Page 46 of Close to Falling

“Bye, bye, Frankie.”

“Talk soon, B.” He hangs up, and I put my phone down. I don’t have the heart to call the man out on the water boiling. Even though I know, for one, he has a cell phone. He can walk and talk. And, two, the man doesn’t boil water. He eats takeout every night. But talking isn’t Frankie’s thing, and that’s okay. I think the only reason he has a cell phone is because Landon bought it for him. I make my way back to my studio and try for round whatever.

***

Outdoor lights are lit and candles are placed on the table made from an old church door I got Frankie to build for me. Family and friends surround me as stories are being told and everyone chats about their week. It’s my birthday, and I’m no longer in my twenties. It is what it is. Foot propped up in my seat, I rest my chin on my knee and twist my tea glass in front of me as my eyes roam across the filled chairs at my table. Ellie grabs my attention as she laughs at her wife imitating their daughter, Bell. Apparently, she threw a fit today because she didn’t get a purse she wanted.

“The girl is six,” Sam says.

“And she acts twenty,” Ellie continues. Adopting was the best thing that ever happened to those two. It keeps Ellie from being a workaholic, and oddly, it chills Samantha. Adabelle is the most precious thing, when she isn’t throwing fits, of course. My eyes go to Frankie, and I see he is getting tired. The man has a good drive, and I want him to get back safely.

“Frankie, wanna crash here?” I ask.

“Nah, I’ll be fine driving,” he tells me. I nod and stretch my arms out in front of me, a big signal to anyone who knows me I’m ready to call it.

“You tired?” Landon asks. He’s surfer boy tan and all grown up. I miss his child-like face sometimes.

“Yeah,” I say, reaching over and touching his hand. He smiles and flips his palm up so he can squeeze my fingers.

“Let’s head out, guys. The birthday girl is tired,” Landon says, giving me a wink. Sarah picks up dishes, and Landon gives my hand one more squeeze before he stands and helps.

“I’ll get these tomorrow,” I say to them.

“No, tomorrow you will be in that studio all day coming up with more artwork,” Sarah says. Landon gives me a face, likeuh-oh.

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply, taking a sip from my glass, trying to keep the smile off my face.

“We need to be heading home anyway,” Ellie says as she moves her chair back and puts her napkin down.

“Thank you so much for coming,” I say, planting my feet and then standing.

“Anytime, Maddie.” She smiles.

“Thank you for having us,” Sam says. “Sometimes, it’s nice to remember we are not only mothers, but women, too, who need adult conversation.”

“Well, I’m so happy you both made it. Kiss Bell for me,” I say as I hug both of them.

“Of course,” Ellie says. I look over at Frankie after they walk out.

“Good birthday?” he asks, and now that our guests are all gone, he can pull his pack out and light a smoke.

“It’s no barbecue, but it’ll do,” I reply, taking a seat beside him. He chuckles as a red flame burns from the end of his filter after he lights it. “You should quit.” I scrunch my nose and wave the smoke in a different direction than my face. He moves his cigarette away from me.

“There’s a lot we should do, isn’t there?”

I snicker. “You got me there.” I look down at my watch and see it’s past ten.

“You got a thirty-minute drive.”

“Kid, I’ve been driving longer than you’ve been alive. Don’t worry about me.”

“Well, I can’t help that,” I say. He takes a hit and looks at me.

“I know the feeling,” he then replies with a soft smile, and I know he does.

***

B.B. King tells me the thrill is gone as my hand has a mind of its own. Creativity flows out of my fingertips and onto the paper. This is my last piece, and I will finally be finished. I’m proud of my work, and I can’t wait for the world to see it. After hours of drawing, I sign the bottom and put my charcoal down. Rubbing my fingers and looking over all my pieces, I grin and line them all up along the wall. I’ve come far with my drawing. When I got out of rehab, I rented a place in the city and started taking art classes. My teacher told me I had something, and she entered some of my pieces into different contests. I won a good bit of them, and that’s when I had people actually interested in purchasing my work.

---