Sorry for making you wait so long…
Now, where were we? When we last checked in on our little ball of "reality," so to speak, this is what we found:
"Stay in touch."
"Uh uh, no." He stepped in front of me as I scuttled toward the door. "I've tried looking you up before, but I guess I can't spell your name or something." (As a side note, I give my cell to damn near everyone. Who cares? I can always ignore or block you. Plus, I have a cool service on top to filter calls. I don't give out my landline [yes, I'm a dinosaur with a landline] but everyone has my cell anyway; hasn't changed in 16 years. Yeah, weird, whatever.) "How do I get you?"
I panicked. This was The Line. If I gave him my info, he was going to use it. If I gave him fake info, a) I was an ass and 2) I'd bump into him again, SOON, and he would totally call me out on that shit and iii) I…kinda…sorta maybe, perhaps wanted…I like games. I gave him my Facebook info. And bolted.
And didn't hear from him again until JULY.
__________
Ready for more? Buckle up because here we go!
Some friends of mine host a pretty outstanding 4th of July party at their place every year: tons of food, a bounce house for the kids and real, professional, mind-blowing fireworks after dark. I love going to these gatherings since my lil' guy Lucian has some sensory issues; he can stay inside and watch from the living room without getting too overwhelmed and Amaya and I can enjoy the full show: music, lights, BOOM, the whole nine yards. This particular year, the party - always on a Saturday - fell on the 6th, and I'd planned to show up around 4 or 5 - not too early to be stuck standing around with annoying small talk, but not so late as to seem like I was just there to eat up the free food (and booze. Did I mention booze? Oh, so much booze…).
Around 11, the phone rang and I grabbed it without looking. "Hello?"
"It took me forever to find your number…" began the male voice, familiar but unidentifiable.
"Who is this?" I asked, anxious. I don't like male voices on my phone, especially ones which are familiar but unidentifiable. Those are the scariest.
"It's Halsten." I froze. My inner voices kicked into high gear: Yay! That jackass! Hooray! About frikkin' time! What does he want? What does he want? It's so nice to finally hear from him! It's about damn time to finally hear from him…What took him so long? What took him so long? I hope it's something awesome! I don't give a shit what it is. Whatever it is, yes! Whatever it is, NO.
"Listen, my friends are having a 4th of July party tonight. I'd like you to come." He paused and the air crackled with expectation.
Involuntarily, I found myself asking, "What time?"
His reply was adorable, "Anytime. Now. The whole day. Whenever you want. I don't care. I just really want to see you." Something inside me went all slushy. Something outside me went a bit slushy as well…
The Mean Me took over. I replied brusquely, "Yeah, well, I dunno. I already have plans for today - another party - so I doubt it. Maybe another time." Yeah, another time that had been before July, dingbat.
The disappointment in his voice was tangible, "Oh…well…may, maybe…you could come over after?" I asked where it was and after he mentioned a town about a half hour away and I laughed, he said, "Yeah, I guess probably not…" his voice trailed off and there was a flicker of sadness somewhere inside me. Suddenly, I wanted to salvage it.
"Go ahead and text me the address. You never know." I shrugged, as if he could see me. The change in his voice was instant as he eagerly agreed. Before he hung up, he again reiterated his desire to see me and …there was something there. Something different, something…that was …other than just him. My Tummy Voice - who is never wrong - cleared Her throat and I knew something was going to happen, I just didn't know what. I raised an eyebrow to no one.
_______________
Musical chimes of laughter filled the air as children darted about the yard, sparklers and water guns marking their territories. The goodbye of the setting sun baked His sentiments into my back, perhaps saddened to be leaving the festivities so early. His smile giggled off the edge of my wineglass as I rose it to my lips for an illicit kiss. I felt good in my skin.
Since the party was hosted by old school friends, many of the guests were also friends I hadn't seen since middle school. The old faces were a real treat. There was a lot of catching up to do. Halsten was barely a thought in my mind. The food was munched and the booze consumed, stories were told and boo-boos kissed. There was more cavorting by all as the dusk deepened and then enveloped us into velvety darkness.
BOOM! The sky exploded into a cacophony of color and sound and Lucian virtually teleported from my side to the living room. Once safely behind the bodyguard of glass, his eyes lit up with as much light as the night sky. I stood on the porch, laughing with a friend when a woman approached us, half-heartedly apologizing for her late arrival. My friend cocked her head to the side while extending her hand in greeting. "I recognize you but I can't place you. What's your name?"
What came from her mouth turned my blood to pure ice. Then this monster turned to offer me her hand. I recoiled as if it had been the claw of the Lord of Hell himself. It was that wretched pediatrician who almost killed my daughter. I looked at her in utter disgust; the last firework was clearing in the air.
"Let's go kids! We are off to another party!"
