Meadowlarks

by Ashley Christine

  CHAPTER TEN

  I feel her sitting on the bed, running her soft fingers on my cheek. “Wakey, wakey, handsome.” She quietly beckons me out of my slumber.

  “Hey, baby.” I’m groggy, really regretting drinking last night, especially tossing back all that Jack Daniels. “What time is it?”

  I see the clock shows eight o’clock. Falling back down on the bed, I cover my face with my arm, not wanting to get out of this comfort.

  “Have you heard from Alex?” she asks, scrolling with her thumb on the screen of her phone.

  “No, I thought he was coming home last night.”

  “Hey, girl, it's me. Do you know what time my brother went home last night? He isn't here, and I'm a little worried. Call me.” She ends the call and looks down at me with a smile. “Hungry?”

  I am starving. Actually, I'm ravenous, and the thought of breakfast gets me up and out of bed.

  “Mom's making a feast; let's go!” She pulls my arm, and then steps back to eye me from head to toe. “Well, get dressed first. Then come down.”

  I playfully swat her ass when she turns to walk away. She laughs and with a quick kiss she leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

  When I get downstairs Richard and Lillian are sitting at the round white table in their kitchen. “Good morning!” Lillian says melodically. I smile and say the same to them.

  “Hope you kids weren't out too late.” Richard looks at me over his newspaper and smiles.

  “No, sir. We had a good time; thank you again for dinner,” I say politely and sit down beside Lillian, reaching for the pitcher of orange juice.

  Addison comes into the kitchen, pulling her phone out of the pocket of her jeans. “Riley! Hey…are you kidding me?” She looks at the three of us, smiles and quickly walks back out of the room. I can hear her whispering and giggling, and then she's back.

  “Mom, this looks delicious!” She sits down beside her father, quickly kissing his cheek and piling a scoop of scrambled eggs on her square plate. I wonder what Riley said to her, and I look at her quizzically, but she gives nothing away.

  We talk about going to see the ocean today, before we leave for the airport. It's just after nine-thirty when Alex walks through the door, still wearing the clothes he had on last night, looking very dishevelled.

  “Hey guys…”

  He doesn't even get his shoes off before Addison pulls his arm and wisps him up the staircase.

  “Whoa, slow down! My feet aren’t exactly on speaking terms with my brain yet…What's up with you?” he yells in surprise but goes along with her.

  What’s going on? I'm so confused and really tempted to follow them up there, but if she wanted me to know, I'm sure she'd tell me.

  Richard looks at me again, this time before sipping from his coffee mug. “Kids,” he says and shrugs his shoulders.

  “I'm so happy that Addison has found someone like you,” Lillian trails off, looking out the window, probably thinking about sitting at her daughter's side while after she was beaten by that animal. “She is so happy.”

  The ocean is everything I expected it to be and so much more. You can’t only smell the salt but taste it in the air, too. The spray feels amazing, and Addison and I walk along the beach hand in hand.

  “So, are you going to tell me what's going on with Alex?” I swing her arm up high and spin her around.

  She laughs. “Well, you're not going to believe it, but when Riley called me back, she said Alex didn't come home because he was with her…”

  I don't see the big deal until she raises her eyebrows and widens her eyes.

  “Really?”

  “Well, he always had a crush on her. You know, older sister's best friend and all,” she says and picks up a stone, throwing it into the water. “I think it was just a one-time thing anyway.”

  We walk a little longer. I could stay there all day with her, but knowing we have a flight in four hours, we head back to her parents’ house.

  * * *

  Touching down in Wyoming feels good; I'm happy to be home. Jeremiah picks us up from the airport. He tells me all about the whole lot of nothing that has happened in the three days we were gone. He stayed at the ranch to take care of the dogs and the rest of the animals, enjoying not having to work over the weekend, I'm sure.

  When we get home, Addison and Alex hop out of the truck. I lean over, double-checking they've shut their doors behind them.

  “Jer?” I flick a small piece of straw off my jeans. “I need you to come with me somewhere.”

