It was June 15th and my house still had no furniture, yet I had taken the time out of schedule to go and buy a gift for Carleen's birthday. When I was turning 15 the only thing I wanted was makeup. I bought her a gift card to Macys; they had makeup, purses, clothes, anything she could want. I didn't want it to seem like I was buying my way in, so I settled for $50. I put in some perfumes and a cute pen I spotted at the checkout.
I was nervous. I stood in front of my tiny bathroom mirror and looked at my reflection, why am I so nervous for a 15-year-old's birthday party? Probably because of Kurtis, I concluded. Also, what if she hates my gifts... that would suck. The beautiful new coat of sunshine yellow of the wall behind me made me feel slightly better.
I heard the screen door open and knew Thomas had come inside, it was nearly 2 in the afternoon and I had to be there by 2:30. I took a deep breath, did a once over of my makeup and decided it was all I could do. I picked up the small gift bag I had and headed for the living room. Thomas was in the kitchen, he was pouring himself a glass of milk.
"Well," I stuck out my arms.
"Well?"
"How do I look?," I lowered my arms. "Good enough for a birthday party?"
I was wearing a light green dress, this was one of my shorter dresses, it went to just above the knees. It had a cute collar similar to a button down and little white lines streaking through it make it a plaid pattern. It was more fitted than my looser long dresses, it gave me the concept of having curves even though that idea was well out the window.
"Uhm , yes?," Thomas replied confused and took a drink.
"Good," I nodded. "I have to go to Carleen's party."
"Oh, have fun."
"I'm not so sure," I admitted.
"Oh, because of Kurtis and Savannah?," Thomas deduced.
"Yes, exactly. Savannah invited me, she even called yesterday to tell me to come, but I still don't know how Kurtis will feel about it."
Thomas took silent sip of his milk, he was drenched in sweat from working outside all day, now that I was mostly done with inside, all that was left was to get new furniture. All I had right now was a kitchen table and chairs. I looked at the clock on the kitchen wall: 2:09, I had to go.
"I should be back before 5, at least I think I will."
Thomas shook his head," Don't worry about me, go to your party."
"Drink water!," I called as I rushed out the door.
I drove to the address Savannah had given me, her party was at a nice house nestled on a quiet street. There were balloons tied to the mailbox out front, giving me conformation that this was in fact where I needed to be. I walked up to the house and rang the doorbell, the door opened at Carleen was smiling wide, until she saw me.
Her face fell," oh, it's you...," she let me into the house.
"Happy Birthday, Carlie," I handed her the gift I had brought, bring a small smile to her face. I made sure to call her by her preferred name, just to give me a slight edge up.
I heard the giggling and music of the party just beyond the small porch, Carlie lead me into the house where just as I suspected, there were about 9 girls sitting in the living room. The all turned to look at us when we walked in, all in hush and looking at me curiously.
"Oh Caroline, you made it!," Savannah popped her head from around the corner.
"Where did you get that dress?!," One of the girls on the couch asked me.
"Oh... a boutique in New York."
"Ohhhh," that all gaped in unison.
"New York! I've always wanted to go there!," another girl moaned.
"Mom, can I open my gift," Carlie asked holding out the small bag I had given her.
"Of course, birthday girl," Savannah grinned and leaned over the couch as Carlie reached in and pulled out the perfume.
"Woah," the girl closest to Carlie grabbed the bottle.
"Hey, it's mine," Carlie snatched it back and then pulled out the pens.
"Oooo," the one who asked about my dress laughed," Now she can write love notes to Peter," she cackled and all the girls laughed.
"Shut up!," Carlie spat at them.
"Girls, Girls," Savannah calmed them with her mother tone.
"Are the girls being crazy," I heard laughter and then from behind the corner, Sherry appeared.
Sherry? I didn't realize she would be here.
Then Carlie pulled out the card, opened the envelope and saw the gift card.
"WOAH! $50!"
"Oh my god!," the girls all jumped up to see it and I was pushed back against the wall.
"Oh wow!"
"Macys!"
"What do you say, Carleen?," Savannah prompted her.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!," she giggled with her friends, talking about what she'd buy with the money.
Savannah rescued me and pulled me into her kitchen," Kurtis is out back," she told me. "He knows you're here and he's promised to be nice."
"Which is big thing for Kurtis," Sherry chuckled and took a sip of her cocktail.
"Great," I tucked my hair behind my ear.
