by Lindy Zart
Grayson's band sings a few more songs before calling it quits. I didn't notice it before, but there are food and drinks lined up on multiple picnic tables. People mill about, socializing. Apparently Grayson and whoever helped him had put some thought into this proposal. I wonder how long he has been planning this.
It isn't my parents that find me first. Amazingly, it is Tracie; Grayson's mom. Her blonde hair is kept shorter than it used to be, but the style fits her features. Those eyes so like Grayson's and yet not, find mine as she approaches. The smile on her lips is hesitant, as though she is not sure of her reception.
I smile encouragingly. “Hello, Tracie.”
She relaxes, giving me a quick hug. “Hello. I just wanted to find you and say that I am so happy you will be my daughter-in-law.”
Stunned, I blink at her. That really wasn't what I thought she would say, and I am touched. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
“Grayson and I, well, we've had a rocky relationship, and a lot of that is my fault. But we're slowly getting better, and it seems like maybe we wouldn't have if not for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“The only time Grayson ever really opened up to me was when you two were dating. Then he left, and yes, things weren't as bad as they were before he left, but they weren't especially good. He has always kept himself from me. Again, that is my fault. I kept myself from him first. Anyway, again I see him opening up, and I know it's because of you. You're good for him. I'm thankful for you, thankful that you were there for him so many times when I wasn't. And Aidan—I know you've been there for Aidan a lot too. Both of my sons love you. Thank you.” She touches my shoulder, her palm warm with gratefulness, and then she moves away.
Grayson appears, studying my face. “Everything okay?”
I blink at the tears in my eyes. “Yes. Your mom...she just said something really awesome to me.”
There is a faint smile on his lips. “She thinks you're really awesome. They're dating, you know.”
“Who?”
“My mom and dad.” He raises an eyebrow at me as he gauges my reaction.
I laugh. “That's sweet.”
“It's creepy.”
“You're happy.”
He gets a thoughtful look on his face. “Yeah. I am, actually. Although I don't know why they had to get divorced to realize they should be together.”
I shrug. “Sometimes you don't realize how much something means to you until you've lost it.”
“Sometimes you do.”
I concede his point with an inclination of my head. We both knew what we were losing when we broke up and that knowledge devastated each of us. “This isn't exactly how I thought I would be dressed when I got proposed to, or did my proposal to you either.”
He looks at my white pajama shorts and purple tee shirt. “You could be wearing dirty clothes and smell like butt and I'd still think you were beautiful.”
“Wow. You really know how to toss out the compliments.”
“I am insanely gifted that way.”
“I was going to go to you, to California.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was actually looking at flight schedules when you called just now. I decided I could compromise, and I really missed you, like, crazily missed you. I was going to stay with you so we could be together while you got everything situated. And ask you to marry me. I wanted to show you how serious I am about us for once, show you how much you mean to me.”
“Ah, Lily,” he breathes, grabbing my face and ravaging my lips in a pleasantly rough way. “I know how much I mean to you. I love you so much.” He rests his head against mine. “I had this planned before I went back to California. Your mom and Garrett and Mia helped.”
“Whoa.” I put my hands up and he falls back. “Did you just say Mia and Garrett?”
With a sheepish look on his face, he shrugs. “Yeah. They aren't so bad, actually. We kind of bonded at my brother's gig.”
“And you and Garrett unbonded at my brother's wedding reception,” I remind him.
“It doesn't matter now. They're your friends. So I have to put up with them.”
I punch his arm.
“I mean, I want to put up with them,” he corrects.
“What about California?”
“I'm done with California.”
“And you're okay with that?” My pulse is careening.
He smiles faintly. “I am. This is what I want. You are what I want. I'm still committed to Thrush, but I can do a lot of stuff from here. I'll be a part-time rock star and when I do have to make appearances, you're going with me. That is not up for debate. Where I go, you go. Got it?”
“Stop being bossy,” I say in a trembling voice, feeling like simultaneously crying and laughing.
“Stop being sexy.”
I snort. “I will.”
“You'll stop being sexy? Don't tease. I can't take it, not about that.”
“I'll go with you. Anywhere. Whenever. You and me—like this.” I hold up my hand, showing him my crossed fingers.
Inhaling deeply, he says, “It's real, Lily. This is real. You don't know how many times I dreamed for exactly this. We're going to be together. You're going to be my wife.” He brushes hair away from my eyes; his expression one of love and wonder.
