Chapter 7 - The Red Tie
Gavin sat with Faith in his lap while they ate, since there weren't enough seats. The younger children were allowed to eat on the jungle gym if they agreed to stay seated to avoid choking on their meal. Gavin couldn't believe just how much he had really missed. Both of his older brothers Graham and Grant were married with children now. They each had one boy and one girl. Their Paradiso blood was strong, for they all had black hair and eyes. They were ornery and loved to play and wrestle. Despite how they were years younger than Faith, the girl played with them all the same.
Graham's wife was a veterinarian, and as Gavin expected, they had lots of pets. His five-year-old son and four-year-old daughter brought home a variety of animals. They owned turtles, frogs, snakes, cats and dogs. If they ever found a critter that they thought was sick or injured, they brought it home to their mommy. Rose talked a great deal about one peculiar instance when Gage and Sam had left cat food outside. Apparently, it had attracted almost every rodent in town. It had even attracted a skunk which now refused to leave. It had apparently nestled under their house and she feared every time they watered the garden it would spray her. Rose much rather preferred the snakes and hoped that they would eventually scare the skunk off.
As for his brother Grant, he had married an accountant. Valerie was very good with numbers. The way she talked was pragmatic and frank and Gavin saw that her attitude kept Grant in line. She had short brown hair that came to her shoulders and a very symmetrical face. Their children, Garin and Alex were very well behaved. At first when Gavin saw his son, he thought he was a girl. Upon a closer look though, he saw the hot wheels shirt the four-year-old wore as well as the matching light up shoes. His hair was straight, long, black. It fell past the little boys' shoulders to rest at the center of his back.
"I know, it drives me crazy, but Valerie wants to wait until it's a little longer before she cuts it. Same with Alex," Grant nodded his head to his little girl. She was just three years old. Her hair was equally long and black.
So much progress had been made, but Gavin assumed that his brothers were still in the same occupation, truck driving and competing for their father's business. While he learned more about his nieces and nephews, they also learned about Faith. They asked her about school, what her favorite colors were, and what she liked to do in her free time. She told them she loved learning, but hated going to school, her favorite color was purple, and that she liked to draw and write for fun.
"She must get that from her mother," Leah laughed lightly looking around at her boys. They lacked creativity in their bones but new very well what work was. None of them replied however at the light mention of the girl's mother.
Gavin looked at his plate which really hadn't been touched. He had taken a couple of bites of his hamburger and eaten a couple of chips. When Faith had finished, she hopped out of his lap and he went to throw their paper plates away in the trash can inside. Mike followed after him. Gavin stepped over the hardwood floors in his boots. The kitchen was open to both the dining room and the living room making the house appear large and spacious. The countertops were granite and the floors looked like stone in the kitchen. There were Italian decorations every which way he looked for his mother loved to collect little chef figurines and sculptures. She loved to make spaghetti and pastas. The countertops had herbs and spices upon them, along with vegetables and fruits off to the side.
After he disposed of his plate, Gavin turned towards his father. "Yeah?" he looked his father dead in the eye leaning against the counter.
"I'm proud of you. It really looks like you've changed your life around. That's all I ever wanted, for you to be stable, happy, and healthy," he paused, moving his head from side to side in awe. "What changed?"
Gavin crossed his arms. "I just want to provide for my daughter," he told his father frankly.
When nightfall came, Faith was drowsy with fatigue from playing in the sun all day. It was Gavin's father who drove them home that night so Gavin could keep his semi at the shop. On the way back to his duplex the men talked about how well Gavin had taken care of his father's hand-me-down Peterbilt. He told him how he had entered her in shows and won about a grand off of truck pulls in the working class. He had all his trophies on display in his garage and kept the engine and other various parts looking brand new.
Then when they reached the duplex, Gavin got out of his father's red Suburban and showed him his grey Ford pickup. His father inspected his handiwork and complimented him. He then went about putting Faith to bed and showing his father around the house.
"Looks like you've done very well for yourself over these years," Mike said with a smile.
"Well, it wasn't always this nice," Gavin frowned. "In the beginning we struggled so much. I finally saved up enough to indulge on a place like this though," Gavin said, leaving out the part about how he had also recently changed his spending habits. He handed his father a Bud Light out of the fridge.
"Oh, why not," Mike shrugged. He took the bottle up in his hand and sat on the opposite side of the dining room table. Again, he brushed his pepper hair out of his face. "It's been so long, but it was great to see you and your mother hug," the two men began to reflect on subject matter that was only meant for discussion between the two of them, "I thought I'd never live to see it again since you two butted heads so much."
"I know it," Gavin leaned back. His dark eyes appeared weary and he also felt himself ruminating about the past once more.
