Hopelessly Perfect

by S. E. Rose

  “When is she supposed to arrive?” I whisper to Di, who is busy strategically placing flowers. The entire Moore clan is here: grandparents, aunts, uncles, everyone. I had called my grandparents, too. They said they would try to come but were worried about driving in the snow.

  “Thirty minutes, I think,” she says as she examines her work. “Are your grandparents coming?”

  My grandparents have met the Moores once. I brought them over for a Saturday night dinner a few months ago. Everyone was cordial, so that was good.

  “I don’t know . . . I mean, the snow,” I point outside.

  Di tilts her head to one side. “I have an idea,” she says. She whips out her phone and texts someone.

  “They’ll be here,” she says and walks away without giving me an idea of what she just did. I shake my head and walk toward Lanie.

  “So . . . .uh . . .” I trail off because I don’t know what to say.

  “What’s wrong?” she asks as she pins a decoration up to a post.

  “Oh, nothing. Your family is something else,” I say as I reach up to hold the fake ivy she’s wrapping around the pole.

  Lanie giggles, and that sound alone is enough to melt any snow outside. I’ve fallen hard for this woman. “My family is definitely something else.”

  I’m about to say more when Nana Betty comes over to us.

  “Honey, you need me to help you.”

  “I got it, Nana. I’m just finishing this one piece.” Lanie stretches, and I spot her as she pins it to the pole. She turns around and smiles at her grandmother. I’ve noticed these two are especially close. It makes me a little sad sometimes to see how the Moores are this insanely tight-knit family. A small part of me is jealous that I didn’t have this support system when I was growing up, but a bigger part of me is so thankful to have been included in their inner circle.

  My phone pings, and I look down. It’s a message from Kent.

  Kent: Welcome to the family chat, Brixton. I need you in here for moral support . . . and to even out the testosterone-versus-estrogen levels in here.

  Di: (middle finger emoji) And welcome to Brixton. (heart emoji)

  Kylie: Kent . . . suck it!

  I look up to see Lanie smile as she glances at her phone and quickly types something.

  Mrs. Moore: Welcome, sweetie. Long overdue.

  Mr. Moore: Hear, hear. More men! I love it!

  C-Dog: Thank the lord! These women are killing me!

  Tabby: I’m offended on behalf of all women . . . Kent . . . I will personally beat you up when I see you in half an hour. FYI – running late . . . sorry. (winking emoji)

  Lanie: Kent, you need more than one man for moral support. And besides, Brix is on Team Lanie, which means he’s on my side, which means I win. (microphone emoji)

  Di: Damn, sista! Way to school the Ken Doll!

  Kylie: And the point goes to Mother Hen!

  Tabby: (laughing emoji)

  C-Dog: Lanie that was harsh! My testicles are offended!

  Mrs. Moore: At least you said testicles and not some derogatory word.

  C-Dog: Sorry Mom, my big ass balls were offended.

  Mr. Moore: Clark for the love of God. Stop while you are ahead.

  Kylie: Bitches get stitches

  Mrs. Moore: Kylie!!

  Kylie: (big eyes emoji) My bad, Mothership.

  I put my phone back in my pocket just as the front doors open and in walks a state trooper and my grandparents.

  I walk over to them, as does Di.

  “Miss Moore,” the trooper says with a smile.

  “Christopher! Thank you so much! I owe you one!” she says as she hugs him. She steps back and says hi to my grandparents, who return her greeting.

  “What in the . . .” I trail off and look from the trooper to my grandparents, to Di.

  “Officer Randall is a friend of mine from high school. He works around Rockville, and I noticed he’d posted something about working today online, so I figured . . . it’s sort of an emergency.” She grins sheepishly and shrugs.

  “Well, I was just getting off from my day shift, so it was not a big deal since I had to come this way anyhow,” he says as he takes off his hat and looks around. “So, when is Kent popping the question, and how long has everyone been here? This place looks insanely good.”

  Di laughs. “It’s taken about sixty of us a few hours, and the other sixty or so showed up a little bit ago. Tabby should be here soon and then the food will be ready. Stick around!”

