by Seven Steps
I dropped my fork in my plate.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
Mrs. Rogers nodded. “Yes. There’s still time to put it to good use.”
Relief flooded me so hard that tears welled up in my eyes.
Still, I didn’t want to show it.
Letting us have the carnival at the Ivy Castle was an admission that the place couldn’t be saved. After it closed, the beautiful building would never see a wedding or a bar mitzvah or an anniversary. It would be a husk. An empty building that would be turned into who knew what. A restaurant? A department store? Whatever it turned into, it wouldn’t be the same place Mrs. Rogers ran. It would be different. Everything would be different.
Still, it meant that the carnival would go on. And I was grateful.
“Thank you,” I said.
“I know how hard it is to watch something you work so hard for crumble. You kids are too young to learn that lesson. I hope you never do.”
She put her knife and fork into her plate and stood up.
“I’m going to head up to bed. You girls have a good night.”
I watched her go into the kitchen and heard the clang of dishes as she washed them and put them into the drain.
My heart was aching. I was so relieved that Mrs. Rogers offered us the Ivy Castle, but still, I felt awful that it was available to offer in the first place.
I bit my lip, waiting for Mrs. Rogers to reappear in the doorway.
“Mrs. Rogers?”
She looked up, and I could see the conflict in her eyes.
“Yes, Lily?”
“Thank you again. From us and from Kat.”
She gave me a small smile and headed upstairs.
Calla and Rose turned to me, their smiles more excited.
“It looks like we’re back on,” Rose said.
“Yeah,” I said. “Kind of awful, but great.” I turned to Calla. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. It’s for charity, right? Besides, no one else is using it.”
I took Calla’s hand in mine. “You’re going to be okay. After all this is over, your parents are going to land on their feet.”
“I know. I just wish I could be sure.”
“It will be. You just have to believe it will.”
I gave her a tight hug, then let her go.
“Let’s meet tomorrow and start planning out the decorations,” I said. “We’re going to need a lot more lights and tables and we have to figure out where the runway’s going to go.”
“And now we’ll have a lot more room for booths,” Calla said. “We can tell everyone on the waiting list to get ready.”
The immensity of what still lay ahead of us pressed heavily on my shoulders.
It was a lot for only three people to handle.
I wished Becks were here. We could really use his help.
If only I’d been stronger. If only I hadn’t pushed him away.
I briefly wondered what he was doing right now. Was he out with his guy friends? Out with a girl? Did he think about me like I thought about him?
I guess none of that mattered now. I’d blown it, big time. Becks would probably never even speak to me again, let alone want to try to pursue a relationship with me. I’d have to go forward without him. I tried to ignore the aching in my heart.
The same ache I’d been unable to shake since he went away.
36
The day of the carnival arrived.
I hadn’t been so excited for a day since last Christmas when Mom and Dad got us a car.
At 4:00 a.m. I jumped out of bed, showered, and started rummaging through my closet for an outfit.
I was hip deep in a pile of clothes when Rose walked in, her eyes still full of sleep.
She yawned, stretched, and stared at the clothes on the floor.
“You’re up early,” she said.
“I’m looking for an outfit.”
“For what? To wear there?”
“No. For the fashion show.”
Rose smiled. “Do you really think I’d let you pick out your own outfit for the fashion show?”
“I can pick out my own outfit,” I argued, not trying to hide my offense.
“Look, don’t worry about your fashion show outfit. Everything is in place. We just have to get to the castle and start decorating.”
“And assembling booths.”
“And setting up the stage.”
“And organizing the prizes.”
“And the food.”
I sighed. I’d been excited a minute ago. That is, until Rose reminded me just how much work would be involved.
“I’d better get dressed.”
“Yes. Work clothes first. We’ll bring something to change into later.”
“This is already too much.”
She smiled and winked at me. “For you, Lil? It’s never too much.”
She closed her door behind her, and I heard the shower turn on.
Today was going to be a lot of work, but it was all for Kat. She was still in the coma but, at least with our help, hopefully she wouldn’t have to worry about her medical bills when she got out of the hospital.
I pulled on a pair of ripped jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt and put my hair into two braids with a little cream so it would curl later. I threw what little makeup I had in a bag, along with a change of clothes. Then, I went downstairs to wait for Rose and to text Calla.
Dad emerged from the kitchen, coffee cup in hand, dressed in work boots, jeans, and a button-up flannel T-shirt. He always got up at four o’clock. Maybe because he was always in bed by eight?
“Wow, you look ready to work,” he said.
“It’s going to be a long day.”
He nodded. “I should get a second cup of coffee then.”
I frowned. “You’re coming too?”
“Of course. I signed up to volunteer, and who else is going to help construct all those booths?”
I smiled. “Thanks. I’ve been so busy I didn’t even think to ask you.”
Dad sat next to me on the couch. “Rose did. That’s the good part about having twins. You get an extra brain.”
I playfully shoved him. “Daddy!”