"That is a really cute dress," Savannah noted.
"Kurtis said you were from up north, Maine or someplace?," Sherry drawled.
"Vermont," I corrected.
"Oh, and you went to New York a lot?," Savannah asked puling out some plates.
"Big city girl," Sherry said as she rounded the island to help Savannah.
I shrugged," Sometimes. It had some great things to see, but it was still out of the way," I sat down at their bar counter.
"So you've really been to New York," one of the young girls crept up from behind me, making me jump in my seat.
"Adelaide, this is my friend Caroline. Caroline, this is Carleen's best friend: Adelaide."
"Hi," I waved to her and she jumped onto the seat beside me. She had been the girl who had moaned about wanting to go to New York so bad, it wasn't a surprise she had sought me out.
The sliding door leading outside opened up, Bryce walked in and shut the door behind him, he nodded to me and then opened the fridge.
"More beer already?," Savannah groaned.
"New York, " Adelaide swooned, ignoring the adults. "I have a big poster in my room with the world trade center on it, they're the tallest buildings in New York."
"Yeah, they are massive."
Her eyes bulged," You've seen them!?"
"Yeah, I have when I've went. They're hard to miss."
"Addy! Addy, come on, we're gonna do makeovers," a girl slid into the room on her socks.
"Caroline, will you come?," Adelaide asked.
I looked over to Savannah and she smiled in response, I looked back to Adelaide," I'll be right up."
"Good to see you Caroline," Bryce told me as Adelaide and the other girl ran up the stairs.
"Good to see you too," I replied.
"Need any help, Bryce," another adult entered the room, it was Andy entering from the yard.
I guess I didn't realize so many people would be here, I tugged my skirt down a little farther.
"You guys being big bad men out there," Sherry crept over to her man, puling him towards her.
"Of course" he growled and she giggled as he kissed her neck.
"Hey, this is kid friendly event," Savannah scolded.
Sherry laughed and spun around so she could lean her back against Andy's chest, Andy then wrapped his arms around her.
"Well I have to catch up to you," she raised an eyebrow to Savannah
"Kids are hard work," Savannah sighed and set a large cake on the counter.
"That's beautiful," I remarked at the cake, it white icing and green edges with green flowers. It said 'Happy Birthday Carleen!" and looked immaculate.
"Thanks," Savannah smiled. "Sherry's mom made it for me."
"Momma really loves to bake," Sherry grinned.
"Janna is a woman with many talents," Savannah agreed while placing candles on the cake.
"Something I hope to pass down to my own daughter," Sherry craned her neck to look back at Andy.
Even though Sherry was smiling, there was something hidden under her tone. I saw Andy swallow nervously and stare back at her, the moment between them growing intense. Bryce was the one to break it, surprisingly.
"Caroline, are you wantin' any kids?"
"Me? Uhm.. well, yeah, maybe someday."
"Times runnin' out," Sherry told me.
"Sherry! Caroline has plenty of time. You're only what 24? 25?"
"I'm 28."
"28? Really? Well your skin is amazing, must be something in that Vermont air."
"I.. Yeah, I guess," I shrugged. "So I didn't know you all were friends," I gestured to the room.
"Me and Savannah? Oh yeah," Sherry went to her side. "She couldn't rid me even if she wanted to," Sherry nudged her playfully.
"Watch the cake!," Savannah warned.
"We were best friends in high school and have been ever since," Sherry told me.
"Wow, that's kind of amazing," I nodded. "I haven't talked to anyone from high school since... I can't even remember," I chuckled to myself.
"Small town means small circles," Bryce told me.
"And small chances of finding the one," Sherry looked at me with her daggers again, and then turned to fawn over Andy again. "Lucky for me," she giggled and nipped at his neck.
"I'm gonna take Kurtis a beer," Bryce excused himself from the situation.
Maybe I should go to. Makeovers sound fun.
"Don't make me get the hose," Savannah warned and Andy laughed, he decided to follow Bryce outside.
"Bring the boys in," Savannah told him. "It's time to sing Happy Birthday."
All the girls came down squealing and all the boys came inside, I made sure to avoid looking directly at Kurtis. We sang happy birthday, ate cake, the girls all dashed back upstairs and this time Adelaide dragged me with. I was pulled into a ground of gossiping schoolgirls, all talking about what boys were cute and who they should all date and away from the grownup, practically discussing the same thing.
