Home Again

chapter 7 blast from the past

The girls stood together like a pack of wolves by the water fountain. Did they mean to be this intimidating? He thought.

“So, you gonna ask her out?” Justin asked, “If not. I might”. The tall guy slugged him in the shoulder with a little too much force.

Justin was his cousin and he liked him just fine, but if he went near Melanie, he was liable to lose an arm. “I’m gonna”, Bradley responded. He didn’t care that his big cousin was a freshman; and three years his senior; he’d pack a whoopin’.

“Calm down little bro,” Justin slapped him on the back. “She’s definitely a beauty, but if you want her, she’s all yours.”

He hated the way Justin went about women; they were nothing but a conquest to him, but Melanie would not be a name to add to his book or another mark on his damned bedpost.

She walked past him just then like a goddess and with the breeze he could smell the sweet scent of peaches. Did she just stop, she did, “Bradley?” She said his name.

“Yes, yeah”. She knew his name.

“You dropped this.” She handed him his hat. “It fell out of your pocket outside by the ball goal, I went and got it for you.” Did she just blush?

“Thanks,” she went to follow the pack, but he grabbed her hand as she turned “Go out with me tonight?” That was great, just blunt, she is gonna say no he was sure of it.

“Really Brad? Um... I can’t tonight,” I knew it, his heart sank.

“I have to ask my Pa first. What about tomorrow? I could let you know if I can tonight.” Her cheeks were red. Was she embarrassed? No, she was just hot; the hall was stifling or at least he was hot.

“Okay!!!” He yelled, Smooth Brad, “That’s great.” He rubbed the back of his head, “I mean tomorrow”. He cleared his throat and lowered his tone, “Will work, I mean...” he took a deep breath “Let me know”. He released her hand.

“Here” she scribbled on a paper and handed it to him before scurrying away. If he had been standing a little closer to the locker, he would have sank into it. She had given him her phone number and circled it with a huge heart...

Present

They had been posing for pictures for what seemed like hours. How long was this photo shoot going to last? HE thought as he sat in the hall. “Bored yet?” Dena broke the silence.

“What? Not bored”. He lied.

“Yeah right!” She smiled. “If you would rather go and get rallied up for your date tonight, I can just take Annie with me. Besides, her being with me will prevent my ex-mother-in-law from causing too much drama when I drop Jess off to her this evening.” She sunk into the wall.

“I don’t know why you bother with her. It’s not like her jerkheaded son would fight you in court if you didn’t. Has he even laid eyes on Jess?” Brad accused, rubbing the back of his neck. The subject of her ex-husband was a sore spot for Brad. Always kind of blamed himself for how things turned out.

“No, he hasn’t, not to my knowledge, and Jessica hasn’t mentioned him if he has. Your right he wouldn’t fight me, but she is Jessica’s Grandmother and that would not be fair.”

“Fair!!! The woman is always in your grill. She is in your face more now than she was when you were married to her idiotic son.” He took his hat off.

“She is a pain, but It is usually something about Jessica that means she loves her.” Dena smiled, “Go if you’re going.”

“If you are sure I won’t argue.” He took to the stairs, as school had been let out, leaving Dena in the empty hall…

A long time ago

The house was quiet when Dena creeped through the back door. She saw Brads truck, so she knew they had to be here. She heard noises coming from the living room, so that is where they must be. She creeped into the room slowly. The room was only lit by a small ray of sunshine from the huge glass doors that pierced through the drawn shades.

“Brad, this isn’t a good idea.” Melanie giggled.

“And why not? Where alone aren’t we, Mrs. Singleton. I’m just welcoming you to your future home.” He pulled her breathless down astride him, unbuttoning her shirt.

“Hold your horses, their cowboy, you ain’t alone and you ain’t married yet neither.” Dena jumped on the back of the couch.

Melanie slid off Brad's lap as red as ripe strawberry as Brad jumped over the back of the couch to chase Dena through the house. “You know better than to sneak up on us like that!”

“What’s a matter, afraid I say.” Dena laughed but just wasn’t fast enough as she circled around the staircase and back into the living room. Brad caught her and through down on the other end of couch and began tickling her. “Brad stopped.” She cackled, barely able to breathe. “I’m gonna pee”. She squalled.

“Well, go ahead then, so if you tell, I can tell you’re a pee pot.” HE laughed and continued to tickle her.

“Melanie help,” Dena laughed.

Melanie jumped on Brads' back and began to tickle him under his arms and they both tumbled to the ground. “Get him Dena…” Melanie called…

Present

Dena was brought back still laughing at the present by the door opening. “What, so funny mom?” Jess asked, running up smiling.

“Nothing, just a funny thought.”

“Melanie and Faith are awesome, Aunt Dena!” Annie looked around, “Where’s dad?”

“He had a few things to do, so you're gonna go with me.”

“Oh,” She looked at the floor. “Okay.”

“What’s wrong”, Melanie leaned down to see her eyes, which were tearing up.

“Nothing, I just thought dad would stick around this time.”

“This time?”

“Brad works a lot” Dena replied, frowning.

“I try all the time.” Annie corrected, “He never has time to stay.”

“Your dad is a very important man.” Melanie tried to comfort her. What was Brad thinking? He loved the ideal of children, so why would he ignore this beautiful child?

“Will you marry my dad?” She wrapped her arms around Melanie’s neck.

Faith and Dena both covered their smiles, but Melanie felt star struck. “What?”

“Will you marry my dad? He asked you out tonight and you dated before. You obviously like each other.”

“Liking each other and maybe going out on a date is a far cry from a marriage proposal. Annie, your dad is a terrific man, and I won’t lie and say I do not care for him, but we have not seen each other for a long time and we are not even sure who we are anymore. A marriage proposal is kind of his thing when we or if we decide that we are ready for a commitment like that. Why do you want me to marry your dad?”

“Because he is lonely and if he got married, he would have to stay home more. You wouldn’t let him leave all time.” She wiped her face.

“How about I go on a date with your dad, and we see where it leads okay?”

“Okay”

“Girls go get your coats!” Dena interrupted and the two girls ran down the hall.

“Wow, I guess you have her approval.” Dena laughed.

“I guess I do. What is up with Brad?”

“He feels regret and guilt, a lot of guilt; Your leaving or him leaving you, Him getting drunk at Ricks, sleeping with a nice girl and getting her pregnant, then letting granny talk him into proposing or I guess I should say doing it for him sadly. On their wedding day, he told me he felt like he was being forced to walk the plank. Shortly after Annie was born, Daph died and he felt guilt that he never loved her. All the while through all of this; I had gotten married to the first loser I met, got pregnant and divorced. Which is another long story, but Brad was mixed up with all the drama and he is the patriarch of the family, as Gram calls it, and he wasn’t there for me. At least that is how he feels about it. You know Brad is taking up for other people mistakes.”

“Wow” Melanie had tears in her eyes. “Poor Bradley”

“It’s good to have you home” Dena hugged her…