waiting for you to get your cute little tush over here so we can talk boys and whatever else.”

“Ah, but of course. I”ll be there in fifteen.”

We quickly hung up and I grabbed my bag, making sure I had my cell phone with me, and headed out the door. Moira didn’t live far from me so a Thursday afternoon trip didn’t take long at all. Parking in her complex was more difficult then the drive there. It seemed like every occupant of the complex owned at least two cars. Even during normal business hours, I had to drive around quite a bit to find an open spot.

By the time I had trudged up to Moira’s door, five floors up, she had her door open with a glass of wine in each hand. Once I passed the threshold, she handed me a glass and walked gracefully into her dimly lit living room. Candles of various sizes and colors were scattered about the room, producing a starry effect.

“Took you long enough,” Moira said as she plopped down on the cream leather couch.

“You know how the parking is in your building. I swear I think it takes longer for me to find a space than it does to actually get here.”

“It doesn’t take me long at all.”

“You live here... and you have this amazing parking space radar that I’m incredibly jealous of.”

“Yeah, well, there’s that,” she agreed with me, laughing. Moira took a sip of her wine and surveyed me from over the rim of her glass. “You gonna sit down or just stand there?”

I blushed slightly and walked over to a chair opposite of Moira and slouched down into the cushions. The wine swirled in my glass and I delicately sniffed the aroma.

“Oooh I know what we can do,” Moira squealed as she finished off her wine. She leaned over, craning her neck and one arm over the back of the couch. She grabbed the half-drank bottle of wine and a box. With a look full of anticipation, she topped off my wine and poured herself a full glass. There was enough in the bottle for one final gulp which she happily drank right from the bottle.

Moira set the bottle aside and reached for the box, gently opening it. “I just got this and I can’t wait to try it out on you.”

“Oh really,” I said with a little bit of interest, sitting up straighter in my chair. Moira always had something new or interesting.
“Yep, just got my very own crystal ball.” Moira said this just as she lifted the small glass ball from the box. It appeared to be about six inches in diameter. The interior of the globe seemed to sparkle and glow. Slowly, she placed it on the coffee table between her and myself. “Now, lets get started.”

“Moira, are you sure about this?” I asked dubiously.

“Aw, come on, Holly. This is just a bit of fun. Let’s see what happens.”

I shrugged and put my wine glass down. “What should I do?”

Moira slid forward and knelt between the couch and the table, reaching her arms out across the table towards me. “Give me your hands.”

With my hands firmly clasped in hers, she gazed at the crystal ball intently.

“Now, we are going to seek truth.”

Kimmydon Week 29: Wedding Day

Kimmydon
Wednesday


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Picture 2


Kimmydon's Choice: Both


Title: Wedding Day
Six months had seemed plenty of time to plan a wedding, plenty of time to make bookings and purchases....

Six months was the blink of an eye. Holding Christopher’s baby boy, Jesse, I was reminded of it. The last six months had changed him from the baby in the saucer, gumming crackers, to this toddler who ran, yelled and climbed anything he found that he could. As an only child, I thought Jesse would make an excellent ring bearer and flower boy, mainly because we didn’t have any other candidates. No one else had any children, and Peter had only distant relations that he didn’t know well. They’d been invited, just the same. Grandma Netty and his father’s parents had flown in for the ceremony, arriving days before. We were sharing his old bedroom while Grandma Netty stayed in Sarah’s old room.

My parents’ house was hosting a night-before party. Mary, Jamie, and Jamie’s brothers were here. My bridesmaids were still trying to convince me to go out, particularly to a strip club, arguing that this was my last night of freedom. I was more interested in spending it with my parents. I didn’t seem to visit them enough anymore. I hadn’t talked to Don or Chris in ages, either and was keen to catch up with them.

Jesse, tiny fingers pudgy, grabbed my hair and pulled.

“Ouch!” I yelped, wrapping my hand around his. I tempered my reaction, not wanting to frighten him. “Let go, please,” I tried to say calmly, the way Jennifer, his mother did.

He grinned baby teeth and said, “Ba!”

I couldn’t help but smile, even though it undermined my authority. “Yes, Jesse, I’m Beth. Now please let go.”

“Ma, Ba.” He smiled broader at the two word combination, something very new to him.

Jennifer strode over and helped extract the tiny fingers from my hair. “Good thing it’ll be up tomorrow,” she mused. “He loves hair.”

I agreed quickly, rising to see Chris and his family out. Turning back to my parents and friends, I was seized by the arms, Mary and Jaime pulling me up the stairs to my old bedroom.

“Good night, Mom! Good night, Dad!” I called over her shoulder, sensing I wouldn’t be coming back down tonight. After smearing my face with a thick mask, Jamie and Mary sat in the open window, Jamie playing with my bloomers. The frilly satin made me smile. Mary was still amazed that I’d chosen such a short dress.