The rain persisted in the wind across Gavin's windshield. His wipers were barely able to keep up. When they came to a stop on the side of the road, he shut his vehicle off. They watched the beads overtake the sight ahead of them. Gavin peered over at Ray. Daylight shined through the beads onto her skin and clothing making her appear as if she was spotted. She held her backpack in her lap with her arms wrapped around it. His bag sat between them. The pitter-patter of the downpour sounded on the roof of his pickup, along with thunder. Ray returned his stare.
Gavin was hunched forward with his arms folded across his steering wheel. His black hair glistened with retained moisture. His eyes were deep set on his youthful, tanned face. He wore a black t-shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. On his feet were his work boots, spotted with oil and dirt from the shop.
"You didn't buy the tickets already, did you?" she tucked curly hair behind her ear.
"Yes, but that's alright. It's just a dance. I understand if you don't want to go."
"It's not that I don't want to go," she said touching the door handle with her fingertips. "I would love to go," Ray glanced at her front door and went on to say, "if it was socially acceptable for me to take my high heels off, use them as weapons, and properly deal with the assholes we go to school with…"
Gavin simply smiled at her as she spit fire. "Let's be realistic, high heels are more destructive when used for their intended purpose."
Ray laughed lightly exposing her rows of teeth. "Alright, I'll go!"
Gavin beamed happily and leaned over the seat. She shoved his face away from hers with her palm flat against his forehead and her fingers tangled in his black hair. "You're bailing me out of jail though."
"We'll probably end up there together…" he told her quietly with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes at him, gently tugged on his hair, and pressed her lips against his. "Thank you for the ride, Gavin," she said. He then watched as she got out of his truck and ran for her front door. Only after he saw her unlock the door and make it inside did he drive away.
Back at home, the table was set when Gavin walked in. His beat-up black backpack was single strapped over his shoulder and he slid off his boots on the rug beside the door. Chicken Alfredo pasta was in a large square, glass pan, and a bowl of salad sat beside it. His brothers and his father were already seated and enjoying the meal his mother had prepared. "Where's mom?" Gavin asked, walking to the fridge where he hid a small black box inside.
"Did he just walk in?" he heard Leah's voice from down the hall. She descended the stairs with the house phone in her hand and slammed it at the end of the table as she walked past it. Her long-sleeved navy-blue dress came to rest at her knees. "Where have you been? You know it's been storming all day! I've been calling your cell phone since school got out! You could've gotten into a car accident or gone to jail for all I knew!"
With momentary hesitation, Gavin drew a deep breath and said, "What the fuck do you think I was out doing?"
"Watch your mouth when you're speaking to your mother," Mike warned Gavin.
"Drinking? Smoking weed? Having sex? I don't know! Why couldn't you just answer and let me know you were alright?" Leah asked.
He stared at her with his dark eyes. "I don't see the point in telling you shit, especially if you're already jumping to conclusions."
"Watch your mouth!" Mike stood from the table, giving his second warning. "As long as you live under this roof, I should have a right to know where you are, because I love you and I care about you!" Leah's petite stature was dwarfed in comparison to Mike.
"If you loved me, you'd trust me!" Gavin shouted.
Leah took her place at the table in silence, looking at her empty plate which hadn't been made yet. Prosperous adulthoods were a result of stable upbringings and good parenting. While she reflected upon his youth, she could not come up with any plausible reason why he was acting out now. She watched as her son walked on to his room and did not partake in the meal.
The transition to the weekend came quickly. Since rain had come the day before, the skies were clear. Due to the moisture that still hung in the air and the rising heat, Gavin and his father were covered in sweat while working on the black Peterbilt semi together. "Son, are you going to go to prom tonight?" Mike asked with a hand was rested against the side of the semi.
Gavin pushed the hood of the semi back into position and latched it down on the sides. He then proceeded to wipe his hands with a rag. "If mom doesn't throw a bitch fit…"
"Hey, she loves you," Mike said.
"She sure has a funny way of showing it," Gavin snapped back.
"Look, you should be getting ready if you're going to go. You only have an hour."
"Yeah," Gavin shrugged. "Well, at least we got this done first," The two of them headed back to the house. His brothers were already in their rented tuxedos. Their prom dates were over and his mother was taking pictures of them as if she was the paparazzi. Gavin ignored this and went to the bathroom to get ready by first taking a shower. He shaved and then dressed in a military fashion into a pair of black slacks, burgundy button up, and black silk tie. "Dad?" Gavin knocked lightly on Mike's partially opened door. "Can I borrow a pair of black dress shoes?"
"They might be a little big," his father said, heading to his closet. When he came to the doorway, he handed his son a pair of size twelves. Mike followed him to the back door and saw him put them on.
