by N. I. Rojas
“If you keep doing this,” -My mind drifted back to real time when Sam talked again. -“I’ll make a camp for myself right outside this house just to smell when you’re cooking. I’ll imitate a puppy in your window to make you feed me every meal.”
The idea made me smile. A camp outside? Maybe I should use his idea for the next date. I can invite him to a picnic close to the lily pond I love.
“Well, beautiful. Ready to go?” -He asked while extending his hand to grab mine.
“Where are we going?” -I asked full of doubt and fear. Maybe I shouldn’t be so hesitant. This man offered to wash the dishes! And he did it!
“It's a surprise. If I tell you, you’ll say no. I’m not risking losing the opportunity.” -He answered back.
“In that case, we’ll take my van. For if I need an escape. I’ll leave you abandoned there.” -Humorously, I said with a grin.
While he held my hand I felt so secure. I was certain I didn’t have to flee from him today or ever.
“Then I drive.” -He assured.
“Why? Don’t you trust my driving? I’m very sober now.” -I protested smiling.
“I trust you my life if you want. But where we’re going, you don’t know the way. So let me be your guide and enjoy the trip, beautiful girl.” -He closed my door and got behind the wheel, turned the engine on and rolled down the window glasses. -“And don’t hide from me those delicious crunchiness you bake. I smelled them on my way to your house. So pass them over!”
We both laugh so hard. Tears escaped my eyes. Tears of happiness that soon became tears of sadness and sorrow. Stopping the van in the side of the road, Sam turned to me, wiping my tears away.
“Why are you crying, Morgan? Are you feeling alright? Did I say something that bothered you?” -Soon I was tucked in a warm embrace. Oh, I needed it so bad.
“No. You’re perfect. I’m so evil. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have such a good friend.” -After I said those words I regretted everything. Each and every letter. I wanted to die that very moment.
Sam’s eyes reflected how sad he suddenly felt for me. He was such an angel. Really. I didn’t deserve him.
“First, you’re not evil. You’re very kind. Otherwise, you would have let me die the other night when my sugar levels wentdown. Second, and most important, if it makes you feel better, we are not friends. We are just two people trying to know each other. I’m aiming for something bigger than friendship. Something deeper.”
Our eyes met and he closed the space between us. He was going to kiss me. I was going to kiss him. No, Morgan. Stop! A kiss closes the deal. You want to end the chapter and jump the page already?
I returned to my previous position, putting distance between us again.
“Okay.” -Sam said with hoarse voice and his tone was defiant, as if he considered me a challenge. His shoulders shrugged nervously. -“I can wait forever. I swear.”
Soon he parked my minivan in a residential area. Houses with nice gardens and green grass at both sides of the street. Happy kids playing with balls and blowing bubbles.
“Look, mommy! Uncle Sam the Jam is here.” -One of the girls yelled from the front patio. I had my door already opened when Sam came to my side.
“Where are we?” -I whispered the question close to his ear. He grabbed my hand strongly and I noticed he was sweaty and cold.
“Visiting family, baby.” -He answered almost kissing my neck. -“Why? Want to leave already?”
“I don’t feel comfortable in crowds. People make me nervous.” -I confessed.
“That’s why I didn’t tell you. I can’t deny I’m very nervous as well. That’s a first. Again. But that’s off record.”
The cute little girl jumped over Sam who was ready to grab her and swing her in the air. The girl’s giggles were pure and came from deep inside her heart. Hugging Sam firmly, she yelled in his cheeks: I love u at least ten times.
“Look who’s home! The city cop!” -A woman walked toward us, kissing Sam in both cheeks. Then she looked at me. I was so nervous I cannot manage to pronounce a single word. -“Hi.”
“Hi.” -I repeated back.
“Elizabeth, this is my…” -Sam paused, thinking on the right way of introducing me to his family. -“My friend Morgan. Morgan, this is my sister Elizabeth and my niece Lilly, the birthday girl.”
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Morgan. Welcome home!” -Elizabeth welcomed me by hugging me very hard.