“It’s true.”
“Well, maybe a little.”
“Did you know I helped build a bridge when I was in Afghanistan?”
“No, I didn’t know that.”
“It was a land bridge over what we thought was an active minefield between a town and a hospital. It was hard to build, and we had to be very careful, but when we were done, I was so proud to have done something good for someone else. Now here you are doing something good too. It makes me so proud.” He put his free arm around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder. “Today is going to go well. You believe it?”
“Yes. I believe it.”
“Good. Now, if we can get your mom and sister down here, we can hit the road.”
It took us another half an hour to get out of the house, then we had to wait fifteen minutes for Calla, but finally, an hour later, we arrived at the Ivy Castle.
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers were already there, opening the doors.
“Welcome to the Ivy Castle,” Mrs. Rogers said in her typical grandiose way.
Sadness laced through me. I wondered if she’d ever say those words again.
“Swanky place,” Dad said, nodding at the well-manicured grounds. He slung his arm around Mom. “Have you ever been here before?”
“No. We always go to Cardoza.”
“Shame,” Dad said.
We walked inside, marveling at the dark wood floors and gilded walls. Clean, bright chandeliers hung from the ceilings and marble Grecian statues stood near the spiral staircase.
This place was way too nice to hold a carnival in, but I was grateful for it. It was the best, and Kat deserved the best.
“I thought you could use the Great Hall,” Mrs. Rogers said, leading us deeper into the castle. She wore navy dress pants, a navy suit jacket, a white silk top, and da
rk heels. She looked like a real estate agent or a banker. Now that I thought of it, I couldn’t remember a time when I hadn’t seen Mrs. Rogers look her very best. Not even when we were lounging in her living room eating lasagna.
Mr. Rogers stood by the door, holding it open.
“These will be propped open, of course,” he said.
I gasped.
The Great Hall was huge! About half a football field. We’d have to move the tables and chairs around, but there would be plenty of room for the carnival and more. I was so grateful. My heart felt so full.
“This is amazing,” I said.
“How is this place closing down?” Mom asked. “It’s gorgeous.”
Mrs. Rogers shrugged. “A business needs patrons,” she replied.
“But look at this place. It blows Cardoza out of the water.” She ran her hand along the gold leaves that ran up and down the walls.
“Thank you. I’m glad someone appreciates it.”
There were at least a hundred tables and chairs laid out around a grand dance floor. There was so much to do that I almost didn’t know where to start.
“We should get to work,” I said. “We have a lot to do.”
“All right,” Dad said, clapping. “You heard the lady. Let’s set this thing set up.”
For the next few hours, we were a well-oiled machine. Moving tables and chairs, opening the heavy drapes, adding the sports decorations, hanging a banner over the front door that read, Bloom Academy Fall Carnival.
By mid-morning, the shop teacher and several students arrived with their trucks full of wooden boards for the booths. They’d already pre-drilled the holes and pre-fitted some pieces together. But with nearly fifty booths, they had their work cut out for them. Dad helped them unload the trucks and joined them in piecing the booths together.
More volunteers started to come in, and I quickly tasked them as they arrived. Setting up the reception table, giving everyone their booth number, helping assemble the stage for the fashion show, picking up the prizes and the photo booth donated from The Trading Post.
The food arrived a little while later, and we started organizing the massive food tables.
I was just spreading out a tablecloth onto one of the tables when a voice sounded behind me.
I knew that voice. I’d heard it since I was a child.
“Hey.”
“Hey, Becks,” I said, smoothing my hair back.
He looked just as handsome as ever. Messy brown hair, light eyes. His scent wrapped around me like a beautiful memory. I tried not to get lost in it.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, looking at me beneath long eyelashes.
“Everything looks amazing already,” he said. “You did a great job.”
I sucked in a deep breath. “Thanks. It was a lot of work.”
His eyes examined me, and I didn’t look away. I stood perfectly still, allowing him to see me for the first time. I didn’t want to hide anymore. Not from Becks. These last few weeks had been a whirlwind of planning, but through it all, Becks was never far from my thoughts. I missed him. I missed us.
“You look great,” he said.
I looked down at my now dirty jeans and shirt before looking back up at him.
“Thanks. You too.”
He nodded slowly. “So, do you need me to do anything? I’m here to help.”
He was so handsome. A smile spread across my face. I could look at Becks forever and never get tired of it.
“I guess you can start setting up your booth. I may need some assistance later, though, with a few things.”
“Sure. You know where to find me if you need me.”
“Yeah, I do.”
He gave me one last smile before moving deeper into the room.
I grinned at his back before refocusing on the tablecloth.
But, as always, my mind wondered to Becks. I wondered if I would always want him, and I knew immediately what the answer was.
Yes. I would always have a special place in my heart for Becks. I wish I’d been stronger before. I wish I’d known what I knew now. I’d wasted so much time, and now things were over for us. That hurt, but I knew I’d brought that on myself and I’d have to live with that decision. No matter how much it ripped me apart.
