by R. S James
Without any way out of this, I go with the lady and change into the first dress, which is a lime green color. It’s not very flattering, and it reminds me of a gunny sack on my body. Chuckling at that thought, I open the door and ask him, “You selling me off at the meat market?” Grandpa lets out a booming laugh; soon the salesgirl and I join in, before I make my way back into the changing booth. The next dress is a little better, and it’s a sleeveless purple empire dress with a collar. It hits mid-thigh, which is a big no for me. Opening the door, I show Grandpa with a sigh, as I say, “Come on, Gramps. It’s about time for us to quit fooling around and get to the golf course.”
“One more, and then we can go, I promise.” With a sigh, I go back in, and there it hangs. The dress I have been saving for and drooling over. Looking at the price tag, I gasp. Yeah, totally out of my league. “Stop looking and dreaming, and just put it on.”
“Gramps, it’s too much.”
“Sweet girl, I know the price, and I didn’t ask if it was okay. I asked you to try it on.”
Shaking my head, I take the purple dress off and slip the yellow one on. It fits perfect; I feel like a movie star in this dress. I know I can’t have it, but that doesn’t stop me from falling in love with it. Opening the dressing room door, I hear two gasps, and there stands my mom and my grandma next to my grandpa. “Well, I guess they caught us trying on dresses and not golfing, huh Gramps?”
“You were right, honey. She looks beautiful, and that dress was made for her.” Grandma proudly states completely ignoring what I said. “Now, we need to figure out who is paying for this dress, because it appears, she loves the dress and clearly it was made for her.” Mom states, looking between Grandma and Grandpa then at me. “Umm, no one is. It’s way too much, and I don’t really need another dress right now.”
“Okay, love go on and change back into your clothes, so we can go golfing.”
Heading back into the changing room, I take a picture of me in the dress and send it to Carson. With a sigh, I take it off and hang it back up. Pulling my clothes back on, I keep looking at the dress, almost as if it’s going to have a key to the future or something. Shaking my head, I slip my shoes on and grab the hangers and take them out. I place them on the rack, so they can be put back out for display. Walking up to Mom, Grandma and Grandpa, I’m holding a gray sundress, I bought for the dinner tonight. Mom asks, “What ya got there, kiddo?”
“Grandpa said he had a dinner tonight, so I found this gray sundress. I think will work for it, and I got it off the clearance rack for a dollar ninety-nine. I thought she was joking, when she rang me up. Are you and Grandma going back to the hotel?”
“I think so. Why?”
“I was wondering if you would take this back there for me. Please, and thank you.’
“Your welcome, babe. I love you. Let your Grandpa win today, okay?”
“No, there is no point in playing, if I’m going to ‘let’ him win. He has to play smarter than me, so he can win on his own.”
“Oh, my goodness, Dad. She is the mini version of you!” Everyone starts laughing, before we leave the store with a hug to Mom and Grandma, as we head to the golf game that I win. So, when we stop for pizza, they have an arcade, and I let him beat me at air hockey. Going back to the hotel, we get in the elevator together, and we are the only ones on, as Grandpa looks at me. “You my darling girl, are so incredibly beautiful, and you are going to go far in life. I’m so proud of you. I will pick you up at five o’clock. Is that okay?”
“Yes, I’ll be ready. Who are we meeting with?”
“New members of the board. Hopefully, we will be done in an hour.” Stepping off the elevator, he walks me to my room. “Remember, I’m proud of you, and I’m allowed to spoil you every now and again.” With a kiss to my forehead, he pushes me in my room and walks down to his own. Walking in, I holler for my mom, thinking she is reading or something, but she isn’t in our room. Actually, no one is. Hanging up is the dress, and on the floor is a box with gray ballet flats. On top of the box, is an envelope. Opening it slowly, I pull it out and another piece of paper falls out. It’s a gift certificate for a mani/pedi and hair and make-up, and the other piece of paper is a note.