“The pleasure is all mine.” -I answered, trying to offer my kindest smile.
“Mom!” -Elizabeth yelled towards the house. She smiled widely while looked at Sam with conspiracy eyes. -“Mom! Sam brought a girl!”
Soon, an old lady supported with a wooden cane left the house walking towards us.
“What? Sammy brought a girl? Are you sure? Or are you kidding me again?”
Sam looked very embarrassed but didn’t dare to release the firm grip in my hand.
“You still have time to escape.” -He whispered.
“Come on, this is getting interesting.” -I riposted, refusing his offer. While Sam’s mother walked at easy pace, Lilly held my free hand and I squatted down to be at her height.
“So, beautiful Lilly, how old are you now?” -I asked the girl.
“I’m a big girl now. I’m three!” -Lilly said showing me three fingers.
“Wow! Three? You are really big!” -I praised her and she made a funny dance. -“And what you wish as present?”
Coming close to me she shared a secret in my ear. What a clever girl!
“Sammy, baby, come to Mamma!” -The mother called while she was a few steps away from us. Sam helped me to straighten up and together we walked to her. -“Oh my God, Sam Whilhey. It seems that I saw you just a week ago.”
“It was a week, mother.” -Sam answered hugging her with his free hand.
“Yes, and yet you were so tiny then. But look at you now. A grownup man.” -His mother continued, pinching his cheeks hard.
“You’re embarrassing me!” -He joked.
“And you must be Sam’s girlfriend!” -She addressed at me now. Cold sweat slid down my spine. My fast heartbeats promised a massive heart attack. So, this is what it feels like being in love?
Standing in front of Sam’s mother I couldn’t help but think on walking backwards and climb in my van and drive home at high speed. Girlfriend?
“I’m Morgan.” -I merely said. -“Is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Whilhey.”
“Come here sweetheart. You call me Mamma.” -And grabbing me, Sam’s Mamma gave me a suffocating hug, strong like a bear. Her smell of mentholated alcohol tickled my nose. -“I’m so happy today. A whole happy family. Come, come. Let’s meet the rest of the family. There’s a big family waiting.”
That was way too much family talk.
We went to the backyard where the birthday party was in full swing and more guests and family were dancing and chatting happily. Mamma went to the DJ and took the microphone.
“Hey, everyone. Say hello to Sam.” -She yelled hard. All of them turned around to see us. They all said hello or waved hands. Kids ran to him, hugging him whenever they could grab. People waved at us and Sam turned red in shame. I was more embarrassed than him while people’s gaze was fixed on us, on his hand holding mine like if we belonged together. -“And meet Morgan, Sam’s girlfriend.”
An echo of awe ran from side to side, like people doing the wave in a sport event. Tens of eyes watched me curious and some of them approached us to give congratulations. An uproarious applause broke, cheering Sam for the acquisition of a girlfriend. This was starting to get much more uncomfortable than what I thought. I was about to run and disappear but Sam was still holding me strongly. I felt sad for his shame, but at least he had a family who waited for him. Gratefully, everything came back to normal after a minute and we were free to move from the throne in which Sam’s mother had him.
Lilly came to me and pulled me with her to inside the house. There, she showed me a few
photo albums where Sam was the center of attention. One of the pictures in particular caught my interest. He was dressing very formal, a red boutonniere in his suit. I compared the picture with the one of Elizabeth’s wedding and it wasn’t the same dress so it was another wedding. Was he married? I haven’t asked but he had mentioned something about singleness.
Elizabeth came inside the house accompanied with her mother. They sat close to me, explaining me those pictures. When I pointed the one with him in dressing suite they looked at each other- gaze of conspiracy- and lowered their eyes.
“That was a sad day for all of us. Sam was getting married to a woman he loved madly. Long story short, she didn’t show up to the church, just sent a friend of her apologizing. She had run away with another man.” -Mamma said in a hush voice.
“He’s been a loner since. That was three years ago, before Lilly’s birth. But now you’re here. It looks like he’s reshaping his life.” -Elizabeth was interrupted by the phone ringing. She apologized to answer the call. Mamma sat close to me, resting her head on my shoulder and patting my hand with a delighted smile.
