This ought to make up for the rude comment I made earlier.
Meghann trotted back to Daly's side. "What are you doing?"
"I got you a surprise." She handed over the loopy earrings. "What do you think?"
"Thank you so much, Daly! They're so pretty." Meghann gushed as she put them on. "You didn't have to buy me anything, but I'm glad you did!" She saddled Daly with a sloppy side hug, bouncing up and down.
"Me too." Daly grinned, surprised at how much fun she was having. She'd never had many friends. The last time she'd had a rousing bout of girl-time at the mall, she was about Meghann's age. Yikes.
When at last they reached the toy store, Daly paused in the entryway. "What kind of gender-neutral stuffed animal were you thinking about? A dog? A Pikachu?" She held her hands out to either side, weighing the options like a scale.
"Hmm... I'm not sure what we can get for under twenty bucks. You're not spending any more money on me, okay?" Meghann shook her finger at Daly.
"All right, all right. I won't." She crossed her heart with her finger.
"Okay then, so that's settled." Meghann tossed back her hair, showing off her newest accessories.
"Let's go in and see what we find." Daly made a beeline for the stuffed animal aisle, but Meghann caught her by the shoulder just as she reached the remote control car display. "No, that's boring."
"Is there some other way you had in mind?"
"There's always another way." Meghann's eyes glowed with mischief. "You said you wanted fun and exciting. Let's make a game of it!"
"How do you make a game out of shopping on a budget?"
"Try to look through a baby's perspective. The baby doesn't know the difference between a cat and a dog. What matters is that the toy's soft and cuddly." Meghann made grabby gestures with her hands.
Daly's eyes darted to Meghann's fingernails, which were chewed down to nubs just like hers. "Yeah, so what are you proposing here?"
"Whoever finds the softest stuffed animal—for under twenty—wins."
"Wins what?"
"Bragging rights."
"I don't know. Seems pretty silly to me."
"Then I won't have a hard time beating you." Meghann scurried away.
Daly stood still for a moment, watching Meghann tear into the store. Why can't I be like that? Daly wondered, before realizing she could be, and this was the perfect opportunity. She took a deep breath to rid herself of any lingering insecurity, and made a beeline for the back wall.
Meghann already had three candidates tucked into the crook of her arm, and was snatching another when Daly arrived. "Glad you finally decided to give me some competition."
"Can't talk. Gotta catch up." She ran her hands along the shelf and walked backward along the wall, the whole time keeping her eyes glued to her opponent.
Daly had tucked seven contenders under her arm by the time she reached the oversized plush toys. She petted the snout of a giant purple gorilla. Very soft! But before she could grab the toy, which would most certainly cement her victory, Daly's heel came down on something hard.
Down she went, and eight fuzzy critters landed on top of her. Not sure whether her butt or her pride hurt worse, she jumped up and began gathering the scattered toys.
"Sorry," she mumbled to the unknown shopper whose foot she had so rudely stomped upon.
"Oh, that's quite all right," a familiar voice answered from above her.
Daly whipped around, losing her balance yet again and falling face-first into the giant heap of stuffed animals.
"Wow, you are serious about getting these toys purchased as quickly as you can," Kashi quipped. He stooped down and offered her a free hand, pulling her to her feet.
Daly rose slowly, directing her gaze downward as she brushed at the legs of her pants, trying—and failing—to hide her hot cheeks.
"Hi," she said.
"Hello, Miss Daly-rhymes-with-tally. I told you we would meet again. But I had no idea we would meet so soon." Dressed in a tan leather jacket and crisp button-up shirt, Kashi looked even more handsome than she had remembered.
She tittered nervously and tried not to stare. "I never would have thought I'd run into you here, of all places."
"You ran into me, all right."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I, uh—"
"It's okay. No worries."
Daly raised her eyes to meet Kashi's.
A big, cheesy grin spread across his face. He seemed happy to see her, only a minor reassurance given the horribly embarrassing circumstances.
