Page 78 of The Two of Us

When Laura said she was going to decorate for the party herself, I thought it would consist of a few balloons here and there. Maybe a handcrafted banner if she was feeling wild. But the house I come back to this afternoon after picking up food and drinks is not the same house I left.

The entire backyard is decked out with streamers hanging from the trees, barrels filled to the brim to bob for apples, and multiple piñatas hanging from Old Maple. The theme… well I can’t tell what the theme is. It looks like Party City threw up in my backyard.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Laura takes the chips from my hand and dumps them into serving bowls. “I didn’t know what theme he’d like best so I just went with all of them.”

Ambrose walks over and drops a kiss on the top of Laura’s head. “Are you kidding? I wish you were my aunt.”

Ambrose always looks good in that not-trying-to-be-hot, hot kind of way and today is no different. His jet-black hair is wet and tousled like he just got out of the shower, and he wears an olive sweater that complements the green of his eyes. I try and fail to avoid staring at the jeans that perfectly hug his ass.

You’re at a seven-year-old’s birthday party, stop mentally undressing the guests.

I exhale my sexual frustrations. “I agree, Laura. It’s amazing. Matty’s going to freak out.”

And Matty does, in fact, freak out. As it turns out, having a party with multiple, unrelated themes is perfect for children who have the attention span of a goldfish. I can’t help smiling every time a kid tells Matty that it’s the best birthday party they’ve ever been to.

Ambrose makes his rounds with the parents and program volunteers and I have a hard time not thinking about the kiss last night. Can it even be considered a kiss if it wasn’t on my lips? Yes. I’m telling myself yes. We haven’t talked about last night and I’m not sure Ambrose even wants to. I’m glad he’s not acting awkward around me today, but a small part of me wonders if that means last night doesn’t mean as much to him as it does to me.

“Why so serious? You do know you’re at a party, right?” Ambrose hands me a cup of punch.

I make a face. “Ha. Ha.”

He lifts a finger to the scabbed-over cut on my head. “How are you doing? Last night was a lot.”

Does he mean Jason or the kiss? Dammit, I hate that I don’t know which one he’s referring to. I might as well find a flower and start plucking its petals. He loves me, he loves me not.

“Jason…” he continues.

“Right. Yeah, I’m fine. A little shaken up, but I’m good. I’m just glad he’s behind bars and can’t mess with anyone anymore. Especially Anya and Matty.”

Speaking of Anya, she’s nowhere to be found. Laura spent the entire morning calling her, begging her to stop by for Matty’s party. When I heard Matty asking Laura in the kitchen if his mom was coming, she told him Anya was away finding him a gift so amazing, it’ll make him pee his pants. He giggled, accepting her response without question and it made my heart crumble into a bunch of pieces on the floor.

The sounds of children’s laughter hug the space around my house as the afternoon carries on and I hope that the joy and love around us find its way to my dad’s little corner of the house. I hope it makes an appearance in his dreams, comforting him.

The party mellows out an hour later and the backyard’s attendance cuts down to half—only a few of Matty’s friends and their parents remain. The adults are content, sipping on beers and having casual conversations while the kids role-play kings and knights around Old Maple.

Ambrose is the only adult completely immersed with the children, pretending to beg for mercy when one of the “knights” challenges him to a duel. I walk over and stand beside a little girl whose name is Alecia.

“And who are you playing?” I ask.

Before she can answer, a boy with a buzz cut pipes in. “She’s the narrator. We already have enough kings and girls can’t be knights.”

I put my hands on my hips. “Oh, is that so? Well, in that case, I think it only makes sense that she be made commander.”

Ambrose grins at me from the side but holds his tongue as I continue. “All persons of the military have to report to someone.”

Alecia looks unsure as she twirls her braid around her finger. “But can a girl be a commander?”

“Yes.” I drop to my knees in front of her, bringing our eye levels together. “Have you ever heard of Joan of Arc?”

She shakes her head.

“She was a woman who led an entire military to victory in France. And she was only eighteen.”

Alecia’s face brightens and I continue. “There will always be knights and soldiers and infantrymen. But they will always need someone to lead them.”

Alecia turns toward the group of boys, puffing up her chest beneath her pink tulle dress. “You heard her boys. I’m the commander. I want everyone in a straight line, now,” she commands, pointing in front of her.

Ambrose and I slowly back away as the boys follow her orders without hesitation and fall into line. She gifts me the sweetest of smiles before turning her newfound conviction on the knights before her.

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