The food table took a while, between putting down small plates, napkins, and forks, table decorations, and setting up the burners to keep the food warm, but eventually we were done, and I moved onto helping set up the changing room for the fashion club’s fashion show.
The changing room was simply a series of thick curtains hung on rods, like an oversized rolling coat rack. I walked between the thick curtains, where Rose was hanging outfits on standing hooks. Her hair was in big rollers and her makeup was halfway done.
“How’s it going back here?” I asked.
“Great.”
She held up a black wardrobe bag and shook it at me.
“Excited?” she asked.
A large white tag on the bag said Lily McAlister. My heartbeat sped up and I reached for the bag.
“Can I see?”
Before I could touch the vinyl material, she moved the bag out of my reach. “Not until showtime.”
“How do I know I’ll fit if I don’t try it on?”
“If it fits me, it fits you. Now shoo. This is all taken care of.”
“Come on. Just one little peek?”
“Definitely not. See you later, Boss Lady.”
I rolled my eyes but complied, walking past the girls gathering to get their makeup and hair done and back out to the main floor.
There was a second stage set up on the opposite side of the room, where the auction would take place. My mom was up there, setting up the tables with the auction items and making tags for smaller items.
I took in the scene around me. Volunteers pouring in, people moving to and fro, all working for a common purpose. A common good. This was happening. It was really happening. Kat was going to get the things she needed. I allowed myself a moment of pride in what I’d accomplished. Through tragedy and disaster and heartache, my vision was finally coming true. I was so grateful.
Lucas appeared in the doorway, with a thin, well-dressed lady behind him. He scanned the crowd for a minute and, when he spotted me, he waved and walked over.
“Hey, Lily.”
I swallowed. Lucas and I hadn’t spoken since we’d decided to just be friends. Yet, he looked so comfortable and happy to see me that I smiled.
“Hey, Lucas.”
“This is my mom, Dr. Helen Bright. She’s the Medical Director at the Hospital.”
I shook her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lily,” she said. “Lucas tells me you also want to go into the medical profession.”
“Yes. I want to be a doctor.”
“That’s fantastic. If you ever want to come work at St. Mary’s Hospital, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll be sure to give your résumé top consideration.”
I hid my surprise behind a smile.
Did Lucas tell his mom that we were supposed to go out but I canceled? I thought he’d hate me after what I did. But there was no hate in his eyes as he smiled at me and his mom.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bright. I appreciate that.”
Lucas waved his booth number at me. “Well, I guess we’d better go set up. See you soon, Lily.”
“Bye, Lucas.”
He walked away, leaving me alone again to walk among the booths and see what else needed to be done. But, with the myriads of volunteers, things were coming together. Unbelievable pride filled my chest.
By three o’clock, the carnival was in full swing. Bodies started flowing through the front doors, each marveling first at the Ivy castle and then at the massive carnival.
It shouldn’t have surprised me how many people had never set foot in this place but, for some reason, it did. The Castle was beautiful, and it looked like no one in the town had bothered to give it a chance. No wonder Mrs. Rogers was so upset.
By four o’clock the line to get in stretched outside. Mrs. Rogers suggested we open a second ballroom as a seating area. It was a great idea and it eliminated the line issue. As it turned out, a lot of the older people just wanted to come, eat, and hang out, and they were more than happy to do so in the beautiful ballroom. Plus, the little kids liked to run around the empty dance floor, which stopped them from running around the fragile booths.
I commissioned about ten volunteers to serve as waiters to elderly in the second ballroom and to make sure that none of the kids escaped.
At five o’clock, Rose dragged me behind the stage to get dressed for the fashion show.
I put on a brave face while I allowed my sister to curl, poke, and prod me. But my insides were all jumbled up in knots. The thought of walking on stage in a brand-new outfit in front of everyone in the community was more than just a little frightening. It was terrifying.
And I was ready.
Kind of.
Rose stood in front of me, holding a full-length mirror at her side.
“Are you ready?” she asked, a huge smile on her face.
“Honestly?”
“Yes.”
“It’s about a sixty-forty split.”
“Well, get ready to make it a full one hundred.”
She slid the mirror in front of me and I gasped.
I was beautiful.
Bunned hair, makeup so light it looked like I was barely wearing any, wide-legged navy-blue pants, a white, cropped top shirt, suspenders, and heels.
I thought I’d emerge from my chair looking more like my sister. Flat-ironed hair, contoured to perfection, red, fifties inspired minidress, and black heels.
But I actually looked more like me. These wide-legged pants were mine. The crop top was one of my favorite shirts cut and hemmed, and the suspenders were mine too. The only thing borrowed were the heels.
“These are my things,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. I touched each piece like they were made of delicate crystal.
“Yes, they are,” Rose said. “You have really good pieces, Lil. It didn’t take much to get them to work. I just had to put them together in the right way.”
“I thought you’d make me look more like…”