“Bloomers, Beth? Really?”

“Well, it is a short skirt,” I said in my defense.

“It is. I’m fine with that, but bloomers?!”

I shrugged, closing my eyes and putting cucumber slices on them. “They came with the dress.”

“I like it,” Jamie said, flicking my bloomers, making them snap. “It’s like a baby doll’s dress.”

I nodded, unseeing. “Exactly. I’m going to have my hair in a pair of pigtails, too.”

“Why the kid theme?” Mary asked. “Are you feeling immature? Eager for babies of your own?”

I shook my head, sighing. How to explain? “No theme, I just like to be able to move easily, and the dress is pretty.”

“Oh, come on, Mary. Let’s let the princess have her dreams of babies.”

Taking off a cucumber slice, I threw it at Jamie, the other was for Mary. Mary scowled at me, but Jamie just caught the slice and ate it.

“You’re really sure about this?” Jamie asked, suddenly concerned. “You haven’t even been dating a year, Beth.”

“I know, and I am sure I want this. The sooner the better.”

“If you’re sure, Bet,” she said, happy again, hugging me and kissing one of my green cheeks. “Tasty. Got any tortilla?”

“Go on,” I told her, shoving her slightly.

“We’ll be back in the morning, Beth,” Mary said, hugging me as well. “I’m so happy for you.”

Sleep was elusive, my mind straying to worries of things not done, items forgotten. The next day brought sunshine and my bridesmaids jumping on her bed.

“Ack! Get off!” I cried, shielding my face with my arms.

They giggled but slid down. “Hurry up! We have to make you pretty!” Mary said, pulling my arm. She said it like it was a chore.

Jamie stood still, looking out the window she’d sat in the night before. “When are they bringing Jesse?” she asked, going from cheerful to concerned in a heartbeat.

“Ummm. Noon? No, one. After a nap,” I said as I buttoned up a shirt that wouldn’t muss my hair after it as finished.

“Call them.”

“What?” I asked, confused. Mary had been spinning me around but stopped now. “Why?”

“A bad feeling. I’ll call Chris.” She pulled out her phone and started dialing. She grinned as soon as he picked up. “He’s okay?” she asked. Then she nodded and hung up.

“How do you do that?” I asked. Sometimes she seemed psychic.

“That’s what Chris asked,” she said with a chuckle. “Jesse took a spill off the kitchen table. No one knows how or why he was on the kitchen table. Good news? Just a bump, no scratches. He’ll still be pretty.”

I shook my head hoping that would the only bump of the day.

It wasn’t, of course. Mary and Jamie fought over make-up for twenty minutes before agreeing on something that might suit me. I was just glad they agreed. I never went crazy with make-up myself. Of course, a half hour later, they cleaned it all off and started again. It was an effort not to lose patience. The hair was worse. I was trying to sneak some lunch while they were busy working on each other, taking a breather while their attention was diverted.

Mom came into the kitchen and kissed my cheek. Her make-up was on and her hair dressed. “How you doing? Nervous?”

I’d seen her Mom and Dad moving in and out over the morning, but they’d been absent for a while. Dad came down and stole some of my carrot sticks, making me smile. He loved stealing off other people’s plates.

“Nope. More worried about my bridesmaids, actually,” I whispered, hoping neither heard me. Mary didn’t respond.

“We won’t hurt you,” Jamie said snidely.

It was true, and soon after, I was playing outside with Jesse while a photographer took pictures. He was happy in his little white coveralls and dark curly hair.

“Are you ready, Jesse?” I asked, noticing people were packing up and loading into a car out front.

“Ba!” he said happily, bouncing his dimpled knees. Then he stumbled to me and wrapped his arms around me neck. Thankful my hair was all up, instead of in the pigtails I’d planned, I carried the twenty pound, chunky baby with me to the car and set him in the carseat that Jamie fastened around him. His parents were already on their way to the church.

“I’m so proud of you,” Mom said, hugging me again, “and so happy.”

Mom had tears in her eyes already, and I patted her back. “Don’t cry, Mom. You’ll be blotchy before we even get started,” I teased.

“Right. You’re right.”

At the back of the church, I heard the similar words from Dad. “We love you, Elizabeth,” he said, using my full name. He never did that. “Be happy, and keep making us proud.”

Jamie, who was my maid of honor, moved to the aisle ahead of Mary, holding Jesse. “Okay, run to Mommy,” she said, giving him a nudge and pointing him to Jennifer in the front pew. Soon after he started, Mary followed sedately, ready to pick up the boy if he fell. He didn’t, and Jamie was moving behind Mary.

I stood next to Dad, shaking a little in my lacy shoes. I tried not to look at the front of the church.

