Finally, he left and Emily stood quickly, “I should probably get going.”
“Let me just find my shoes and I’ll walk you home.”
She couldn’t get out of the house fast enough but, once again, the fresh, crisp air outside brought her back down to reality and the concrete fact that she would not be sleeping that night.
Chapter 6
Tim’s birthday fell on October 16 and Jack’s on the 19th, so they always had a joint birthday party. Well, more like the immediate family got out the confetti and poppers and plenty of silly string and had a very loud and entertaining celebration for the pair, which didn’t really deviate much from a normal family dinner but at least this time there was cake … and presents.
Anyway, this year’s party took place on the 19th and Jack had asked Emily to come celebrate with them. She accepted gladly, never one to pass up cake or an evening with the family, but she also had an ulterior motive … it was her birthday as well.
She just opted not to mention it to anyone.
Waking up the morning of the 19th, she stared up at the cracked ceiling, grinning to herself. Today, she was 16. Honest-to-goodness 16.
She had made it to her 16th birthday, scarred, but still kicking.
She also wondered if he was somewhere knowing it was her birthday as well. She hoped he wasn’t. She hoped that if he was indeed still alive, he’d forgotten all about her.
But of course, she buried the possibility of his being alive at all deep down in the hidden parts of her brain.
She was 16 today and she felt as if she could conquer the world.
But first, of course, she had to conquer another day at school
▪▪▪
The party that night was indeed loud and more fun than Emily had had in a long time. She stayed on the other side of the table from Will and, seeming to sense her wariness, he respected the space. She helped devour the giant chocolate cake and her fair share of the ice cream and when they all sang ‘Happy Birthday’ she joined in, completely off-key, adding her own name silently and smiling all the while.
Eventually, after gifts and cleanup, most everyone disappeared to bed, except for Tim, who was taking Sarah to the movies. Sooner than Jack would have liked, it was quarter to midnight. Turning off the final credits of their second ‘X-Files’ episode of the evening, “I guess I ought to get you home, huh?”
Emily shrugged, not wanting to go just yet, “Maybe. But I want you to do something for me first, okay?”
“Sure. Anything.”
She’d been debating this all day, but decided to plow forward anyway, “Shut your eyes first.”
Doing as instructed, he felt her lean forward and shivered at her breath grazing his ear as she whispered, “Can you wish me a happy birthday?”
It took a second for what she said to register, but when it did, he sat back and opened his eyes, “What?”
Biting her lip, “It’s actually my birthday, too. At 11:56 tonight to be exact.”
“What?!? Why didn’t you tell anybody?”
“Shhh. You don’t want to wake the whole house, do you?”
Bringing his voice down a few notches, “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I just … didn’t.”
He quickly looked at his watch, “Well, why did you wait until there’s 12 minutes left of it before telling me?”
“I wasn’t going to tell you at all at first, but then I realized,” taking a deep breath before continuing, “I really wanted someone to wish me a Happy Birthday ‘cause it’s been the best one I’ve ever had.”
Cocking his head to one side, he shook it slightly as if to clear a few lingering cobwebs, “Well, since you did tell me that means I’ve got, what, 11 minutes now, to celebrate it with you.” Standing up, “Come here.”
After pulling her into the kitchen, he lit the candles from a few hours previous on the stove, then stuck them in the last remains of the cake. It was a rather sad looking birthday cake, but Emily thought it the most beautiful thing in the world. As he presented the plate to her, he whisper-sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and made her blow out the candles, demanding she make a wish on each one before putting out the flame.
Then, together, they finished the cake and each had a glass of milk while they sat on the couch. Her eyes were already shining when he looked at his watch, “I’ve still got five minutes. Hang on a second, I’ll be back.”
Racing upstairs as quietly as possible, he came back down a minute later, clearly holding something behind his back. Making her shut her eyes much as she had done to him minutes earlier, he laid something on her lap. “Okay, you can look. I didn’t have time to wrap it, but I blame that solely on you and your inability to inform me of your birthday.”
On her lap were new copies of the battered and horrible-looking books he’d seen her reading and re-reading over the last few months. Looking up at him, “Where did ... when?”
Going rather sheepish on her, “Well, I’ve been buying ‘em for the last month. I’ve seen the duct taped ones you read and rubber band together, so I thought I’d collect a few for you, let you actually read a book without pages missing. I was gonna give ‘em to you for Christmas, but since it’s your birthday, why wait?”
