Page 55 of 2204 Hunter Lane
The whole table erupted in a series of cheerful agreements, Payton’s features softening as she passed around the plate of peppermint bark.
I leaned back into my chair and looked around the crowd of five in front of me, smiling, giggling and sharing stories like they’d lived a thousand lives.
And for the first time in a long time, a bubble of something foreign floated through my mind, filling me with sunlight.
A feeling of hope.
???
After lunch we all gathered around the tree like a couple of happy campers and began the gift distribution.
I’d gotten my Uncle a gift card to P&D’s as a gag gift cause I knew he’d fucking use it regardless, and Betty a flamingo hairbrush since she was obsessed with flamingos.Flamingos and green beans… absolutely wild.
After seeing Payton fishing out that old hallway rug a few weeks back, I decided to get her a new one with a brown and blue zig zag pattern to match the funky pillows she had on the couch.
My dad needed a new jacket since he’d been wearing the same flannel one for decades, and Lord knows he didn’t ever buy clothing.
When Payton told me Bambi was coming for Christmas I was clueless as to what gift I’d get her. But when the idea came to me, I took it and ran. Even though it was the most embarrassing present on this planet, it was still something regardless.
After the oldies finished handing out their gifts, I ended up with a set of thermal socks from Betty, a twenty dollar voucher to fuckin’ McDonalds from uncle Glen, and Payton n’ my dad managed to cop me a signed vintage poster of The Rolling Stones, framed in black casing.
“How the hell d’you get this?” I gasped, examining the ragged paper and glossy finish.
“Found an authentic seller on eBay, guess he was a groupie back then and had a couple dozen posters lyin’ around.” Dad said.
The Rolling Stones was my mom’s favourite band, and automatically became mine as I grew older. I learned the guitar because of Keith Richards, and had their hits on repeat every damn day.Fuck, this would look mighty fine next to my T.V.
“Thank you,” I nodded at Payton and my dad, smiling like a goddamn fool.
When I turned to Bambi, she was already holding out her gift with a wishful twinkle in her eye.
“You didn’t need to get me nothin’, Bambi…”
“I thought you’d say that.” She chuckled. “Open it.”
The black box was long and rectangular, tied together by a bright purple bow. When I lifted the lid, I examined the contents before realizing what it was.
“Paintbrushes?” I asked, placing the box in my lap as I removed the slender sticks in my favourite shade of green.Huh, she remembered.
“For your boat figurines,” she released, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know you have to be super precise when painting certain parts so… I don’t know, I got them engraved if you want to turn them over and see.”
I already felt my smile before my nerves could control it as I rolled over the paintbrushes and found the initialsH.Lcarved into the stems.
“H.L,” I whispered, running my fingers over the silver lettering. “For Hunter Lane?”
She dipped her head, averting eye contact once again but I wasn’t having it, not this time. Like second nature, my hand cupped her chin, forcing her to meet my eyes.
“I fucking love it.”
She blushed, fighting the urge to turn away again but she managed to see my look through.
“It’s not much but –”
“Hey, none of that. Okay? My turn.”
Her big brown eyes widened in surprise as I pulled out a box of my own, only it was wrapped like shit but it’s the thought that fucking counts.
I placed the present in her lap as she delicately unwrapped the paper, lifting the lid of my gift.
