“Of course it’s okay, Lana,” said Luke, standing up to greet his sister and give her a hug. “Don’t be silly. You know everyone, right?”
“Yes, I think so,” she half-whispered, feigning a smile. “Though I probably haven’t made the best impression, lately. But heck, we all make mistakes, right?” She was nervous. This was a side of her I hadn’t seen before.
“Oh, hell no,” I said. Everyone looked at me, stunned. Luke’s brow furrowed, and I realized I’d better rescue my joke, but quickly. “Everybody knows I’m perfect, right?”
“Well, at least my brother seems to think so,” said Lana, not skipping a beat. “But then again, he used to eat dog food when we were kids, so there’s no accounting for taste.” Zing!
“Snap! I like her!” said Kit. “You can sit next to me! Would you like a Cosmopolitan? Shawn, baby, go get us an extra martini glass.” Kit pushed Shawn with two hands to make some room and fetch some extra glasses. We all readjusted, adding Lana to the mix.
“I only did that once!” said Luke, turning to me. “It was a dare, babe, I promise.”
“Well, if you need me to pick up some Milk-Bone dog treats from the store next time, just put them on the list, okay? Your teeth are awfully white.”
“See what you’ve done, Lana?” he said, poking his sister in the ribs.
“Yeah, see what you’ve done?” I added, smiling. “You’ve made yourself fit in.” She eyed me, warily. It was going to be tough, but I was determined to make her smile. Shawn came back from the bar with a glass for her and Kit poured Lana a pink hued cocktail.
“To family?” I said, raising my glass.
“To family!” they all responded.
We were still laughing and drinking when closing time snuck up on us.
20
DUKE
Mom, Johnny and Barry spent the whole next week packing up the treasures she had collected over the years. I don’t think Johnny realized what he was getting into when he asked her to move in, but the more they packed, the more he understood, and the more he sweated. His California lifestyle had led him to a simpler way of living, with fewer material goods to weigh him down. Now he was reversing course. Surprise, Johnny! Mom likes her stuff. A lot.
The more they packed, the happier Barry became. He had been rather concerned when he found out that Mom was dating Johnny again, and definitely a bit unhappy when she first told him privately that she was planning to move out. It wasn’t so much about Johnny, he realized, but more that he was sure he would feel that loneliness creep back into his life, again. When Janey died, he had sold his own house and moved in with Mom, hoping for a fresh start and an escape from the memories. But I could tell he always felt like a visitor at this house, and suddenly he was relishing the thought of really making the place his own.
“You know I love you, Audrey,” he said as he surveyed his new surroundings, “but I cannot wait to exile that awful wallpaper in the dining room to one of the nine circles of Hell.”
“I love that wallpaper!” she cried.
“Too bad, darling. It’s atrocious, and now it’s out, like me!”
She frowned, but he was enjoying his new freedom and ready to make his mark. It was really amazing to watch his transformation. And he had been serious about the hot tub. Tommy was already putting a proposal together for him.
I helped out when I could after school, but we were all pretty busy tying up the loose ends around campus. Prom was coming up this weekend, and Luke and I had offered to serve as chaperones, along with Bammy, Miss Mabel and some of our other colleagues.
“Got your prom dress picked out, Miss Mabel?” I asked, as I placed a freshly purchased cup of coffee on her desk.
“Don’t you tease me, Derek Walter,” she said, not looking up. “I may not be a spring chicken, but I got plenty of spring in my step.”
“Oh, no doubts about that, Miss Mabel,” I said, smiling. “Save a dance for me?”
“I’ll check my dance card,” she mumbled. “If you can keep up with me, that is?”
“Challenge accepted! See you Saturday night.”
The only news around the school was prom news. It was officially the only acceptable topic in class, in the hallways, at lunch, and even in the teachers’ lounge. We were all reliving our pasts vicariously through our students. Well, some of us, but not all.
“What was the name of that guy you went to prom with, Bammy?” I asked her over lunch at Cochon’s. We were sitting on an old picnic bench in the parking lot, taking a break from the students and our fellow teachers. It was a beautiful spring day and the sun was shining intensely in the sky overhead. “I swear I can’t remember. I’m getting old.”
