by Bree Cariad
“It’s not funny,” he whined.
Managing to keep her sound quiet, she raised her head. “Yes it is, but I know what you mean. Last Friday night I wanted to go in and ask her something but it was just after the two had retired to bed. I walked up and down the hall for a good ten minutes before I just came back to my room. It will take some getting used to.”
“Evan and Cherise are enamored of him,” he said in a quiet whisper filled with amusement. “They semi remember Dad, not like you and I do though.”
Their fifteen-year-old twin siblings were quite the pair. Every single one of the Straynars had blonde—almost white blonde—hair, and light blue eyes. It came from the fact their father had been an albino and their mother was blonde and pale as well. But Evan and Cherise almost looked alike. Their mother had made Cherise grow her hair out several years ago when it came out that the two of them would switch classes in school so that Evan could take Cherise’s math tests and she could take his English ones. The two were troublemakers but also incredibly sweet. DeLynn had never known either of them to do anything out of malice. They just had a unique way of looking at things.
“He’ll be good for Evan,” she murmured, thinking of her mother’s new husband. “And for you. When you leave for college, you won’t have to worry about Mom so much.” Barrett Williams was the father of one of her best friends and she had always thought he was a very nice man. When he and her mother Elizabeth got together, she had been thrilled. Not only did it make her mom extremely happy, but it made Deeka her sister.
“Is he gonna field suitor dinners for you?” he asked with a yawn.
“I’m nineteen and haven’t had any dinner requests since the whole Mark Conners thing. I don’t think we have to worry about that,” she admitted.
“The men in this town are stupid,” he murmured, making her grin as he slowly fell asleep.
Turning onto her back, she stared up at the ceiling. Blaine had said that several times, but practically every girl was engaged or getting married now from her graduating class. Deeka had just gotten married to an incredibly wonderful man. Chrissa…well, she was still eighteen and seemed more intent on getting as many guys to ask for dinners as she could. Her friend didn’t seem to want to settle down. And DeLynn was now nineteen and trying to decide what she was going to do.
Her two obvious choices were get a job or get a degree. Until Barrett, she had figured getting a job would be the best one as then she could stick around and help her mother. But now…now there was the opportunity of going to college. And it scared her. She’d never been away from home and was raised to be a wife and mother. Now it looked like that might not happen, at least not in the Hyacinth way of doing things.
As Blaine let out a little snore, her body shook with silent laughter. Her poor brother. At seventeen he’d been the man of the family for eight years. It must be strange for him to have been supplanted by Barrett. But DeLynn was sure her mother’s new husband was a very good thing for this family. Closing her eyes, she felt herself slowly drift back toward sleep. As she went from conscious to unconscious, a very strange thought went through her head.
What if I fell in love the modern way?
The rest of the summer slid by. DeLynn volunteered at the ladies’ auxiliary for four hours a day, hoping to figure out what she should do while family life settled relatively quickly. It almost felt like Barrett had been there for longer than a few weeks. Nine-year-old Charity, who had never known their own father, called him Daddy and followed him around like a little puppy. This weekend, Barrett had taken Evan, Cherise, Charity, and Blaine camping, which they were all thrilled about. DeLynn had begged off as the outdoors wasn’t her favorite place and her mother had seemed happy for a reason to stay home as well. DeLynn got her distaste of bugs from the woman who gave birth to her. Maybe it was a genetic thing.
“I’m heading to the Lava Lamp,” she told her mother on Sunday afternoon. “Anything you need while I’m out?”
“Thanks, honey, no. Have fun. Is Deeka going to be there?”
“Yes. First time I’ve seen her since her wedding. Can’t wait.”
“Tell her and Chrissa hello for me.”
“Thanks, Mom, I will.”
Electing to walk because it was still really nice out and there weren’t that many more days of sunshine before the rains started again, Deeka made her way to the coffee shop she and her friends preferred. There were several in town, but the Lava Lamp made the best drinks in her opinion.
