Chapter 24: Flowers for Her Hair

Jamie possessed a certain kind of personality. He was social, but not in the socialite kind of way. He was perfect for the Scouts in that he already attracted attention from those above his standing but didn't have the courtesy to make them proud at any party. Those above him were amazed yet ashamed, and those below him would always think he could do better. He was respected, even as a child, and loyal to a fault, with the accuracy to be the top of his class and enough humility so he wasn't hated for it. No one doubted he was liked, excelling, and having the time of his life, while still finding tricks to get away with (what else is a teenager to do?). But usually the family still worried constantly, especially for a rural boy, that he'd be lost in the fray and unable to relate with his fellow recruits. Letters were scarce as they were, and he was an only child. But since the day he'd left, the Cartwells had another matter on their minds. Edie was taking a journey to the city.

Later, he was preoccupied, and Edie never thought to ask what prompted him to be so obsessed with the Captain. She wouldn't have agreed to the date if not for her swinging little dreamer of a brother, yet he wasn't even here to enjoy it. Some supposed that was his point, to leave the whole town something to gossip about after he wasn't there to entertain them, but at twelve, he likely didn't have the foresight for that. Regardless, a week after his departure (and little word from the Cadet Corps), Hajule and Larmie had a new task: ready Edie for her first date as a Cartwell and tease her endlessly about it. They were distracted and happy, so much so that Edie considered Jamie's forethought. It was quickly dismissed. Even though this probably wasn't what he intended, she sent up a quick thank-you, for keeping his parents pleased.

Hajule begged and begged for them to go to a fine dressmaker, but Edie's resistance combined with Larmie's little groans told her enough. They didn't have the budget, and the finer artists were in the cities, which would be a whole day's trip. Instead, they compromised on a trip to the temporary market outside of Sina with a mission to sell some early vegetables and buy seasoning for roasted seeds. The ladies stopped by Katra's around midday and stayed until sundown, for the dressmaker insisted on everything being perfect.

"It's not everyday that a young lady comes for a first-date dress, not to mention with a military men. Those hunks tend to date within the noble pool, for all those ladies who want to snub their families but still be well off. You know the type, the ones who all the scandalous stories are about. But you've got to look your best if you want to keep a captain's attention, eh? That must be a story there."

Edie chose a dark gray color and let the older ladies chat. Katra, still against men in general, had a goddaughter to report, named Lani, and was cuter than a button. She lived with her sister and mother, a single working woman, in Sina, and likely only receive visits every other year. Katra had gone to see the pair and sported an unprofessional sketch. They were an adorable trio, and Edie held it for a while as Hajule started describing Jamie's going away party. News had reached Katra already, and she shared what secondhand information other patrons brought a few days before. Her descriptions took nearly ten minutes, and she only remembered to take the drawing back then.

"She's going to be a looker, isn't she? It kills me that they won't live a rural life even though we've got plenty of luxuries around here. Besides, she could find another husband down here."

"Her eyes don't look lonely," Edie noted. "Maybe she doesn't care to get one."

"Yes, yes, Lottie's quite content with the military benefits package, her own savings, and the church's charity. Apparently, their budgets aren't huge enough in the countryside."

"Too bad."

"Well, us working folk don't have time for their services and no extra coins for their plates. Their fine taxes aren't enough to support the whole of humanity, now are they? Otherwise, I'd get a husband and find him mysteriously disappeared after a month." Katra laughed to herself and bent to finish the hem. "Now, are you wanting any special stitching, or perhaps a ribbon for the bottom? The color isn't dressy, but the cut isn't suited for work."

"Yes! Didn't the captain comment on your dark green dress? Not that we dress for me, darling, but he had a good eye for your coloring. Your tones compliment that forest shade nicely."

Katra clapped her hands together. "Ribbon it is!"

The dress, Lottie's singleness, Katra's updates, and the wide reach of Jamie's going away party kept Hajule's tongue busy for the rest of the week, and she found many excuses to visit neighbors, especially Mr. Solway. So the days slipped by, until the afternoon sun sprang from the clouds, quite suddenly, urging Hajule and Larmie to their predetermined, natural positions.

Larmie, who had gotten into the habit of walking the length of their house again and again, set himself to circle the living room twice, sit in his chair for two minutes, refilling his water cup, and repeating. He kept a hand in his pocket while he walked, then resting on the chair when he sat, and a small cup in his hand. The ladies swept themselves from room to room, with Hajule swishing her skirt and apron and Edie rigid as a teenager giving a midterm presentation. Larmie watched them with simple smiles, making comments whenever they stood still in close enough proximity.

"Remember to move around a lot. Not in the sense of fidgeting, although that's fine, too, so long as it's an, 'I don't mind' kind of fidgeting instead of a nervous tick. Although nervous ticks can be attractive, too," Larmie mused. "Cardio is key on these first-date things."

"Oh, Larmie, gentlemen don't want to see ladies sweat." His wife swatted at him.