"So, come here often?" He brought his arm to rest on the toy shelf, as if it were a bar counter.
"No, I don't. I mean, I don't have any kids. I'm, uh, helping my friend." She glanced over her shoulder to the place where she had last seen Meghann.
"It's okay. I won't bite." He clicked his incisors together flirtatiously.
"So you're here to, to, to...." She spotted the boxed chemistry set clutched beneath his arm. "Brush up on your chemistry?"
"This?" He displayed the set. "This is for my nephew. My eldest sister just had a son. I'll be visiting them in India during Christmas, and couldn't wait to purchase a gift for the little guy."
"And you're getting him a chemistry set." Daly laughed.
Kashi's face fell, but only for a moment. "What? You think two days old is too young to enjoy this fun and educational toy?"
"Maybe... I mean, at least wait until he's two months'."
Kashi laughed, putting her at ease. "Okay, problem solved. If what you say is true, then by the time I visit him, he'll be old enough."
Meghann raced toward them, peeking out behind a tall collection of stuffed animals stacked in her outstretched arms. "Daly, Daly, are you ready to take stock and declare the winner? I've got you beat for sure.... Hey!" She pouted, noticing Kashi. "You can't get help. That's cheating!"
"Meghann...." Daly sobered. "This is Kashi."
"Hi, Meghann, good to know you. I must reassure you we were not cheating. Daly was actually helping me to pick something out for my young nephew."
"Uh-huh." Meghann shot a knowing wink at Daly.
"I see you are both busy here. I'll be on my way. Thank you for your help, Ms. Daly." Kashi walked away and took his place in line for the next available register.
Daly wanted to run after him, but that seemed too desperate. Still, she couldn't let him get away a second time.
Meghann giggled and asked, "So what's the story with him?"
"I'll tell you in a little bit. Be right back," Daly said. "Don't go rifling through mine, because I'll know." She motioned to her scattered pile of toys and then wagged her finger.
She squeezed into line beside Kashi as casually as she could manage. "Hey."
The customer who stood waiting behind him groaned.
"Hey," he said, and then motioned to the upset shopper. "Please go ahead."
The woman passed with a scowl.
"So we meet again," Daly said as the woman busied herself by unloading her purchases on the counter.
"Yes, we have. How about that?" His smile made her heart race.
"Well, remember what you said?"
"What? What did I say?"
"Something about destiny, you know, pushing us together."
"I said that?"
Daly stomped her foot.
"Okay, okay, I said that." He ran a hand through his curls.
"Well?"
The lilt of his voice made her heart tremble. "Well... I didn't tell you the whole thing about destiny."
"What else is there to know?"
"You know how all good things come in threes?"
"I know deaths come in threes, but I hardly consider death a good thing."
"That's a matter of opinion—but anyway, good things come in threes, too. Like in cricket." He handed her the chemistry set and brought his hands down to his side, as if holding a baseball bat low, and took a playful swing at her. "Every great bowler dreams of getting a hat trick, three consecutive wic
kets. Hat tricks are rare, so they're special."
"What does cricket have to do with us?"
"A lot, since I'm a big fan. But it's an analogy. If something is meant to happen, it will keep happening until you acknowledge the universe's plan."
"Well, it's happened twice now, our meeting. Isn't that enough?"
"Not quite." Kashi shook his head, but his eyes twinkled. "I believe we'll meet again. In fact, I'm sure of it. And when we do, I'll take you out for a very special date, one worth waiting for." He squeezed her arm and then took the chemistry set back.
His firm touch sent goose pimples along Daly's skin. "You're sure we'll meet again, but... we have to wait?" She repeated his words, slowing to make sure she understood his strange logic.
"Yes, that's right."
"But what if you're wrong? What if we never meet again?"
"In that case, it simply wasn't meant to be."
Daly shuffled her feet in frustration.
"Don't worry," Kashi murmured, trailing an index finger along her jaw line. "Be patient. Believe. It'll happen."
