Meadowlarks

by Ashley Christine

  I rarely talk about things that happened when I was growing up; I try and push them down into the dark part of my mind—but every now and then, they rear their ugly heads, and I go back.

  * * *

  “Blaine Blackstock! Get back in this house right now!” His voice was barrelling through the door frame. “Boy, do not make me come out and get you!”

  I'm hiding in a big tree, thankful when I see Owen come outside and not my daddy.

  “Blaine? Where are you?” He's looking for me. It takes him all of three seconds to find my secret spot, and I giggle at him. “Get down here. Dad's mad. Come inside, please.”

  He reaches his hands up to me, and without hesitation, I jump down into his arms. I love my big brothers; I feel safe when they're around, like they really love me.

  I'm five, and my daddy is mad that I wet my bed. He rips the sheets off, throws them in a pile and stomps back downstairs. Standing in my room, I really don't know what to do. I pick up the paper air plane off the floor. Nicky made it for me, and it can really fly!

  I frown, crumple the air plane up and throw it in the garbage. Why is daddy always mad at me? He doesn't yell at Nicky or Owen like he does at me.

  In the hallway there is a closet full of sheets and blankets and pillow cases. I want to climb in where no one can find me. But knowing it would make my daddy angry, I don't dare.

  Instead I find a sheet, a blue one with little moons on it, and a quilt—Mommy's quilt. Making a bed is harder than it looks. The springy corners on the sheet are hard to figure out, but I make it okay, I guess.

  I lay down and over myself in the quilt. I can hear my daddy downstairs snoring with the TV on some sports channel.

  “Blaine? Buddy, are you asleep?” Nicky is at the side of my bed. “Are you okay? I saw the sheets. Don't worry about it, little guy.” He scruffs my hair with his hand.

  “Thanks, Nicky.” I pout, turn on my side, and fall fast asleep.

  * * *

  At this moment, I just want Addison here in my arms. Instead, Kelsey and Maria show up, not alone but with a small entourage of other women who completely go into party-mode and decorate my farm. A giant canvas banner is tied and draped over the front of the garage. It has “Happy 70 Bennett!” in big blue letters on it. Maria hands me a big shopping bag full of streamers and balloons to put inside until tomorrow morning.

  “Blaine, the place really looks great!” she beams.

  “Yep,” I say looking around. “And I hope the weather stays this nice, too.”

  They party crew doesn't leave until almost nine o'clock. Once inside, I sprawl on the couch, place my hat over my face and drift off briefly until my phone starts buzzing.

  Guess what? Addison’s text message reads. I wanted to wait until I heard back before I told you, but I applied for that nursing job. They called today and I got it!

  I call her; I need to hear her voice.

  “Hey! I just sent you a text.” I can hear in her voice that she must be smiling.

  “Yeah, I got it. Congratulations; I'm so happy for you.” And of course, happy for myself, too.

  “Thanks! I start training next week. I'll be shadowing another RN.” She's so excited, and I smile because I'm thrilled now that she's really staying.

  “I want to see you...badly,” I say in a husky voice.

  “Oh, really? How badly?” She teases, and with just her words, I start to harden.

  Instinctively I rub my hand over the zipper of my jeans but quickly stop, knowing I will get too carried away if I continue. “Can I come over?” I ask.

  “You better.”

  Town is quiet, so I make it to her house quicker than expected and pull into a space in the visitor's parking section of her complex. A small stone walkway leads up to her door, and she has flowers of all kinds planted in small gardens on either side of the path.

  There's a ceramic malamute, about a foot tall, with a little “Welcome” sign dangling from its mouth by the entrance. As I reach the door to knock, she flings it open.

  There isn't even a second to open my mouth to speak before her arms are around my neck. I pull her against my body and we kiss deeply. An onlooker would think I was just released from jail or back from overseas by the way we are mauling one another.

  We've only been apart for a day, and I'm like a junkie who finally got his fix; she's my morphine. What is it about her that has me so high? Is it crazy that I would do almost anything for this girl that I haven't even known for a week? Most likely, but I don't care—not right now, anyway.

