Beyond The Ghosts (Legacy Falls Project) (8 page)

Maybe that was it. I just needed to ease into it and get used to having a civilian in the room with me. I turned off the TV and walked up to my room. Placing my clothes in a folded pile on my chair in the corner of the room, I pulled on my lounge sleeping pants draped on the back of the chair from the night before, scratching at the creases my slightly tighter jeans had imprinted on my waistline. I flipped the knob’s lock perpendicular and prodded back to my bed.
Why am I locking the door?
I’m home. I turned back and flipped the knob’s switch back to the horizontal position.

I shrugged it off and crawled beneath the covers. It was muggy and warm as the temperature skipped spring and ran straight to the humidity of summer. Nevertheless, I found comfort in the cocoon of blankets and soft high thread count of quality sheets. My foot poked out the foot of my bed, and I retracted it quickly into the inner sanctum of my blanket pile. I laid in bed, restless. My leg shook, and I tossed and turned from side to side trying to find my comfy spot. Finally, I disentangled myself from my disheveled bed of blankets and stripped it bare to the fitted sheet.

I smoothed out of the all the lumps and creases of the mattress cover then lined up the top sheet with the head of the bed. As I smoothed and tucked the end trim of the sheet under the footer of the bed and folded each hospital corner, my nerves settled. I laid the cornflower-blue blanket on top and folded the top sheet down over it. Next, I layered the two afghans my mother had crocheted for me years ago in high school as she tried to keep warm and stay productive during many nights watching my high school football games in the cold.

I looked down at my fresh, tightly-made bed and a long sigh escaped my lips. Still edgy, I flipped the lock to perpendicular locked position. I grasped the knob and tested the lock. Feeling silly and defeated, I rested my head against the door. Baby steps.

Pulling one corner of the blanket heap back, I slipped in-between the cool sheets. My toes were held down by the tight hospital corners, my pulse slowed, and my breathing steadied as I drifted off to sleep.

Trying to get information out of my sister was harder than trying to crack a radical terrorist for intel. I asked about Christina, and she crossed her arms, tapped her foot, and replied, “Why do you want to know?”

“I wanted to thank her for the bear claws she made for me.”

“There you go again thinking the world revolves around you. Those were for the Rotary Club meeting.”

“They were in my house, on the dining room table, and so they were free game. I claimed them.”

“I know, you pig, couldn’t leave a couple for anyone else?”

“I’m saving you money. You will thank me later.”

“How is that saving me money? Now I have to go buy a bear claw. And the ones at the bakery don't have nearly enough cinnamon and they don't have any chocolate ones.”

“I am saving you time
and
money because now you don’t have to spend money on a gym membership and run fifty miles to burn off all the pastry dough and sugar I consumed.”

“Well, no one told you to eat the whole tray. Did you eat Mom’s serving platter too?”

“
No
, but I might have licked it once or twice before I put it in the dishwasher.”

“Ew, I’m never eating off that thing again. Thanks for ruining Thanksgiving too.”

“Good, more stuffing for me.”

Beth tried to sucker punch me, but I flexed, and when her hand connected she was met with solid muscle.

“Nice try, squirt.”

“God, I can’t stand you. Where do you put all that food? If I ate a whole tray of bear claws and lord knows what else you polished off yesterday—”

“There might have been a few of mom’s lemon bars left over.”

“Lemon bars too? And you’re not seven hundred pounds? What I would give to have that kind of metabolism.”

“Nah. It won’t last forever. I still do PT every day so it burns like crazy. One day, my body will wake up and realize we are not overseas anymore and I might be seven hundred pounds.”

She rolled her eyes at me and tried to pinch any excess off my flanks and gut. When she couldn’t, she play slapped me against my chest a few times and told me I sucked before looking for leftover sweets in the kitchen.

“So, you’re not gonna tell me?” I called after her as I heard the refrigerator door open. “Come on.” Waiting for her reply, I listened for the door to close again. Beth reemerged with a glass of sweet tea.

“What’s it worth to you, big brother?” she cooed at me.

“Oh, no you don’t. Last time you said that to me I ended up in a cheerleader outfit and that makeup didn’t come off for
days
.”

“Fine. See you later.”

I grabbed her arm, and she nearly spilled her tea. “What do you want?”

“Let me go, you big brute.” My sister loved drama and the delicate debutante was one of her stellar roles. “What’s a girl gotta do to spend some quality time with her big brother and I don’t know—” she was setting her reel and casting her line “—go see a movie?”

“It better not be a
Twilight
or a chick flick marathon.”

“No, you will have fun. I promise. They only have
one
showing of
Deadpool
at the theatre in town. They actually had a vote at the town hall meeting that it could only be shown after 10 PM as not to tarnish young minds and the good Christian folk of our town.”

“Wow, I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“So do I have a date for
Deadpool’s
10:15 viewing?”

“Fine.”

“I will pick you up at nine.”

“Why so early? It doesn't start until 10:15?”

