“Oh man,” Billy mumbled, the anxiety swelling within him.
“My uncle talked to me for a while, but all of a sudden it was as if he remembered his son was gone forever and his eyes went blank again.”
“I’m sorry,” Billy repeated, “I really am.” He had no idea what else to say.
Vicki cleared her throat. “Actually, I’m the one who should be apologizing to you. I didn’t mean to…”
“Stop,” Billy interrupted. “I already told you…whenever you need to talk, I’m here to listen.”
“Thank you,” she whispered; to Billy, her voice sounded like the flutter of angel’s wings. “So what kind of dog got adopted?” she asked.
Billy had to think about it, switching gears in his mind. “A mutt,” he said, “a big, beautiful mutt named Roxy.”
“That’s great,” she said. “I hope Roxy found a nice home.”
“I think she did,” Billy said, his mind racing; he was trying to figure out how to cheer her up. “Hey, what do you think about letting me take you out tomorrow night?”
“I’d love that,” she said. “Where are you taking me?”
“Well, I could tell you but that would ruin the surprise, wouldn’t it?”
She giggled, making him feel better already. “It would,” she whispered.
“How ’bout I pick you up at six o’clock?”
“I’ll be ready,” she promised.
“Good,” he said and hung up. Now where’s the perfect place to take her, he thought, to make her feel as special as she makes me feel?
⁕
After he and Jimmy played tug-of-war with a bathroom towel, Billy got ready for the big night. He rubbed a glob of purple gel into his unruly hair and opted to comb the thick mop to the side. It looks different, he decided in the mirror. I like it. Not yet understanding the wisdom of “less is more,” he filled the bathroom with body spray; the cloud enveloped him, before settling onto him like some overpowering adhesive. After filling his pockets with a set of car keys and an anemic billfold, he headed for the kitchen.
He was halfway down the stairs—out of his mother’s view—when his mom yelled out, “My God, Billy, did you use the whole can?”
He stepped into the kitchen.
“You need to go outside and walk some of that off,” she said, her face serious.
“It’s that strong?” he asked.
She nodded, her nose cringing in a display of repulsion. “Trust me, it’s going to have the opposite effect you want.” She grinned. “Is it the girl you’ve been talking to late at night?”
He nodded.
“You’ve been logging some serious time on the phone with her, huh?”
“Whenever I can,” Billy admitted. “Whenever I can’t see her.”
His mom’s grin widened. “What’s her name?”
“Vicki,” Billy said and couldn’t help but smile.
“You want to attract the girl, Billy, not repel her…right?”
Sighing heavily, Billy turned on his heels and headed back up to the shower. “Two showers in one day,” he told Jimmy. “It’s got to be a record.”
“And if you wear a belt, you won’t have to keep pulling up your pants,” his mom called out. “I’m just sayin’.”
Billy shook his head.
Back in the bathroom, Jimmy looked up from the linoleum floor, holding the towel in his mouth.
Billy rubbed his head. “Sorry, buddy, but I need to get moving. We’ll play again tomorrow, okay?”
Jimmy sat on his haunches, refusing to drop the towel.
“Okay,” Billy said, trying to yank the damp cloth from the mutt’s powerful jaws, “but we only have a minute.”
Jimmy stuck his backside up into the air, growled deeply and shook his head back and forth—pulling the towel out of Billy’s hands and making him laugh.
As Billy and Jimmy returned to the kitchen, his mom said, “Come by the pizza shop for dinner and I’ll set you and Vicki up.”
“No thanks, Mom. I appreciate it but I have other plans.”
“Oh yeah, and what’s that?”
“Agave in Bristol,” he said nonchalantly.
“Well, excuse me, Mr. Big Shot,” she teased, squeezing the back of his neck. “How come you’ve never taken me to Agave?” she kidded.
He smiled. “I really like her,” he said, understating his true feelings.
“I can tell,” she said, grinning. “Are you taking her back here after dinner?” The grin overtook her face. “Maybe she can help you clean your room?”
