Page 35 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy
“Who said that I was marrying her?” My right brow lifted.
“Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do when you like someone?” Khali turned and faced me.
“What makes you think that I like Remedi?”
“The way you look at her, duh.”
“And how do I look at her?”
“Like this.” Khali stood there and poured her eyes into mine. She didn’t bat a single eye. Leaning down, I tickled her sides and she balled up. “Stop! Please stop!” She laughed so hard, tears seeped from the corners of her eyes. I didn’t think I looked at Remedi in no particular way, but if Khali could pick up on the fact that I’m starting to catch some sort of feelings for Remedi, I know she could as well. Maybe that’s why she’d been staying away. We did agree to just have fun.
I stood there in my bedroom in front of my dresser, gazing at my reflection in the mirror. For hours, I’d been trying to figure out something to put on for the night. I decided I was gon’ wear black denims with a black t-shirt and my black cowboy hat. Nothing too special. The last thing I wanted was for Remedi to think I was trying too hard. My horse platinum chain danced on my neck. It’s not something I put on every day, but I felt like bringing it out tonight.
Taking one final look at myself, I stepped away from the mirror and headed to the opposite side of the house to see if Khali was done getting dressed. I’d picked out an outfit for her earlier before I got in the shower. It was this pink graphic t-shirt and a pair of denim jeans—something simple. Dallas had doneher hair earlier today, so I didn’t have to worry ’bout that. She had this braided ponytail with beads on the ends. She’d been swinging those beads ever since she came back to the house. The way they clacked together, she’d never be able to sneak up on me now.
Khali danced around her bedroom to some song playing on the television when I entered her door. Her beads clacked with every jump she made. A smile parted my lips. Standing here, watching her be so carefree is all I ever wanted for her. She let me know that I’m doing an amazing job at raising her. I can’t lie, some days I be feeling as if I’m a failure. Days like this reassure me that I’m doing everything right.
“Daddy!” She laughed when she turned around and saw me standing there.
“I was just coming to see if you were ready. We have to go pick Remedi up.”
“Yeah.” Grabbing her remote, she turned the TV off and tossed it onto the bed. “Did you let Cotton out?” she asked, referring to her all-white Pomeranian that I’d gotten her for her birthday. She named her Cotton ’cause she looked like a cotton ball.
“I’ll let her out now,” I told her and went into the living room where she had Cotton sleeping. When she first got her, she was keeping her in her bedroom, but Cotton would cry all night long, not wanting to sleep in her cage. We transitioned her to a bed once she got potty-trained. “C’mon,” I said, and Cotton jumped up from her bed and ran in my direction. I opened the front door for her, and she ran out into the yard. Out of all the animals we have on this farm, I don’t know what made Khali start asking for a dog. Of course, I wasn’t ’bout to tell her no. I’d started searching into dogs to see which one would’ve been the best fit, and that’s when I ran into Cotton. I thought she’d be perfect for her.
Once Cotton was done using the bathroom, she ran back into the house and got comfortable in her bed. Khali waved at her as she exited the house with me directly behind her. I hit the fob on the truck and opened the door for Khali. She climbed up inside and slipped her seat belt on.
Getting into the driver’s seat, I backed out of the driveway and went to Remedi’s house. Soon as I pulled into the driveway, I shot her a text, letting her know I was outside. It’s crazy to me to hear that Remedi hasn’t been to the fair since she was a child. I went damn near every year, except the year that Simone died. It took me forever to want to come out the house and do things again. Khali got to experience the fair ’cause I sent her with Dallas. The people ’round me understood that I needed time to grieve.
Remedi came out of the house dressed in this black floral dress that stopped at her thighs. Her hair was freshly pressed with a part down the middle. Thankfully, she wore flats or else her feet would’ve been killing her with all the walking that Khali was ’bout to force us to do. That girl likes to get to the fair and try everything under the sun.
Leaning over, I pushed the door open for her, and she got up into the truck. Instantly, her scent wrapped ’round me like a sheet. Vanilla bean ice cream is the first thing that came to mind. “Hey,” she spoke.
“Hey, Remedi!” Khali was so eager to spend time with Remedi today. They’d been talking on the phone every other day as if they were best friends or something. I didn’t mind. Remedi was a positive influence on Khali.
Remedi cracked a grin as she slipped on her seat belt. Her eyes bored into mine temporarily before I turned back to the windshield. I backed out the driveway and headed straight to the fair. Soon as we arrived, I spotted the Ferris wheel going in the air. It lit up the dark night sky with rainbow colors.
Sugar and sausages covered the air like a heavy weighted blanket as I got out the truck and opened the door for Khali. Remedi rounded the truck where we stood, smoothing out the invisible wrinkles in her dress. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was nervous to be here with us.
“I want so much stuff! I can’t wait to get a candy apple,” Khali made known as she skipped toward the entrance. Remedi and I slowly walked behind her, not uttering a single word to one another. The tension is so thick that it can be sliced with a knife.
“Thanks for inviting me out tonight. I really needed to get out of the house,” Remedi said as we approached the ticket booth.
“No problem.” Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a wad of cash and looked up at the attendant. “Two adults and one child,” I told her.
“And will you be needing tickets for rides or a wristband?”
“You riding anything?” I questioned Remedi. Khali ain’t even have to let it be known that she was getting on rides. She did so every year.
“No. I don’t trust something they pack up like a suitcase and just move around. I’ll rather keep my feet on the ground.”
“One wristband,” I told the attendant.
Removing a couple hundreds from the wad, I handed it over to her and waited for my change. She handed me the wristband first, and I gave it to Khali, who then took it over to Remedi to put on her wrist for her.
We entered the fair, and the first thing in view was a food truck. “You want something?” I asked ’em before we started on our journey. With Khali, there’s no telling where we were gon’ end up.
“Uh, I think all I want is a lemonade right now,” Remedi answered.