“Which one?” she asked, looking at me oh-so-innocently as she took another sip of her diet soda.
“Seriously?” I said, putting my fork down and giving her the eye. “Do you need to remind me that you were never without a date all four years in high school? Just answer the question.” Luke laughed a bit and kept focusing on his barbecue plate. He knew better than to step into this one.
“Let’s see,” she started. “Freshman year it was Kirby Pettit. We called him ‘Dirty Kirby,’ remember? Trust me, he earned that reputation. After I dumped him I started dating Parker Bingham. He lasted two years, actually. I used to practice writing ‘Bammy Bingham’ on all my notebooks. I really thought we were going to get married. He kinda broke my heart, truth be known, but that was all for the best. He runs a lawn maintenance company now, and I’m allergic to grass. It would have never worked out. Senior year, that was Travis Wyatt. Yep. He was special. So handsome. We had the best time at the prom, and everything would have been all fairy tale perfect, except he snuck a bottle of peach schnapps into the dance and he got way too drunk. By the time we ended up back at the hotel room he had rented, he could barely walk. The front desk clerk had to help us to our room. I look back on that and wonder why on Earth he even helped us at all. Times were different, I guess. Anyway, Travis kinda reanimated when we threw him on the bed. The hotel guy left the room and Travis started climbing all over me, thinking he was going to get some. I gave him a good punch in the gut, and that’s when he puked all over the place. It was awful. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.”
“Oh, my god! Yes! Travis Wyatt. How could I forget that one? He was a real winner,” I said.
“He played football with me,” said Luke, looking up from his barbecue. “He threw up a lot on the field, too. He never could take a hit.”
“Okay, okay,” I said, turning to my boyfriend. “Enough about vomit. Luke? We don’t really have to ask you, do we? Amber, right?”
“Yep,” he said. “All four years. Amber Winthrop. We had some good times together, actually.”
“Well, you would have had more fun with me,” I teased. “I can guarantee that.”
“I wasn’t ready for you, then. But I have no doubt you’re right.” He leaned over and placed a wet, sloppy, honey barbecue covered kiss on my cheek.
“You only went to prom our senior year, right Derek?” asked Bammy. “With that new girl. What was her name?”
“Amy Carter,” I mumbled.
“The president’s daughter?” said Luke.
“Yes, Luke, the daughter of the president of the United States just happened to be in Parkville and her only wish was to go to prom with a closeted gay teenager,” I deadpanned. “Her name was Amy Carter, and she hated it. She only went to our school for the last few months of our senior year. Her dad got transferred here for work, or something. I can’t remember. Anyway, she didn’t really know anybody and I had crushes on all the wrong people, so yeah… I asked the new girl. I figured I could at least get a prom picture, like all the other kids. I just wanted to fit in and do the stuff that everyone else was doing.”
“Did you have fun, at least?” he asked.
“Not really,” I said. “We had an overpriced dinner that I could barely afford, then we hung out behind the school, sneaking drinks like everybo
dy else. I don’t even think we danced that much. We had our picture taken as soon as we got to the dance and that was pretty much it. She smoked, so she kept disappearing. I don’t even remember taking her home. She must have bummed a ride with someone else. I can’t remember any more details. I think I blocked it all out.”
Luke looked at me, sadly. “Babe, we gotta fix this this.” He wiped his mouth, placed his napkin on the table and turned, extricating one of his legs from the picnic bench and readjusting himself to face me. He took both of my hands in his and looked straight at me, into my eyes.
“Derek Walter, will you go to prom with me?”
“Why, I’d be delighted to, Luke Walcott,” I said, smiling a huge grin. “But I have to be home by midnight, otherwise my boyfriend will suspect I’m up to something.”
“It’s a date then,” he said, turning on the bench again. “I’ll pick you up at 7 o’clock.”
“I expect a flower for my lapel,” I instructed him.
“As you wish, handsome,” he said.
Bammy put her soda can down with a dramatic bang. “Y’all make me sick. Seriously. But, I do love ya. And I want a picture.”