“Are you kidding me?” He shook his head and smiled. “I’d never show her my room.”
“Well, at least you have enough sense to know it’s a pig sty,” his mom said, grabbing her purse. “Have fun and don’t be too late,” she said at the door.
He nodded. “You either,” he teased.
She laughed loudly. “I wish.”
Billy was right on her heels, with Jimmy escorting him to the front door. Taking a knee, he kissed the limping mutt. “You can’t come with me this time, buddy,” he said, rubbing the dog’s thick neck, “but I promise to tell you all about it when I get home, okay?”
As the door closed behind Billy, Jimmy’s melancholy whine faded to a soft whimper.
Billy had borrowed Mark’s convertible, got it washed and vacuumed—which was part of the deal—and filled the tank with enough gas to hand it back at the same pitiful level.
⁕
Ten minutes later, he was parked out in front of Vicki’s house. He took a deep breath. There were four cars in the driveway. Everyone’s home, he thought and suddenly felt a pang of fear rip through him. He took a couple more deep breaths and, as he fixed his shirt, he shook his head. I should have worn something else…something new. He took a few steps toward the door, while his heart pounded hard in his ears. Relax, he told himself. It’s only a date. As he reached the front door, another voice added, Yeah, with the girl of your dreams. Now don’t screw this up! As he knocked, his breathing grew shallow, making him feel lightheaded. And I should have brought her flowers. I’m so stupid!
Just then, the door opened and a tall, distinguished looking man—Vicki’s dad—was standing there. “Billy?” he asked.
Billy held his breath and nodded.
“Come in,” he said, “Vicki’s just finishing up. You know how girls are,” he added, raising an eyebrow.
By now, the world was spinning. Like a sheep led to its slaughter, Billy followed Vicki’s dad into the living room, taking a seat on the leather couch, as instructed.
“So where are you taking my little girl tonight, Billy?” he asked, seriously. “I suspect she’ll be in good hands…”
“Ummm…we’re going to…”
Smiling, the lanky man slapped Billy’s knee. “Relax, I’m just playing with you.”
Oh man, Billy thought, this guy’s a ball buster.
The grinning man added, “Vicki was raised to make good decisions and her mother and I trust her completely. If she likes you, then there have to be good reasons…so I like you too.” He winked. “…unless you prove her wrong.”
Billy nodded and, at that moment, felt some of his anxiety evaporate. As he waited for Vicki, he decided he liked her father. He’s a funny dude, he thought. And I can picture me busting some kid’s balls, if I had a daughter who’d just started dating.
Vicki’s brother, Barry—a big, muscular kid a year younger than Billy—entered the room and quickly sized up his sister’s date. “What’s up?” he mumbled, with a nod of his head.
“What’s up?” Billy said, returning the nod.
Barry left the room just as Vicki entered.
Billy instinctively stood, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants. My God, she’s beautiful, he thought and scanned her body, spending a few extra moments a
t the curvy parts. Suddenly, he remembered her dad was still sitting there, watching him. Billy quickly looked away from Vicki, pretending not to ogle her. After an awkward moment, they started for the front door.
“Take good care of her,” Vicki’s dad told Billy, his grin returning.
“I will, sir,” Billy said, seriously.
As Billy held open the car’s passenger door, Vicki smiled. “A gentleman,” she commented, impressed.
They drove slowly down Route 103, with Billy’s breathing returning to normal; as each telephone pole passed, he felt like they were flying high above the clouds.
⁕
Agave had a gorgeous view of the bay, peppered in moored sailboats. The sun was just going down in the west, directly in front of their table, and the powder-blue sky was alive with gliding seagulls. They were seated at the outside terrace under the giant pergola, draped in white fabrics, with potted flowering plants climbing up the cedar posts. The round glass-top table, with linen napkins, was surrounded by four comfortable wicker chairs. Even with the salty breeze blowing straight at them, the air felt warm. A tarred path separating the terrace from the bay allowed joggers, walkers and bicyclists to pass them by.