  He nods. “I will. Tara isn’t due to get off work for another two hours. I promised to go pick her up from the hospital.” He glances at my grandparents. “I can drive you back home when I go. My wife works at the hospital near your home.”

  “That would be very nice,” my grandfather says as he looks around.

  “Here, why don’t I take you over to the Moore’s? They are helping to set up the food,” I say to my grandparents as I usher them to the food room.

  Chapter Thirty

  Lanie

  Everyone crowds to the walls of the bowling alley and waits quietly for Tabby to arrive. Folks parked at the shopping center and walked here so that it doesn’t seem like such a large crowd for a winter day. I smile as our entire family stands huddled together. Kent stands in the middle of the bowling alley, right in front of the doors. His foot is tapping, and he wrings his hands every few seconds. The guy is a ball of nerves, which is an unusual sight for this superstar athlete.

  My family is all holding hands and wrapping arms around one another. I look over at Brixton and smile at him. Ash has wedged himself between us. I’ve barely seen him all afternoon, since Di introduced him to some kids his age. He looks more like a little boy than he’s ever looked since I’ve known him. His hair is just starting to grow back in, and I absentmindedly run my hand over it as we wait. For the first time in a long time, I feel at ease with myself and my life. It’s completely different than it was a few weeks ago, a few months ago, but I love it. I love the people in it. It dawns on me, as I stand here with my arms wrapped around the two men that have recently invaded my life and my heart, that my job is no longer the focus of my being—they are.

  I squeeze Ash, and he looks up at me with a big toothless grin.

  “You think he’s nervous?” he asks me in a lowered voice.

  I nod. “Yes, I do.”

  Then the door opens and Tabby walks inside. I can tell she’s startled by what she sees as she looks around the transformed bowling alley, her eyes finally settling on Kent. She raises an eyebrow in confusion, and he gives her a reassuring smile as he holds out a hand to her.

  She walks toward him, and I know at this moment that we all fade away, that all she sees is my brother, the man she loves. He leans into her and whispers something, but I can’t hear what he says, even though everyone is silent.

  And then he drops to one knee and pulls a box out of his pocket.

  “Tabitha Anne Crane . . . you are the most incredible woman that I’ve ever met. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. You are the yin to my yang, the Olive to my Popeye, the peanut butter to my jelly. Together, we are undeniably perfect. I can’t imagine living a day without you. I want you by my side forever. Will you do me the great honor of being my wife?”

  I swear no one in the entire building breathes for a second as Tabby stands there, silent.

  I watch as tears start streaming down her normally stoic face.

  She nods. “Yes,” she whispers.

  “What did she say?” Nana Betty asks loudly, and everyone bursts into laughter as Tabby jumps into Kent’s arms. I can see her talking to him but can’t make out a single word as everyone begins speaking excitedly.

  Kent pulls his head back, and I can see the look of absolute joy and awe in his eyes as he grins like a fool before he leans forward and kisses Tabby. Brix covers Ash’s eyes, and he giggles.

  “Ewww!” he says loudly, causing more laughter to erupt from our family members.

 
Everyone slowly surrounds Tabby and Kent, hugging them and congratulating them. I hang back with Brix, waiting for the crowd to die down.

  “Food’s on, everyone!” our father yells.

  “Can I get food?” Ash asks.

  “Absolutely,” I say to him as I look around and find Kylie heading toward the set up for the burger food truck.

  “Kyles?”

  She turns toward me, and I usher Ash to her. “Can you get Ash a burger?”

  “Sure, come on, my man. Let’s go get some delicious goodness!”

  I watch as they head inside the food room. I go back to Brix and stand along the wall. Some people say their congrats and leave, others begin milling around the food, and some stand in small clusters chatting with each other. By the time the crowd surrounding Tabby and Kent dies down, there’s probably about ninety people still here. My mom is chatting with Brix’s grandparents, who stand off to Tabby’s side.

  “Do you want to visit with your grandparents?” I ask Brix, nodding toward them.