My Darling Carly,
You are so incredible, and you don’t even know it. The world is a better place because you are in it. I love you more today than the day you were born. I hope you will accept this gift from me to you. And please, do me the honor of being my date tonight.
Love always,
Grandpa
I go to call grandpa, but there is a sticky note on the phone receiver that says, “Don’t call. Go shower, and then go downstairs to get ready.” Laughing through the tears, I do just as he asks, as I go shower, and then head downstairs.
Xavier Present
Every day, I’ve sent her a ‘Good morning, beautiful’ and ‘Good night, sweet dreams’ message, and that hasn’t changed, even though she says we are through. I’ve asked Carson how to fix this, and he just tells me, “Dude, I’ve always told you. I’m not getting in the middle of you and Carly. If push comes to shove, I’ll pick her every time right or wrong. I’ll always choose her.”
“I know, but man, she won’t talk to me, and she avoids me worse than the Ebola virus. I don’t know what to do.”
“Look, this is just bro to bro. Check her social media. I was scrolling through it last night, and I saw a post from her. Look, here it is.”
I don’t know why
But I still have a hope
You will miss me
The way I have missed you.
“So to me, she is just as miserable as you are. Maybe, the key is for you to go back to the beginning and make her fall in love with you again.”
“What do you mean?”
“Learn her favorite color, and why it’s her favorite. Or even her favorite flower. Basically, learn her all over again, and maybe, you won’t feel the same as you did.” Apparently, my face shows my emotion, before I can get it out verbally. “Calm down, man. You don’t have to go all hulk on me. Maybe, you will fall deeper. Did you ever think about that? But honestly, you need to be open to the fact that maybe she won’t feel the same. You are going to have to be completely honest with her for a while. You know what shit our dad did to her, so just let her know you’re still here, and every bit as interested, as you have always been.”
“Alright, man thanks. I’m going to stay here again tonight. You think your mom will mind?”
“Man, you really asking me that. You’ve been here a month and half now. She is fine with it. Just so you know Carly is coming over tomorrow for Sunday dinner.”
“Thanks man.” Turning around, I head upstairs and go into Carly’s room. I know it may seem ‘stalkerish’, but I can’t stay in our apartment alone, so I’ve been staying here in her room.
Xavier Past
Today is Carly and Carson’s seventeenth birthday. She is trying everything to keep the attention off her, but she’s failing miserably. Carson seems to thrive on the attention from his mom; Carly seems like today is just an ordinary day and not her birthday. So far, their mom put their cars in their name and paid for one-year auto insurance for them, and their grandparents gave them two hundred and fifty dollars each. From me, Carson got tickets to the annual U of M vs MSU game, and I got Carly a promise ring, but I will give it to her later, when it’s just the two of us. They leave tomorrow to go on vacation as a family, so I want to spend as much time with her, as I can. I thought about inviting myself along for the trip, but I didn’t want to over-step.
Seeing everyone is breaking up and getting ready to go, I make my way over to her. She looks so sad, standing in the corner all alone. “Hey, good lookin. You got a man?” I say with a southern accent and a smirk on my face. She doesn’t even look up or respond. Bending down on my hunches, so I can see her face, I ask her, “Love, what’s got you so sad today?”
“Nothing. I’m just being dramatic. What’s up?”
&nbs
p; “Babe, what are you being dramatic about? I mean, today is your day, and it’s all about you and Carson.”
“X man, did you happen to notice two key people not here?”
“Your dad, but I don’t know anyone else.”
“Yeah, our dad and our aunt. He is a cheating asshole, and our aunt, well, she is the opposite of my mom. Carly let me see your phone please.” Carson asks.
“No, it’s fine. It’s really just another day. I’ll have fifty more birthdays. Excuse me, please.” She runs in the house crying.
“Dude, what just happened?”
“That is Carly getting her heart broken by our dad. She has always been ‘daddy’s little girl’ and has wanted to do everything for him and with him. I can guarantee you she didn’t even get a text from him today. Plus, he didn’t bother to show up. She could have had a concert by Justin Bieber, and it wouldn’t change anything. She would still be devastated.”
