"Here you go kids," she uttered. "This is on the house."
"Thanks, Ava." Meg tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. As the years passed, the twins' hair had dulled some, going from the bright orange to a deep shade of auburn. It suited them in their young adult years.
"You're the best, Ava." Aiden grinned as he began to dig in to his huge stack of pancakes, his own sadness temporarily shoved to the side.
I smiled at her, as I accepted her plate.
"Thank you, Miss Ava“ Eric said gratefully.
"Miss Ava, hey?" she said. "I like that southern charm you got there, Eric. Dig in kids." She smiled before she turned and hurried back into the kitchen.
“I’ll be right back,” I stated, getting up. No one said anything, as they chewed vigorously, just nodded that they had heard me.
I walked out of the dining room and into the kitchen. "Hey, Ava."
"Hey, sweetheart. What can I do you for?"
"I just never thanked you properly for the food... and the money."
Her face was beaming with such kindness as she opened her arms wide, pulling me to her.
"You are so welcome. I would do anything for you, you know that, right?" she asked. I nodded, emotion constricting my voice. "But why have you been turning it down lately? I mean, yes you've taken a few pieces of clothing, but the money—"
"It's my father. He doesn't want to accept handouts," I interrupted.
"It's not a handout. If only..." Ava mumbled to herself.
"I can't accept it. If I could, I would."
Ava stepped back from me and crossed her arms, tapping a tooth with one of her red polished fingernails in thought. She inhaled deeply, as if she had something to say, but then thought better of it. She plastered a smile back on her beautiful face, one that didn't reach her eyes as she said, "Well, if there's ever anything you need, and I mean anything, promise me you won't hesitate to ask. No matter where you are, Ashley, you have my address and number, whatever you need, I will make it happen. You have no idea how much you mean to Sharon and me. Just promise to call, okay.”
"I promise," I replied, knowing it was a promise my father would force me to break. I didn't want to ruin the moment or the gesture so I said nothing further.
"Okay. Get in there and eat your eggs before they get cold." Ava kissed my forehead once more before pulling away and making herself busy, her eyes glistening.
I walked back to the table where my friends were all whispering hurriedly. They stopped when they saw me returning, sitting back in their seats, their heads looking anywhere but at each other.
I cocked an eyebrow. "What's going on, guys?" I asked as I sat down and picked up my fork.
"Nothing," they all said in unison, as they turned back to their plates.
"Tell me," I said, not liking that they all held a conspiratorial gleam in their eyes.
"It's for us to know and you to find out, chica," Meg said, waving her cutlery at me. The two boys grinned at one another.
"Very well," I conceded, "but I don't like surprises."
"No one does," Meg admitted, giggling.
"Unless you know what it is," Aiden jested.
Chapter Ten
Ashley
I didn't have to wait long to find out what my friends had been conspiring to do. The very next night I found myself at the twins' house, seated in front of the bathroom mirror, having my hair done by Meg. Apparently, I had no say in the matter.
I sat in a wooden and canvas camp chair in front of the large vanity mirror, clad only in Meg's pink terry-cloth robe. I patiently waited, biting at my nails as Meg finished blow-drying my hair, then attempted to straighten it.
"What are you planning on doing with that?" I asked as she then pulled out a bottle of flesh-toned liquid.
"Make-up," she replied as she placed an assortment of eye shadows, eyeliner, mascara, bronzer, and a few different shades of lipstick onto the counter.
Not one to ever paint my face with anything except sunscreen, I was way out of my element. However, Meg was positively giddy at the thought of treating me like her own life-size doll, something I was used to thanks to Sharon.
"Foundation comes first." She placed a dab of the foundation onto a tiny foam triangle.
"Why do I even need make-up?" I probed as I continued to sit, eyes closed as she dabbed it onto my face. "What are we doing all of this for?"
"You'll see," Meg said with a giggle, not giving away any clues as to what the night held.
