Addi & Lane

“Now let me see you. Twirl!” Grandma Dorothy instructed. Addi turned slowly in a circle, holding out her arms. The dark purple dress had thin straps, ruching at her chest (she just learned what that meant), and the hem line came to the top of Addi’s knees. The color wasn’t her favorite, but it was the only dress she found with glitter that didn’t make her feel five years old. Addi loved the way the little silver specks caught the light. The sheer glitter overlay felt sophisticated and understated, as Grandma Dorothy explained. “Oh honey, you look beautiful!” Addi blushed, delicately feeling her hair. Following instructions in a magazine, she pulled it back in a French twist, leaving little sections on either side of her face to frame it.

“Does it look okay?” Addi asked, unsure. She didn’t go to the homecoming dance last year and had never done a hairstyle like this before. Though it did look almost identical to the picture in the magazine, and the little bit of eyeliner she wore was straight, and the mascara wasn’t clumpy, being done up in this way made her feel uncomfortable.

“It looks perfect,” Grandma Dorothy said softly, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. Addi stepped forward and hugged her grandmother.

“Thank you for helping me with all of this! I couldn’t have done it without you,” Addi said warmly. “You sure I look okay? I feel like a doll.” Grandma Dorothy laughed at this.

“Honey, you blow all the dolls out of the water. You could be a model in that dress!” Addi’s face scrunched up and her grandmother laughed again. “I meant that as a compliment. Don’t worry so much.”

“I’m so nervous,” Addi breathed.

“It’s perfectly normal, honey.” Addi looked at the clock on the wall.

“He’s late, what if he’s not coming? What if he changed his mind?”

“Then I’ll whoop his butt,” Grandma Dorothy responded with an angry face, causing Addi to laugh.

“I believe you!” There was a soft knock on the door and Addi gasped softly. “He’s here!” she whispered. Grandma Dorothy chuckled.

“It’s open!” Lane opened the door slowly.

“Hello?” he said with hesitation.

“Lane Garrison get your butt in here,” Grandma Dorothy commanded. Lane opened the front door the rest of the way and stepped inside quickly, shutting it behind him. “You are late.”

“I’m sorry, Grandma Dorothy,” Lane began. “Lucky got out again-” Lane stopped as he looked at Addi. She watched his face light up and his cheeks turn bright red. “Wow, Addi,” Lane exhaled. “You look beautiful.” Addi felt her own cheeks burn. She’d never seen him dressed up before, either.

“And you look so handsome!” she complimented. The black slacks and dark gray shirt looked great on him. “I didn’t know you owned anything other than plaid.” Lane nodded, chuckling.

“I don’t, this is my brother’s. Here,” he stepped forward. “I brought this for you.” Lane pulled his hand forward from behind his back holding a clear plastic container with a corsage.

“Marigolds?” Addi asked with a smile. Lane nodded again, smiling back at her. “Thank you, Laney!” Her voice caught in her throat.

“I know they’re your favorite.”

“Just like her momma,” Grandma Dorothy added, wiping away a tear. Lane opened the container and Addi held out her wrist for him to put it on. The petals were rich shades of yellow and red. Addi’s heart flip-flopped in her chest, she could hardly contain her excitement.

“I’m sorry it doesn’t go with your dress,” Lane apologized, closing the corsage container.

“Are you kidding me? This is the best part of my entire outfit!” Addi beamed, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him quickly on the cheek.

“Oh!” Lane said with surprise, his hand reaching up to his face where she kissed him.

“Wait, let me get a picture, hold on,” Grandma Dorothy instructed, reaching for her camera. Addi stood next to Lane, placing her arm around his waist. As she leaned into his shoulder, she got a whiff of his cologne; he smelled wonderful! Lane wrapped his arm around her shoulder and squeezed. “You both look great!” Grandma Dorothy commented, clicking away. “Now get outta here! And back by eleven, Lane Garrison, ya hear?”

“Yes, ma’am!” Lane said confidently, holding the door open for Addi. She stepped out into the cool autumn air, taking a deep breath. She looked down at her corsage as she walked toward Lane’s red pickup truck, her heart bursting with happiness and excitement. Lane got her, he understood her, and Addi was so happy to have him in her life. Lane skipped ahead to open the truck door. Addi paused before climbing in.

“This…this is…” she began, softly touching the petals of the marigolds, searching for the words to express how she felt. Lane looked down at her wrist.

“Is that okay?” he asked, concerned. “Because my mom said a red rose would be better, but I didn’t think you liked roses, and you love marigolds. But I feel bad because it doesn’t match your dress and I’m thinkin’ my mom was right.” Addi looked up at him, at the genuine concern on his face. She stepped closer to Lane where he stood holding open the truck door, the toes of her black dress flats touching the toes of his black boots. Looking into his warm blue eyes and kind face, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. When she flattened her feet and looked up at him, the surprise on his face made her smile.

“Your mom was wrong,” Addi stated. Lane nodded vigorously.

“Okay,” he agreed, still nodding, taking a deep breath. “Okay,” he said again. Addi got in the truck and Lane slammed the door shut. Putting on her seatbelt, she watched Lane go around to the driver’s side, grinning from ear to ear. Today was her new favorite day.