I stare at Grayson, feeling an urge to laugh, which is better than crying. I let it take over, sublimely happy and whole. “We're getting married.”
“We are,” he says solemnly, though the hint of a smile is in his eyes and on his lips.
It is hard to believe that, finally, we are going to get our happily ever after. I am not letting it go. I will fight and fight and forever fight to keep Grayson, and maybe that's not how love is supposed to be, but I kind of think it is. You don't give up on it, even when it seems impossible and like the only solution; not if you truly love someone. Instead you keep loving them, even when maybe they don't deserve it or don't seem to need it, because that is probably when they need it most, and when you need them most. And you always fight. Truth.
THE SUN IS SHINING AND I smile as I squint up at it. The weather is perfect; warmer than usual for May with a slight breeze. Flowers are in bloom, blanketing the vicinity in varying shades of floral beauty; leafy trees are green and abundant.
“I think nature approves,” I say.
Grayson looks down at me like I am something extraordinary and my heart squeezes. He left the glasses at home for the event taking place today, but kept the barbell. His hair is still shorter than he used to keep it; still long enough for him to mess into dark blond mayhem. The blue of his buttoned-down shirt matches his eyes and the khaki pants are strange to see on him, but I like them.
“I think you're right. Not that I care whether it approves or not. Nothing is keeping me from doing this, not even nature.” Putting an ominous cast to his voice, he declares, “I will have you; be it in a thunderstorm, a tornado, or even an earthquake. You shall be mine.”
“Or maybe a sunny day even.”
“Yes. Even a sunny day will do.” Dipping his mouth close to mine, he says quietly, “You're mine, Lily. Forever. I'm not letting you go ever again.”
I laugh, though my heart is racing. “And I'm okay with that.”
“It really doesn't matter if you are or aren't. That's just the way it is.”
I elbow him at his cocky tone and he grunts.
Mia straightened my hair and braided the sides, securing them in back with a white flower. The dress I am wearing is shimmery white with a silver bottom and hooks around my neck with crystal embellishments in the V of the front. I feel like a mythical goddess. Instead of my usual flashy shoes, I am barefoot; same as Grayson.
“I have to tell you something before we do this.”
I look up expectantly. “Okay.”
“You look...beautiful.” He shakes his head, that half-smile on his lips. “I mean, I always thought you were beautiful. You are so beautiful to me, more than any other woman
I have ever seen. It was never just about how you looked, though I could never complain about that. It was a number of things, like...I always tried to define the shade of your eyes, but after a while, I realized it was impossible. There was no one word to describe them—same as you. They are ever-changing, luminous, unique. They reveal so much and see just as much.” Taking a deep breath, he says, “I more than love you. You're kind of all that matters to me. I am obsessed with you.”
“Is it weird that knowing that turns me on?”
He laughs. “Not to me. But right now probably isn't the best time to be saying things like that to me. Public place. Audience. You know.”
“You're probably right. So are we going to do this?” I nod my head toward the merry-go-round.
Grayson threads his fingers through mine. “We are so going to do this.”
I turn to him, gazing up at the only man that completes me. Love for him softens me and brings tears to my eyes. “I love you more than chocolate.”
He kisses my brow. “Better. Come on, I think they're getting anxious.”
“They're probably worried we aren't going to go through with it.”
His fingers tighten around mine. “There is no going back from this,” he tells me fiercely; words he has spoken before.
“I know. And I wouldn't want to.”
Grayson turns to face the small group of people expectantly watching us; splayed among the playground equipment in shades of blue and silver. We chose these colors because of, of course, the Dove Promise wrappers, but Grayson was also insistent on them for another reason—because they are the closest colors he feels define the color of my eyes.
As we walk, hand in hand, words are called out to us.
“Take time to laugh; it's the music of the soul.”
“If you live in the present, every moment is a new beginning.”
“The heart has reason which reason does not know.”
“Live in the present, forgive your past.”
“Love like there is no tomorrow.”
“Compromise is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
“Always follow your heart—it's never wrong.”
“Give yourself to someone who needs you.”
“Love without rules.”
“A good love is delicious, because you can never get enough.”
When we reach the wedding officiant, I am in tears and the hand that is holding mine is shaking. Stone flashes a cocky grin at us from where he stands on the merry-go-round and clears his throat.
“Anyone want to dispute this?” he calls out, eyeing Grayson. He ducks like a fist is coming at him and winks at me.