Small butterflies erupted in my belly. This kind of pampering was something I was not used to, and for a moment I felt like a princess. I couldn't believe I had someone in my life that wanted to take the time to make me feel special.
Aiden came running down the hallway and stuck his head into the bathroom. I clutched at the opening of the robe, making sure it was covering me entirely.
"How's it going, ladies?" he asked as he peered around the door, a large smile plastered on his face as I glanced back at him through the mirror.
"Out! Girls only," Meg snapped as she finished coating my face in foundation, one hand pointing at him to retreat. He disappeared out of sight and instead of looking at him in the mirror, I caught my own attention. The foundation had done its job, giving my skin a healthy shine and covering the slight reddish tint I had acquired from working in the orchard picking strawberries all summer.
I was transfixed as Meg followed it up with some powder foundation for a nice, finished luster. Just when I thought she had finally finished, she pulled out her make-up brushes, expertly creating a cat-eye look with gold eyeshadow and a barely-there streak of pitch-black liner. She coated my lashes with the sticky mascara and then defined my cheekbones with blush before painting on a soft, shiny nude lipstick.
Once she finally finished, she stepped back to survey her work, hands on her hips. "Not bad, if I do say so myself."
I beheld my reflection in the mirror–I barely recognized myself. I looked like one of the women that graced the glossy magazine covers I had seen in gas stations across the country. For just a moment, I almost cried as I examined myself. I was beautiful. I looked... grown-up.
"You have a calling with make-up," I said to Meg as I pulled my eyes away from the reflection staring back at me.
"Every girl needs to know how to primp," she smiled back, shrugging her shoulders as if that was just common sense. "Come on, we have to find you something to wear." She ushered me out of the canvas chair, guiding me by the hand down the hallway.
We entered Meg's room and I spotted several fancy dresses spread across the bed. Meg grabbed one with a sage-green bodice and cream tulle skirt that would hit just below the knee. It was the kind of dress I would have chosen for a dance–if I ever had the opportunity to go to a dance. I didn't even dare reach out and touch it, as Meg swung it in front of her. It was too precious for me to touch.
"It's lucky we are both around the same height and size," she stated. "Even our shoe size is the same. I do wish I had your soft honey hair, it's so shiny and... manageable," she sighed. "Anyhow... chop, chop. You have places to be, so get your butt into this dress, missy," she instructed and shoved the delicate garment into my hands.
"Aren't you coming?" I clutched the dress to my body.
"Nope," she replied with a smile. "Just you and Eric tonight."
My heart started racing at the thought. "What? You're really not coming? Is this some kind of... date?" My hands began to shake at the thought of a date with Eric. We had been alone plenty of times, but it was walking and talking—this was different.
"Come on, girl. You know he adores you," Meg rolled her eyes at me.
"Wha—but I've never been on a date. I mean, does he even really see me that way, as… you know." I didn't know what I was trying to say. I had too many thoughts racing around in my head and couldn't seem to catch on to one of them and speak it out properly.
"This is his way of telling you he really likes you, Ash." Meg giggled, amused by my nerves
as she closed the door behind her, stepping out into the hall so I could change. "Now hurry up and get dressed so I can finish your hair. Time waits for no one. And no escaping out of the window."
I laughed; Meg's room was on the second floor, so jumping wasn't really an option, unless you were Aiden whom, several summers ago, launched himself out of his bedroom window, breaking an arm and fracturing several ribs. I wasn't that stupid.
But doing my hair again? I would never spend this much time "primping" as Meg called it–too much work.
A few minutes later when I opened the door, the twins and their mother were standing outside. They all smiled at me with approval as I stepped out in the dress.
"You look wonderful, darling," Mrs. O'Connor beamed. My face heated up with embarrassment from the compliment. I still wasn't used to hearing such nice words.
"All of my hard work paid off." Meg puffed up with pride.
"Phenomenal," Aiden guffawed. "And it wasn't all your hard work, Meg. It's Ash, she's just beautiful is all."