“I don't want to miss the cool trailers. Also, I will show you where Christina works before we watch the movie.”

“Okay, it’s a deal; see you at nine.”

My sister drove a hard bargain, but that’s what little brat sisters were for. At least
Deadpool
was definitely better than
The
Notebook
.

Amazingly, Beth was on time and less critical of my attire. She had on a blue sundress and these chunky bamboo looking sandals that laced all the way up her calves like she was a gladiator in a dress. An ivory wrap was on the passenger seat and I tossed it at her.

"Bringing a blanket to the movies? Are you going to fall asleep on me?" I teased.

"Hardy-har-har. Hello to you too, big brother. I see you are loosening up a bit. No starch in your boxers today?” I flipped her off and climbed into her Beetle.

“Maybe I’m not wearing any.”

“Ew, TMI. Can you get any grosser? What if we were in a wreck?”

“Just don’t crash, Dale.”

Beth pulled out of the driveway and headed toward town. “So, what’s the deal with you and Christina?”

“There is no deal. I just want to apologize.”

“Didn’t you talk to her at the house?”

“I was distracted by food.” Beth rolled her eyes and kept driving. “Besides, I just don’t know what to say.”

“So, do you know what to say now?”

Did I? I hadn’t really laid out a game plan. I didn’t want to be a creeper and show up at her house unannounced so I figured I would send her flowers to her job or something. After making my deal with the devil in exchange for
Deadpool
, I didn’t think that far ahead. I did have an offering, though. I reached in the pocket of my lightweight track jacket and showed Beth my small bouquet of Rolos wrapped with a ribbon.

She glanced over to my hand while stopped at the red light. “What is that supposed to be?”

“A peace offering.”

“Rolos? Ever hear of 1-800-Flowers?”

“I would have sent flowers but you wanted to play this cat and mouse game. So, I brought these with me.”

“Whatever. It’s chocolate, I guess.”

“Well, it’s not February so there aren’t exactly chocolate hearts laying around. And strawberries are out of season.”

“Wow, I’m impressed; you actually gave this some thought.”

We pulled up to the movie theatre, and my frustration grew.

“You said you would show me where she works. Then I can plan ahead and have something delivered. We have plenty of time before the movie starts.”

“Don’t Hulk out on me, brother dear. I promised, and I will uphold my end of the deal. Let’s go.”

I shoved the Rolos back in my pocket and followed my sister’s lead to the theatre.

We stood in line behind a young couple purchasing their tickets, and when they proceeded to the door, Christina was on the other side of the glass. Beth was a sneaky rat fink. She stepped up and ordered our tickets and chatted with Christina. While she printed out stubs, I tried to find my voice.

“Aren’t you going to say hi, Peter? Don’t be so rude.” A tinge of pink pinched Christina’s cheeks, and I pulled out her ribbon-wrapped candy bundle and slid it under the glass.

“I’m sorry, Christina. Nice to see you again.” She picked up the bundle of long, sleek, caramel sticks and held them to her chest.

“This is so sweet. No one has ever given me Rolos.”

“Probably because my brother is a dork,” Beth teased. Christina’s head whipped around causing her long hair to fan across her chest like a cape covering her precious gift she cradled against her.

“No, he actually paid attention. Anyone can buy flowers. Most stores don’t even sell Rolos.”

“I bought all the sleeves they had or it would have been bigger,” I added apologetically.

“This is super sweet. Thank you, Peter, but you didn’t have to.”

“What time do you get off?”

“Well, this is the last showing tonight. After the actual movie runs for about fifteen minutes we will close the box office. Then I just have some paperwork to do.”

“Did you see
Deadpool
? Why don't you join us when you are all done?”

“I have seen all these movies a zillion times,” she said flippantly then stopped, “but I will join you guys. Sit on the end so I can find you.” 

“See you in a little bit then. Do you want anything from concessions?” I offered.

She smiled widely and once again brought her candies to her chest. “Nope, I’m good. I have Rolos.”

Another couple was waiting behind us and the heavyset man cleared his throat loudly. My sister shot daggers at him over her shoulder and looped her arm in mine but stood her ground.

“So, we will see you in a little bit, Christina?” she asked.

“Yup, just after the opening credits.”

“Let’s go get some popcorn.” Beth guided me through the doors to the concession stands and I waved to Christina in her glass booth.

“That was sneaky.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Debutante Beth was back in full Technicolor.

“You knew she was going to be here.”

“Well, where else would she be? She works here.” Stating the obvious.

“You tricked me.”

“Oh, don’t be a spoiled sport. I got what I wanted, you got what you wanted, Chrissy seemed happy with your dork gift. It's a win-win-win all the way around.”

“One of these days your games are going to bite you in the ass.”

“But not today. Get your bucket of popcorn, and let’s go.”

I ordered the combination with two large Cokes and a tub of popcorn. I picked up a bottle of water just in case Christina wanted a drink I could give her the option. We found three seats centrally located with optimal view of the big screen and waited while we were entertained with the dancing hot dog and previews of upcoming movies.