I roll my eyes, biting my lip to keep a laugh within. At least he doesn't hold grudges.
“I can't believe he's marrying us,” Grayson mumbles next to me.
“I can,” I say, grinning at Stone.
“All right.” He claps his hands together. “Let's get these two married.”
THIS IS ARIEL RODGERS REPORTING from the cheese state. Today you are in for a treat, and I don't mean the chocolate cheese you can find in Wisconsin. I know we've all been curious about what happened to our alternative rock heartthrob who blew up the sound waves with his amazingly rough, yet hypnotic vocal chords and then seemed to fade away before he really made it big—although, I've heard he still has an impressive fan base.
You can thank me later for insisting we do a 'Where Are They Now?' kind of interview because not only is Grayson Lee, former lead singer of Thrush with us, but we also have his Lily and his Olive. I know, I know, what is it about flowers with Grayson? Let's ask him.
AR: My curiosity is killing me. What is the meaning behind the framed corkboard on the wall in the living room?
LL: We used to collect Dove chocolate wrappers and pin them to it. The sayings kind of said how we were feeling at the time. It was a way to give each other a message; just a thing we did as teenagers.
AR: And now?
GL: Now we just eat the chocolates.
AR: Yet you still have the corkboard, and even put it on the wall for all to see. It must have special meaning to you.
LL: It does. We kept it because it symbolized us and everything we ever wanted or felt for each other. It is a collage of our love, I guess you could say.
AR: Interesting. You look happy, Grayson.
GL: I am happy.
AR: Does it have anything to do with the gurgling mass sitting on your wife's lap?
GL: You mean the baby?
AR: Yes. The baby. How old is she?
LL: She just had her first birthday.
AR: Ah, to be young again. And how are you two handling the life of parents?
LL: We love it. She is the sweetest, most beautiful creature to ever be blessed with.
GL: Only because she looks like me.
AR: She looks like Lily to me.
LL: Thank you.
AR: Do you think she'll have the same musical talent her father has?
LL: It's possible. She coos along whenever Grayson sings.
AR: Why did you name her Olive?
LL: I got a tattoo on my lower back a few years ago. It's of a blossoming olive branch. It went from there.
GL: I finally got her off her no vegetable kick.
LL: Olives are technically a fruit.
GL: Always have to be right.
AR: Ah yes, sticking with the name/flower/tattoo bit. I understand. I hear you're a teacher, Grayson?
GL: Yes. Well, kind of. I give music lessons. I'm pretty popular among the toddlers.
AR: I heard. These days your fans generally run between the ages of five to fifteen, right?
GL: They are the best kind of fans. Completely devoted and they still think I'm cool even though the rest of the world knows I'm not.
LL: I think you're cool.
GL: I know you do, and I am grateful for that.
AR: Wisconsin life seems to be good. You have your own little piece of nirvana here in the country. And Lily, you work at the local nursing home?
LL: Yes. I check on the residents, talk to them, make sure they're being treated okay and have everything they want or need.
GL: She also gives them cookies. Lots and lots of cookies.
AR: Well, if they're anything like the ten I just ate, I can understand the need for them.
LL: Chocolate makes people happy. I eat lots of it and I'm always happy.
GL: It doesn't have anything to do with living with the man of your dreams, does it?
LL: That helps, I suppose.
AR: Your baby looks ready to end the interview.
GL: She's melodramatic.
LL: Already has that superstar thing going. I also think she's hungry.
AR: As the general public, we must give in to the whims of the talent. Thank you so much for letting me hang out with you and eat your cookies. You all appear to be doing very well. One final question before I go: Do you think you'll ever give the music business a go again, Grayson?
GL: Have you heard of Eddie and the Platypires?
AR: I have. They're getting a surprisingly devoted cult following in the Indie music world.
GL: I'm their manager.
Well, you heard it directly from the source, although the answer was slightly cryptic. It appears Grayson has taken a backstage role to the performer he used to be, but he is clearly more comfortable with it than being in the public eye like he previously was. Shame, that—the public adored looking at him.
The time I spent with the Lee family was short, but will stay with me as one of my most treasured interviews. There was a sense of peace and contentment with them I did not notice when I spoke with Grayson years back. It seems he is where he needs to be, and from what I saw, he is finally complete, and I think a Lily and an Olive helped him get there.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lindy Zart has been writing since she was a child. Luckily for readers, her writing has improved since then. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two sons, an
d one cat. Lindy loves hearing from people who enjoy her work.
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