Page 97 of Roses and Skulls

He nods, biting at the ring in his lip. “Thank you for doing this for your mom.”

I pull the towel off my head to dry my hair. “I think she did this for me but whatever.” I roll my eyes, pretending to give him the sass that he had become accustomed to.

“She needed this, Billie Rose,” he says in all seriousness, adding, “I think you did too.”

“He’s so good to me, dad.”

He sets the phone back down. “Here comes your mom. Just, please be safe,” he reiterates, his voice cracking. “I’ll leave you women to it.” And he’s gone before I can say anything else.

My mom comes into view with a glass of wine in her hand and a box of tissues. “Okay, I’m ready,” she says, setting everything down on the desk in front of her. “Now, what are we going to do with your hair.”

“I was thinking of leaving it down. What do you think?” I ask, smiling ear to ear.

“Well, our hair is one of our best assets,” she states, winking at me. “I think down would be perfect.”

As we go back and forth about eyeshadow colors, our relationship slowly morphs back into what it used to be before the accident. Maybe even better, now that we are both women.

“So, do you have any questions for me? I feel like I haven’t prepared you enough for an intimate relationship.” Her cheeks turn to fire as she looks around her bedroom.

“Mom, look at me.” She turns with sad eyes. “I might not know everything but trust me when I tell you that I’m figuring it out. I think it’s more exciting that way, don’t you?”

She runs her hand over her face. “I’m sorry I projected my trauma on to you. I learned everything so young…” she shakes her head as if trying to shake the memories away. “I didn’t want you to know too much too soon.”

“It’s fine. Elijah likes it this way,” I tease.

My mom covers her ears. “I don’t want to hear it,” she scolds but then smiles. “I’m glad we can talk like this again.”

“Me too.”

“Go on, get the dress on. I want to see the whole look. I’ll go get your father.”

Quickly, I move out from in front of the camera and slide the dress up and over my hips. It’s so soft, and it fits me perfectly.

I don’t have shoes because my mom thought of everything and since we are on the salt flats, she sent some sparkly barefoot jewelry.

“Are you guys ready?” I ask.

“Yep, we’re both here.”

When I step into view, they both gasp. “Beautiful,” my mom cries. My dad pulls her head into his chest as she weeps.

I shift back and forth, trying to see myself in the camera. It’s been a long time since I dressed up like this.

“Baby girl, I knew I should have locked you up and threw away the key the day you were born. You’re gorgeous, honey.”

My eyes slide to his. He’s giving me a look that literally melts my heart. And I start to envision a day when this man walks me down the aisle.

My mom sniffles and raises her head to give me another once over. “You better send pictures.”

“I will. I should go now. Thanks for all your help.”

We say our goodbyes and before the phone disconnects, I catch my dad cradle my mom’s face in his hands and kiss her tears away.

I sigh dreamily as I make my way around the bus, stopping dead in my tracks.

Elijah is standing under a canopy covered in twinkling white lights. He slowly turns around as if sensing my presence. He’s in a tux. A fucking tux, people. He smiles and the whole world breaks off around us.

Music starts playing from a speaker and it’s then I notice he has a remote that he shoves back in his pocket. He holds out his hand for me. I take a step but then hesitate, remembering the last conversation I had with my grandfather.

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