Page 113 of Road Trip
“It’s right over there,” she said, pointing to the chair. There was a dry-cleaning bag lying with the zipper part open.
“I had Katie take your dresses to the dry cleaners. It’s been so long since you’ve worn them and I missed you in them. I want you to get done up before you go out tonight so I can take pictures. I know we’ve both been in mourning, but it would make me very happy to have my pretty Abra to look at.”
My Gran was such a charmer. I almost believed her.
“Gran. I am going to see friends tonight.”
She grimaced at my flannel pajama bottoms with skulls on them. The black cami I wore had holes and bleach spots from the last time I’d colored my hair. Now it just covered me when I slept. My hair was sticking out of pigtails and I hadn’t worn makeup in weeks. Who the fuck cared?
“You can change back into them when we are finished, but I want some pictures of you to take on my trip.”
I turned back around and gaped at her. “Trip? Gran, what are you talking about?”
“Well, now that I can get around and I’m feeling much better, my doctor said it’s fine for me to travel. Lila and I are going to take her Airstream and go with her club down to the desert.” She looked down at her hands. “I want to spread some of Adrianna’s ashes there.”
My legs gave out and I plopped down on the couch. “You’re leaving?”
She nodded and smiled, sitting in her chair facing me.
“Yes, dear. I’m ready to go experience what life I have left. I will worry about you, but I need this.I will leave some of her ashes for you to spread when you are ready. You understand why I need to do this, don’t you?”
Of course I did! My poor gran had been saddled with Mom and me for years. She hadn’t had any time for herself as an adult. Who was I to get in her way?
“I’m happy for you, Gran. But are you sure you’re up for it? I mean, that’s a lot! Maybe you guys should just take a plane.”
“It’s what you do! Running away? I want to experience what you do every summer.” She laughed and it melted my heart. It was so good to see her feeling strong again. I wanted her to have fun.
“You win. I’ll go get fixed up. What do you want me to wear, you wicked old woman?”
She stepped over to the bag and pulled out my red and white dress that I’d worn to Pacific Playland with Kelly. I choked back tears as the memories of our road trip came flooding back. God, I loved that man so much. I missed him so much. I kicked myself every day for letting him go, even though I knew I had been right at the time. I had needed him and he’d disappeared. He hadn’t even told me why.
I hurriedly wiped at the tears and gave Gran a look that said, “don’t even.” I took the dress from her and held it out. I hoped it still fit. I’d put on a little weight.She really did understand. It was just her way of giving me a gentle kick in the ass.
She smiled as I left the room, and I groaned. Why couldn’t she and everyone else just let me wallow? First Stevie and Aaron, now Gran…oh…fuck. I was walking into something. Damn. Well, the best defense was a good offense. If they were going to spring something, or someone, on me, I was going to be dressed to kill.
But then I realized if it was a set-up, Kelly was likely involved. He was the common denominator in all of the activity around me. What would I say to him? Or what if he was there, but not part of the surprise? I fuckinghatedsurprises and everyone knew it! They also knew my stubbornness knew no bounds and that I’d never leave the house if they didn’t conspire against me. I’d have to be ready for everything, including seeing the man I loved and hated being without. It was time to get my shit together.
Not only did I put on the dress and do my makeup, but I spent extra time with the hot rollers and styled my hair in a 1940s pinup do to die for! It was part up and part down with some complicated twists and big curls. I hadn’t gone all out like this in a long time. I even busted out the false eyelashes and the bright red lipstick. I opted for white platform sandals instead of my Chucks and affixed a big bow on top. When I came out of my room, Gran met me in the hallway.
“Where’s your camera?” I groaned again.
She took a few shots of me in the house, and then gestured for me to follow her to the porch. I stood next to the pillar while she carefully stepped down the ramp. She posed me like she used to when I was younger and photography was her big time hobby. It was so good to see her behind her camera, a big clunky professional one with the fancy lenses. She posed me and made me smile when I really wanted to flip her off. Then she looked down at her watch.
“You better get going,” she said. It was near dark, almost seven. Things didn’t get going over there for a while, but Stevie had said I should be there at seven-thirty.
“Fine! Damn! Bossy much? Do you need me to do anything before I go?”
She waved me off. “Go! Lila’s coming so we can put the final touches on our itinerary.”
“Oh, but I could probably give you guys some ideas! I’ve gone to the desert before and—”
“Young lady, if I want your input, I’ll ask for it, now shoo!”
I laughed all the way to the car. I realized I needed gas before I stopped and I needed some gum, so I stopped at the gas station just before the business loop and filled up the Mustang. She looked pitiful. I hadn’t washed her in forever. I made a vow that I’d have her looking snazzy soon.
The clerk inside the convenience store gave me the creeps, his hand lingering on my pack of gum. I was ready to say something before the bell rang announcing a new customer. I turned to see two cops coming in and smiled. They looked all smart in their uniforms. The older one smiled at me and nodded, then gave an ugly look to the clerk. I was so thankful for their presence. Cops got such a bad rap, sometimes deserved, but the ones I’d met over the past few months really made me appreciate what they did for the rest of us and how rarely they were appreciated. Especially Kelly. I hadn’t appreciated him enough to understand when he wasn’t there. That thought slowed some of my momentum.
I hurried back to my car, happy I’d brought my sweater since it was getting chilly. We’d had quite an Indian summer, but evenings were still cool. I had to park in the garage attached to the movie theater and then walk down B Street since the place was packed. There was a huge line outside of Buffalo Bill’s, the big brewpub that brought in a lot of folks to the area. I strolled past Vintage Alley, a shop where I got a lot of my clothes and waved to the owners through the window. I did a little window-shopping, then stopped in the bookstore to peruse a little. I didn’t want to be early. I wanted to sneak in, sit in the back, see the acts, and say hi then get my butt home. I was starting to panic a little about being out and hated the fact that I’d gotten all done up. I had to fight myself to keep my feet moving down the street. I passed Aaron’s store, which was just closing. His business partner stepped out as I was passing and nodded my way.