"Next," the cashier called, since Kashi had failed to move to the register.
He held up three fingers on his right hand and waved them back and forth. "Bye for now."
"Bye," Daly whispered.
She didn't know why, but she believed him. They would meet again. All she had to do was wait.
With a final peek toward Kashi, she left him at the register and hurried to rejoin Meghann at the back of the store.
Chapter 6
I wish I were the kind of person whose life was guided by faith. Maybe one day I will be.
Something in Daly had burst.
The moment she returned from her trip to the mall, the creativity had gushed forth in a deluge, pushing past the dam of her insecurity. The night came and went while she painted, sculpted, and sketched. Not once did she stop, not even for a moment. Not until now.
She surveyed the destruction left in the wake of her creative storm. Drawers hung open. Bottles of paint lay haphazardly about the floor, and small lumps of clay clung to the wall. In the midst of this madness, her latest creations gave new life to the dank room.
On her drafting table sat an abstract sculpture, something like a three-dimensional Picasso. The figure's eyes were molded into its chest, ears stuck out from between its fingers, and the head rested beneath its feet.
To the right of her desk lay a harsh charcoal sketch of an ocean filled with people who swam merrily, unaware of the storm raging above. Their situation seemed hopeless, but still they kicked their feet and flailed their arms. They kept going.
Last were the paintings she had spread across her bed. Painted in a soft rococo style with sharp, contrasting African elements, the more intricate of the two featured a family portrait—a smiling man and woman holding onto two savage children who glared straight through the canvas. The other was a solitary portrait of a young woman sitting on a staircase and reading a book. Hazel eyes peered over the pages, beckoning the onlooker to come nearer.
While most of Daly's previous artwork had an undeniably depressing vibe, her newest pieces showcased mixed themes. She couldn't quite pinpoint what she was trying to convey with these works, but whatever the message, she believed it.
What had changed? What part of her had evolved? What had brought about this new era of work?
Only one answer made sense: the people.
While she generally barricaded her inner world from the threat of outsiders, today she had opened a passageway. She had allowed two newcomers to enter her realm.
Meghann remained upbeat and optimistic despite overwhelming adversity, and her courage motivated Daly to do better in her own life. The other was her persistent mystery man, who, like a butterfly, always flitted away before she was able to cup his beauty within her palms. In fact, that was how she had represented Kashi in her diary—a hand holding three fingers up, two delicate butterflies resting on his middle and ring fingers as a third hovered near the index, preparing to land. Somehow, she believed the wind would blow him back her way if only she remained patient.
One—or both—had inspired her work, and she wouldn't know who until she spent more time with each individually. And because she had no way of getting in touch with Kashi—other than allowing destiny to intervene—Daly needed to reach out to Meghann. Her art demanded a muse, and the bubbly mom-to-be would fit the part perfectly.
Having made up her mind, Daly collapsed onto her mattress and drifted off.
A few hours of dreamless sleep were all she needed to recharge. Besides, she had to see Meghann again, the sooner the better. She needed to harness this new inspiration and ride hard until the force broke away again.
She dug through her purse and found the restaurant receipt where Meghann had written her number, then punched it into her phone. She tapped her foot, waiting for her to answer, imagining a string of soothing elevator music to accompany her holding. The phone rang several times. At last, the receiver clicked over.
"Hello?" a gruff male voice answered.
"Hi. Um, may I speak to Meghann, please?"
The man barked back, "Who wants to know?"
"I—this is Daly. Meghann and I went to the mall a couple days ago. She, uh, works with my mom."
"Meghann ain't got no job. Try again."
"My mom... she's Laine Daly."
"Don't know anyone by that name. You've got—"
"My mom counsels Meghann at the center." Daly couldn't let the man hang up without allowing her to speak to Meghann.
"Oh, you mean the place for knocked-up teens."
She paused and wondered how to respond to that. Luckily, the man decided to stop grilling her.
"Hold on, I'll get her," he growled. "Meghann!"