“Derek! Are you ready, yet? Luke’s gonna be here any minute and I want to get some pictures.” Mom was yelling up the staircase as I was running back and forth from the bathroom to my bedroom and back again, checking my outfit and my hair, as if it could possibly change that much in the thirty seconds since I last checked it. I was undeniably nervous, and it was silly, but here I was, prepping for the prom I never had with the guy I always wanted. I took a deep breath and closed my bedroom door behind me. In a sense, I felt like I was a high school senior again, and I had a do-over. Dreams do come true, after all?
I collected myself and started walking down the stairs. Mom and Johnny were waiting for me, and Barry practically had tears forming in his eyes. “Seriously, y’all?” I said. “It’s a dance. I’m way too old for this to mean anything.”
“Are you kidding me?” said Johnny. “I missed all of this. I’m loving every minute of it. Now get over here and let me take a picture of you and your mom.” He pulled his phone out and started snapping away; me, mom and son, uncle and nephew, dad and son, and every other combination possible. We heard a car pull up in the driveway and I started towards the door.
“Don’t you dare!” said my mom. “You wait until your gentleman caller rings that doorbell. Do not appear over eager. Have I not taught you anything?”
“Yes ma’am,” I laughed, as I stood waiting in the living room, my hands behind my back.
The bell rang and Barry made a move towards the door, but then hesitated and glanced towards Johnny. It was a nice gesture on his part. Looks like you’re up, Dad.
“Good evening, sir,” said Luke, as Johnny opened the door. “I’m here to escort Derek to the prom. Is he ready?” So formal! Pansy, Red and Rosa did, indeed, raise him well.
“Come on in, Luke,” said Dad. “His mom and I are kind of excited. We’re going to need a few pictures, if you don’t mind?”
“Not at all, sir.” He stepped through the doorframe and my heart skipped a bit. I thought I had seen him in every possible way, but the truth was, I was used to Luke in a tight t-shirt and blue jeans or coach shorts. To see him dressed up in a dark navy suit, walking through my mother’s door to escort me to a dance, well, honestly, that moment pretty much broke me. Barry had already given up all pretenses of keeping it together, and I almost lost it watching the tears roll down my proud uncle’s face. They were happy tears, but I understood.
Luke walked over to me and kissed me lightly on the cheek, his hand at the small of my back. “You look great,” he said, admiring my suit. “I hope this will do?” He opened the clear plastic container and offered me a red rose for my lapel. “Audrey, I may need some help with this,” he said, nervously. Were his hands shaking?
“Oh, give me that!” said Barry. “I want to be part of this. It’s not everyday I get to see two handsome men in suits, holding hands. It’s mostly sequins and feathers on my side of town.” He took the flower from Luke’s hands and pinned it expertly on my lapel. “There, Dolly. Beautiful. I’m so happy for you,” he whispered, looking directly into my eyes.
“All right, gents,” said Johnny. “Let’s take some pictures!”
Mom suggested we step outside to get some classic prom poses in the front yard, and we all agreed that would be fun. I was a bit overwhelmed by the family whirlwind, but I was having a blast. I wasn’t prepared, however, for what we saw in the driveway. In place of the Jeep that I expected, there was a black stretch limousine!
“Holy shit!” I exclaimed. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” he nodded. “You missed out on too many things. Tonight you’re getting the full experience.”
“You really are the best, you know that?”
“Well, why don’t you hold off on the praise until the night is over?” he smiled. “We’ll see how you feel, then.”
Mom, Johnny and Barry then took an endless stream of pictures and videos, until we practically had to push them away. We didn’t want to be late for our own party. We walked over to the limousine and the handsome young driver opened the door for us. I saw him wink at Barry as we slid inside. Old friend? Or possibly new? I’d have to get the scoop on that, later. Right now we were ready to party!
Luke held my hand the entire way to the school. We rode in silence, just smiling. So many things had happened in the last year since I had returned home, that words didn’t seem capable of covering it all. I just knew that the hand I held in my own meant so much more to me than any words could ever express.
The gymnasium was decked out in the school colors of blue and gold. Go Commodores! Streamers and balloons filled the room, and the space was filling up quickly with students. We spotted Bammy and Michael across the room by the punch bowl and began to make our way through the crowd to greet them.
