Page 84 of Finding Our Reality

I watch Laura swing back and forth. She’s singing. “I’ve done some amazing things with my life. So many things I’m proud of. My education, my career.” Sensing my stare, Laura looks up and waves. “So many things didn’t turn out the way I thought they would, though. When you met me, my life was black and white. And filled with sadness. Grief over Carrie, anger at my parents. And then, you made me see color… all of these bright and wonderful and sparkling colors. I dreamed of a life together. With you. After you left, I told myself it was just the foolish wishes of a young girl’s first love. I learned to live with that. Embrace it. Make it fact.” I stare into his eyes. “But then I see something like that.” I nod at the house. “And it makes me question everything I thought I knew. Question everything that could have been.”

He follows my eyes, appreciating the homestead before him. “The hydrangeas will look better next year. I just planted them this spring. I had decided to do green shrubbery instead,” he smiles, “but then you came home, decided to stay for a while. Back then, you told me you wanted hydrangeas in the front flowerbeds. That’s what you said, anyway, so I tossed the green shrubbery idea out the window.”

I cough, trying to dislodge the words from my dry and scratchy throat. “You saved my sketches.”

“Of course, I did.”

I nod, biting my lip.

“Go ahead and ask me. I know you want to.”

“What?”

“Don’t beat around the bush, Lulu. I like you when you get to the point.”

My words stutter. “Did… did you build this house for me?”

“Of course, I did.”

My heart drums against my ribcage, stealing the breath from my lungs. “But that’s crazy. How could you know I would be here to see it one day?”

He leans forward. “I’ve never been without you. You’ve always been here with me. Every single second of every single day. All I had to do was close my eyes and I could see you.” His thumb grazes the side of my leg. “I’m selfish. I kept you. I never let you go.”

I don’t have an opportunity to digest those words and formulate a response because Laura jumps down from the swing and races over to us. “Uncle Ry! Let’s show Miss Lulu our special place. Pleeeeaassse!”

Ry grins as the little girl crawls onto his lap. “Little Girl, it’s a hundred degrees out here. Why do you have to crawl on me like a monkey?”

Laughing, she squeals like a monkey and scratches her armpits.

“Fine, little monkey. We can show her.” She jumps off his lap and starts to run across the yard. “But not until that fishing stuff is put back where it belongs.”

Turning on her heels, she dramatically moans with attitude.

“Laura,” Ry scolds.

Her behavior quickly changes. “Yes, sir.” She holds out her baby doll to me. “Will you hold her, please? I have to get my stuff.”

“Sure.” I squeeze the toy in my arms.

Ry laughs. “Be right back.” He calls over his shoulder, “Baby’s name is Felicia Stinkbottoms, by the way.”

Well, that’s a suspicious name.

After a second, Ry and Laura return from the pond. She’s carrying her pink rod and reel and Ry’s carrying his rod and reel and the tackle box. I fall in step with them.

“Miss Lulu?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

“Why are you wearing Uncle Ry’s panties?”

My mouth falls open, and Ry bursts out laughing. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh so hard in my life. Despite my embarrassment, I giggle.

He pats her on the head. “I’ve told you before. Guys don’t call their underwearpanties. It’s just underwear. Got it?”

She nods. “So why are you wearing Uncle Ry’s underwear?”

“Well, I wasn’t feeling too good last night. I drank some bad medicine. He let me stay here, but all I had was my fancy work clothes. He didn’t know I was gonna wear his underwear. I took them out of his drawer without asking.” I wink at Ry. “I hope he’s not mad.”

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