by L. B. Dunbar
My parents finally arrived. My mother was clutching my father’s hands, and she walked slowly, methodically down the angled aisle. She was looking ahead, but eventually turned to scan the crowd. I noticed Britton look in Mum’s direction and smile. My mother selected the row in front of Britton and walked steadily to sit in front of her, off center by one seat. Dad sat next to Mum, and I finally saw my brother, Ethan, and his girlfriend, Ella. I hadn’t met her either, and when Ethan described her hair as the color of autumn, he wasn’t joking. Her hair was striking, like the color of a fall mix of leaves, in red, orange, and yellow. She smiled at my father, and I swore I hadn’t seen his face turn red like that in years, if ever.
Finally, Karyn rushed the aisle with Tom and Madison, their fourteen-year-old daughter, following behind. Meghan, their next daughter, was staying behind with baby Jack at the Hutchinson’s home, where the family graciously offered to host the after-party and provide babysitting for those with ones too young to attend the showing.
The lights blinked to warn the audience the film would start soon. When the house lights finally dimmed, there wasn’t a seat remaining empty. I felt like the whole town of Elk Rapids showed up for my film, and I swelled with pride and guilt; guilt that I had ignored this place for maybe too long.
I watched the audience anxiously as they watched my film. I noticed a stern look on my father’s face when the teenage boy was arguing with his dad about working to earn money for the motorcycle he wanted. I saw Britton’s face soften as the teenage boy and the young girl, Esmerelda, discussed the moon.
“No matter where you are, the moon is the same. And if we both look at it some night, we can take comfort that we are under the same sky, even if we are apart,” Esmerelda whispered to him.
The boy kisses her at this point, and I noticed the dreamy look on my fourteen-year-old niece’s face.
Ethan had his hand around Ella and he played with her hair. I sighed knowing my brother was probably more into his girlfriend than the movie, but my sister was wiping her eyes at times, and I hoped it was the emotional effect of seeing the young love separated. I knew being with Tom was one of Karyn’s strongest arguments while we were growing up. She loved him and refused to be without him if our parents ever told her she couldn’t go out with him.
When the movie ended, there was a long silence before the applause started. The enthusiasm grew as the credits rolled and then died again as the volunteer host shushed the crowd. This person was to introduce me now, highlighting my accomplishments, and giving a brief bio on me. I numbly listened to my life: college, small production company work, winner of a 10-minute film contest sponsored by Canon, internship with Warner Bros., currently working for Steinmann Financial in Film Development and Production. It was when he began my bio after my accolades that I heard the heartwarming cheers and the sound of my brother’s catcalls. As he announced me as a local and one of the area’s own, I stepped out and the crowd went wild. For one moment, I felt like I had won an Academy Award. The audience was on their feet. My mother was crying and Karyn was wiping her eyes again as she smiled. My father looked stone-faced, but thoughtful, as he looked around at the crowd that was applauding for me. He let loose a slightly crooked smile.
As the clapping was steadily slowing, I noticed Mum start to sit, gripping the seat in front of her as she glided her body downward into the chair. Britton’s hands went out to support her, and I had a strange feeling of familiarity between the women. Britton bent to speak into Mum’s ear, and Mum patted Britton’s hand on her shoulder. The moment passed and I locked eyes with my old girlfriend. She was smiling at me, biting her bottom lip. I was happy she was looking at me. She looked pleased.
The crowd settled and I began the customary question and answer session. I had a speech prepared to fill any lulls if necessary, but questions began right away as the host selected random audience members.
“Where did you get your inspiration?” an older gentleman in the crowd asked. I admitted it was based on personal experience with wanting to purchase something and my father suggesting I work on our family’s cherry farm to earn the money for it. I also credited a book I’d read as a teenager.
I looked at my father, who nodded his head in thoughtful agreement with the long ago learned lesson.
“Did you base the story on anything personal or realistic?” a female voice asked. I replied by explaining that other than what I mentioned about the family farm, I also based the story off of real migrant worker interviews as well as a past relationship with someone special during my teenage years.
I looked at Britton and saw she was staring down at her lap.
“How long did it take to produce the film?” a young man whom I recognized from other showings asked.
“It took me five months in the heat of California’s San Fernando Valley,” I responded.
“Are you still dating Zoe Steinmann?” a flirty female voice asked exuberantly, to which I replied an immediate, “Yes” and asked for the next question. I looked out at Britton, who was now staring at me.
“Why didn’t you film the story in Michigan?” someone asked, and I took a grateful breath that the questions had returned to the movie and not my personal life. I explained how I wanted to film in Michigan, but that I had more connections in California and my financial backer would not support my travels.
“Was the girl in the movie based off someone you once knew?” This was a bit of a repeat question, but it came from Jess Carter, and I knew he was digging. He wanted me to admit that the story had some romantic truth.
“Yes,” I answered honestly.
I looked at Britton again, who was still watching me. I noticed Jess turn in his seat to follow my gaze, and then he leaned over to whisper something to Emily. She smiled in surprise.