Quickly moving the books from her lap, she slid forward and wrapped her arms around him, smiling through her tears, “This is the best birthday I’ve ever had.” Hugging him tight, “And given it’s the only birthday I’ve ever had, I don’t know how to thank you.”
Pulling back from her, “What do you mean it’s the only birthday you’ve ever had?”
Heart twisting in her chest, “My mom, um, she doesn’t really do birthdays. Never has.”
With a quizzical look, “Are these your first birthday gifts, too?”
Now more than a little embarrassed, she stood, “I should be getting home. Mind walking me?”
Once again, he obeyed the subject shift, “Never. Just let me find my shoes and get a bag for you.”
“Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“Could you not tell anybody for a little while, okay?”
With a quick nod, he turned, hopefully fast enough not to notice her face crumple for a second, tears rushing to the surface then being blinked back.
▪▪▪
He finally made it back to his room a little before one and had just gotten in bed when Tim walked in from his date with Sarah. Seeing Jack with his eyes open and CD player resting on his chest, he tapped his brother on the foot, “What’re you doing up?”
“Just thinkin’ about a girl.”
“Ahh, I see.”
Jack gestured at the clock between their beds, “And why were you out so late?”
“G’night brother.”
Still not closing his eyes, “’Night.”
▪▪▪
The following Tuesday, Jack showed up to walk Emily home from work with a grin spreading from ear to ear. Eyeing him in amusement, “Um, I'm gonna take a stab in the dark here, but I think you might be just a little happy about something.”
His smile got bigger as he held something up the size of a credit card, “I got my license today. I can actually drive myself around.” By then, Jack was doing a little hopping dance around her, “Not that I have a car or anything, but if my mother needs a gallon of milk, I am so gonna be able to go get it for her.” Genuinely happy for him, she also prayed silently that he wouldn't ask the inevitable next question, which he did only moments later, “When do you go get yours?”
Her heart sank a little, but trying to keep her voice light, “My mom wants me to wait a year before I get it. She doesn't have much time to take me out and we couldn't afford to get me a car anyways. I'm good with my bike, though, so it's fine.”
Beginning to think her mother was somewhat annoying, but keeping his mouth shut about that, he instead took her hand, “Biking is good, but walking let's me hold your hand, so I say we keep walking until it gets too cold, then we'll go from there.”
“Sure. I'll just have to remember to wear my boots and bring my fat scarf.”
Smiling at the fat scarf, she then tilted her head, “Even through a foot of snow and nose freezing winds and do you have any idea how cold a winter can be here?”
“Um, I'm from Chicago. I'm pretty sure this winter will be a cake walk in comparison to that. And if the weather is that bad, my mom will tell me to take the car anyway because she won't let me let you freeze. So, I'll come here and stuff you inside even though you'll be protesting that it's really not THAT cold and then I'll just reach across and hold your hand that way, even though I'll probably also have my fat mittens on.”
Squeezing his fingers, she started walking again, her face pinking slightly at the thought of his fighting snow and wind chills to hold her hand, “Um, what's with the fat scarf and mittens? Why are they fat? Or did you used to weigh four hundred pounds and they're just all stretched out now?”
Jack chuckled, “I used to be skinnier than this, actually. They're fat because it's a scarf my grandma knitted with three strings of yarn or something, so that makes it thick already, then she lined it with flannel, then fleece, and made it almost six feet long so it wraps around at least three times. Then she made me extra fat mittens to match.” With a look of amusement at her, he shrugged, “My grandma really, really loves me.”
“Are they warm, I hope?”
“Toastier than a trip to Florida in July.”
“You better really, really love your grandma back.”
“Totally do and yes, I tell her every week when she calls or when I email her.”
Zipping her coat up further against the chilly wind, “Although, right about now, I could go for a fat scarf.”
“I’ll email Grandma and see what I can do.”
Chapter 7
October passed, November flew by and December began.
December was a fairly big deal at school. Especially for the art kids, who had spent all semester working their hardest. They were all hoping to be rewarded by being part of the Christmas art exhibition, held alongside the Christmas concert.
Finally, the best items were chosen and, given both Tim and Emily’s abilities, each had multiple items hanging, including their portraits of each other.
The day of the show, Tim asked her while they waited for the teacher to begin class, “So, is your mom coming tonight?”
“No, she has to work.”
“Then did you want to hitch a ride with us? I think the whole family’s coming.”
She nodded, “Jack already asked. I’m gonna be at your place around six or so.”
“Cool. I guess Mom wants to stay for the concert, too.”
“It’ll be good. Dex has a solo and he’s fabulous. The things that boy can do with that sax are beyond me.”