  Her condo is just as small inside as it looks outside. A little kitchen, with enough room for the basics and a small round tables with two chairs.

  “Want something to drink? I have coffee, tea, milk, juice…” Opening the fridge, she stands back displaying its contents like a model on The Price is Right.

  “I'd love a coffee, thank you.”

  She places a steaming mug on the dark wooden coffee table in front of me. It's black; she remembered, and I smile.

  “So, beautiful...” I reach over and trail my finger on her shoulder. “We only have a few days before you start work. We will have to make good use of that time.”

  She drops her jaw like I've said something offensive. “You are insatiable!”

  “No, you are irresistible,” I say, leaning in to kiss her neck. My stubble must tickle her because she recoils but giggles.

  “My girlfriends back in Maine would die if they saw the sexy cowboy I've got on my couch. You sir, are the irresistible one.”

  The compliment makes me smile. Let's see how far I can play this. I unbutton my shirt a little and sit back so it opens up, showing some of my chest. I take a sip of coffee and adjust myself so I'm leaning into the couch in a seductive position.

  She looks away, pretending she doesn't notice and smiles a little before taking a sip from her glass of water. “What exactly are you doing over there?” She doesn't look over but points her finger at me and twirls it around in a circle.

  I don't respond, just unbutton my shirt completely and pull it to the side so my abs, belly button and the small trail of hair down into my jeans is showing.

  She mouths the words, “Oh, shit.” Smiles and covers her face with her hands.

  “Anything wrong, baby?” I quietly ask with a smirk, and then take another sip of my coffee.

  “Oh, no. Everything is great!” She smiles sarcastically, quickly glances at me and opens the small drawer in the coffee table. Pulling out a white bottle, she puts her long beautiful legs up on the table and squirts pink lotion into her hands.

  You're kidding me. You don't know what you're getting yourself into, baby.

  Slowly and sensually she rubs it into her skin, and I know at that moment I'm the cliché weak male; I've lost the battle. I sit and watch her for a good two or three minutes; she's really drawing this out, massaging her thighs and calves.

  When she starts to travel up her legs even higher, she lifts the hem of her skirt, and I can't take it anymore. I take the bottle from her hands, toss it on the floor and pull her on top of me. She laughs a truly beautiful laugh, and I do too.

  “You totally caved!” she says, very much pleased with herself. She looks so happy in this moment, so young and carefree, so beautiful. I don't think she knows how amazing she really is.

  “Why are you here?” I ask, and she looks bewildered.

  “What? What do you mean?” She sits back.

  “I mean, why are you in my arms and not with someone else? How are you not taken, or married, or whatever by now. You are...” Suddenly, I don't have the words to express myself. “I just feel so lucky to have you in my arms.”

  She looks totally surprised, as if no one has ever told her how wonderful she is.

  “Blaine, I...” She blushes. “I’m happy to be in them. You came along at the perfect moment. I really didn't think I was going to feel like this about someone—ever.”

  My shirt is still open, and she runs her hands ins
ide of it, my body reacting to her soft touch.

  “You are a great guy, Blaine. And so dashing!” She smirks and squeezes each of my cheeks like an over-affectionate grandmother.

  I suddenly realize Alex isn't there, and I'm not about to get naked if he's upstairs or something. “Where’s your brother?”

  “Oh, he's out. And better be behaving himself,” she says, rolling her eyes.

  “Good.” I smile and raise an eyebrow. “Now, where's your bedroom?”

  * * *

  Catching my breath in her bed, I look around at her walls. There are a few photos of who I assume are family members or friends, and a big framed piece by the mirror with the words “To the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may be the world” hand-painted on it. How very true; in this moment she's the only thing in my world.

  “Did you make that?” I ask, pointing at the quote.

  “I took some art classes after I finished nursing school. It was either hang that piece or the one with the naked male model I painted.” She grins, and I can't tell if she's joking or not.

  “My dad's birthday tomorrow...do you still want to come?” I turn so I'm facing her.