It was pretty quiet. Old Mr. and Mrs. Govin sat in one corner, sipping their chai teas, waving at her when she walked in. Smiling, she waved back. As long as she could remember, the two came every Sunday for a chai. It must be nice to have that kind of weekly date with your spouse. Seeing that her friends weren’t there yet, she ordered her regular cinnamon macchiato and sat down at a booth in one of the corners where she could watch out the large window as Hyacinth walked by.
A blue car pulled up at the curb a couple minutes later and DeLynn straightened in excitement as Deeka popped out of the passenger door. She leaned into the car before backing up, waving, and closing her door. Turning toward the café, she spotted DeLynn. Squealing, Deeka ran forward, opening the door and trotting over to DeLynn who jumped to her feet. After hugging her, DeLynn pulled back and observed her friend. Bright, happy eyes and glowing skin. “You look absolutely content,” she remarked.
“Oh, I am. Let me get my drink and we can chat.” As DeLynn sat back down, Deeka went up to the counter. A couple minutes later, she came back with a large cup.
“What did you get?” DeLynn asked, staring at it. It was too dark to be Deeka’s regular drink.
“Chile mocha,” Deeka said with a grin.
“Pardon?”
“Peppers and chocolate and coffee. Curtis turned me onto it. It’s really good.”
“Uh-huh. Your husband is killing your taste buds.”
Giggling, Deeka took a nice long drink. “Yum,” she said, fanning her mouth.
Snickering, DeLynn took a drink from her own cup. “So, married life?” she prodded.
Looking up, her friend beamed. “It’s great. So much better than I had ever imagined. And Curtis?” She sighed. “He’s absolutely wonderful.” After a pause, she asked, “How’s life with a man in the house?”
Laughing, DeLynn explained about her siblings’ reactions to having a father-figure now. “I always liked your dad, but I have to say, I’m so glad he and Mom got together. He makes her so happy.”
“Dad’s a great guy,” Deeka agreed. “But tell me. Anything new on the suitor front?”
“Nope. I think that ship’s sailed. I need to figure out wha—” DeLynn stopped as Chrissa ran into the café and up to them.
“Hey!” she squealed, hugging Deeka. “Don’t say anything. I’ll be right back.”
Both of them stared at Chrissa as she walked up to the counter.
“Did she—” Deeka asked slowly, staring.
DeLynn couldn’t take her eyes off their friend. Whereas she had always had fire engine red hair, her hair was now a bright aquamarine blue hanging straight to her shoulders. When Chrissa joined then, sitting down next to Deeka, they both still stared at her. “What?” she asked after taking a sip from her coconut latte.
“Your hair,” Deeka said, her lips twitching. “When did you go blue?”
“Oh! Last week. I went to Aunt Marjorie at Mom’s insistence for a new cut. I told her what I wanted and this was the result,” she said in anger, pointing at her shoulders. “I didn’t want it shoulder length. So I drove down to the Cut n’ Curl and they had a new stylist whose hair was bright green. I asked her what we could do with mine and after bleaching it twice, this was the color she added. Cool, huh?”
“What did your mom do?” DeLynn asked, giggling.
Chrissa blushed. “Well, um, she let me come here, but I’m grounded. Royally. Can’t do anything without her okay for a month. A month!”
“What about your d
ad?” Deeka asked.
“Don’t ask. I’m surprised I can sit down,” she said dryly. “But enough about me. Deeka, how’s life with Curtis?”
“Fabulous. Married life’s wonderful. And you two need to come see the house.”
“We saw it,” DeLynn reminded her, “after you guys changed the kitchen and living rooms.”
“Yeah, but wait until you see it now. We decided to use my bedroom for our bedroom as Dad’s was actually smaller, which I didn’t realize. So Curtis had the workmen take part of his old bedroom and add it onto our bathroom. Let me tell you, girls, our bathroom? Better than any five-star hotel. Huge, sunken bathtub, a walk—or roll in—shower, two sinks, one low for him and one the perfect height for me. I’m loving it.”
“What did he do with the rest of your dad’s old bedroom?” Chrissa asked with interest.