“He mentioned it last time he was over. Something about eight minutes of mind-blowing perfection.”
“Yeah, that would be about it.” With a grin, “You wouldn’t know it to look at him, but he’s already got a music scholarship waiting for him once he graduates.”
“Really?”
She nodded, “Just listen to him tonight and you'll hear why.”
“It's frightening what you learn about people sometimes.”
“Just don’t let it get around about the scholarship. He doesn’t want to jinx it.”
Nodding, “No problem.”
▪▪▪
Later that night, they all piled into two cars to get to the school. They were used to arriving early at places to find seats all together and, once they’d staked out a whole row for themselves and spread their coats around, Tim lead them en masse to Ms. Tassleman, who was hovering nearby.
“So these must be your parents, I expect?”
“Yes, ma’am. My mom, Elizabeth, and my dad, Will.”
Shaking hands with both of them, “Glad to finally meet you both.” Looking the rest of the boys over with a smile, she turned to Tim for a moment, “You weren’t kidding about the resemblance.”
“Blame my mom.”
They all laughed at this and Ms. Tassleman led them over to the free-standing boards brandishing art projects from most of her classes. “Tim’s are intermixed with Emily’s. They complement each other so perfectly I didn’t dare separate them. They’re both, by far, the best students I’ve had in years.”
She continued to talk for another few minutes before excusing herself as more families walked into the cafeteria.
“Tim, I must say, I’ve never had a teacher gush about you. It would be almost embarrassing if it weren’t so wonderful.”
He blushed at her, “Geez Mom, you’d think all my teachers thought I was the devil’s spawn and made it a point to tell you that every chance they got.”
She just squeezed her son's arm as she turned to Emily, “And you, Miss Emily, are just as outstanding.” Turning towards the picture of her son, “I wish I had some of that talent.”
“Sometimes I wish I was just as good in some of my other classes.”
Without thought, Elizabeth slipped her arm around Emily’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze, “It’s not all about grades.”
Tears came rushing to her eyes and with every fiber of her being, she fought to keep them from falling. To her relief, she succeeded, mostly because of the distraction of Tucker and Nate knocking over a chair.
Tim hissed at his mother through clenched teeth, fairly embarrassed by his family at this point, especially with his favorite teacher nearby, “Could they be any more annoying?”
“Probably.” Elizabeth started over towards the pair already righting the chair and looking sheepish, “Would you like me to ask them to be?”
Jack noticed him rolling his eyes and kicked him lightly in the foot, “Dude, they already fixed it and nobody cares.”
“One time. That's all I asked for. One time without them doing something obnoxious.”
Jack went on to say something else, but Emily didn’t hear what, given she’d used the distraction to move away from the group. Needing a few moments to calm herself down, she studied the other displays until Ms. Tassleman showed up at her elbow, “Mom working again?”
She nodded, “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe she’ll be able to make it next year.”
Not able to look her favorite teacher in the eye, she remained focused on the work in front of her, “Maybe.”
▪▪▪
Everyone was settled in their seats a few minutes before the concert began. Even Sam, who was a notorious fidgeter from what Jack had mentioned, had promised to sit still.
It helped, of course, that both Jack and Tim had threatened him with bodily harm if he did anything bad and promised ice cream if he was good.
Emily, seated next to Jack, who was next to Tim, leaned over, “Can I get in on some of that ice cream action?”
“Do you promise not to sing along or scream for the next hour?”
“I think so, if properly motivated.”
Tim grinned past his brother at her, “Two scoops?”
“Deal.”
▪▪▪
Most of the concert was fun. There was a sing-a-long, which Sam, after getting the okay from Tim, belted out along with the rest of the crowd. Then more holiday favorites, during which Sam did nothing more than hum, which, for this particular six-year-old, was truly amazing.
He nearly lost the ice cream promised him, however, when Dex walked to the center of the stage. Sam stood and called out over the silent audience, “Hi Dex!”
With a wide grin and a Santa hat perched atop his newly dyed neon green hair, “Hey Sam. Be sure to clap for me when I’m finished, okay?”
“’Kay Dex.”
And once the audience stopped chuckling, Dex began to play.
Who knew such a strange looking, pierced individual could create such a feeling with a chunk of brass.
He pl
ayed through “Oh Holy Night” then slipped into “White Christmas” and finally melted his way into “Silent Night”. Once he was done, everyone just sat mesmerized for a few moments until Sam, God love him, climbed up on his seat and started clapping his little hands off.
Crumbling Walls (Jack and Emily #1) Page 6