There were no further questions, so I began my speech. I thanked my father and mother for allowing me to go to California years ago to follow my dream of filmmaking. I thanked the inspiring book I had read as a teenager and again, my father, for teaching me the lesson that if you want something bad enough, you may have to work for it.
“But I also learned that dreams may change once you’ve accomplished your goals.” I wasn’t sure where that line came from. It wasn’t in my original speech. A flash of Britton and Gee came to mind, and just as quickly disappeared.
I thanked my financial backer, Zeke Steinmann, and Mike George for his support of this film festival. I also thanked Grace and Stan Hutchinson, in advance, for hosting a private reception for my family later.
The crowd applauded again and the house lights were turned up. I went to thank the host and was surrounded by well-wishers at the base of the stage stairs. Britton was not one of them, though. She had disappeared again.
Take 15
Under the Moonlight
I drove alone to the Hutchinson’s home. I had to stay behind until the final well-wisher had passed, and the management of the theatre was actually waiting in the lobby with a crew to clean. I was on a natural high at the moment. I dreaded the call to Zeke Steinmann, but at least Zeke had called earlier to say good luck, whereas Zoe had not. It was a business move for Zeke, but I appreciated it all the same.
“Zeke. Gavin Scott.”
“Hello, my boy. How’d it go?”
“Standing ovation. Full house.”
“Wonderful. I just got an invitation to another film festival in Montana. Might have heard of it? Sundance?”
This was the coveted American film festival, up in the ranks with the internationally known Cannes Film Festival in Europe.
“Oh. My. God.” I sounded like a teenage girl, but I didn’t care. This was incredible news.
“I’m going to accept on your behalf, if you don’t mind. If you do something great there, who knows? We might be talking national backing for that project of yours.”
I normally cringed when Zeke called my film “that project” as if I was a housewife with a hobby instead of a serious film director working toward
a future, but tonight I didn’t care. Things were going perfectly.
“Talked to Zoe today. She didn’t sound so good. Have you spoken to her since you’ve been away?” Zeke had to add this damper to my good mood.
“Yesterday she left me a message. I haven’t had the chance to return it.”
There was a pause in the conversation.
“Gavin, my boy, you know I value you in this relationship, and I think you can do a world of good for my daughter. Let’s not be away from her too long, okay?” It was a hint that Zeke knew something that I didn’t, and he wanted me back in California to right the situation. I had the familiar sinking sensation of being the last to know that Zoe was cheating on me or that Zoe was headed for some type of rehab. I didn’t want that feeling to overcome me. Not tonight. I didn’t want Zoe overshadowing my thunder tonight. Not here. Not now. And that’s when I knew I needed to end this conversation.
“Sorry, Zeke. I’m staying for another week for an old friend’s wedding, and I might stay longer for my nephew’s first birthday.” I didn’t know if that was true, but I had been thinking about it. I had missed so much already with my family, and staying a little longer wouldn’t hurt. The birthday party was the perfect excuse.
“Yes, well, do what you gotta do and hurry back. We have plans to make.” Zeke hung up abruptly after a quick goodbye.
When I pulled down the frontage road where the Hutchinson’s home was located, I had to park down the block a ways. Located on the lakeside of the road, the house was not the home I remembered them owning when I was younger. Grace Hutchinson lived in Elk Rapids when she met my mother. Although they had several years between them, the two women were friends through their previous connection in Elk Rapids, and remained friends despite the new distance. The family moved to Traverse City when Stan got a better job with his company and they wanted a bigger home on lake property. If anything, Grace became a better friend through my mother’s resurgence of cancer. Her children were teenagers now and she had the freedom to visit more often, bringing Mum dinners, gossipy news, and emotional support.
It took me a moment to get my bearings on which way I was travelling down the road. I parked among the masses lining the narrow street and listened for the crowd ahead. I walked in total darkness as only the occasional car and the intermittent house lights lit the road. The stars were in full view in this deep black and the walk would have been peaceful if not for the party-goers loud conversations echoing from up the street. I began to admire the homes as I sauntered. Many of them were rather large, as lake front property on the bay was double the price in Traverse City, so the one home that was not large stood out even more.
From the back I could tell the house was positioned sideways on the property. That is, the back seemed to face the side yards, and the side of the rectangular shaped home seemed to eye the lake. Most homes had a front facing the road and a back viewing the lake. As I passed the narrow side of this small house, I had a vague sense of familiarity with it. I narrowed my eyes in the darkness as not a single light was lit in the house, but a small light lit the front porch on a tall, narrow stand. It was the garden in the front that jumped out at me.
This was Britton’s uncle’s house. Uncle Leo. My heart dropped a little as I thought of the old man.
Scene: The old man
She was fifteen; I was seventeen.
I had only seen Britton sporadically during that first summer and meeting her at the end of July cut our time even shorter, but she called me when she arrived the following June, inviting me to see her if I was available. I had my own truck for work on the farm that summer and I would guess I broke every traffic law there was to get to her. I raced through stop signs and hardly slowed at the curves in the road. My heart beat faster with every mile I drew closer to her, and my nerves shot up as well.