“I’ll do anything to see him happy again. No matter what it costs, I want to see him radiant and happy. No matter what it takes, Sam needs to be loved. I’m getting too old and I want to see more grandchildren.”
I turned purple from her statement. At that precise moment Sam entered the house.
“Here you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I was calling the cops to report your kidnap!” -Sam quipped.
“Don’t worry, son. I’ll be stealing her quite often, so get used to it.” -Mamma said, making me smile with a feeling I could compare with happiness. Real happiness. A sense of belonging.
“What a problem!” -Elizabeth said after she hung the phone. -“Anais, the girl who made the cake had an accident and the cake is a complete mess. What I’m going to do now?”
Oh, no! I told myself. Poor little Lilly. A cute birthday cake was one of her wishes for today and she wasn’t getting it. That was not fair.
“If I go to the closest store, they’ll make a cake for us soon?” -Everybody looked at Elizabeth. The answer was obvious. No.
Lilly covered her face with both hands and I heard her little sobs through her tiny fingers. Fat tears ran across her pink cheeks and my heart gave a painful flip.
“Hey, Lilly. You want to know a secret?” -I called her and she came to me with sad face. Her lower lip was trembling and she was about to burst in another cry any moment. -“You want to know what I do for living?”
Nodding with her head, Lilly’s eyes turned bright.
“You know that van we parked outside? It has a refrigerated rear section for something very cool. I do cakes. Pretty cakes. Is very possible I have some fresh baked cakes there. We just have to glaze and decorate them.” -I tried to cheer her up. It was a risk I was running. There was nothing in my coolers right now, but that was about to change.
“Oh, really?” -Lilly asked full of emotion.
“Yes. Do you want to help me glaze an awesome cake? I’ll give you sprinkles! And chocolate chips too!” -I promised. After asking Elizabeth for her permission to take Lilly with me, we stood up, hands to work.
Lilly grabbed my hand and we both started walking outside. I told them to continue the party while we finished the cake. Nobody needed to know this had happened. I promised them to be ready in less than thirty minutes. Inside the van, I opened the coolers after waving my hand. I invited Lilly inside and she took a seat to play with many little pony decorations that maghikally appeared.
Taking three fluffy naked cakes off of the coolers, I cut them horizontally to add cream in between. The top tier was chocolate with fudge swirls, white chocolate in between. The middle one was pink velvet with strawberry buttercream in between. And the last tier- the biggest of the three- a rainbow cake. Quickly, I covered the whole cake with a light buttercream and applied the marshmallow fondant I know kids like so much. Because, let’s be real. Normal fondant looks very classy but it tastes horrible- depending on the confectioner, of course. But kids love marshmallows and I have an outstanding secret recipe for it!
A pink sugar castle made the perfect topper and from one corner of the castle, one sumptuous and cloying cascade of white chocolate descended to the bottom of the cake. From behind the sugar castle, a sugar rainbow bridge jumped until disappearing in thin air. A pond of blue piping gel gave the ponies a perfect oasis. Some plastic ponies were scattered around the cake, but I managed to accommodate them in playful and unusual poses, making them special edition toys. Lilly asked for some more sprinkles in the bottom layer and of course I indulged the birthday girl.
Lilly was so absorbed playing with a silicone spatula and the remaining of frosting that I started playing with my own toys to create a nice gift for her. With a few minutes to spare, I cut another cake, shaping it like a pony and, before covering it with frosting, made a hole in the center. Filling it with chocolate candies, I managed to finish it before Lilly saw me doing my tricks.
“Look, Lilly!” -Extending my hands, I gave Lilly a Little Pony cake and she held it like a purse. -“Is a cake, for later.”
“Thank u!” -She yelled in never seen before wonder while slightly shaking it. -“It rattles!”
“That’s because it has a surprise for you inside.”