“You look beautiful!” I said to her, as I gave her a hug. Bammy always could pull off a Southern debutante dress with style. Michael looked handsome in his dark grey suit, and I could see that the Walcott genes had played out in his favor. Those boys do clean up well.
“And y’all are as handsome as ever! We’re on punch bowl duty,” she said, as she kissed me on the cheek. “Someone has to guard it all night. I don’t want any of these girls to relive my peach schnapps nightmare, if you get my drift?”
“Hopefully there aren’t any Travis Wyatt clones here tonight,” I said.
“Well, I put y’all on dance floor duty,” she said. “My treat. I figured you’d enjoy a few slow dances together. You deserve it after this semester. Might be nice?”
“Thanks, Bammy,” said Luke. He turned to me and held out his hand and said, “May I have this dance, sir?”
I hesitated. “Not just yet, if you don’t mind. Trust me, you’re all I want right now, but I made a promise I need to keep. Don’t be jealous, okay?”
He looked at me quizzically, but nodded. I had spotted Miss Mabel across the room by the coat check, so I walked over in that direction. She was sitting on a metal fold out chair, watching the parade of boys and girls as they entered the room. I could only imagine what was on her mind.
“Has that dance card filled up yet, Miss Mabel?” I asked. “I hope you saved a spot for me.”
Her knees were together, shifted to the side, legs crossed at the ankles. Her gloved hands were resting in her lap, and I imagined her in the same position many years ago, looking out onto the dance floor, unable to have the experience she was longing for in her heart.
“Now, you know I don’t go that way,” she said, looking up at me, staring into my eyes defiantly, no longer hiding what she knew I already knew. “But for you, Derek Walter, I’ll make an exception.”
She offered her hand and I helped her up, gently, as I led her towards the dance floor. A slow tempo song was playing, so I placed my right arm around her waist with my hand at the small of her back, my left a
rm raised and clasping her gloved hand, back straight. We swayed slowly to the music, a respectable distance between our bodies. I didn’t really know what to say, or if I would ruin the moment by saying anything, at all. This was the most she had ever looked at me in the year since I had returned. She kept her emotions and thoughts closely guarded, and I didn’t expect that to change tonight. Then her eyes broke contact with mine and drifted off into space.
“I loved her, you know? Your Aunt Janey,” she said, acknowledging the relationship that had remained wholly unspoken between us. My face betrayed my thoughts for a moment and I couldn’t help but smile, slightly. I knew better than to speak too much. If she was ready to say something, I didn’t want her to stop.
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, quietly. “Barry told me you were close.”
“Barry,” she muttered. “He always was up in everybody else’s business.” My chest jumped with a few stifled laughs.
“But, he always treated her well,” she continued. “That I can say. They knew what they had, that relationship. They had fun, too. Worked out best for everyone, it did. But she was mine, Janey. Ain’t no doubt ‘bout that.” We continued to move softly to the music, her words growing stronger as she reminisced. “I was supposed to get married to Lamont Evans. Bet you didn’t know that? Mama and Daddy arranged it. His family went to our church. But I fought them every step of the way. Headstrong. I made sure that boy knew I was a world of trouble. He hightailed it ‘fore they could change his mind, again. That was fine by me. By the time I finished secretarial school, they stopped trying. They figured I’d die an old maid. My choice, though, that was. Too ornery, they said. But Janey didn’t think so. I met her at the drug store, one day. She admired my hat and asked where I bought it. That was nice of her, taking that first step. She was a brave girl. Wasn’t long before we were laughing up a storm in that drug store, all kinds of folks staring at us. She loved my fire, she said. It was unusual, back then, a black girl and white girl being best friends. Janey took some heat for that. No doubt. But she kept on. Never walked away from me, even when it got ugly. I was several years older than her, you know. Soon enough, people just got used to seeing us together. The old maid and the white girl. Haha!” She practically cackled. “They didn’t know nothin’. It all worked out, though. She had her time with Barry and her time with me. It was necessary, you know. It’s a different world you’re living in, Derek Walter,” she said, looking up at me, again. “You be happy for what you got. You and Luke. You be grateful. You think you had it hard this year, but you don’t know nothing’. You don’t know hard. You understand me?”
The Fire Went Wild (Home is a Fire Book 2) Page 18
