Page 28 of Rough Start

“I suppose you’re suggesting yourself,” Max concluded and gestured to the chair belonging to the late Shon. “Last guy who sat there died. You really want to bring that down on yourself? It’s no small thing being appointed. You’ll gain attention. And a target on your back.”

“You said we all have targets. Mine will get a little bigger, but I can handle it. You need people close to you, Max, you know you can trust me.” Max was silent for a long time. Kye stood patiently as the older man finished his drink and took a seat to enjoy the remainder of his cigar.

“I’ll think about it, kid,” Max stated. “You’re right, I trust you, but I don’t make this decision lightly. You find the man who started all of this, whoever has been stealing, you get a seat at the big table. Deal?” Max held out a free hand, and Kye wasted no time in taking it.

“Deal.”

Eliana was pacing the living room with a clipboard in one hand, a pencil in her mouth, and two more secured in the bun on top of her head. She looked like a superintendent on a caffeine high the way she ticked off items on her self-made checklist.

“Items for donation…” she muttered as she pointed with the eraser end of her pencil to a stack of boxes near the door, “clothes to take to school…” she continued as she moved to aim her writing utensil at the suitcases on the couch. “Clothes to store”— her eyes searched the labyrinth of boxes before finding the ones she’d labeled on the coffee table— “check.”

Running upstairs to gather a few more things, she paused to stare at her prom dress that was hanging from the closet doorframe. In all its shimmering glory, Eliana couldn’t wait until she was dressed in it and dancing the night away with Kye. They were a week away from prom, and the days couldn’t go fast enough.

Her stomach flipped as she ran her hands over the sequin material knowing it would be the last thing she wore before she gave up her virginity. Though he hadn’t come right out and said it, Eliana knew Kye was thinking the same thing she was: the ‘perfect moment’ was at prom. Well, not at prom, but afterward. He was planning something special. It was evident in his voice when they’d spoken on the phone the night before last.

Something deep inside her began to hum and purr expectantly as she remembered their night together in her bed. How glorious would this next time be? Everything was falling in to place perfectly. They were one week from prom, three weeks from graduation and after their perfect night together, she’d tell Kye how she’d invested the second half of her savings to secure a larger apartment than a rented room. It was farther from campus but would easily accommodate two. Not just any two, but them. Kye and Eliana together in Massachusetts with a fresh life and no limitations.

Of course, she’d never get to the new place if she didn’t finish getting her belongings packed. Though it was still a little early, Eliana wasn’t going to leave anything to the last minute. Her room was already stored in boxes, minus the few essentials she’d need for the next month. Her storage space in the basement was cleaned out, and Eliana had been sure to pack the mementos of her mother’s that she insisted on keeping.

Gathering a few more boxes to add to the collection, she glanced longingly at her prom dress one more time before carrying the load downstairs and placing them with the others. As she finished placing them amongst the hoard, she could hear her father’s truck pulling into the driveway. She made a few quick notations on her sheet of paper on the clipboard before the front door opened.

“What’s all this?” Henry called as he peered over a stack of boxes that blocked the doorway to the living room. He appeared surprisingly lucid despite the fact he’d been gone all day. Eliana was almost certain he’d gone on another bender since the night before.

“Just getting organized,” Eliana called as she made her way through the constructed path to meet her dad. He was carrying a few bags of groceries, and she helped him set them in the kitchen where they had more room. “I have to send the last half of my deposit on to my apartment this week, but after that, I can start moving my things in. The landlord is going to make sure they get to my room so I should be able to ship most of my stuff.”

“I see,” Henry said softly as he sat at the table. She could tell there was a twinge of sadness in his voice.

“I didn’t realize how much stuff I had,” she continued, hoping to brighten the mood. “I’ve got almost ten boxes to donate to the thrift store. Mrs. Addlewood will be thrilled to replenish her stock. Clothing items were pretty scarce last time I was there.”

“Were they?” Henry inquired, but his eyes were still fixated on his large hands. “Well you can take the truck,” he said and fished in his pocket for the keys. They jingled momentarily as he extended them to her.

“Thanks, Daddy,” she said sincerely as she reached for them. It wasn’t often Eliana used the truck. More often than not, she’d have to take the keys and hide them so that her father wasn’t tempted to drink and drive. Now as he offered them, she smiled with gratitude. When their hands met, he engulfed her petite hand in both of his large ones and pulled her close enough to kiss the back of her hand. “Are you okay?” she asked as she noted the large tears forming in his eyes.

“Don’t you worry about me,” he replied with a forced smile. “Your old man is just going to miss you, that’s all. This house won’t be the same without my little saint.”

“I hate that nickname,” Eliana said before she could stop herself. Although momentarily alarmed at her own boldness, she couldn’t dispute the relief she felt once she’d finally said it.

“You do?” Henry asked in surprise. Eliana sighed and took the seat next to her dad. “Since when?”

“I don’t know,” she began, “always? I hate it when you treat me like I’m perfect. I’m not perfect. I’m not a saint and…” she paused to muster some courage, “…I’m not Mom.”

“You’re so much like her, though.”

“See, that’s just it,” she interrupted in annoyance. “I want to be able to hear that and feel proud. But every time you compare me to Mom it’s because you’re hurting, and you want to feel like she’s not gone. I can’t replace her, Dad. I’m still just a kid. I’m your daughter!” She could feel the start of a panicked set of tears welling up inside, and she tried to force them down.

“Oh,” Henry supposed shortly. For lack of anything to say, he scratched at his beard and observed his daughter. He sat for a moment looking entirely perplexed before he brought himself to answer her. “I know that you’re not your mother,” he started with restraint. “I guess I just see so much of her in you. The way you smile reminds me of her. She was a kind woman, always saw the best in people, kind of like you.”

“I don’t always…” Eliana admitted.

“You know, neither did she,” Henry said with a chuckle. “Why she married me, I’ll never know. I think I bugged her into doing it. I only had to propose six times before she said yes.”

“What?” Eliana asked in a shocked laugh. “You proposed six times? That must be some kind of record.”

“I did,” Henry confessed. “Of course, the first time I proposed we were in second grade. I crafted a dandelion into a ring, you know, the way girls used to wear those in their hair?” he asked and reached out to tug a strand of hers playfully. “Took me all of recess to chase her down on the playground and ask her.”

“She said no?”

“She said no. She said I had to color her a picture instead and of course, the only crayon I had that day was black. Your mother never cared for black. She’d dress like the rainbow anytime she had the chance.”