  “Yeah, of course. If it's still okay. Can I bring anything?”

  “I think they've got it all covered.” I remember I need to pick up from stuff from Maria's list tomorrow morning.

  We stop talking, and I hear her quietly breathing; she must have fallen asleep.

  “Addison?” I ask softly, pushing her hair off her face.

  “Mmm?” she makes a small sound but doesn't awaken.

  “Nothing. Go to sleep, beautiful girl.” I tenderly kiss her nose.

  “Mmm...” she makes the noise again. “Love you.” She says it so softly I almost don't hear it.

  Did I hear it? Damn...

  I eventually fall asleep too. Her alarm clock shows 3:53 when I open my eyes, needing to use the bathroom. Getting out of bed as slowly and quietly as I can, I try not to wake the sleeping angel—who just told me she loved me.

  Flicking the bathroom light on, I'm momentarily blinded by the four bright bulbs above the vanity. My eyes still adjusting, I look at myself in the mirror, still playing those two words over and over in my head.

  “Love you.” I mouth the words and rub my eyes, then rake my hands through my hair.

  Something makes a noise downstairs, and I turn around, remembering Luca was lying at the foot of the bed when I left her bedroom. I wonder to what could be down there. Tiptoeing down the carpeted steps, I peek into the darkness and see light coming from the refrigerator door. Alex is standing there, holding it open, and drinking straight from the juice carton. I clear my throat, and he turns, still drinking. Some juice trickles down his face.

  “Ugh, hey,” I start to say. “I'm Blaine.”

  He swallows the last of the juice in his mouth loudly and wipes his mouth with his sleeve. “Hey, man. Addy told me about you.” He points up towards the ceiling, “She sleeping?”

  I nod that she is, and he looks relieved.

  “Good, I don't need a lecture at four AM.” He stretches to look at the clock on the microwave. “Juice?” Alex holds the carton out to me.

  “No, thanks.” I kindly decline and wave my hand at the carton.

  He sits down at the small table in the kitchen and pushes the opposite chair out with his foot. “Sit down and tell me about yourself, Blaine.”

  I'm a little surprised that her brother wants to have a heart-to-heart with me at this hour while she's sleeping upstairs. But I sit down anyway, and when I do, I remember I'm only wearing boxers. Fantastic.

  I must make some type of embarrassed expression because Alex starts shaking his finger at me. “Heyyyy, I knew I recognized you! You're the guy from that animal food place who was staring at Addy the other day!”

  Oh, fuck. Here we go.

  He thumps his fist on the table like he's proud of himself for making the connection. He is smirking, and I feel stupid that I've let this little shit make me feel this way.

  “Ha, yeah.” I laugh. “What can I say? She's remarkable.”

  “Well, be good to her. She doesn't need another asshole to treat her like shit.” This time he's not smiling; he's serious.

  I almost want to tell him to grow a pair and start acting like a man, to stop sponging off his sister, but I don't.

  Wanting to change the subject, I take the moment of silence to offer him a job.

  “Addison tells me you might be interested in a job. I have a ranch, and I'm looking for another guy to help out a few days a week.”

  He doesn't say anything, but his eyes tell me he looks interested.

  “My friend Jeremiah is there five days a week now. We work the farm and fields, tend to the animals and things like that.”

  Still not saying anything, I'm compelled, and slightly irritated, to give more detail. “Something like eight AM to 4 or 5 PM. I could start you at fifteen bucks an hour.”

  That was enough to seal the deal; he smiles and extends his hand for me to shake it. “Sign me up, although I have no fucking clue about farm animals. Do I have to shovel shit and stuff?”

  I try not to roll my eyes at him. “Well yeah, there's that. But it's more about maintenance than shovelling shit...and stuff.”

  “Okay, man. Thanks. I could really use the money,” he says, looking around him. “Maybe get my own place, ya know?”

  Yeah, buddy, I know.

  He needs to get his act together, and if doing this will help his sister, I don't mind putting up with him five days a week.