She agreed with her brother and I turned away, seriously trying to hide my blushing face. Meg grabbed me by the shoulders, maneuvering me down the hallway to the bathroom to again finish my hair.
I rolled my eyes. Isn't this primping stuff finished already?
Chapter Eleven
Ashley
Twenty minutes later, after Meg had gone over my hair yet again with not only a straightener, but also a curling iron and a ton of hairspray, wanting to set soft flowing curls or something of that nature, we all piled into the O'Connor's RAV-4. Mrs. O'Connor, or Beverly as she had insisted I call her time and time again, drove me out to the secret meeting place that was apparently set up in the woods. We passed my campsite and for that I was grateful. I also had a rough idea as to what part of the river we would be by and knew if I followed it back, I could make it to the camp within an hour.
We pulled onto the dirt track and no more than two minutes later, there was Eric standing at the end of the dirt track. The car’s lights gleamed on the young man who made my heart skip a beat. Dressed in a black tux with a red tie, Eric grinned as we pulled up, his handsome face doing funny things to me. As I stepped out of the back seat, I watched as he sucked in a breath. For the first time ever, he looked as if he was as nervous as me. Mrs. O'Connor and the twins wished me well with an over-excited giddiness just as I stepped away from the car.
I watched as Eric pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his brow as I moved closer; I wondered if it really was from nerves or just the fact that the weather was hot. Evening may have fallen upon us, but the heat was stifling with an almost unbearable humidity. For just a moment, I panicked that my hair would frizz out of control. Thanks, Meg for making me worry.
I felt timid as I walked up to him. The whole situation of being on a date felt surreal. I had zero percent experience when it came to how this kind of thing should happen. Eric pulled out a small, clear, plastic box from behind his back as I reached him. Inside, nestled on a bed of white tissue paper, was a corsage of three white orchids, a spray of baby's breath, and a silken sage-green ribbon. He gently took it out of the box and reached for my hand. Once he raised it, he gently pushed the beautiful array onto my wrist.
"You look beautiful," he managed to say, giving me a nervous smile.
It was adorable and I felt relieved to know I wasn't the only one affected by the night ahead.
"Thank you," I blushed, looking away to hide my flushed cheeks.
"Okay, you two," Meg cut in. "Smile for the camera."
We turned around to see she was right behind us holding up an old Polaroid instant camera. I completely forgot we still had company. Once I saw Eric, he was the only thing in that moment that captured my undivided attention.
He wound his arm around me from behind, resting his head on top of mine, and we both smiled as the camera flashed twice.
Meg pulled each picture out, waving them in the air to dry, before handing one to each of us. I slid mine into the dress pocket after a quick glance, trying not to swoon over something as simple as a photo, but inside, I was almost crying. I didn't have any photos—this would be my first—and to me it was worth more than gold. It was a keeper for sure and whenever I was sad out on the road, I knew I would look at it and remember the boy who stole my heart.
The O'Connors piled back into their car with a chorus of good wishes, barely staying more than a few minutes.
As we watched the car pull away, my friends waving manically at us from their windows, Eric said, "I have something to show you. Close your eyes."
I obeyed, but that didn't mean I wasn't tempted to peek. But I held steady. He took my hand tightly in his and began to lead me into the woods. My heart beat excitedly in my chest as I stumbled blindly behind him, holding on for dear life. Finally, he pulled us to a stop. He let go of my hand and I heard him walking a few steps further, before coming to a halt.
"Okay, now you can look," he stated.
I slowly opened my eyes one by one to find that we were standing in a clearing. A hand flew up to mouth as I gasped in awe. I could have cried from wonder at what greeted me. I looked up and around at the most unbelievable set up, the clearing decorated with hundreds of fairy lights strung up around the trees encircling the open space, their bright yellow glow illuminating the darkening forest. To my right was a table set up with a white tablecloth, a bowl of pinkish punch and a small white iced cake–Ava's handiwork, I knew without a doubt since her cakes were legendary. To the left of me sat another table, a portable speaker and one of those iPods were set up on it, a soft melodic song I had never heard before coming out of it.
