by Julie Solano
“Speaking of cut. I also got him this.” Peyton opens the lid to another small gift box, and pulls out a shiny new pocket knife. “I had his name engraved on it. I noticed he collects them.”
“I’m sure it will be his new favorite, Girl. It looks like it’s a cut above the rest! Ha . . . ha” I slap my knee at my corny joke.”
“Oh geez, look at the time. Bring it on in girls,” Jenna laughs. And the three of us lean in and hug it out before heading over the hill to decorate for the barn dance.
By the time we pull up to the ranch, the boys have what looks to be a hundred bales of hay, lining the dance floor inside the big, open barn. The boys, however, are nowhere in sight. “Well that should be plenty of seating,” Jenna laughs out as we look around trying to spot them. “Where is everyone?”
“Listen. I hear them squabbling. I just can’t see them.” Peyton snickers.
I start walking around, trying to follow the muffled bickering sound I hear coming from behind the enormous hay stack. “Up there!” I point. Caden is hanging upside down from one of the rafters, trying to twist what looks like a five hundred foot string of lights around the beam.
“I found some camo Duck tape to wrap around it,” Caden shouts. “It’ll blend right in so no one sees it!”
“No. no. no. I’ve got baling twine right here. It’ll hold way better,” Mason counters Caden.
“That is the most hideous shade of orange I’ve ever seen. You are not using that on those lights!” Jenna commands. Then she turns to us red-faced and snarling. “We got here just in time ladies.”
We can’t help but crack up at Jenna’s incensed response.
“First of all. You need to disconnect twenty of those strings. It’s way too hard to wrap five hundred feet of lights around a beam at one time. Reel it out boys. The girls are here to help.”
I hear Brody’s deep voice boom from the haystack, “Listen up Bo and Luke. Daisy Duke is here to save the day.”
“It’s more like Boss Hog, Bro.” I hear Caden pipe in.
“I heard that Caden! And if you’re not careful . . . you’re going to land smack dab in the heart of Hazzard County, for sure,” Jenna shouts, shaking her fist up at the rafters. Another round of laughter erupts in our small circle. “Now seriously. I have my list here of things we need to get done before the party.”
Jenna starts giving orders, and we steadily find ourselves in the rhythm of hanging lights, laying table cloths, and setting out decorations until we’ve transformed the barn into a magical fall harvest. Looking around, everything looks incredible. There are twinkling baby white lights wrapped around the wagon wheels leading up to the barn. Mason jars, filled with citronella candles, hang gracefully from the rafters. Saddle blankets lay atop the bales of hay lining the perimeter of the barn. Huge water troughs are filled with ice, soft drinks, and adult beverages. At the far end of the barn, near the DJ, Peyton has designed and set up a photo booth with a painted red barn and scarecrows as a backdrop.
“Awww, Photographer Peyton! I love it!” I wink, giving her a big hug. “Thank you so much for everything you did to help.” I am incredibly touched by everything our friends and family have done to make our eighteenth birthday so special. My brother and I are so blessed to have this circle of friends. Turning toward the rest of the crowd, I choke out, “Thank you all so much, for everything.” I open my arms and take each one in for a warm embrace.
“Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday Twinsies.” I hear repeatedly from all of our friends. “You two are so worth it,” Jenna says.
“We’re just glad you’re still here to celebrate with us.” Brody smiles shyly, looking down at the ground, shuffling his boots in the hay. I can tell he is still bothered by that night. He doesn’t look me in the eyes when he talks about it. I’m sure the image of my lifeless body lying on the ground with blood coming from my mouth is still burned into his memory.
The circle of gratitude is interrupted when Grandma Sandy and Auntie Macy stumble in with two wheelbarrows full of gigantic Gatorade thermoses, the kind you see on the sidelines at football games. Auntie Macy stops just short of the circle and stutters, “I’m pretty sure this is the Spiked Apple Pie Punch.” In contemplation, she squints her eyes at the thermos, pinches her lips into a line, and shakes her head slightly up and down. Her tongue clicks just before she quickly cocks her head to the side and grabs a cup from the big bag in the wheelbarrow. We all watch in amusement as she fills the cup to the top, tips it back and chugs it until it’s completely empty. “Ya, I’m pretty sure about that. The one Grandma Sandy has is for you kids.” She says pointing at the matching thermos. “Here, stick this sign on there to make sure they don’t get mixed up now,” she giggles, handing Caden a sign that reads, “Alcoholic.”