Twenty five minutes later, Lilly and I walked back with the awesome cake to the climax of the celebration. Lilly jumped by my side, the pony cake moved in her hands as a ragged doll and I feared it wasn’t going to make it.
“Best cake ever!” -Lilly yelled when we entered through the front door to where Mamma was resting. Her glasses fell from her face while she tried to stand up from the couch. -“Aunty Morgan is magical!”
I laughed trying to minimize what Lilly had just said but all of them looked at me like if I was a monstrosity. Long seconds passed and their awed faces warned me to run, escape and never come back.
“What?” -Elizabeth said while entering from the door that led to the party. -“Wow, Morgan! Look at this beauty! Oh my God! You really have magic! Let them see this art! Oh my God. Lilly is right. Best cake ever.”
They all stood and walked to me. Sam’s face of astonishment was both a compliment and a censure. Maybe I had let myself be carried away trying to be liked.
“I’m speechless, Morgan!” -He said at last. -“What a hand you have. Look what you have done in half an hour!”
“Is that a praise? Because I cannot read your face well now. I don’t know if you’re flattering me or if I should climb in my van and disappear.” -I whispered.
“What? Of course is praise. Why would Ifeel otherwise? This is a glorious cake.” -Holding the fat mirror in which I had accommodated the exuberant cake, Sam helped me to carry it between the crowd.
“Well, Lilly is a great helper. I’m gonna hire her. She’s my official Sprinkle Fairy.” -I complimented her and we shared a high five.
Echoes of wonder didn’t disappoint me and people started talking about the cake’s beauty right when we passed by their side. Soon we were singing happy birthday songs. Thanks to Uncle Sam the Jam we sang birthday remixes too.
“Thank you!” - Silently, he mouthed the words without making any sound.
People ate cake and repeated when a new tier was cut. I received hundreds of praise for the delicious taste and many moms came to ask for my phone to order their own cakes for their kids’ parties. My marshmallow fondant was a hit and kids licked it many times before chewing it like bubble gum. Lilly’s pony cake was the envy of other little girls and they all wanted one and came to me almost in tears and making pout.
“Sorry, girls. That’s a treat for the birthday girl.” -I apologized to them while they clutched to my legs like cute koalas. Their silliness made me smile inside. Kids are so cool they worry just for the candies they cannot eat.
Lilly started opening the many gifts while I helped Elizabeth and Mamma to clean the tables. I shuddered when someone h
ugged me from behind. A kiss in the nape of my neck made my knees weak like pistachio pudding.
“It’s me.” -Sam whispered in my neck. -“I’m so happy thanks to you.”
“Your family is lovely.” -I said escaping from his bear hug. It was true. That day I had received more hugs than in my whole life. Lilly’s hugs in particular had a very special meaning. My heart felt a warmth that had never existed in me before. I could sense her sincerity and love. And all those people treated me like family, not looking at me with despair or weird curiosity or shame. An idea surged suddenly. I can move here. Leave behind the silly retrograde town I would never call home. Cadence, the town of conservative and male chauvinist ideas, could stay in a forgotten past. Making a real life in a place as cool as this, with people as darling as Sam’s family... That sounds like a perfect dream.
No, Morgan. They’ll find out. They’ll discover you. As soon as they realize your secret, you’ll be doomed. There is a pyre with your name engraved.
“I forgot to mention a girl asking for you outside.” -Sam said and I made a curious face. Someone looking for me? Here? -“She looks kind of distressed.”
Sam guided me outside to where the mysterious guest was waiting. I was laughing hard as Sam was a natural clown. To my disgrace, Edora was standing in the green grass close to my van. She was standing looking at the street, her back to the house and yet I could recognize her evilness floating around.
“Need me?” -Sam asked.
I thought for a moment. No. I was better if he just left.
“I’m okay. I’ll be back in a second.” -I assured him and Sam pulled me in a strong possessive hug before leaving me. Walking to Edora, I watched back making sure Sam had returned inside the house. This girl’s face was disgusting today. She was exactly the same, trying to pass for someone who she truly wasn’t. That had been clear just a day ago. -“What are you doing here?”