"Tell us about New York," Samantha, the bossy one, asked me.
"Well, it's a big city, huge buildings and so many people. It's really breathtaking."
"So why'd did you leave?," Hannah asked in thick accent, barely recognizable as words.
"I just did," I nodded, adding some blush to Adelaide's cheeks. "Sometimes you have to just go somewhere new."
"I can't wait to get out of high school," Adelaide groaned. "Just go to New York and finally see it."
"And leave Levi behind," Samantha cackled.
"Shut up, Sam," Adelaide snapped.
"Who's Levi?" I asked.
"Her boyfriend," Carlie told me.
"Oh, your boyfriend? How long have you been together?"
"We started dating in January."
"So you've been together for a while," I was impressed. At this age, anything past a few weeks was monumental.
"Yeah," she shrugged. "He's nice."
"What about you Caroline? Do you have a boyfriend?," Jasmine giggled.
"Me? No, I don't have a boyfriend."
Is that all this town cares about?, I thought adding some mascara to Addy's eyelashes.
"Why not? You're really pretty," Hannah told me.
"Thank you," I smiled. "But I'm working on my house, so no time for boys."
"Well I have all the time in the world for Ricky Reeves," Samantha fanned herself.
"As if," Carlie snorted," He's a senior."
"Just you wait" Samantha was determined as she put on some lip gloss. "I'll get him. Oh wow... Caroline, can you do my makeup next! Addy actually looks pretty!"
There was knock on the door the bedroom and everyone silenced as it opened to see Hailey peek her head in.
"Can I play?"
"No, get out," Carlie shouted.
The door opened again and this time it was Kurtis his eyes darted around the room and then landed on me. He stared at me with a blank expression before turning to Carlie," Hannah, you're mom is here."
"Oh," Hannah got up slowly. "See you guys later."
What time is it, I glanced to my watch. It's already 6!?
"Bye," they all waved and when she was gone, Samantha chuckled. "Hannah told me she has a crush on Brian Gatry."
"EWWWW," Adelaide pretend to barf.
"Gross, why would she like him," Carlie rolled her eyes.
I stood up," I'll be back," I told them slipping from the room.
"Had enough," Savannah chuckled as I emerged into the kitchen
I sighed," To be 15 again, so young and hopeful."
"I know, and so dumb."
"So very dumb," I agreed and we laughed.
"Don't forget mean," Sherry added.
Kurtis came into the house and looked between us, a tension started to grow and I hate myself for it. I glanced up to the clock, it was the perfect excuse to get out of there and head back to the farm.
"I should probably head home."
"Already?," Savannah was surprised. "We're making hotdogs, if you want to stay. Girls are gonna have a little camp out in the backyard."
"No, it's fine. I should probably go. Thomas is at my house and I want to make sure he's alright."
"Thomas? You mean Tommy Sicelle?," Savannah asked.
I bit my tongue," Yeah, him."
"You don't have to leave, Caroline," Kurtis surprised me.
"No," I went to put my shoes on,"it's okay. I had fun. Thanks for inviting me. I... I'll go say goodbye to Carlie." I climbed the stairs and opened her door, all of the girls looked to me. "I'm heading out."
"Really?," Carlie sounded upset.
"Yeah, but feel free to come by my house if you ever need anything."
Carlie nodded," Yeah, thanks."
I left the room and went back to the front door, Savannah and Kurtis were having a hushed conversation.
"Well, thanks for having me," I told them again.
"Caroline, wait," Savannah called out.
I turned to look at them, Savannah nudged Kurtis forward.
"I... I'm glad you came," Kurtis told me flatly, I knew Savannah was forcing him to say it. "And... and I'm sorry for how I've been acting lately," he glanced to his wife. "I'll make a better effort."
I gave him a small nod," Thanks."
"How's Del's house coming," Savannah stepped forward.
"Making progress," I smiled. "Soon I'll have to bring you over so you can see it."
"Leaving without saying goodbye?," Andy came to the door with Bryce. "We gotta teach you southern manners," he joked.
"That sounds great," Savannah seemed happy. "We'd love to come by."
"How is the house?," Andy asked. "You need any more help with the carpet?"
"No, I actually got it all down," I beamed at the thought. "I can bring you back your tools."
"Sure, just bring them to the station whenever," he nodded, sipping his beer.
"Great, thanks again," I waved and shut the door behind me.
That went... really well actually. I might be one step closer to having a real family.
