Chapter 8
Wishes
It was officially Ginger's sweet 16. Only seeing as she only has one friend, and it was a Saturday, Ariel let Marcia come over to the house, and agreed to let her sleep over.
Ariel tried hard to make a somewhat normal party. In the backyard, she put out navy blue tablecloths on the two picnic tables, pulled out the grill, and hung matching navy streamers on the fence.
She invited some of her employees that were not too intimidated by her daughter, as well as House and his friend, Wilson.
The girls were upstairs in Ginger's room hanging out until they could go outside. Ginger knew what her mom was trying to do, but could not see how this day could not be a disaster.
Anyway, after the guests had arrived, the presents were stacked on one table, and plates, cups, sodas, and chips were on the other. Ariel turned on the music, and Wilson (admitting to being a pretty good cook) manned the grill.
Satisfied that everything was perfect, she called Ginger and Marcia outside. When Ginger stepped outside, everyone said "Happy Birthday!"
She took in the whole scene before her, with one eyebrow raised. Marcia elbowed her in the side and she realized she should say something. "Um, thanks?"
"Burgers on the grill!" Wilson told everyone. With a deep sigh, Ginger went first in line to get her burgers (she always ate two).
Once everyone had some food, there was an awkward silence. Ginger hated that her mom invited her employees to her birthday "party".
After everyone had finished the food, Ariel told Ginger to put on the blindfold she was holding.
"Do I have to?" she whined, but as soon as she saw the look on her mom's face, she snatched it and put it on.
Next thing she knows, the blindfold is pulled off as everyone sings happy birthday. Several people told her to make a wish, and blow out the candles, so she did. Everyone clapped, and her mom handed her the knife to make the first cut.
The good news was that it was blue velvet cake, her favorite. So, at least she could think back on today and remember one good thing.
The cake disappeared fairly quickly, the birthday girl having four slices herself (House could only manage three).
Before Ginger could even take a moment to breath, her mom dragged her over to the table with the presents. Knowing that this will take a while, because her mom insists that she open the gifts slowly, and personally thank each person afterward, she sighed deeply.
So she started opening the presents. First, from all her mom's employees, was a gift card to Target. Whoopee.
Next, from Wilson, her dad's friend, was fifty bucks. Not bad from a guy she doesn't know at all.
From Marcia, a stack of CDs she'd been wanting for ages. Just like a friend to know that.
Her mom gave her a cool jean jacket, some numbers game for her gameboy, and several books. She was thankful for the jacket, since it's cool out, and the books since she was bored with the ones she already owned.
Finally, Ginger got to her dad's gifts. The first gift was long and skinny. Upon opening it, she saw two professional hockey sticks. "Oh, wow! These are amazing!"
The second gift, which was in a square box, turned out to be a really cool black helmet. "Does this mean I get to ride on your motorcycle?" She asked.
House grinned and nodded while her mother turned pale.
The final gift was heavier. It was in a big, rectangular box. House really hoped she'd like it, because it cost a nice penny. When she finally unwrapped the paper, she found a box for a brand-new electric guitar and amp. She screamed, and ran and threw her arms around her dad, saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I've always wanted to play the guitar!"
House smiled, and actually hugged her back. He told her that as a bonus, he would be teaching her. Ginger was so happy, her cheeks hurt from smiling, which never happened.
After the party ended, everyone except Marcia and House had gone home. The only reason House was still here was because she begged her mom to let him stay for dinner.
Ginger and Marcia moved all of her gifts to her room. House stayed outside, and, feeling cheery, helped Ariel clean up the mess.
After they had finished, they both went inside. House decided to brave the stairs, because he wanted to see his daughter's room. Meanwhile, Ariel was in the kitchen, ordering Chinese for dinner.
When House reached the top of the stairs, he saw a big, open room that held two couches, an old TV, a PS3, an air hockey table, and a worn-out drum set. He smiled. Oh, how he could get used to this place.
He looked to the other side of the room, and saw three doors. The one in the middle must be a bathroom. The one to the right was probably a guest room. The one to the left, however, he knew had to be Ginger's.
The door had a huge metal sign that read "Parental Warning: Explicit Lyrics". He knocked, and the door opened.
Ginger wasn't surprised to see him standing there. She'd been wondering how long it'd take him to come up. She stepped aside and let him in.
The first thing he noticed was that the walls were painted navy blue. Must be her favorite color. They were also covered with posters for bands, movies, and hockey, and also with more random pictures.
There was a queen sized bed pushed into the far left-hand corner, with a navy tie-dye comforter on top, with matching pillows. He noted that the bed was not made.
Next to the bed was an old wooden nightstand, which held an alarm clock and tons of pictures on top. On the bottom shelf there were messy stacks of books.
At the foot of her bed was now her new guitar. In the far right corner was the closet, which was open with clothes spilling out.
Next to the closet was a dresser. Two drawers were not closed all the way, and the top was a mess of make-up, books, and hockey gear.
To House's left, in the corner, was an old wooden desk. It seemed to be a set. The desk held the biggest mess.
Piles of CDs, a boom box, a laptop, an iPod, tons of books, papers, her gameboy and games, pens, and more.
Finally, on the floor there was a matching navy rug, and more clothes and books lying here and there.
House grinned. This was definitely his daughter.
Just then the doorbell rang, and everyone ran (except for House) downstairs. They all ate in a surprisingly comfortable silence.
When everyone was done, the girls ran back up to Ginger's room, and House once again helped clean up.
"You really don't have to do that," Ariel said.
"I know," was his reply. "Tell me about her."
"What do you mean, Greg?"
House sighed. "I want to know what I've missed out on. Good times, bad times, funny times, serious times. From when she barely started to walk to now. I need to know."
Ariel nodded. As soon as they finished cleaning up, she poured them each a glass of wine, and led him into the living room.
She pulled out a scrapbook. She sat down, and motioned for House to join her. They started going over the book.
Ginger had placed a DVD into her laptop, and the girls relaxed on her bed while it started to play.
By the time the movie ended, it was really late, and the girls were getting sleepy.
By the time they finished going over the scrapbook, it was really late.
Marcia crawled into bed, and asked Ginger what she wished for before drifting to sleep.
House and Ariel had finished the bottle of wine, and stared into each other's eyes.
Ginger, who had also crawled into bed, gazed at the stars through her open window. The last thought that crossed her mind was for Mom to take back Dad.
House and Ariel leaned closer and closer, until their lips met in a slightly drunken, passionate kiss.