“Very nice,” Vicki said, almost to herself.
Referring to the restaurant’s full tequila menu, Billy joked, “Do you think the waitress will card us?”
Vicki nodded. “I do.”
Billy pointed out several of the tiny birds—chickadees—that darted back and forth beneath the tables in search of crumbs. “Did you know that that’s where chicken nuggets come from?” he said.
“Gross,” she said, laughing.
“That one’s name is sweet and sour and his brother, over there, is honey mustard.”
She slapped his arm.
“How about I order us a four piece as an appetizer?”
“You’re crazy,” she said, squeezing his arm and leaving her hand there.
Billy couldn’t remember feeling this happy—ever.
When the waitress returned to the table, he ordered, “Two colas with lemon.” He looked at Vicki. “And let’s get the Agave Nachos,” he added, knowing that the appetizer could have fed an entire family.
After putting a small dent in the giant cheesy appetizer, Vicki ordered a pear gorgonzola salad.
“That’s it?” Billy asked.
She pointed to the glob of nachos that had quickly grown cold. “How much do you think I can eat?”
He laughed, looked at the young waitress and ordered, “Grilled chicken penne in pink tequila sauce.”
As the waitress walked away, Vicki said, “So you got your tequila after all, huh?”
He laughed. “I did.”
They dined and watched the sun set over the sailboat-filled water. As they played adults, talking and laughing and eating, they took their time with all of it.
At one point, Vicki leaned across the table and grabbed Billy’s hand. “Thank you,” she said, before looking out onto the bay. “This place is so beautiful. How did you find it?”
“It took a little research.” He shrugged. “No big deal.”
She squeezed his hand. “If you did research, then it is a big deal.” She stared at him and her eyes shined.
It took a moment for him to catch his breath.
“Thank you,” she repeated, taking several pictures with her cell phone.
Although Agave was a great location, Billy hardly noticed. His undivided attention and focus was on Vicki. The people seated around them could have committed the most heinous crimes and Billy would never have been able to identify any one of them in a police lineup. There was only Vicki. She’s so gorgeous, he thought.
The waitress bounced over with a chocolate lava cake. Within seconds, the sauce-stained plates were cleared, every breadcrumb scraped away—allowing plenty of room for the shared dessert.
A half hour later, Billy grabbed the black faux leather billfold and proudly paid their bill, leaving an adult-sized tip. He ran the cloth napkin across his mouth one last time and smiled. “You ready to go?” he asked Vicki.
“Not home, I’m not,” she said sincerely.
His entire chest heated up, making his face burn. “Good,” he managed. “Me either.”
As they stood to leave, Vicki asked the waitress, “Can you please take our picture?”
They posed in front of the water; Billy’s arm around Vicki’s shoulder, her arm around his waist.
Billy was so ecstatic he felt like he’d drunk a half bottle of tequila.
⁕
It was dusk when they drove to Colt State Park, past the massive bull statues that guarded the iron ornate gates. Billy parked the ragtop.
For the next half hour, they walked along the water, sharing their brief lives as they went.
“So you still have no idea what you want for the future?” Vicki asked.
Billy looked at her and smiled wide. “I wouldn’t say that anymore.” He nodded. “I know exactly what I want.”
She squeezed his arm and laughed. “Great answer, but I was talking about school.”
He thought about it for a moment. “No, not really,” he admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed. “But I’m praying it’ll come to me.”
“I’m sure it will,” Vicki said, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. “I bet as soon as you stop worrying about it, it will come to you and you’ll know exactly what you want.”
“Man, I hope so,” he sighed. “What about you?” he asked. “Have you gotten used to taking care of the elderly at the nursing home?”
“Vomit and bed pans, what’s not to love?” she joked, before throwing off a small shrug. “What I have learned,” she added, getting serious, “is that I’ll clean vomit and bed pans all day long, if that’s how I can help people.”
“Good for you,” he said, falling even deeper for her.