I look over at Jenna, and she and Caden are glancing at each other with mischief in their eyes. I shake my head, trying to imagine what they are thinking. “I’ve got this Grandma,” Caden nods and smiles, taking the wheelbarrow out of her hands, and sticking the sign down on Auntie Macy’s cooler. “Hey Jenna, would you come give me a hand with this?” Caden whispers.
“Sure thing.”
I look at Brody. When our eyes meet, the corner of his lip turns up in a half grin. For some reason, I think this party is about to get interesting. He holds out his hand, “Hey Pip? You ready to go get freshened up?” He moves closer, brushing his thumb against my skin. “You had a little something on your cheek. I’ll take you down to the ranch to get cleaned up. I think Caden and Jenna have some stuff to take care of before the party. You and I . . .” he points back and forth between the two of us, “ . . . should probably put a little distance between us, and those two hooligans carting the thermoses over there.”
“You’re probably right,” I giggle.
He grabs my hand, and begins to pull me toward the car so I can get my bag. As we’re walking, I feel a nudge, and catch a glimpse of Brody looking back over his shoulder. I watch Jenna and Caden peel the sign from the thermos, and end their shenanigans with a high five. I’m pretty sure, I hear Jenna’s voice off in the distance, “We really shouldn’t label anyone an ‘Alcoholic’ now, should we?”
We both laugh and shake our heads in amusement. “Those two are something else.”
It doesn’t take long to freshen up at the ranch. I put on some deodorant, fix my make-up, and throw on my cute birthday outfit. I look as good as new. When we head back to the barn, the sun is just dipping down below the horizon. Country music is flowing from the dimly lit barn, and family and friends are beginning to line the long dirt road. When I glance up into the barn, my eyes are instantly drawn to Jenna and Caden standing up on the hay bales having a twerking contest.
“Oh, my. Look who’s already gotten into the spiked apple cider,” Brody looks at me and chuckles.
In the background, Drink to That All Night by Jerrod Niemann, is blasting. Caden and Jenna jump from bale to bale, playing tag, and twerking intermittently. “You ready to party with me all night?” Brody asks, with a half grin and a wink.
“You know there’s no one in this county I’d rather party with til the sun comes up.” I mutter shyly, poking Brody in the belly. “Let’s do it!”
At that, I feel Brody’s hand come around my waist, as he carefully flips me up onto his back. He suddenly pauses, “Wait, is your shoulder okay?”
“Yep, you did good! Now Giddy up cowboy,” I giggle, giving him a friendly kick accompanied by a click click of my tongue. I set my chin on his shoulder, as he gives me a piggyback ride up the dirt road. Secure in Brody’s strong arms, I try to take in everything, every sight, sound, and feeling; the crunch of the gravel beneath his feet, the baby white lights guiding our way up the road, friends and family illuminated by the glow of the bonfire. A smile spreads across my face. I can’t believe how much love and care our friends and family put into this party for us. If this can’t pull me out of my depression, I don’t know what can. This eighteenth birthday party is monumental.
As we near Caden and Jenna, they pause and look at us. Then they look at each other. I swear those two can read each other’s minds. I watch Caden wink at Jenna before he yells down to us, “Hey Brody?”
“Ya?” He yells back up to the top of the haystack where Caden and Jenna are now giggling.
“Why did the horse cross the road?”
“Why’s that, Cade?”
“Because he was looking for . . . HAY!!!!”
At that, Jenna and Caden pick up huge flakes of hay and begin to pummel us with them. Brody carefully drops me down to the ground so we can defend ourselves. I cover my head and face, as showers of alfalfa come hammering down on our heads. Brody, scampers back quickly trying to dodge the relentless attack, as he backs into the drink trough. It almost looks as though it’s in slow motion. I see his arms flailing in circles out to the side. “Whoaaaaa,” he neighs, as he hits the ice, perfectly molding it around his body. The mounds of displaced ice knock some of the drinks over the edge. I watch them hit the ground as explosions of soda start spraying everywhere. I can hear shrieks of hysterics as people pull their hands over their heads and run for the big open door. All I can do is laugh, but poor Brody is stuck in a big trough of ice. “Help!!! I’ve fallen and I can’t giddy-up!” he laughs. At that, Caden bounces down the bales and extends his hand to Brody, pulling him out of the trough.