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“I’m home, Grandma Dorothy,” Addi whispered, standing next to her grandmother’s bed. “Grandma Dorothy?” Addi said again, rubbing her arm. The old woman rolled over and grabbed her watch.

“10:45? Good boy,” she nodded, setting the watch down on her nightstand. “Did you have fun, honey?”

“The best time! I’ll see you in the morning.” Addi began backing out of the room.

“Okay, honey, good night.” Grandma Dorothy rolled back over and began snoring. Addi softly clicked the bedroom door closed.

“She called you a ‘good boy’,” Addi said quietly, smiling, as she joined Lane in the kitchen. Lane laughed.

“How many scoops?” he asked, indicating the tub of vanilla ice cream.

“Where did you find that?” Addi asked, tilting her head. She didn’t think they had anything other than an old box of popsicles.

“Bottom of the freezer, way in the back,” Lane explained. Thinking about it, Addi wondered if it was from Nick’s funeral service. She felt her face fall.

“Oh.” She went to the pantry to find some chocolate syrup or nuts or something.

“I can put it back. We don’t have to have any.” Addi looked over at Lane’s face from where she was digging around in the pantry. Taking a deep breath, she shook her head.

“No, it’s okay. Just distract me. Tell me about something.”

“Okay,” Lane nodded, scooping the ice cream. “Remember how I told you Lucky got out again?”

“Yeah. I feel like that bull gets out at least once a week.” Addi could only find chocolate syrup; hopefully that was enough to spice up the plain vanilla ice cream.

“Well he keeps breaking through the fence and going down to Duke’s, at the end of the road. My dad and I went over there before I came here, which is why I was late.” Addi watched Lane put two scoops of ice cream in each of their bowls. She grabbed two spoons and the chocolate syrup and sat down at the kitchen table.

“Did you find him?” Addi asked as Lane sat down next to her.

“Yep. He’s been trying to challenge Duke’s bull for domination over his herd. He won that fight today. Duke’s gonna buy Lucky and we’ll have to find a new bull,” Lane explained, drizzling chocolate syrup over his vanilla ice cream and offering it to Addi.

“Jeez,” Addi shook her head. “Your dad must be happy he won’t have to keep fixing that fence.” Addi drenched her ice cream in chocolate syrup making Lane laugh.

“You won’t even be able to taste the vanilla!” he pointed out. She chuckled and shrugged.

“I don’t really like vanilla that much, it’s so boring.”

“You have to appreciate it for what it is: smooth, rich, creamy. No, it’s not rocky road or toffee or cookie dough or any of those, but it’s really good!” Lane put his spoon to the side of his bowl and scooped a small bite. “Here,” he offered, slowly approaching her mouth with the spoon. “Just close your eyes and taste it.” She accepted the bite, closed her eyes, and rolled the dessert around in her mouth. Opening her eyes again and looking at Lane’s face, Addi knew she’d never look at vanilla ice cream the same way again.

“You’re right,” she said slowly, smiling. He grinned widely.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I do, I have a new appreciation for vanilla, so thank you!”

“You’re welcome!”

“Want anything to drink? Milk? Water?” Addi asked, getting up.

“Milk, please.” She grabbed the half gallon from the fridge and poured two glasses. Putting it back, she looked at the photos of her and her brother when they were younger on the refrigerator door. Addi was 10 when he enlisted in the Marines.

“I’ll be right back,” Addi commented, setting the glasses of milk on the table. She retrieved the plain package wrapped in brown paper from the mantle and brought it back to the kitchen.

“Don’t you want to open that with Grandma Dorothy?” Lane asked cautiously.

“I want to open it with you,” Addi replied. Lane blushed and nodded. “Is that okay?” Addi asked. Lane nodded again. Flipping the small package over, there was a stamp on the bottom: PROPERTY OF USMC. Pulling out his pocketknife, Lane carefully cut open the paper so Addi could unwrap it. She opened the box and peered inside. There were three things: a photo, a tattered mystery novel, and a few small envelopes rubber banded together, some of her letters. Addi began to cry, she couldn’t stop it. It had been two months since the funeral, even longer since they found out Nick died in combat; Addi thought she’d be less affected by her brother’s personal effects. Lane reached down and pulled Addi’s chair closer to him, wrapping his arms around her heaving shoulders. She turned into his chest and sobbed, letting her pain and sadness take over. They sat that way until her sobbing slowed and she could catch her breath.

“I’m so sorry,” Lane whispered to the top of her head. All she could do was nod, curling further into his hug. Lane released his grasp to reach for a napkin and offered it to her. She sat up to blow her nose and coughed, feeling like she could hardly breathe with the dairy film in her mouth. “Here, let me get you some water.” Lane got up, filled a glass from the sink, and came back to the table.

“Thank you,” she whispered. As she gulped and swished, Addi felt a bit of relief finally knowing what was inside that package.

“Can you tell me about this photo?” Lane asked. Addi sighed with sadness, taking slow breaths. Nick was 8, holding Baby Addi. She had chubby rolls on her arms and legs and was giggling with her mouth open wide, looking up at her big brother. Their parents stood next to them, all smiles, while the waves crashed behind them. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she sniffled.

“My one and only family vacation.”