I could barely breathe as I continued to stare and absorb the scene around me. It was like an enchanted storybook scene, yet it was happening in real life–in my life. But what I described was only the tip of the iceberg. The summer humidity had gifted us with a sight I knew I would never forget until the day I die.
There were no words to describe what was happening as all around, showcased by the string lights, were hundreds of butterflies fluttering in all their beauty, dancing in the warmth of the night air. It was beyond magical. My mind struggled to believe that any of this was real. Things like this didn't happen to me. Fairytales were things I had only ever read about.
Eric came and stood next me, his eyes also surprised by what the fluttering surrounding us. Never in my life did I expect someone to do this for me, to set up something as romantic as this night was turning out to be. Thoughts of other teenagers going out with their friends to the movies, sleepovers, parties, and dances were just wishes to me. But there I stood, in the middle of the forest in a dress with the boy of my dreams, looking at this spectacular display. My heart soared and danced right along with the butterflies.
"What is all of this?" I whispered, barely believing what I was seeing.
"Well, I can't take credit for the butterflies," he laughed, turning to look at me. "But, I figured since you don't go to high school, you wouldn't have a prom. So, I got some help from the twins, Ava, Sharon, Mrs. Brooks, and my grandfather. I wanted something for you to remember," he answered, biting his lip unsurely.
"It's... it's a fairytale, Eric. I don't know what else to say but thank you." I looked up at him, an uncontrollable smile breaking freely across my face as I closed the gap between us, reaching up on my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. He enveloped me and pulled me in tighter. We stood that way for an undeterminable time as I accepted the reality of what he and my friends had done for me.
When he unwound his arms from around my waist and stepped away, his warmth and comfort going with him, I missed the contact immediately. I watched him walk to the table with the portable speaker; with a few touches of his finger to the iPod, the smooth sounds of a piano and a saxophone bled into the twilight.
"John Coltrane–best musician to ever walk the earth," Eric proudly announced as he hurried back over to join me.
He held out a hand, which I t
ook without a second thought, then he placed it on his shoulder. I immediately followed with my other and looped my arms about his neck, before his hands found their way to rest on my hips. Every time he touched me, my body would ignite with heat and it was getting harder to maintain my composure. He made me want to do more than just hold his hand. My mind wanted more, my heart wanted more, my lips screamed that they needed more. As we began to sway back and forth to the music, I felt unsure of my movements, never one to have ever danced with a partner before, but as the music played on, I began to not care. I was there with Eric and that's all that mattered.
I had never felt this way before–sure yet so unsure of myself, confident yet hesitant, beautiful yet self-conscious. These opposing feelings had been happening daily since I first met Eric. Tonight though, I wanted to live in the moment, to feel free and not overthink things. This was a night I never wanted to forget for as long as I lived. I didn't want my insecurities to rob me of something so special.
As the music switched over to another song, Eric leaned in and I could see the moment that was coming. It was one I had dreamed about often and, oh my Goodness, it was about to happen.
Closing my eyes, I felt the instant his lips touched mine. The gesture was soft and hesitant, as if feeling out for any initial hesitations from my side. With a soft moan slipping from between my lips, I responded with need—a need for more from him. He heard me loud and clear and the kiss between us deepened. My hand gripped the back of Eric's neck and I could feel his pulse racing as much as mine. Everything else around us ceased to exist for that one moment in time. It was just the two of us, walking into new territory and loving the terrain. It was everything I had envisioned the perfect first kiss to be. It was as if we had been doing it for a lifetime.
Eric slowed us down and softened the kiss once again. We pulled apart, slowly opening our eyes to look at each other. My hand involuntarily flew to my mouth, as if testing the lingering feeling on my lips was real. I was unsure if it was actually possible for your first kiss to be so good.
Where She Was Loved Page 6