  “Where? What's up?” He looks at me, puzzled.

  “I want you to help me pick out a ring.”

  The puzzling look is gone, replaced by a little bit of surprise and a big smile. “Bro, wow. I don't know the first thing about rings...But I'll come for sure.”

  I knew I wanted to marry her months ago, before my accident. With each passing day, it’s made more clearly that she's the only woman I want.

  The next day while she's off at work, we give Alex some excuse about having to go into town for an appointment and left him piling wood at the farm.

  “You know, Jer, I never thought I'd be doing this.” I look over at him and smile. “I'm glad you're coming with me.”

  We pull up in front of the jewellery store; walking in, I'm sure we look like the odd couple. A blonde dressed immaculately in a black skirt and silk shirt greets us, asking if we would like some help.

  “Yes, ma'am. I'm looking for a ring, for my girlfriend.” I blush and rub my hand across the back of my neck.

  “An engagement ring? We have beautiful pieces right over here!” she says and guides us toward a large glass display. The stones twinkle as we approach them, lit up like sparklers.

  “Do you know what kind of ring you're looking for? The stone, clarity?”

  I'm sure she can clearly see she's lost me. I have no idea about rings, and I realize I don't even know what size Addison's finger is. “Well, what would do you like?” I ask her, since Jeremiah is no help at all—he’s across the room flirting with another associate. A woman is probably a better choice for assistance.

  “Me? Well...” She scans the rings while holding onto the large string of pearls around her neck, even though I'm sure she's looked at them hundreds of times, she takes her time examining each one.

  “This one.” She reaches down to unlock the door and slides it open, pulling out a glittering platinum ring. A large square diamond in the center, with three more tiny diamonds on either side.

  “This is a classic beauty any woman would love to have.” She starts going on about the clarity, setting—and, of course, the price. I don't care what the cost is. It's perfect, and I can just see it on Addison's beautiful finger.

  I ask the blonde to put the ring on; I think her hands are about the same size. The ring fits. After all, we can always get it sized if it's too big or small, right? After she hands me my credit card back, I carefully tuck the box into my jacket pocket and exhale slowly.

  * * *

  It's the middle of September, my thirtieth birthday only a week away. Thirty. Damn, time really does fly. So much has happened my three decades on earth. Most of it happened this past year, and I wouldn't change any of it. No, I'm wrong; I'd change a few things, like my accident. But Addison always says everything happens for a reason, and I know she's right.

  “What do you want to do for your birthday?” she asks me over dinner, before taking a bite of chicken from her salad.

  “Well, I don't know. Definitely not something crazy like my Dad's birthday party.” I snort and remember the insanity of the planning, decorating and then the tragic ending to the night.

  “I was thinking of just having a nice dinner with your family and the boys,” she says, referring to roommates Jeremiah and Alex, who seem to be making their living arrangement really work.

  “That’d be nice, baby.” I smile and shovel a heaping forkful of chicken and Caesar salad into my own mouth, smiling with packed cheeks.
>
  “Mmm, isn't that a sexy sight!” She laughs and raises one eyebrow. “You have a little...” She points at the corner of her own mouth, hinting at me that I've got something on my face.

  “Let me,” she says and leans across the table, pushing our plates out of the way. Then she reaches me, she slowly licks salad dressing from the corner of my mouth.

  I instantly forget about food and pull her right across the wooden table top. She squeals, and I sit her down on my lap.

  “You're everything to me, you know that?” I say as I kiss her nose.

  “I know. And you're okay in my books, too.” She laughs and runs her fingers tenderly through my hair, looking at her hand while it's moving.

  I want to ask her right there at the table to marry me and make me even happier than I am now, if it's possible at this moment. But the ring it still in the closet, hidden away for safe keeping.

  “Want to watch a movie?” she asks.

  I'm surprised and smile. “You want to watch a movie after what you just did to my face? I can think of other things to do instead...” I trail off, kissing her neck gently.

  “Blaine! Please? There's one coming on at eight o'clock. Remember that one I told you about a few days ago?”