  “Okay. Well, if you're up for it, Addison is coming out tomorrow for my father's birthday party. You're welcome to join her, you know, take a look at the place before your first day. Oh, and by the way—when would you be able to start?”

  “Yeah, okay. I'll come. I have nothing else to do tomorrow. How's Monday? I like to sleep in on Sundays...do you expect me to work Sundays?”

  He is really irritating, and I have to think about how much I care about his sister to push the annoyance away.

  “Well, the occasional Sunday, yeah. There are rodeos and events that some of the animals and myself participate in. Sometimes they're on a Sunday.”

  “Rodeo?! You're like, a real fuckin' cowboy, huh?”

  The annoyance is back, and I have to look away, exhaling slowly. “It would seem.” It's all I can muster, and I stand up; I have to get away from this kid. “I'm gonna go back to sleep now...” I point upstairs and say goodnight.

  “Yeah, okay. Night, bro.” He stays sitting at the table, tipping the juice carton up to get every last drop.

  Addison hasn't moved since I left the bed, but Luca has. He's now lying where I was, very comfortably, too. He looks at me like he's thinking, “You don't expect me to move, do you?”

  I sigh. Great, competition.

  I gently tap my hand on my leg and whisper, “Come on, Luca,” trying to entice him to move. He does, slowly stretching before hopping off the end of the bed. I climb in beside her, pull her as close as I can and nuzzle the back of her neck. I fall asleep to the smell of green apple shampoo and a hint of dog.

  Addison was up before me, like usual, and cooked a delicious breakfast of French toast with freshly ground coffee. I didn't mention anything about her sleepy admission of love, and she didn't say it again, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't something she knew she was saying.

  I have to get to Lander's, and I apologize for dining and dashing. “I'm sorry, but I gotta get going. I have a bunch of things to pick up for the party.”

  She briefly pouts but then smiles and tells me it is okay.

  “Thank you for breakfast.”

  “Be sure to fill out a comment card on your way out, handsome,” she jokes, wrapping her arms around me and kissing my cheek.

  “See you this afternoon,” I say and kiss her nose, slipping on my shoes and heading out the door.

  Lander's is swamped, which is no surprise for a Saturday morning. It
looks like the same kids that were outside earlier in the week selling baked goods are back, so this time when I leave with my groceries, I buy two dozen butter tarts, lemon bars and some other cookie-ball things rolled in coconut.

  “Thank you very much!” One of the kids' mothers touches my arm. “Let me carry these to your vehicle for you.”

  I very obviously see her wink at another mom, and I almost laugh out loud. She follows me closely to my truck and thanks me again when she hands me the treats. I grin and tip my hat, and she actually fans herself with her hand.

  “Ma'am,” I say with all the country boy charm I can muster.

  “Oh, call me Chelsea!” She flutters her lashes.

  Okay, stop toying with the poor woman, you dick.

  I close the back door and open the driver's to get in. “Chelsea.” I smile at her, then pull out of the parking lot.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Someone tore into that bag of balloons and streamers and threw it up all over my farm. Or at least that’s what it looks like. I am astonished when I pull into my driveway and see the party crew has lost their minds and gone completely overboard with decorations.

  My dad is going to have a fit, and I can actually picture him trying to push the pretend brake pedal in my brother's car so he doesn't have to pull into the yard. (You know, that pedal that you push when you're the passenger riding with an erratic driver, and they take a corner too fast or don't stop quickly enough.)

  “Ho-ly shit...” I don't disguise my expression, and Kelsey looks extremely displeased that I haven't thrown myself down worshipping their creativity and suggest they start a party planning business.

  Maria just laughs and says, “Well, you only turn seventy once!”

  I agree, but wow...

  Jer is already here, too, and has the barbeque area all set up.

  “Hey, Jer! Thanks for all your help, Maria couldn't stop talking about everything you've done this morning.” I slap his back, happy to see him.

  “Yeah, she can really crack that whip,” he jokes and turns around when Gwen walks out of my house, putting her arm around his neck.