“I hate to be disrespectful, but your dad is really pissing me off. And I don’t really know the guy.”
“No disrespect given. I’m so pissed at him right now; I can’t even see straight. I seriously just sat on Carly’s bed with her head in my lap, as she cried her eyes out. She sent him a text, asking if he was coming home for her birthday party? His response, ‘I’ll try, but it’s just another day.’ She said, ‘Dad, it’s my birthday.’ His response, ‘Well, I’m sure you will have at least fifty more. Don’t be so dramatic.’” Mom spits the words out, as if they are poison.
“Can I go see her, please? I won’t try anything, and we will leave the door open. I just want to speak with her.”
“Go ahead, but please don’t be upset, if she denies you. She told me she was going to get a bath, shut her phone off, and go to bed.”
“Thank you, Claire.”
Jogging up to the porch, I open the door and make my way through the kitchen and dining room to the staircase. Taking the stairs two at a time, I get to her door, place my hands on it, close my eyes take, a deep breath, and knock.
Carly Present
Wednesday is the day that changes my life.
I get to the hospital, and my patient is none other than my dad. I have to operate because he needs two stents put in, and if I’m not the doctor doing the surgery, he is refusing to have it done. Normally, family isn’t allowed to operate on family, so we tell him I’m doing it, but the other cardiologist does it, and I wait in the family waiting room alone. It seems as if this is the new normal for me. I could call Carson, but he is still not talking to Dad. Mom would be here for me, but she has a new family. I’m still pissed at my friends for setting me up with Xavier. If this would have happened months ago, I wouldn’t have had to call anyone, because he would have been with me.
It seems like days, when the cardiologist comes in to give me the update. “Your dad is out and stable. He is in recovery now, and once he is moved back to his room, you can see him. It was good with no complications. Is it possible for us to switch weekends? I’ll work this one, if you work next for me.”
“Sure, no problem at all. Thank you so much.” I wait, until he is in his room, then I go check on him. Seeing that he’s fine and resting, I decide to hit the local bar known as The Friendly Tavern. After my seventh jack-n-coke, I realize I never told Carson, so I call him and tell him about Dad.
Instead of him worrying about Dad, he’s worried about me, asking where I am and how I plan to get home. I tell him, thinking he will come and get me. I was wrong. So, so wrong. Instead, he sends none other than Xavier and all his sexiness. Which is why I’m currently in bed wrapped around him, and he is still inside of me. Oh, my God. What did I do last night?
“Babe, I can hear you thinking over there. Calm down, this was going to happen. It’s us.”
“Have you used protection with everyone you’ve been with, since we’ve been separated?”
“Carly, I don’t know where you got your information, but I haven’t been with anyone but you.”
“Xavier, I saw you at the diner with another woman, and honestly, you haven’t been doing a good job of hiding the different women you are with daily. I get it okay. I just need to know if I have anything to worry about. You know what? Never mind, I’ll just get checked. I’d say it’s been fun, but I don’t remember, so I guess I’ll see you around.” With that, I run to the bathroom and lock the door. Emptying my stomach in the toilet, I have tears rolling down my face. I don’t know if they are tears from the sadness, or tears from throwing up so hard.
Finally, I think I’m done, so I crawl to the shower. Turning the water on, I just let it pour on me, until I hear the door close. That click is so final, and I break all over again. I stay in the shower, until the water is cold, and my teeth are chattering. I get out and wrap up in my bath robe, as I sit on my couch for an hour with only silence. Then it hits me, Mom never did this. She always got back up, dusted her ass off, and kept moving, like her life wasn’t falling apart.
Starting now, that’s what I’m going to do. Getting dressed, I call the hospital and check on my dad. He’s still stable and asking about me, so I tell them to tell him I’ll be in later tomorrow afternoon. I hang up and decide I need some unconditional love and text Mom, letting her know I’m keeping Caitlynn overnight tonight. I go to Mom’s and see Xavier is here. Well, this is going to be awkward. Oh, well. My big girl panties are pulled up.