“We’ve built on,” she said excitedly. “There’s kind of a nice little reading area now with a comfy couch and a couple great reading lamps and then through a new hallway is the addition which includes another bedroom and an office for my hubby. We’ve almost doubled the size of the house.”
“Wow. When can we see it?” DeLynn asked. It didn’t even sound like the same place.
“How about next weekend? Curtis was talking about having a barbeque and inviting Dad and you guys anyway. Chrissa, any courter?”
“Nope. And I’m good with that,” their blue-haired friend said with a grin. “I’m having too much fun with the whole dinner thing.”
“Okay, well, come along. There’ll be plenty of food and I really want you to see our place now.” They chatted for over an hour, catching up and laughing about the newest news in Hyacinth. Until Deeka dropped a little bomb on them. “I start college in a few weeks.”
“You what?” both DeLynn and Chrissa said in surprise.
Deeka beamed. “Curtis wants me to continually learn and he’s encouraged me to look into online courses. But I found the community college in Longdale offers a nine-month pastry chef program. I mentioned it to him and the first words out of his mouth were, ‘Let’s go check out the school.’ And we did and I’m signed up for the program starting at the end of September.”
Startled, DeLynn also was thrilled. Maybe if she could start at the local community college, they could drive together or something. Before she could mention it, Chrissa bounced in her seat, an excited expression on her face. “We should do it, too!” she said, looking between DeLynn and Deeka. “We did high school together. Let’s do college together, as well!”
“How’s that gonna work with your being grounded?” Deeka asked in amusement.
“Pfft! Mom will probably be so happy I’m actually doing something that doesn’t involve dying my hair or looking at tattoos that she’ll agree.”
“Tattoos?” DeLynn said, trying to cover the shock that she felt and yet unable to. Chrissa had always pushed the edge, but ink?
“It was just a rub-on one. It’s not like I’m going to actually get a real tattoo,” Chrissa said in discomfort. “You know how I feel about needles.”
Relieved, DeLynn nodded and would have spoken but a familiar car pulled up. “I think that’s your ride, Deeka.”
Her friend looked over and a brilliant smile lit her face. “I have to go, guys. Curtis and I are going on a picnic.”
“Have fun!” DeLynn called, waving at the car, though with the dark windows she had no idea if Curtis would have seen her. As soon as Curtis pulled away from the curb, she rounded on Chrissa who already had a wounded expression ready, obviously expecting some sort of lecture. “College? You? Not once as long as I’ve known you Chrissaline Tea Carroll have you ever expressed interest in going to college. So why now?”
A few expressions crossed her friend’s face, as though she was trying to consider whether to answer flippantly or not. Finally her shoulders flumped and she shrugged. “Mom won’t let me get a job because I’m still in courting year and to be honest, if I don’t get out of there for at least a few hours a day, I may have to bludgeon her to death. So, see? College is good for something.”
Relieved, DeLynn grinned even as she giggled. “Wow, you must be really desperate if you’re willing to attempt going to school again. You hated high school.” Chrissa’s grades were so bad she almost didn’t graduate, not because she wasn’t smart so much as she just hated school.
“It sucked. So, what do you say? Head to Longdale on Tuesday?” she asked hopefully.
“I’ll need to talk to Mom and Barrett, but if they’re okay with it, then yeah.” They were able to chat for another ten minutes before Chrissa’s phone went off and grimacing she pulled it out.
“Have to go. The Momster wants me home.”
“Call me tomorrow night!” DeLynn hollered after her as Chrissa ran from the café.
Finishing off her drink, DeLynn took the dirty cups up to the counter, waved at the barista who was making a coffee, and headed home. College. Wow. She had just been thinking about it and now it looked as though she would actually do it. As long as Mom and Barrett were okay with it. DeLynn was pretty sure Barrett would approve. Her mother she wasn’t sure about. Sure Liz wanted her daughter to be happy, but she still hoped for more suitor dinners and there hadn’t been one in over a year.
As she walked home, DeLynn realized she was grinning from ear to ear. Maybe she was more excited about this college prospect that she thought.