“Here, have a drink. It looks like you could use one.” Caden holds out a plastic cup to Brody.
Brody pauses for a second, as if contemplating whether he should try it. “Hmmm . . . you only live once, I guess.” He takes a big swig, chokes a little, and looks up with teary eyes. His eyebrows raise, as he clears his throat.
He looks over at me and says, “Any more of these, and I might be bouncing around those hay bales too. You’ve got to try one of these Pip,” he chuckles. “You wanna get a little redneck rowdy with me?”
I’ve never actually drank before. It’s not something that ever really intrigued me. But I can’t refuse an invitation like that from Brody. “Well, you only turn eighteen once! Let’s do it!”
“Hey bartender, can I order one of these for your little sister?”
Caden grins mischievously, “Hey Jenna?” he shouts back up the haystack. “We’re headed over to get another round of that virgin cider. You in?”
“Heck ya! Let’s get this party STARTED!” Jenna shrieks, jumping straight down to the floor. She holds her arms straight out, “Super Girl!!” she yells, as she flies through the air.
“Now that’s why she’s in my wolf pack,” Caden howls, pointing down at her with a quick poke. “Let’s go Wonder Woman,” he gives Jenna a playful shove, pushing her toward the drink table.
We walk over to the thermoses and make a loud scene, hoping to throw any adults off our trail. “So this is the ‘NON-ALCOHOLIC’ right Caden?” she says slowly.
“Right you are Jenna! Here’s your sign!” he blurts out, with his best Jeff Foxworthy impersonation.
“Got it!”
Jenna leans in really close to the spout, concentrating on pouring the drink to the very rim. “I learned that in science class. It’s called polarity! See, I can actually fill it fuller than the rim as long as I do it slowly. All those little molecules stick together. Sip now, my precious friend, sip,” she says, holding the cup up to my lips, so I can take a drink before it spills out everywhere.
I contemplate whether I should do this. I wouldn’t usually drink, but seeing as how I can’t swim right now, I guess it really doesn’t matter much. Plus, maybe it will help me forget about all this Pistol craziness, and my messed up shoulder injury for a while. I decide to give it my best shot. After all, it’s not my style to half-ass anything. I take in a deep swimmer’s breath, and slurp until I have to come up for air. “There, that should put a dent in it.” I cough. “Phew! That stuff is potent,” I gasp. My eyes are tearing up from the burn still making its way down my throat.
“It’ll get easier, trust me . . .” Jenna whispers. “This is already my third cup,” She holds up four fingers, zooming them in and out between our faces.
“Well, I’m all about easy. Give me that!” I take the cup from her hand and tip my head back until I’ve swallowed every last drop. “WINNER!!! I yell out,” sticking my tongue out Fear Factor style, “Ahhhhhh,” I say, “Check. There’s nothing left in there.” I wiggle my tongue around my mouth, to prove I drank it all.
Just then, Peyton walks up with her mouth open. “Impressive Kaitlyn,” she says, shaking her head up and down. “Don’t worry Brody,” she turns to him. “I’ll watch out for them tonight. You boys go ahead and have fun too. Caden smiles. “Well, that settles it. Happy Birthday, Kaitlyn and Caden! I’m your designated driver tonight.”
“Okay DD. You’re the best,” Caden says, wrapping his arms around Peyton, and pulling her in for a kiss on the forehead.
“Anything for you, Babe.”
All the mushy stuff happening in front of me, starts to look a little blurry. Jenna’s hand bobs across my line of sight with another plastic cup, blocking the view of Beauty and the Beast. “Don’t slow down on me now, Birthday Girl. Take this and let’s go dance.”
I start to walk off with Jenna, when Brody comes up with another cup. “Got ya something.” He says, plopping the cup into my open hand.
I look to my left hand, which still holds a full drink; then to my right. “Wow, guess I’m double fistin’ it tonight! Where’s yours?”