  “I probably should go see how they are doing,” he acknowledges as he heads toward them, stopping before he’s gone three paces. “You coming?”

  “Go ahead. I’m going to get Ash settled,” I assure him. He nods and walks over to his family. I stand and watch them. They are not as close as I am to my grandparents, which is odd since they raised Tabby and Brix. I’m deep in my thoughts when Nana walks up to me.

  “Why are you standing back there?”

  “Just . . . taking it all in . . .” I trail off and look over at Tabby and Kent.

  “Well, you never gain anything from standing on the sidelines. Come on,” she says as she loops her arm through mine and walks over to Brix and his grandparents.

  “Hello,” she says to them. “I’m so glad you made it here. That weather is quite unexpected today.”

  Brix’s grandmother nods. “It certainly was an unexpected snowstorm, but we are so happy to have made it here.” She looks over toward Tabby, and for the first time, I see the love in her eyes. Maybe I’ve misread them.

  She turns back and smiles at me. “So, you and Brixton, huh?”

  I know I’m blushing now, and Brix laughs. “Subtle, real subtle, Gran.”

  She shrugs. “What can I say? I’m a ‘to the point’ type of gal.”

  “That you are,” he says with a smile. “And yes, we are dating.”

  She gives me a warm smile. “I’m glad. You strike me as a ‘no-nonsense’ type of girl, and my dreamer here needs someone with her feet on the ground.”

  “Gran,” Brix groans, but his smile tells me he isn’t seriously annoyed.

  “Now, you two should go get some food.”

  “Join us?” Brix asks.

  “We’ll be along in a minute. PopPop wants to talk with Tabby and Kent. He has a gift for them.”

  I give Brix a look because he doesn’t seem surprised by this at all.

  “OK, we’ll save you a seat,” I say to her.

  “Thank you.” She turns to her husband and tries to get him to push through the last few people surrounding Tabby and Kent.

  “Come on, the food awaits,” Nana says to us with a wink as she walks toward the food line.

  “What did your grandfather get them?” I ask Brix as we get in line for pizza.

  “He made them a game table.”

  “Really?” I ask, a little surprised by this.

  “Yeah, I mean, he did construction and still likes to play around in the garage. After he saw Kent’s game room, I think he got the idea in his head and just did it.”

  “That’s sweet. I’m sure they will love it.”

  Brix nods. “I’m sure they will.” He pauses and looks at me. “They do love us. I know it’s not as outwardly as your family, but there is love in our family.”

  “I . . . I see it now,” I admit.

  “Good. And they do like you, Lanie.”

  I blush again.

  Brix leans in and whispers, “You better stop blushing because, as soon as I see that color sneak up your skin, I want to do dirty things to you, angel.”

  I shiver from his words.

  “Maybe I’d like that,” I tease him.

  “Oh, I know you would like it, but if you don’t behave, you won’t like it when I take you right here in front of everyone.”

  I roll my eyes. “Like you’d do that.”

  He grips my hip and pulls me against him. “Is that a challenge?”

  I smirk. “Nope,” I say, making the ‘p’ pop.

  “Well, then, I guess I’ll back down for now,” he growls as he kisses me a little too intimately for the crowd. I hear a few hoots and hollers as I pull back and see Clark and Kylie whistling at us and Ash covering his eyes.

  I look at Brix, and we burst into laughter. “Maybe the wrong crowd for that.”

  We grab our food and find a table, making sure to leave room for Brix’s grandparents. It’s a pleasant meal filled with laughter. Brix’s grandparents even share a few funny stories about him as a boy.

  I take my last bite and look outside. The snow is letting up outside, making Main Street look a bit like a winter wonderland. A few kids run outside and start a snowball fight. It isn’t long before some adults join them.

  I finish my pizza and let Ash join in the fun while I watch from the doors.

  “Too old for a snowball fight?” Kent asks as he comes up beside me and wraps an arm around my shoulders.

  “Never. Just enjoying watching it,” I explain. I look up at my little brother.