Going up to the house, I knock on the door, and Carson opens it. “What the fuck are you knocking on our door for?”
“Is Caitlynn available?”
“Carly, I swear to Christ! Get in here and go get her. You know where she is.”
“No, thank you. I’ll wait right here for her.”
Maddox walks around and sees me, “Carson, will you please let Caitlynn know she has company, but wait about ten minutes.”
“Come and talk with me, Carly.” Walking off the porch and around the side of the house, I look at Maddox. “We are having pretty nice weather lately, aren’t we?”
“Yes, Carly, we are, but that’s not what I want to talk about, and you know it.” I do know. I just don’t know what to say or how to feel.
“I don’t know what to say, Maddox. I know my heart hurts to think of him with someone else. I know I have no desire to be with anyone else. I know seeing him at the diner, holding hands with another woman, has shattered me. I know it shatters me every time I see him with a different woman almost daily. I know I lied to my dad about who operated on him, because if I wasn’t the one operating, he refused. The final thing I know is that I need some unconditional love, and I know that Caitlynn can give that to me.”
“Okay, here is what I know. He loves you, Carly. I believe that you two will be together forever. You need to talk to him. I know it sucks ass about your dad, and for that, I’m truly sorry. If I could have prevented him from coming to our hospital, I would have. You are one hundred percent right that Caitlynn loves you unconditionally. All we have heard about for a couple months now is how she is going to have her first slumber party and sleep all night with her favorite sister. I understand the whole no desire to be with someone else, because as soon as I seen your mom, I couldn’t be with anyone else. I know you know he is here, and that he has been staying here. He says he can’t be in the apartment without you. I can also promise you that he has not brought anyone of the opposite sex here. He loves you. I’m here if you ever need a shoulder or an ear. Just promise you will talk to him.”
“Yeah, okay. Thanks, Maddox. Your great, and I love you, too.”
Just then the door fly’s open and hurricane Caitlynn comes running out. “Carson said someone was at the door for me?”
“It’s me, and I was wondering if you would like to have that slumber party with me tonight?”
With eyes bigger than saucers, she screams, “Are you for real? YES, I CAN’T WAIT! Don’t leave cause I have to go pack my stuff.”
“Caitlynn, you’re only staying one night. Don’t pack everything.”
&nbs
p; “Daddy, I know, but Carly doesn’t have toys or babies, and we got to do something.” She states with her hands on her hips, and her sass flying out of her mouth.
“We won’t be home. We are going to go do girl stuff, so only bring two babies, pajamas, and clothes for tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay, thank you, sissy, I wub you da most.”
“I love you, too, baby girl. Go get your stuff.”
Looking back at Maddox, I tell him, “I promise I will talk to him. I just need to figure out where my head is.”
Mom comes out on the porch, “I understand that my youngest is moving out for a slumber party with her favoritest big sister ever!”
Laughing, I say, “Yeah. I came to get her, and I told her not to bring all of her stuff, because we are going to do fun girl stuff and go out for dinner.”
Mom looks almost sad, as Maddox says, “Babe, don’t worry about it. We get the house to ourselves tonight. Well, almost to ourselves.”
“Carly, make sure you call, before you bring her home tomorrow, okay?”
Laughing, I say, “Okay, and I don’t go on call until six, so I thought I’d bring her home between three and four, so I can get a nap in”. The door opens again, and there stands Xavier with Caitlynn in one arm and her bag and babies in the other. I reach out to get her, but he shakes his head, starting for my car. With no other choice but to follow, I do so. He puts Caitlynn in her car seat, before saying to her, “Take care of my girl tonight, and if you have any problems, you call me, okay?”
“Okay, Xavier. I wub you, too. I can’t wait to find a boy that calls me his girl and wubs me, like you wub Carly.”