  I don't, and feel like an ass.

  “Oh, yeah. Right. Sorry.” I am sorry but don't tell her I really don't remember.

  The movie is playing on a regular channel, so it has commercials every ten minutes or so. One commercial break shows a local news channel segment, reporting coverage from a rodeo earlier today in Casper. I don't say anything, and neither does she. We haven't talked about rodeos or even been to one since what happened in July.

  They show a clip of a young woman weaving through barrels on a buckskin. A few more shots flash on the screen of cowboys on bronc’s and then one of a man thrown from a bull. Then, without warning for the viewer's discretion, they play another clip. Mine. It's me and Del Mar leaping from the gate with the heading “July in Cody: Sheridan circuit rider Blaine Blackstock thrown from bull and almost killed.”

  I see it for the first time, and Addison gasps, covering her face; it's not the first time she's had to witness it. They play it fast, seconds of me hanging on, Del Mar bucking and kicking, and then I'm airborne. Like Jeremiah said, I looked like a rag doll.

  I shudder watching myself land, and the camera quickly turns to Del Mar who was running around frantically away from me. Then, they replay it in slow motion, just in case we missed it the first time; they want all the details clearly embedded in your mind. I'm wide-eyed watching myself fall again. I see me land, I'm on my left side (that explains the bruises), and then thud! My head whips down, smacking the ground. I instinctively reach up and touch where the bump once was.

  I am in too much shock to notice that Addison isn't sitting beside me anymore. “Addy?” I call her name, but she doesn't answer. Getting up, I see the kitchen door open and I rush out, see her sitting on the steps. She's got her arms wrapped around Luca who is sitting beside her, panting.

  “Baby? You okay?” I already know the answer; she's not. Frankly, neither am I. You know sometimes in your dream you see yourself from a different point of view, watch yourself from above? Well, that's exactly what this news clip was like—a slow, agonizing dream that thankfully ended without me waking up thrashing and sweaty.

  “I'm okay. I just couldn't watch that. Not again.” She looks up at me. She isn't crying but it looks like she could at any minute. She lets go of Luca, he jumps off the step, runs over to the fence to howl at the cattle. I don't say anything; I just sit down beside her and pull her close to me.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “Good morning, birthday boy!” She climbs on top of me, kissing my mouth, and I conclude that this is one of the best ways to wake up, ever.

  “Thank you. Good morning.” I smile and squint from the bright sun filling the room.

  “I have a present for you! Well, the first present of the day, anyway.” She grins, and I look at her like she's up to no good. I'm dead wrong; she's up to good all right. The mind-blowing type of good—the best actually.

  She disappears beneath the sheets and takes me into her mouth, as deep as she can. I actually think I feel my heart stop.

  “Baby, oh shit…” My mouth may be open but nothing else is coming out except groans.

  Jeremiah calls to wish me a happy birthday, as well as both of my brothers. Addison has planned a big family dinner tonight. She promises it will be low-key, no streamers or balloons or giant banners.

  Around noon Jeremiah and Alex arrive to pick me up, not telling me where they're taking me. Addison winks and tells me to enjoy myself. She's staying home to arrange dinner, and I admit I'm really excited to find out what the boys have planned for me.

  Evan's Extreme Pay & Play is displayed on a giant billboard as we turn down a dirt road. The kid in me is freaking out.

  “No way!” I almost start clapping with excitement. “Are you serious, buddy?” I reach over and shake Jeremiah's shoulder aggressively; he laughs, and Alex grabs my shoulders from behind me.

  “Got your pacemaker ready, old man?”

  Evan's is an outdoor park full of trails, mud and fast and loud all-terrain vehicles. We go into the large building; most of it is covered in camouflage paint and has deer and moose heads mounted all over the walls.

  We are welcomed by two young guys, Brad and Mike, according to their name tags. They explain the rules and safety precautions of the park. We sign waivers basically saying that they've used all measures of safety, and we agree that if anything happens it's our own fault and we won't sue the pants off them. I scribble my name down, eager to have some fun.