"They're fine," Gavin said, standing up straight. His toes were evidentially at the tip of the shoe as he moved them around.
Mike smiled and then raised his left brow. "Hey, did you get Ray flowers?"
"Oh! Thanks for reminding me," Gavin went to the fridge and grabbed the box that he had hid in the back last night. He then showed it to his father. It was a rose corsage.
"That's my boy! Most importantly, do you have protection?" Mike asked, reaching in his pocket. He then handed his son a square package.
"It's not going to come to that." Gavin grimaced. "Why do you have that anyway?"
"Good for you son, and if you ever come to have three hellions like I do, you'll know," Mike laughed, putting it away. Gavin shook his head and reached for the door knob. Just then Leah walked in and saw Gavin all dressed up next to the back door.
"You didn't tell me you were going to prom too! Why don't you get a picture with your brother's honey?" Leah smiled.
"No thanks. I was going out the back door for a reason…" he opted not to.
"Why?" she asked, confused.
"Because I don't like my picture taken, back off," Gavin replied in a hostile tone. He then opened the door and slammed it shut behind him. As Gavin pulled up to the house an overwhelming amount of adrenaline pulsed through him. He shook from head to toe and his hands had become sweaty. He held the box in his hand as he approached the lonely house on the corner of the street. Just as he was making his way to the front porch, she stepped out with a frozen expression on her face.
She wore a tight black, form fitting dress, with long laced sleeves. It came to her thigh and was open backed. A red silk band was around her waist and tied in a large red bow in the back. Her black hair was done up and cascaded black curls. She wore red high heels and her nails were painted to match them. Her porcelain pale skin contrasted her apparel, but quickly her face reddened as he approached.
He opened the box with his heart fluttering in his chest. While he removed the corsage tears flooded in her eyes causing her makeup to run. Unfortunately, he became too preoccupied with not dropping the corsage from his trembling hands to notice her changing disposition.
Suddenly the corsage flew from his grasp as her hand smacked his away. "Don't touch me!" she exclaimed. He looked up in confusion and a loud sob escaped her lungs. She wrapped her arms around herself. "Take it off!" she shouted, closing her darkened eyes. Her makeup was ruined and black moisture streamed down her face.
Gavin was thoroughly confused. He patted himself down searching for something that was contrary to his normal apparel. His pants and shoes were regular black, his shirt burgundy… his hands then felt his silk tie. It was something he never wore, or at least had never worn around her. With his hands still shaking, he removed it as quickly as he possibly could. He tucked it away in his pocket out of sight.
She then slowly drew her arms around his neck and cried against his chest while her tough girl façade melted away. His eyebrows were drawn together with mixed emotions. "Gavin, I can't go with you," she told him. "I'm sorry,"
"It's okay," he replied. "I didn't mean to upset you. Are you going to be alright?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, failing to give him eye contact. "Thank you, Gavin, really," she turned away from him and hurried inside out of sight. Gavin stood for a moment longer with the door closed before him. He then reached for the damaged corsage which laid in pieces in the grass. The flower was battered, but he held it with care as he put it back in the box.
When Gavin returned home, he put his truck in park and killed the engine. He sat deep in thought paying no attention to his father who was picking up the shop. Gavin took the tie out of his pocket, and inspected it with his eyes in the silence. What did it mean?
He clutched it in his fist angrily and rested his head against the steering wheel. A knock on the glass caused him to look up, "Son, you okay?" Mike asked.
Gavin opened the door, shaking his head from side to side. He stormed to the shop restroom. It was a small space in the corner of the shop, not even enough room to stretch his arms out. Mike saw the tie in his hand as Gavin shut the door behind him. He stood before the toilet, trying not to throw up. He felt sick to his stomach and couldn't get the suddenly awful thoughts out of his head. He threw the tie to the floor as if his own body rejected it from his grasp. The repulsive object even pushed him backwards. Suddenly, his left foot came to step on the shower curtain causing it to fall. It hit his head and then snagged on the soap shelf half way down. He grabbed it in fury and threw it on the floor.
Mike pulled the door open and saw Gavin in his momentary fit. "Son, come out here right now. Have a smoke. Calm down, come talk to me," Mike said pulling him away from the wall.
Gavin stepped out after him and the two men came to sit on the white plastic lawn chairs that had been brought into the shop. Gavin pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a long drag, closing his eyes as he did so. He then put his head in his hand. After a moment of silence, he drew in another deep breath of smoke.
Mike looked down at the cement floor and squinted his eyes together. "If she makes you so upset, what are you doing son?"
Gavin shook his head from side to side, smoking like never before. "The only person I'm upset with right now is myself."