“Time to give away my baby,” Dad said, sadly.

I kissed his cheek, chuckling at him and his silliness. “I’m not going anywhere, Daddy. I’ll always be your girl.”

He squeezed my shoulder and hooked my arm. Squaring my shoulders, I looked down the aisle, a little terrified. What I saw calmed me instantly. There, at the altar with Gary at his side, stood Peter, my life, my love, my husband-to-be. Michael, a cousin, beside Gary, but I barely saw either of them. For me, there was only Peter, and it took all my determination not to run down the aisle and trample Jamie on the way. This was my day. This was my place. I wouldn’t wait any longer.

“Go.”

Kimmydon Week 28: The Hunt

Kimmydon
Wednesday


Picture 1

Picture 2


Kimmydon's Choice: Both


Title: The Hunt
I left my office at the end of the day. I’d stayed a little late in the hopes of passing fewer people on the way out. I was still mortified about the lipstick and open fly incident. I saw Beth at her desk with a newspaper. Pulling on my jacket and turning off the office light, I came to her cube, the one she would be moving out of soon. It would be very strange to open my office door and not see her. I would miss it.

Approaching behind her, I wondered what article held her interest - she hadn’t turned the page in my walk here. I was surprised to see her reading the comics.

“Anything good?” I asked, startling her slightly.

“Um... No.” She set the paper down quickly.

I glanced over the images. “Which one?” I asked.

She sighed but knew what I was asking. Her finger stabbed one of a gray woman covered in cobwebs waiting for the phone to ring. I didn’t get it. It wasn’t funny.

“Why were you looking at that one? You don’t wait by the phone.”

“I was thinking about lunch,” she said frowning. “I imagined you dropping me off at home and waiting for you to call to pick me up.”

I laughed; I couldn’t help it. “Okay, first, you wouldn’t sit still that long.” She lifted her eyebrows but nodded grudgingly. Beth was too much of a nature lover to stay in the house. “Secondly,” I paused to kiss her temple, “I couldn’t bear to go that long without seeing you.”

She smiled. “I’m really forgiven then?” she asked.

“I told you you were.” I pulled her up, wrapping my arms around her once she was on her feet. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

She hugged my neck in return, tucking her face into my neck. “I’m glad.”

“I’m going to miss you being here,” I told her.

“What?” Her dark eyes went wide with surprise.

“On the floor, I mean. I’m going to miss having you so close.”

She seemed to soften in my arms. “Oh, yeah. That’ll be different. I’ll still come down for lunch though,” she said with a brilliant smile.

“I was hoping you would,” I answered, following her to the elevator. “How much do you have left to move over?” I asked once the doors closed. I was curious. So many of her things were in my bedroom and bathroom now. I loved it.

“Not much! Another box of books, my desk, my bed. The big stuff is really all that’s left.”

I nodded. “How about we pick those things up this weekend? We can borrow Gary’s pick up.” He’d offered me the use of it anytime, as long as he could drive my Corvette. Good thing Mom taught me to share. Gary was a good driver, though he racked up the miles on the girl when he had her. I didn’t know where he drove to, but he had to cross several states.

Beth was smiling. “Really? I mean, we never said as much... Really?”

I chuckled. She had no idea how much I wanted her in that house. Her voice, her presence, had banished the last of the ghosts that seemed to haunt me there. With her, I’d finally been able to let Sarah rest.

“I see I need to make myself more clear.” I pulled the box out of my pocket again. It was my mother’s wedding set. I’d had a Jeweler separate it so the engagement ring was in this box and the band at home. Hopefully she didn’t feel the urge to go digging in my sock drawer.

“N-no. You’ve... made your point.” Her eyes never left the box. “Then again, maybe...” she reached a hand for it, and I stuck it in my pocket.

“Not today. I have plans for this. It’s going to be special.” I touched the tip of her nose with a finger.

She smiled, not disappointed - good. Still, I was going to have to move on this soon, and I was going to need some help.

A call to Jamie and slipping out of the office at lunch, got the ball rolling. Then, I popped into Gary’s office after calling Mary over.

“Gary, I’m going to borrow your truck this weekend, okay?”

He sat back and crossed his arms. “Only if I get the ‘vette.”

“Actually, I need to trade that to Mary for her car.”

Her eyes popped. “What? You’re loaning me your car? Are you serious?”

“I need two vehicles this weekend. Beth is going to be driving the truck, but I need to stay ahead of her.”

“He has a plan,” Gary said, looking to Mary.

“So keep the ‘vette. I can give Gary a lift if he needs one.”

Gary shot her a death glare.

I shook my head. “She’ll recognize it. Your Sentra is a lot less conspicuous.”

Mary smiled. “I think I’m going to like this plan.”

