Adults always say teenagers don't know what love is. They say we're too
young to understand true lasting love. I'm not saying I know everything there
is to know, because I don't.
But I've heard the stories about my mom and dad, and how much in love they
were with each other. And the last few years, I've had Adam and Hannah's example
of marriage. I've watched them build their relationship to the point where they
can finish each other's sentences, and communicate across a room without either
of them saying a word.
When a person has as many older brothers as I do, it's mostly assumed that
the brothers are protective, screen who you go out with, warn off guys they
don't want you to date, and all of that. And that's sure true for me. But I also do my share
of opinion-stating on my brother's choice of girls. In most of those cases, I'm
generally met with an indifferent shrug, an icy glare, or told to mind my own business. But
that doesn't usually stop me.
When it comes to Brian, there's no question he's been a ladies man, a man about
town, a swinging bachelor, or any other choice of words you want to use. His
exploits in the dating world are well known in Murphys, and beyond. Evan and Daniel
are often with Brian after one of his nights out, discussing things in low tones,
with a lot of laughing and back slapping. The conversation will grind to a sudden halt
as soon as I'm in the vicinity, though.
I know Hannah worries about Brian. I can tell by the way she watches him
in a morning after one of his late nights. I've heard Adam tell her not to worry, that
Brian will settle down when he's good and ready, and not before.
It was one of those particular mornings on this certain Saturday. I was sitting
at the table with Guthrie, eating my cereal, when Brian came into the kitchen.
I knew he'd gone out to work earlier with Adam and Crane, and I watched as
he went to the cabinet and took down the bottle of aspirin, shaking out two
and recapping the bottle. He tossed them down with a swig of coffee, and refilled
his coffee cup.
"I can make some fresh coffee," Hannah offered.
Brian waved a hand at her. "This is fine," he said, and sat down at the table, propping
one foot in another chair, and leaning back to close his eyes.
Guthrie and I exchanged a look.
"Are your allergies acting up, Bri?" I asked mischievously.
Brian rubbed his forehead. "No."
"Well, I wondered," I said. "I heard the pollen count is supposed to be high
today."
Guthrie made to kick me under the table, but I saw it coming, and moved my
leg. He mouthed "be quiet" at me silently.
"If it was to be your allergies," I continued, "maybe you should try one of those new
allergy medicines at the drugstore. I bet that would help you."
"Harlie, leave Brian alone," Hannah said firmly.
"I'm just saying, they're sposed to be good," I protested.
Hannah gave me a look that said she was wise to me. "Harlie."
I went back to eating my cereal. Guthrie finished and put his bowl in the
sink. Hannah handed him a cookie that had just come out of the oven.
"No more," she told him, and went outside to the clothesline with a basket of
wet jeans,
"I hope you're not getting the flu, or something, Bri," I said casually. "I heard it's
going around."
"Have you heard the story of the sleeping bear, peach?" Brian asked, opening
his eyes to look at me.
I still found the whole thing amusing, so I grinned at Brian, even though Guthrie
was shaking his head at me.
"Nope, I haven't heard that story. How does it go?" I asked.
"Well, there's this sleeping bear, and all he wants to do is be left alone. But this annoying
little squirrel just keeps chattering and chattering, and won't stop. And the bear knows
that the squirrel is doing it just to be a pain in the butt. So the bear tries to keep his temper
hoping the squirrel will wise up. Because the damage the bear could do to that annoying
little squirrel is pretty scary." He narrowed his eyes at me. "The End."
I knew I shouldn't, but I giggled. "That's a good story," I said. "What's the title of it?"
Brian took his leg off the extra chair, and leaned forward a little.
"The title is, 'What do you think your odds are of getting out of this kitchen'?"
Since Brian was in the halfway mark of the kitchen, I knew he could outrun me, hangover
or no hangover. I wiped the smile from my face, even though I was still laughing
on the inside. "Do you want some more coffee, Bri?" I asked, in a suitably respectful tone.
"I believe so, thank you, squirrel," Brian said, and closed his eyes again.
7
Adam had me and Guthrie painting the porch that day, and that gave me plenty of time
to think. I was so intent on my own thoughts that Guthrie pointed out in an irritated way
that I wasn't making any progress.
"You've been painting the same spot over and over," he complained. "Do it right. I want
to go fishing today."
"Okay, okay," I said, bringing my attention back to the porch railing.
"Guth, do you think Brian ever gets tired of carousing around?"
"Nope."
"Why not?"
"If he was tired of it, he wouldn't do it. Besides, he's living every single guy's dream."
"Yeah, maybe. But he'll be thirty next year."
"So?"
"So, he's not a spring chicken anymore. He should think about settling down."
Guthrie turned from his perch on the ladder to look down at me.
"Uh oh," he said.
"What?" I asked innocently.
"Don't tell me you're thinking of trying something to GET him to settle down. Cause if you
are, I don't want to know about it. Nothing. Nada. Zero. "
"You act like you're scared of Brian," I said, hoping to insult him.