After a quick muffled argument, Meghann picked up. "H-hello?" she asked, short of breath.
"Hi, it's Daly. Sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"No, I'm glad you called. What's up?"
She heard the sound of Meghann's track pants swishing as she walked at the other end of the line.
"I was wondering if you would like to do something today. Maybe head over to the park and take a walk or something? I mean, if you're not too busy."
Meghann's delight was tangible. "Sure, yeah! When?"
"How about now? Is that okay?" Daly now wanted to remove Meghann from her hostile home situation every bit as much as she wanted to gain inspiration from her.
"Sure. Can you swing by and get me at the school, say, in twenty minutes?"
"I can get you from your house. It's no trouble at—"
"No," Meghann snapped. "I mean, I live close to the school, and I need to grab something from my locker anyway, so it'll be easier if you meet me there. Okay?"
As soon as she hung up with Daly, Meghann lunged up the stairs to her bedroom. She hated being around her stepfather when he was drunk, especially this early in the day. It would be hours before he got tired and fell asleep in his La-Z Boy.
She threw on a pair of running shoes and shoved a pair of flats into an old grocery bag, praying she could escape without a confrontation.
"Hey," he snarled, appearing from the kitchen with another beer in hand. "Where d'you think you're going?"
Sometimes, the Lord answers prayers differently than we might have planned for ourselves, she reminded herself, as the stench of his beer breath crashed into her face.
"You ain't going nowhere like that!" he hollered, indicating her pregnant belly with his bloodshot eyes.
She'd grown accustomed to his outbursts, but that didn't make them any easier to handle. Both her mother and stepfather were ashamed of her. He had even started drinking again after almost ten months dry. She trusted God had a plan for her life, but still she couldn't help but blame herself for her stepfather's return to the bottle.
"I'm going out with my friend. I'll be home before dark." She forced a smile and darted past him toward the back door. Luckily, the liquor made him slow.
Once on the street, Meghann ran.
In eighth grade track, she had been a distance runner, and fortunately pregnancy hadn't slowed her down too much. Sure, running wasn't easy in her state, but having Daly pick her up from home would have been even worse. Meeting her parents might be too much of a shock, and she didn't want them to scare her new friend away. How desperately she needed a friend!
She arrived at the side entrance of the school with only seconds to spare, and entered the gymnasium, where she stopped a moment to catch her breath. The baby twisted inside her; he was tired, too.
At the drinking fountain, she took water into her hands and rubbed the cool, soothing liquid on her face and arms while studying a clumsily produced banner for spirit week. She replaced her gym shoes with her flats before walking to the school's main entrance. Slow, slow, she instructed her heartbeat.
Daly's car idled at the curb.
Meghann trotted over and sank into the waiting vehicle. "Sorry. Took me a couple tries to get the locker combination right." She tossed the bag with the running shoes into the Ford's back seat. "I thought I should grab these for our walk. I haven't gotten much exercise lately and don't want to get blisters."
Daly's eyes darted toward a fresh bead of sweat glistening on her forehead. "Sure, no problem."
Meghann patted at her warm cheeks and took quick shallow breaths, but Daly politely pretended not to notice. "Thanks for asking me out. I mean, I like knowing you've chosen to spend time with me. Or have you been forced again?"
"Fishing for compliments?" Daly quirked an eyebrow. "I invited you of my own free will, I swear."
"So I'm wanted? That's always a good thing." Meghann relaxed, her thrumming heartbeat finally beginning to slow.
"Yeah, you're good to spend time with, and, frankly, I needed the break."
"A break from what?"
Daly's eyes grew wide and a smile spread across her face. "Actually, inspiration hit hard, and I spent the last fourteen hours working on my art. Got some pretty good stuff out of it, too."
Meghann liked how Daly's entire face lit up whenever she talked about art. The subject seemed to flip a switch, turning all Daly's lights on and setting her aglow.
A Colorful Life: Drawn in Broken Crayon Page 5
