Page 44 of Roses and Skulls

I giggle and my dad finally tuns to face me, his eyebrow cocked high.

“That would be the one, but it wasn’t Elijah’s fault. He did try to talk me out of it and when I started to climb he followed me up so that I wouldn’t slip and fall.”

My dad snorts. “Don’t think I’m giving him a good guy award for that.”

I offer him a smile. “Wouldn’t think of it.”

He thumps me on the nose but returns my smile with one of his own.

“Anyhow, I wanted to see what the birds could see. What was beyond the fence of Elijah’s tiny little yard. So, I climbed and climbed until I couldn’t.”

I let my gaze wander to the windows, looking out at the moonlit road. To the ditch where we landed…

“It was scary, but it was amazing. The wind, the view, all of it. I loved every minute. I could see all the way to the beach.” I close my eyes, remembering that day, tasting the salt on my tongue. When I open them, my dad is staring at me, hanging on every word. “I think I could have gotten down on my own, but I knew you would come save me. I guess a small part of me wanted you to. I’m always going to try to climb the tallest tree, dad, but I know you’ll be there to get me down.”

He turns away from me. “I wasn’t there the day of the accident,” he whispers gruffly.

“But you were. You came. Grandpa told me you would… and you did. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you have to let me be brave enough to see what’s on the other side. You can be there to get me down, to catch me if I fall but you can’t keep me fenced in.

“I know. I know.” He hits the steering wheel, making me jump. “I had a hard time before, but now…” He chuckles sadly. “Now, I can’t do it, Billie Rose. I hate it when you’re out of my sight. It about killed me tonight, waiting outside the bar for you to come out. Not knowing what was going on inside.”

“What if I help you?” I ask quietly.

Dad tugs on his lip ring, his gaze settling curiously on me. “How would you do that?”

I sit up tall in the seat beside him. “What if we work together.”

He tips his head, his interest peaked.

“Just let me climb and I promise I’ll tell you when I need help down.”

“Billie Rose,” he starts.

“Grandpa and I stopped at the bar for root beer floats after the dance. He wanted to talk to me about boys.” This makes my dad grunt. I roll my eyes and continue, “I should say lack thereof. Nobody asked me to dance that night.”

My dad gets a satisfied look on his face. “I don’t see any problem with that. No boys needed to be touching you.”

“You see? This is the problem. Dad, do you really think no boy is ever going to touch me?”

He grips the steering wheel, taking a deep breath. “Has a boy touched you?”

I huff, getting out and slamming my door shut. “I’m walking home,” I yell, flipping him off over my shoulder.

He gets out too. “Wait, wait. I’ll keep my mouth shut. Please finish the story. I’m sorry.”

I turn around, the headlights shinning right in my face. My heart starts beating fast. Lights, headlights, that’s how it all started.

“Billie Rose?” Dad takes a step towards me.

I hold up my hands, stopping him.

“We had root beer floats and we talked about boys… and he danced with me.” I spin, looking for his truck. “We were almost home and then there were lights and we rolled and the noise.” I cover my ears, hearing the metal and glass crash around me.

Warm arms pull me in close. “It’s okay, baby girl, I got you.”

I look up into my dad’s handsome face. His beard containing more silver strands than dark these days. “He… he told me you would come,” I cry, holding onto him tight.

We stand there holding each other for a long time before my dad speaks. “Bill was gone when Dan and I found you. I thought you were gone too, but then you opened your eyes.” He chokes on his words and hugs me tighter.

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