The spry farmer dodged. "Have you no respect, my dear? Also, since name dropping might not impress a higher up city boy captain, consider anti-name dropping, where you pretend not to know who certain government officials are. So, for example, if he says, 'What is your opinion on Dhalis Zachary's latest appointment, or ruling, or breakfast choice?' you respond by daintily wiping your lips and saying, 'Who?' all innocent-like."

"I truly don't know who that is," Edie muttered.

"He's only the commander of all three military branches and reports directly to the king," Larmie taught, waving his hand dismissively, "but that's neither here nor there. In fact, all the better to not know who he is! Forget what I told you."

"Done."

"While you're at it, derail the conversation however you can. Silly metaphors always get a man's attention; they really drive home how intelligent a lady is, with how her wit can fly." He slid one foot in front of the other and sauntered on his usual path, toward the drinking water barrel. "So, you might start the conversation by asking about, say, his doting family, and he might respond by saying that his parents met at some fancy social gathering. You could respond by saying that's how the parents of your most favorite chicken met, too, when you, Jamie, Corini, and Tinnul brought the accordion out to the pen. Describe it in real detail, too, how the rooster really strut around that poor poultry. Ah, I've got it! You must show what the chicken looked like. Let's see your pose."

"Larmie, lay off with your disastrous advice," Hajule said, beginning to chase him, then throwing her hands in the air when Edie waved her elbows like a hen. "Like it or not, Larmand Dean Cartwell, our Edie is a wise, handsome, and witty young woman who attracts fellows left and right, and despite your guidance, she will have a wonderful time with even the sourest of gentlemen."

"He's hardly sour," Edie supposed.

"Grumpy, then. And pessimistic."

"Julie," she warned.

"I know you like him, but so far, I have no reason to. And that's not just my opinion. Larmie agrees, and anyone who had the displeasure of meeting him at the wedding."

"To be fair, it was a difficult affair."

"Those rich folk must have their perfection," Larmie mused. But he broke his pattern and went back to his seat immediately. "We don't know this man. That's all."

"Yes, and what's his surname? Captain Levi…what? Is he that ashamed of his family? Or perhaps he was disowned for…impropriety."

"Hajule!"

"Well, he's a handsome fellow, there's no denying it. But those good looks are wasted if he hasn't got an ounce of kindness in him."

Edie nearly rolled her eyes. "Why would someone join the Survey Corps if they weren't kind at heart? What else are the Scouts for?"

"He could be a sadist," Larmie offered, "so you might try the chicken impression. I can fetch some straw for your hair."

"HAIR!" Hajule sputtered around the room again. "Larmie, that's perfect. Go pick some of those lavender blooms from the garden, the ones that just opened in that light purple color. You know the ones. That'll go perfectly with the gray, and the accented green…go, go!"

He ushered himself out of the door.

Hajule disappeared into the bathroom, rummaging around for pins. Edie walked to the kitchen table and sunk into one of the chairs. She stared at the door for a moment and bit her lip. "Hajule, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, dear, anything."

A smile came upon her unexpectedly, but concern quickly replaced it. "I haven't been on a date since…well, you know. It's all a bit overwhelming, aside from the captain. He doesn't make me nervous, but I don't want to go into this with…naiveté."

"Of course, of course." Hajule returned with the pins and began doing Edie's hair again. "You want to know what you're doing, in terms of…ah."

Edie turned around. "I don't want to breach any protocol that I couldn't know about. Not that I'm looking to make this a long-term thing, but…it'd be awful for it to end because I offended anyone. Am I expected to kiss him on the first date? Will we…hold hands the whole time?" She turned a bit, blushing. "Will he want to…?"

Hajule sighed. "Honestly, darling, I don't know. Larmie wasn't the first man I was with, of course, but they were all very…short. In all honesty, he was my first and last kiss. We slept together after we were married, but we didn't date for more than a month and weren't engaged longer than a week, so there wasn't really…opportunity. But you're a patient person, so…I suppose it's up to you. As for the kissing, if you want to kiss the man, then do it." She stepped in front of Edie and kneeled at her knees, stroking her hand and arm. "So the question isn't what's expected of you, but how you perceive this relationship, and what feelings you want to act on. Don't be entirely led by your emotions, of course, but think about where you want this relationship to go. I mean, do you like him?"

She looked at her hands and scrunched up her skirts. More moments passed than she meant to. "I…" A tenacious sigh escaped.

Hajule patted her hands. "Don't let that man get away with anything you're not comfortable with. I'd like to say he's a gentleman, but I don't know him. Perhaps suggest a family dinner, that way we can get to know one another, and I might offer a bit wiser counsel. But it all depends on what you think of him, and how he treats you." She looked to the side. "And his mother. You learn a lot about a man by how he treats his mother."

Suddenly, Larmie burst through the door. He held a bundle of lavender in one hand, his cup in the other, and a solemn yet ecstatic grin. "The captain has arrived."