For a while, Billy rambled on, talking like an auctioneer—still trying hard to sell what Vicki had already purchased.
At one point, she stopped and rested her gaze upon him. “Shhh,” she whispered. “I’m here, with you, and there’s no other place I’d rather be.” She leaned in a few inches, enough to reveal her romantic intentions.
With his heart pounding hard in his ears, Billy’s dry lips nearly missed hers. When they parted, he remained close, locked onto her sparkling eyes. She gives me chills, he thought, shivering. After another sweet kiss—this one, wet and satisfying—he reached out and grabbed her hand. This is so incredible, he thought.
Smiling, she tightened her grip.
After some contented silence, Vicki looked up at the majestic sky and innocently commented, “I think God has done a wonderful job.” She looked at Billy. “Do you go to church?”
“I used to.” As if stalling for time, he looked around. “I love the message. It’s the messenger I have a problem with. I don’t think today’s church is what God truly intended.” He grinned. “Not that I can speak for Him.”
Vicki returned the smile. “You mean Her, right?”
Billy laughed.
“Actually, I don’t think God is either,” she said. “I believe that wherever there’s love… that’s God.”
Billy nodded. Then he’s here with us right now, he thought.
As they settled back into the car, Billy gazed at Vicki. She smells so good, he thought, as he put the convertible top down. They turned back onto the road, still laughing over the chickadee nuggets, when he put his hand on her leg. It felt smooth to the touch. Oh God, he thought, while something stirred inside of him. He quickly pulled his hand away. Instead, he grabbed for her hand and watched as her hair whipped in the summer wind. The radio was at the perfect volume so they could enjoy the sounds of the night, as well.
As they drove, Billy stole several sideways glances at her, realizing he had never felt so happy or
filled with such joy. I don’t really know Vicki…Well, not yet anyway, he thought, but his feelings for her were so strong already. Is it because she’s my first real girlfriend? he wondered, or… He quickly decided not to overanalyze and ruin it. Maybe love isn’t meant to be justified or explained? He looked sideways again and concealed the screams of euphoria that scratched to be freed from the back of his throat.
There was no moon and the few stars that twinkled above had suddenly disappeared. In the dark, the air temperature suddenly changed and felt much cooler. As they drove down a short stretch of highway, it began raining. For a few seconds, it was just a shower—and then the downpour came. Unable to do anything but drive and find a safe place to pull the car over, Billy glanced to his right. Vicki was already soaking wet. “I’m sorry,” he started to say when she began to laugh hysterically. He laughed along with her, the cool rain already penetrating his clothes.
As they approached a highway overpass, Billy parked beneath the steel and concrete shelter and put on the emergency flashers. They were both drenched, and so was the interior of the car.
“This is so crazy!” Vicki said, her voice electrified from excitement.
After Billy put the top up, he and Vicki remained parked for a few minutes—laughing.
When the laughter shrank to a few giggles, he looked into her eyes and shrugged. “Sorry,” he said again.
She pushed the dripping hair out of her eyes and shook her head. “Please. This is…” She stopped and dove deeper into his gaze. Then, in one sudden movement, she slid toward him, leaned in and kissed him on the lips—much more passionately than at the park.
He kissed her back, feeling even more drunk on the moment. Oh, my God, he thought. I love the rain. He pushed back hard on her mouth, his tongue dancing wildly with hers.
When they finally pulled back onto the highway, the storm had passed. Billy drove into the parking lot of a convenience store, parked and turned to Vicki. She looks even more beautiful soaking wet, he thought. “I’m sorry, but there’s no way I can bring this car back to Mark like this,” he said.
“Of course,” she said, “we can clean it together.”
After spending three dollars for a dollar roll of paper towels, Billy joined Vicki to sop up the interior of the car. At one point, he looked up and saw her staring at him; she was smiling. I never realized that cleaning could be so much fun, he thought and saw that she was still staring. “What is it?” he asked.
The Changing Season Page 16
