Page 4 of Anchored Love
Wine called my name, so I headed to the kitchen in search of it. The space faced the new backyard. Looking out the window and staring into the pit of darkness, I missed the comforting sight of our childhood treehouse. It always had a prominent place in my life, and now it was gone like all the memories it held.
I poured a glass of wine and breathed in the ambrosia scent before taking a swallow. It warmed me on the way down.
My father passed away my freshman year of college. His passing left a gaping hole in my heart. I’d been a daddy’s girl through and through, down to my core.
It hit us all hard, but in a way it brought us all closer. We’d always had ups and downs, but his loss was a stark reminder of how precious life could be and how fast it could be swept away.
“Ev, get in here,” Drake yelled for me from the living room. “I’ve got a surprise.”
A groan escaped. I adored my brother, but surprises weren’t on the top of my favorites lists. Most of the surprises in my life ended up being bad. Oh surprise, your dad’s dead. Oh surprise, you’re fired. Oh surprise, your boyfriend is dating your college friend. Yeah, surprises hadn’t been the best.
One could hope whatever this was would break the cycle and be something good. Positive. Lord knew we all needed that. I took another hard swallow of my wine and refilled my glass.
Trudging back to the family room, wine glass in one hand, I tugged my sweater, which always seemed to rise up my sides, back down as I went. Luckily, I brought another top and would be changing out of it very soon, now that the mandatory family photograph was out of the way.
The scene awaiting me looked like a Hallmark card.
Mom and Herbert were snuggled into his recliner, her on his lap, arms cradling his neck. They made a cute couple. There was no doubt in my mind he loved our mother. It was in his hazel eyes, when he gazed at her. His love for her shined bright like a beacon. I hoped one day I’d meet someone who would look at me with such longing and devotion.
Jess and Casey took up the loveseat, his arm wrapped around her shoulder, holding her tightly.
My brother stood in front of the tree with a wide smile on his face welcoming me.
His fiancée, Kelsey, sat at the opposite end of the sectional, so I plopped down on the other end to make use of the side table, setting my wine glass on a coaster.
Legs curled under me, I got comfortable and stared at my family when it hit me like a lead balloon.
I was the outcast, the runt if you will. The only one who didn’t have their someone special to share their lives with. Why it was this moment it hit, I had no idea, but I felt it all the way to my soul. I hated the emotions swirling in my chest. Ones of envy.
Mom had Herbert, who I admit didn’t really look much like a Herbert I had pictured in my mind. When she told me she had met someone and gave that name, I expected some short, fat, bald man, but in reality he was the complete opposite as in he was in shape and quite tall. Mom landed herself what some would call a silver fox. Herbert was an attractive man who took care of himself. He was active and doted on my mother as though she was a queen. I thought she’d permanently lost her smile when my father died, but Herbert revived her.
Jess had Casey. I swore the two of them were destined to be together. They’d always had a connection since we were kids. Jess met him in middle school when he protested about dissecting frogs. Jess joined him in his crusade to free the frogs, and the two of them landed in detention together. They’d been inseparable ever since. I thought they would be the ones getting married instead of Drake and Kelsey, considering how long they’d been together.
My brother met his fiancée when he stopped to help her change a flat tire on his way home from work one evening. Drake said it was love at first sight. One look at Kelsey standing in the pouring rain, and he knew she would be his forever. I wasn't sure if I believed in fate. Maybe I was too cynical.
My brother, who could be my father’s doppelgänger with his dark hair that curled around his ears, fanned out three red envelopes in his hands. “No one is to open these until I say so.” He smirked then winked at Kelsey. “One for you.” He handed one to Mom and Herbert. “One for you.” The next was given to Jess and Casey. “And for you, Ev.” Drake placed the final envelope in my grasp.
It didn’t hold much weight, so maybe a card?
“What are you up to, son?” Mom turned the envelope over and broke the seal, not fully opening it quite yet.
Drake strolled to the other end of the couch and sat next to Kelsey, curving his palm to her kneecap and giving her a squeeze. “As you are all aware, last Valentine’s Day, I proposed to Kelsey and thankfully she agreed to marry my lucky ass.”
“Language,” Mom huffed, but Drake smiled, and the rest of us laughed. She hated foul language as she called it.
“Open them.” As we did, he continued. “Our gift to each of you is an all-expenses paid cruise to St. Thomas where this beautiful woman will become my wife.”
“Oh how wonderful.” Mom clapped her hands together crushing the red envelope, a stray tear rolling down her cheek. “I’ve always loved weddings. Kelsey is going to be such a beautiful bride. Do you have your dress yet?”
“Yes, but I’m hoping you’ll come to the final fitting with me.”
Mom was over the moon with joy. Kelsey meant almost as much to her as Jess and me. Not to mention she loved watching those bridal reality TV shows.
“You know, not that I’m not grateful, but all that sunlight. Can you imagine the damage the UV rays will do to our skin? Not even SPF fifty will be enough protection. You know there are cruises to places like say Alaska,” Jess interjected.
“And do what? Pan for gold?” Drake shook his head, not happy with her antics. Jess loved her dramatics and always overreacted.
My thoughts immediately drifted to standing on the deck of a cruise ship with icicles hanging from my eyebrows while dressed in ten layers of clothing, including a heavy-duty parka, and being unable to lift my arms while Kelsey and Drake exchanged their nuptials.