  I pick a bright blue ATV, Jeremiah and Alex choosing yellow and red. We get completely decked out in gear, with helmets on, and Brad quickly explains the trails and how they all end up back at the main building, so we can't get ourselves lost. He also tells us that we each have radios embedded in our helmets so we can communicate with each other and call for help if needed.

  We rip through the trails; I take the lead, being the birthday boy, after all. I feel free and young again. This is just what I've needed, especially on my thirtieth birthday.

  Three hours later we are back in front of the building. We’re splattered with mud, adrenaline still pumping through us, and we can't stop talking about how much fun we just had.

  “Thank you, guys. That was crazy!” I say excitedly.

  All the way home, we laugh and talk about our ride and replay the entire three hours to Addison when we get back to the farm. She laughs when we tell her about Alex getting stuck in the mud and us getting sprayed while he floored it trying to get out.

  “Dinner will be ready in about an hour,” she tells us. “Everyone should be here soon, so go and get cleaned up.”

  It smells so good in the house, and I'm salivating at both her and the food she's cooking for dinner. She's wearing tight jeans and a pale pink sleeveless top with a sheer back, showing her beautiful skin.

  “What if I'm hungry now?” I whisper to her, raising an eyebrow.

  “Get up there and change, mister.” She scolds me playfully and smacks my ass when I turn to walk away from her.

  Oh, this girl is going to be the death of me.

  We all shower; the guys use the guest bedrooms to clean themselves up, afterward we all sit on the porch together drinking beer. The family shows up at exactly seven PM.

  “Happy Birthday, uncle Blaine!” Casey, my niece, hugs me.

  “Thanks, sweetie!” I spin her around, and she laughs.

  “Happy Birthday, my boy.” My dad actually hugs me, and I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. I know that my brothers are shocked too by the looks on their faces. Maria actually gasps and covers her mouth. Is she going to cry?

  “Thank you, dad.” I hug him back, not wanting to let him go. Why has it taken him thirty years to hug me? I think I'm going to start crying so I let him go, clearing my throat. I realize
everyone is quiet and staring at the two of us.

  “What?” My father notices all the jaws on the floor, too. “Can’t a man hug his own son on his birthday?” He shakes his head like he's got no idea why they're surprised and goes to sit on the couch.

  I exhale deeply, and Owen gives me a big hug. “I've waited a long time to see something like that.”

  “Me too, buddy. Me, too,” I say, hugging him back.

  Addison overdoes herself completely. She's made lasagna, a little jab at me I'm sure, since I burned one during my first attempt to feed her. She’s also made garlic bread, salads, meatballs and some cheesy artichoke dip. Everyone raves about her cooking abilities.

  Jeremiah, Alex and I tell everyone about our playtime at Evan's. My nephews make me promise to take them there some day, and Kelsey snorts. “We'll see about that!”

  Maria shoots her a look, and she smiles.

  “Okay, okay. As long as you're careful.”

  I chuckle to myself. Thanks, Maria.

  My dad has been chatting Addison up all evening, asking her all about her parents, what they do for a living, if they'll ever come and visit Wyoming. He says he would love to meet them and show them some country hospitality. I smile at him.

  Is this the father that Nick and Owen had? The one that disappeared when I was born and was never seen again? Until tonight, that is. I silently pray that this continues; I would really like having my dad around again.

  We're all ready to unbutton our pants, having eaten so much at dinner.

  “Are we going to have some cake?” Casey sits up in her chair, eagerly tugging on Addison's hand.

  “Why, yes we are, sweetie! Would you like to help me bring it out?”

  Casey leaps off her chair and runs into the kitchen.

  “I hope everyone likes cheesecake.” Addison winks at me, and I lick my lip, remembering the last time we had cheesecake, her tantalizing removal of it off her finger.

  Casey brings out two plates at a time, a wedge of cheesecake for everyone, with cherries on top and red drizzle all around the white plates. I'm the only one without any and Casey sits down, smiling ear to ear at me and giggling to herself.