Her siblings and new step-father arrived home just before dinner on Monday and it was a raucous thirty minutes as he rushed everyone upstairs to take showers and change their clothes. DeLynn couldn’t be sure but it looked as though Blaine was happy, as though some of the weight he had been carrying as man of the house had been removed. After helping her mother to set the table, the two sat down and waited as the rest of their family trickled down the stairs with wet hair and in fresh clothes.
“How was camping?” she asked once they started to eat.
Her three youngest siblings launched into a moment-by-moment account of coming face to face with a skunk.
“Well, we didn’t get that close,” Blaine said with a grin as Charity started winding up. She paused and frowned before turning to Barrett.
“Daddy, can we go again?” she pleaded.
“Yes. But school starts on Tuesday and winter is coming. It may not be for a while.”
The table was lively, which DeLynn was used to, but there was an underlying tranquility which was something Barrett had brought with him. As though having him there had calmed down the manic emotions that her three younger siblings tended to exude on a daily basis before he and their mother got together. Especially Charity.
DeLynn chose to wait to talk to her parents until after Charity had been sent to bed. The twins had gone up to their room to read and Blaine was curled up in an armchair with a word circle game. “May I speak with you?” she asked hesitantly when her mother and Barrett walked into the living room.
“Of course, dear,” Liz said.
Barrett went to sit down but DeLynn shook her head. “Both of you.” He looked startled but pleased even as Blaine straightened up and stared at her. “How about the study?” The study was a new room for them. When her father had been alive, it had been the discipline room as that was the only reason it was ever used. After he passed, it became the junk room. When Barrett moved in, he had moved out the junk and made it into a study and library for himself, something he had not had in the home he’d shared with Deeka. Unsurprisingly, it was also used to discipline as well.
The three of them walked in and as she sat in a thin, upright chair that faced Barrett’s small wooden desk, her mother sat down in the chair next to hers while Barrett leaned against the desk. “What is it?” he asked kindly.
Her eyes moved from her mother’s slightly worried expression to his kind eyes and stayed there. It was much easier to say this looking at him, than at her.
“I-I’ve been thinking. I’m nineteen now and I really need to start doing something for me. A
t first I thought a job, but, um, Deeka’s going to college and I think I would like to, too.” The last phrase was said so quickly, it came out in a jumble.
“What was that, dear?” her mother asked, cocking her head to the side.
Barrett, however, smiled. “College is a great idea, DeLynn. Do you know where you would like to go?”
Startled, her mother looked from one to the other. “College?”
“Well,” DeLynn said, wringing her hands together. “I could get a job, but I thought college was a better idea. And with Deeka going, if we get similar classes maybe we can drive together or something. And Chrissa’s interested in going as well. We thought we’d go to Longdale tomorrow and check out the community college.”
“But courting,’ Liz said hesitantly.
“I’m nineteen, Mom,” she reminded her. “And nobody has asked for a dinner in over a year. I think we have to accept it’s not going to happen.”
“It will happen in its own time,” Barrett said calmly, standing up to come over near his wife and put his arm around her shoulders. “Why don’t you let me and your mother talk for a few minutes alone? Then we can give you our answer.”
Relieved, DeLynn nodded and darted out of the room, plopping down on the sofa nearest her brother.
“What was that about?” he asked in a loud whisper.
“I asked to go to college.”
“Oh.” At first Blaine looked confused and then his face lit up. “Cool! I’ll be going to college next year. You can tell me what it’s like. Are you nervous?”
“A little,” she admitted. “College hasn’t exactly been discussed. But with Barrett here to help support all of you, I figure it might be better than just getting a job.”
“I like him,” he admitted with a shy grin. “He was so cool this weekend. I mean, literally. He never got upset or lost his temper, even when Charity was being her charming self.”
Spluttering as this was something nobody had mentioned at dinner, she leaned in. “What happened?”
They had talked for almost an hour when the study door opened and their parents walked out, both of them with serene expressions on their faces. So whatever they had decided, they were in accord.