“I’ll admit I’m curious, too,” Gary grudgingly admitted. “Do you need us for anything besides our vehicles?”

“Yes.” I pulled out two envelopes and handed one to each of them. “Give these to Beth when she comes to you.”

Mary pulled the piece of paper out of the unsealed envelope.

“Jam or Jelly?” she read. “What does this mean?”

“Nothing to you, but something to Beth.”

Gary pulled his out, curious now. “Seek the tree of knowledge, or the one who fell from it.” He snorted. “That’s you,” he said looking at Mary.

She narrowed her eyes.

“I’ll be waiting at the end for her. Think she’ll like it?” I wasn’t sure she would, but I thought she might. Mary knew her better. Jamie seemed to think it was a good idea.

“Sure. She loves puzzles and problems. What’s at the end? Besides you,” she said rolling her eyes. “Not that she won’t be thrilled with that,” she mumbled, folding the note back into the envelope.

“This.” I pulled out the box that I almost always kept in my pocket now.

Mary actually squealed as she ripped it from my hand. I looked to Gary who shrugged.

“It’s beautiful, but not modern,” she observed. “Grandmother’s?” she asked.

“My mother’s,” I told her.

She nodded but didn’t ask about my mother. “It’s very nice but won’t fit her. It’s too small.”

I frowned. “Well, I might have time to get it sized.”

“Seven,” she said. “This is probably a six.” She pulled the ring out and slid it on one of her fingers before I could protest. “Yep, six.” She pulled it off again right away, returning it.

***

“Will you need help loading?” I asked, watching Beth from the couch. I was pretending to read although I couldn’t focus much.

“No, Jamie and I can manage. As long as you’ll be here to unload,” she said with a smile. Her hair was in a high ponytail, but she wore a dress. I was a little surprised. She came and kissed me before leaving.

As soon as she was out the door, I nearly ran to Mary’s house. She laughed at me, but gave me the keys to her car.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” she asked. I was still in my pyjamas and robe.

I’d been so hasty, I hadn’t really given it any thought. “Yeah, why?” I said with a smirk. It occurred to me how much Beth would like to see me out of the house in tousled hair and a robe.

Mary shook her head. “I like what she’s doing to you. Enjoy your day.” She laughed as I left.

I had planned to follow Beth through her hunt, but I realized that it would only beg her to spot me. Instead, I headed to the end point. From the roof of her cabin, I enjoyed the cool breeze. It blew through the flannel of my pants, but wasn’t bitter. My slippers were terrible footing, but they kept my toes warm once I was sitting, so I pulled them back on. I gave my head a good scrub and then checked my pocket again. The ring was there.

It was completely irrational, but I had a fear of her saying no. If I were honest, she’d already shown me that she wanted this, us, to be something more, something permanent. She had no reason to say no, but she might - she could. I wasn’t taking a yes for granted, and I hugged my knees as I thought more about it - about life a few months ago, before Beth was really in it. I didn’t want to go back. I couldn’t go back. What would I do if she said no?

I heard a vehicle approach and looked to the road. Someone from another cabin, not Beth. I continued to brood.

It got dark. I checked my other pocket for my phone. Surely if she hadn’t visited one of the stops, they would have called me. Wouldn’t they? Was she still coming?

Headlights blinded me for a moment, and I closed my eyes, trying to keep my dark vision. When I opened them again, I saw a figure exiting a truck. The breath I’d been holding whooshed out of me.

She walked slowly to the dock. Bending, she looked over the edge. Confused, I climbed down, standing at the near side of the dock.

“Catch and Release?” she asked, holding up the note.

“No release,” I said. “You can’t throw me back. Well,” I amended quickly, “you could, but I wouldn’t make it.” I smiled to take any sting from the words.

“Poor thing. You got hurt in the catching?” she asked, stepping toward me.

I nodded and took one step closer to her. “That silly fisher girl went and pulled my heart right out. Now I need her to bring it back.”

She smiled. “Here you go.” She thumped my chest.

Shaking my head, I argued, “You still have part of it. The only right thing to do would be to put me out of my misery.”

She laughed. “Fry you up in butter?”

I narrowed my eyes, scowling slightly. “No.” I went down on one knee. “Keep me forever.” I opened the box. “Beth, will you marry me?”

“In your robe and slippers no less.”

“Well, this is how we started,” I pointed out.

She smiled. “Yes.” Her hands went to my hair, pulling it slightly and making me moan quietly. “Of course, Peter. I would love to be your wife.”

I stood, taking the re-sized ring from it’s place and slipping it onto her finger. “Thank you,” I whispered, pressing my forehead to hers.

“Thank you,” she replied. “This means almost as much as the hunt,” she said, pulling on my robe. “What did it take for you to come out here dressed like this?” Her dark eyes reflected the small lights from the cabins.

“You.”