"You're damn right I am," Guthrie said, not looking the least bit insulted.
"Oh, for Pete's sake, alright! Besides, there's nothing to try. Brian's ran through the
entire female population in the nearest three counties."
"Well, then," Guthrie said, looking relieved, and turning back to his painting.
"Yeah. Well, then," I said to myself, thoughtfully.
7
I was sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch, doing my homework one day
later that week when Daniel came in and sank down beside me.
"Hey, party girl, what's up?" he said.
"Atoms, and molecules, that's what's up," I said.
"Better you than me," he said.
"You could help me, you know. You had Mrs. Burns, too, didn't you?"
Daniel shuddered. "Yeah, I did, and I did my time. Ask Ford to help you. I'm no
good at that stuff."
"Besides," he went on, "I've got a question for you."
"What?"
"Red and I are meeting a couple of guys and going to San Bernardino this weekend, and we're
gonna play at a club there."
"That's good."
"Yeah, it is. I was wondering if you'd like to tag along. We'd spend the night there Saturday
night after the show and come back Sunday."
I started squealing, and I lunged at Daniel so hard that he fell sideways.
"Yes, yes, yes!" I yelled, hugging him around the neck.
"Hey, easy up there," he complained, sitting up.
"Sorry! I'm just so excited!"
"No kidding," he said drily. "This hinges on Adam saying you can go, though, okay?"
I lost a little of my enthusiasm. "Do you think he'll let me?"
"Are you in trouble for anything lately?"
"No. I've been an angel. An absolute angel."
"Okay. I'll talk to him." Daniel got to his feet.
"When? When will you talk to him?"
"Later tonight. Just be cool, act like a lady, be polite, you know, all of that. In other
words, don't act like yourself."
"I'll get you for that later," I warned him.
"I'm shaking in my boots," he said, and started back outside, turning at the door.
"Sooo," he said, his eyes twinkling, "let me make sure on this-you want to go, or you don't want to go?"
I stood up slowly, and then before he saw it coming, I ran and jumped on his back.
"Don't even try to go without me, Daniel McFadden!"
7
I did the dishes with Hannah after supper, and when we came back into the living
room, I looked questioningly at Daniel. He shook his head at me to indicate he hadn't
talked to Adam yet.
I sighed and went upstairs to take a shower. I was brushing my hair and starting
downstairs when Daniel saw me, and waved me back. I went to my room and started on
my English homework. Even though I leaned over the bannister a couple of times
I couldn't hear what Daniel or Adam were saying.
It was nearly nine o'clock when Adam came upstairs, untucking his shirt from
his jeans as he walked. He stopped in my open doorway.
"Daniel says you want to go with him this weekend."
I nodded. "Yeah. I do."
"I don't care if you go, but you better listen to him. Hear me?"
"I will, I promise."
"Okay. Night, sug."
"Goodnight, Adam."
I sat there, with my arms wrapped around my knees, thinking, until Daniel came
past. "We're set to rock and roll, squirt," he said.
"What do I need to pack?"
"Not a lot. It's only one night."
"You're such a guy. Do I need dressy stuff?"
"A dress if you want. Pajamas. A hairbrush. Jeans. That ought to do it."
"Interesting," I teased him. "No shirts with the jeans? Wow, I'll set a new trend."
"Shirts. Defininately shirts," he amended.
I laughed at him.
"Thanks for taking me."
"You're welcome. I'm not going to regret it, am I?"
"Absolutely not. You'll want me along every trip after this."
"Huh. Goodnight, squirt."
"Night, Daniel!"
7
On Friday night, Daniel told me to go to bed early, because he wanted to get an early start
Saturday morning. Red would be there early to pick us up, and we'd meet the other two guys in Modesto,
then drive to San Bernardino.
"I'm serious," Daniel warned me. "Get up the first time I tell you, so we can get going."
He needn't have worried. I was dressed and downstairs with my bag, sitting talking
to Hannah, well before Daniel was even dressed.
When he finally made his way down the stairs, I turned to Hannah and said casually,
"Hannah, have you ever noticed how long it takes a guy to get ready?"
Hannah laughed, and then, seeing Daniel's expression, tried to stop.
"I can leave you home, you know," he grumbled.
"No, you can't," I said, sassy. "Adam won't let you, will you, Adam?"
"Since I get a break from you for two days, no, I won't. Sorry, Daniel, you
have to take her," Adam said.
"It's a conspiracy," Daniel said, and took the cup of coffee Crane was offering
with a grateful look. "Thanks, brother."
When Red pulled in, he was driving his dual cab pickup. Daniel put our bags in the
back, and Adam gave me a hug. "Behave yourself," he said.
"I don't know why you're worried," Daniel told him. "I'm perfectly capable of
handling the wild child."
Adam smiled. "We'll check you over for gray hairs when you get back," he told Daniel.
"Two full days with Harlie, that ought to equal about ten gray hairs, at least."
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