What if she changed? What if she thought I had changed? But her voice had been a siren drawing me to her, and I doubted there could be change extreme enough to threaten my not seeing her again. I pulled up in front of her uncle’s home on a cool June afternoon and practically skipped up onto the low porch.
Her uncle opened the door and eyed me up and down. We had met very briefly the summer before.
“So you’re the young man my Brittie’s been talking about?”
“I hope so. Yes, sir.”
“You hope so? Think there might be another one of you?” He was trying to scowl, but I saw a twinkle in his old, blue eyes.
“I hope not, sir. No.”
“I hope not, too. I’m too old to keep track of her love life.”
And with that a blur went past him and into my arms. She held onto me like I was going to keep her from drowning. Despite the old man in the doorway and eventually an older woman as well, I stood with Britton in my arms, her feet dangling from my height. She was locked onto me, arms around my neck, and I didn’t care if the whole world saw us. Britton McKay was back, she was happy to see me, and I was holding onto her as long as I could.
* * *
I smiled at the memory, but I was a little shocked that this home still stood on this road that now boasted such large mansions. Whoever lived here now must be intending to tear it down to build something larger once they recovered the money that surely had been spent on just the property alone.
I strolled onward and found the party in full swing. Music bounced off the lake in the back and surrounded the crowd of people. I immediately found my parents and was surprised when my dad briefly hugged me. Mum hung onto me for longer, and I wondered if it was more for physical support than mental stability. She seemed so frail.
I found Karyn and Tom with Jess and Emily, and promised to come back to them. I spotted Ethan and Ella off to the side of the party. They seemed deep in conversation and Ethan was stroking her cheek, but the girl kept pushing her hair back down over her face. Karyn had warned me that Ella had suffered some terrible trauma that had permanently scarred her face. I also had a slight glimpse from pictures posted by my brother on Facebook, so I braced myself to not overreact when I met her in person.
As soon as Ethan saw me approaching, he rushed forward and bear-hugged me. When I pulled back, Ethan looked at me for a moment then pulled me roughly back in for another bone-crushing hug.
“I’m so glad you made it, E,” I muttered into our second embrace.
“I would never have missed this, especially since it was here.”
I knew that Ethan missed home more than he would let on, but he also loved New York City and would have a hard time returning here the longer he stayed away. I understood. This was my story as well.
“Introduce me to your girl, E.”
Ethan turned sideways to pull Ella toward us.
“Gavin Scott, meet my girlfriend, Isabella Vincentia. Ella.”
Ethan was beaming as he said girlfriend, and I was briefly jealous again, like when I’d seen Jess and Emily in the theatre. Even in the dim outside light, I could see the love Ethan had for this girl.
I tried to keep my horror at her face as subdued as possible for the sake of all of us. I didn’t want to embarrass her or Ethan, or myself for being a fool when I had been warned. In a show of good intention, I leaned in to kiss her scarred cheek as I also shook her hand. I felt her tug back slightly, but I held her hand firm as we shook. I meant no disrespect and I was determined to brush her bad cheek. She was rigid at the touch.
I pulled back, releasing her cold fingers. Ethan looked a little unnerved as well.
“Hey, you’re stealing my move,” Ethan laughed awkwardly.
I looked at my brother for a moment, pinching my eyebrows in question.
“When your brother first kissed me, he kissed my scarred cheek as well,” Ella broke the awkward silence.
I smiled and noticed she had a nice smile now that she’d lost the frightened look.
“Isabella Vincentia. Are you any relation to the banking tycoon in California?”
“No,” Ethan said as Ella said, “Yes.”
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Ethan looked at Ella, who held my stare.
“Nick Vincentia is my father. However, we don’t talk, and I have no sway with him for money or movies.” She narrowed her eyes in warning at me and I burst out laughing. If I thought her frightened a moment ago, I quickly learned she was a lioness, ready to roar her strength.
“Got it. I don’t know him, just of him. I don’t think I want his kind of money anyway.” I winked at Ella.
“You need to come to New York, man,” Ethan said. “Being a movie guy, that’s the place to be.”
“No, California’s where it’s at, E. Besides, that’s where I live and work.”
“Oh right,” he exaggerated, “Rough life living by the ocean and making a movie. Not to mention dating an heiress. How is Zoe the witch anyway?”
“E,” I warned.
“I’m serious, Gavin. She’s a witch. I can’t believe you’re still with her, even if her father is your sugar daddy.”
“Ethan,” Ella scowled.
“And you would know about sugar daddies because…” I trailed off. I knew the story of the horror writer and the secretive job that led Ethan to meet Ella, and the scholarship to finish school. Ethan had almost completed his education with the assistance of Ella’s uncle, the mysterious author.
Ethan shook his head with a laugh.
“Glad to see some things haven’t changed, Gavin. You can still be an asshole sometimes.” Ethan smiled when he said it, and I felt all was forgiven between us.
Eventually, I made the rounds through the party, hugging people long since forgotten, shaking sweaty hands, and answering the same questions over and over. I was welcomed home, congratulated on the film, and reminded of my mother’s cancer.