“Right here, Pip.” Brody pulls another cup from behind his back. “Now, let’s go dance.”
We walk back over to the bales that line the dance floor. Brody watches me struggle to step up on one, but I just can’t seem to do it with my two drinks in tow. I feel him close in behind me and slip his hands under my elbows. “Let me help you, Pip.” I feel his warm soft breath against the nape of my neck, sending shivers across my skin.
I lean back into him, letting my hair fall off my neck. I roll my head to the side, and whisper, “Whoa, Bro . . . you just gave me goosebumps.”
I feel the rise and release of his chest, as he pulls in a deep breath; then his soft lips come down just above my left shoulder. He trails soft kisses up to my cheek. When he reaches the corner of my mouth, he whispers, “Kaitlyn, I’m glad you felt that too. I don’t want to keep this a secret anymore. I can’t.” He shakes his head back and forth gently. “It’s time to let everyone know about us.” He pulls away, just enough to look at me. His eyes plead with me to reveal our secret.
US. Wow, that’s a powerful word. I’m overwhelmed by his sincerity. A cyclone of emotion spins from my stomach through my chest, leaving a lump in my throat. My heart forgets to beat momentarily. Brody smiles at the sound of me trying to gasp for air, then leans back in and whispers in my ear, “Pip, you’re the most beautifully flustered girl I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m gonna kiss you in front of everyone right now, and I need you to be okay with it.”
I can feel the smile on his lips resting against the most sensitive part of my ear. My face flushes with heat, and I can feel the butterflies begin to take flight. My stomach flips on their ascent. I can’t speak. I can’t breathe. The only thing left to do is nod in agreement. From the corner of my eye, I watch the smile grow across his face. His hands come around mine, gently lifting the drinks out of my secure hold. He sets them down on the bale of hay in front of us. Slowly, his hands come back to my waist and he gingerly turns me around to face him. He backs me up to the enormous haystack. “I should’ve done this a long time ago,” he whispers, leaning into me.
I feel his soft, full lips slowly press against mine. Our mouths slightly open and close in unison. The connection sends tingles through my entire body. The tingling feeling, mixed with the buzz of the spiked apple cider, sets my head spinning. When our mouths open again, I feel his soft tongue, barely brush against mine, and I can’t help but pull him in closer. I grab onto his muscular arms, and clench them tightly in my hands. His touch disintegrates the world around us, re
placing it with visions of his beautiful face, the feel of his strong embrace, and the warmth of his genuine, loving soul wrapping itself around mine.
My senses are on fire. He pulls me tighter and holds me close. I can’t help but wonder if he can sense my trembling. Our bodies are so close now, I feel his heart beat. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and love for this boy. He has stuck by my side through the darkest time in my life. He has been my protector and friend, and now, he is bringing back a feeling I never thought I’d have again. Happiness. Security. At this moment, I realize that Brody Tatum owns me. He balances my fragile heart in his hands. My one hope is that he never, never lets it fall.
Behind us, I can hear the crowd getting lively. People are clapping, cheering, and whistling. I am shuttering when Brody pulls back and leaves a kiss on the bridge of my nose. “Kaitlyn Woodley, I promise you, as long as I live, I will never want anyone the way I want you. I’m yours, for as long as you’ll have me. And I hope that’s a really, really long time, cuz no one will ever own my heart again. It belongs to you now. I’m yours.”
A tear rolls down my face. Brody brushes it away with the pad of his thumb. “Are you okay with this, Pip? Why the tears?” My throat is tight. It stings. I feel like I’m dying. It’s so tight, I can’t swallow. I take a deep breath, and still can’t find my voice.
I know I have to respond, so I pull him back into me and kiss him with everything I have in me. When I’m done, I pull away smiling. “Brody Tatum. I love you so much it hurts. I’ve loved you my whole life. I just didn’t know it til now. I’m the luckiest girl in the world.” I think about what he’s just said, and want to lay it all out there. “And. . . you will have me for a really, really long time. I know that because you own my heart too. You always have.”
Brody smiles at me, throws his head up toward the sky and shouts, “Thank you Lord!!!” He picks me up by the waist, and twirls me around in a circle, until I wrap my legs around his waist, and pull back into him.