  “Congrats,” I say to him.

  “I was so fucking nervous,” he admits.

  I giggle. “I could tell. But did you really think she’d say no?”

  “No, I knew she’d say yes. But, still, it’s nerve-wracking.”

  “I suppose so. I mean, you kinda went all out.” I motion to everything around us.

  “Uh, that would be you guys who went all out.”

  I shrug. “You can thank Di and most of the town.”

  I turn back to the door and laugh when I see that Tabby has joined the kids.

  “You’re gonna have your hands full with that one.”

  “Yep, I sure am.” He smiles so wide that I can see all of his teeth. I wrap my arm around his midsection and squeeze.

  “I love ya, KJ.”

  “Love you too, Lanie Panie.”

  “I’m happy for you both.”

  “I know.” He looks down at me. “So . . . what’s up with you and Brix?”

  I roll my eyes. “We are seeing each other.”

  “And?”

  “And that’s it. He’s been spending some time at the house. It’s been a big help with Ash.”

  “How’s Ash?”

  We both look outside in time to see Ash throw a giant snowball at Tabby. I grin. “He’s doing great.”

  “You’re doing a great job with him.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “That’s all any of us can do.”

  “I guess so. It’s hard.”

  Kent looks back down at me. “Parenting or all the other stuff?”

  “Both . . . I mean, at first, it was hard to be around the hospital. And now . . . I don’t know. I love having him at my house. I love being with him. I just don’t know if I’m enough, if what we have is enough.”

  “Are you talking about Brix or Ash?”

  I sigh. “Both, I guess.”

  Kent kisses the top of my head. “Maybe Brix and Ash need you as much as you need them. Not all families come together in the old-fashioned way, you know?”

  “I know.”

  “Think about it, Lanie. Watching the three of you together . . . it just makes sense.”

  “You think?”

  Kent presses me more snuggly against him. “I know.”

  “Hey, why aren’t you two out there having fun with the other young people?” Nana asks as she walks up from behind us. “Go on, shoo.”

  We laugh and walk outside into the cold a
ir just as a giant snowball sails through the air, right into KJ’s face.

  “Oh, that’s it! You are going down!” he yells at Clark, who picks up Ash and uses him as a human shield. I grin and pick up some snow.

  “Bring it, baby bro!” I yell back at him as Kent grabs a snowball and we charge toward our little brother.

  Brixton

  “I like her,” my grandfather says as he walks up to me. I’m standing at the door watching Lanie and Kent throw snowballs at Clark and Ash.

  “I like her, too, Pops.”

  He places a hand on my shoulder. “You gonna make an honest woman out of her?”

  I laugh and pat his hand. “I’m thinking I just might.”

  “The good ones are hard to find; you better get cracking on that plan, my son.”

  “Noted. You guys need a ride home?” I ask him as a plow comes down the street.

  “That nice officer is gonna take us home in a minute.”

  “OK. I’ll stop by this week to help Kent bring the game table home.”

  “Now, don’t go getting jealous. I have an idea of what I want to make you when you decide to settle down.”

  “Oh?”

  He claps my shoulder. “Go play with your girl. And Ash. I like that kid. Bring him by the house. I’ll teach him how to whittle wood.”

  “OK.”

  I head outside.

  “Incoming!” Clark yells at me as I duck and run toward him.

  “Come be on our team!” Ash says to me, waving me over.

  I grab a snowball and aim at Lanie.

  “Oh no!” she says.

  I smirk. “Oh yes.”

  I run after her, throwing the snowball. She trips, and I reach out to grab her, sending us both into the snow.

  “You OK?” I ask her as I lean over her.

  “I’ll survive, but maybe you should play doctor.”

  “Maybe I should,” I whisper as I lean down and kiss her.

  “EWWW!” Ash yells.

  Lanie starts laughing against my lips.

  “Get a room!” Clark calls out.

  “Now, now . . . is that good sportsmanship?” I say as I get up and help Lanie to her feet.

  “Nope, but this is,” Clark says from behind me as a giant snowball hits the back of my head.