Fairytales Ch 1

Jane Bryant, like most nineteen year olds, did not believe in magic anymore. Pigs couldn't own real estate, glass slippers aren't very practical and ever afters are rarely happy. Like tea pots and teddy bears, fairy tales and their morals are packed away as remnants of childhood. So when her Mother suggested that she go visit her sick grandmother, she thought nothing of it- or of turning the offer down. "I’m busy," she declared with a defiant snap of her gum and a flick of the pages of her Cosmo.1

"Oh?"2

"I have plans."3

Her Mother's eyebrow arched, never a good sign for Jane, and she paused. She would be given ten seconds to change her mind on her own accord. When she didn’t seem to be reconsidering, the magazine was scooped up and tossed into a pre-packed backpack- prepared with the knowledge that the teenager wouldn’t be too keen on visiting the family matriarch on a Saturday. "The ticket's in your bag. You'll be taking the Forest Route to the last stop. Just- Just don’t talk to anyone. You remember how eccentric your Grandmother's neighbours are. Now get going. The bus leaves in forty five minutes." 4

With a huff that a big, bad wolf would be proud of, she stood and grabbed the bag. Slinging it on her back, she stomped into the mudroom and slid on her shoes, grabbing a red sweater. The autumn day was glorious, bursting with color and the sensation of limbo that comes with a time of neither life nor death. The smell of fallen leaves filled her nose with every breath. If she wasn’t so annoyed, she might have taken a moment to enjoy such weather, after all most poets idolize it, but being sullen she gave herself the liberty of pity. 5

The walk to the bus depot wasn’t all that far. It was just over the river and through a small wooded park but being a rather melodramatic creature, it seemed to take eons. It was too quiet without the luxury of the tv or radio. Reaching in her hoodie pocket, she found her mp3 and put on the headphones. The theme of her favourite show overtook her senses and suddenly she didn’t notice the length of her sojourn. How music can soothe the savage beast. Reaching the edge of the park, she stepped back onto the much preferred concrete. Crossing the street, she jumped up to the curb and slipped around to the bench for the charter bus. 6

This whole scene was familiar to her. Before her Dad died, they'd all taken the bus together. Visits to Grandma's house were fun and exciting, an adventure. He'd tell her stories of the creatures that lived in her books, make them seem real- And her Mother would tut- tut and tell him not to tell such tall tales. With a perfectly straight face, he would tell her that they weren’t tales but a different life view. Of course, being young and believing her Father would never do any wrong, Jane hung on every word. But in real life, Kings didn’t come back from the dead and not all dragons could be slayed. 7

The metal beast of a bus, looking like it was built from silver, corrugated siding and chewing gum, screeched to a halt in front of the bus stop. Jane didn’t bother moving. If Bruno was still driving the bus, it wouldn’t leave until he had a cigarette, ding dong and a coffee. The portly man waddled down to the sidewalk. With a tug of his moustache, he walked into the depot for his normal fare. And Jane sighed. Out of the other pocket of her sweater, she pulled a pack of her own smokes. It was a little secret of hers. Her Mother didn’t know out right... Though the pungent scent of tobacco must have sometimes lingered in her clothes and hair. It was one of those inconvenient truths her Mother chose to ignore. As long as she looked nice and behaved well, behaved with the social graces expected of a woman, then all was fine in their world. Watching the smoke rise high in the air, she knew smoking would be frowned upon. 8

"Forest?" Bruno came back out. "Anyone for the Forest Route?" 9

Jane stood up, presenting her ticket. She couldn’t sit too close to the front... That’s where they used to sit as a family. And the back was where she and her Mother would cower after her Father died. So the only option was the middle. She pulled her Cosmo out from its exile and flipped through the pages. 10

The doors were just about to close when a gloved hand stopped them. The figure who boarded should have caught Jane's eye but she was reading an article on fall fashions and both were too busy to be caught. He sat in front of her, back to the wall, boots on the adjacent seat. "Nice weather we're having." When the comment was met with silence, he tried another banal question. "How about those Yankees?"11

One ear bud dropped from its resting place. "Excuse me?"12

"I asked what you thought about the Yankees."13

"The team? Or Northerners?"14

"Either."15

Jane's eyes flickered to his face and tried to judge what he was thinking. "I really have no opinion on either."16

"So where are you going on this pleasant, fall day?"17

"Has no one told you about talking to strangers?"18

"Has any one told you a stranger is just friend you haven’t met?"19

Her eyes rolled with teenage impetuousness. "I’m sure Bundy would have loved that."20

"Little red has teeth."21

"All the better to bite strangers with."22

He chuckled and turned back around as Jane slid the other earphone back in. Her Mother was right, she admitted begrudgingly. She shouldn’t' have talked to that guy- It was like looking a dog in the eye. Opening her copy of Cosmo, she began to read about Rwanda when the bus lurched to a halt. Jolting forward, she grabbed the seat in front of her... And his shoulder. He stood, turning to look at her and gave her a salute before getting off the bus. Creepy. 23

With another, great mechanical heave, the bus began to drive again. The rhythm of the road is comforting in its pattern: chug, chug, bump, rumble. She closed her eyes and yawned. Before, she always fell asleep on the bus. Now part of her said she shouldn't, she was too old to nap like a toddler in a car seat but it was tempting. Just ten minutes, she told herself. It would just be a quick nap and then she'd get off at her Grandmother's stop.24

Only Fate has a strange way of waylaying the best made plans. Ten minutes turned into twenty. They passed the edge of town, the local grocery store, the turn off to the Quarry swimming hole and make out spot. They hit the edge of the forest and kept going, deeper and deeper into its shadowy depths. Finally the bus stopped and Bruno looked back once at his charge. She was fast asleep. Getting up, he shifted his pudge down the aisle and cleared his throat. "Excuse me, Miss? We're at the end of the line. You have to get off."25

Jane rubbed her eyes like a child. "Get off? Where are we?"26

"The end of the line." 27

Groggily, she got up and off the bus, stepping onto the soggy leaves. The air was cool and it pressed against her, making her skin feel damp. Blinking again, she looked around. She had no idea where she was. Turning back to knock on the bus door, ask to be let in again, she looked up to find the bus driver gone. Maybe he'd fallen. "Hello?" She knocked on the door again. "Excuse me, Mr?" There was no answer. She tried to remember other times she'd taken the bus. Was her Grandma the second last stop or the third? How much of a difference would that make?28

Like a good modern girl, she pulled out her cell phone that was carefully programmed with all the numbers she could even need. After all, they worked everywhere, didn't they? Too bad for Jane no cell phone towers were built anywhere near here. Sighing, she put it back in the backpack and began to walk backwards. Things looked a little familiar... but she wasn’t really seeing the forest for the trees. Needing something to take her mind off of being hopelessly lost, she pulled a bag of skittles out of the backpack. Grandma wouldn’t mind. If she was sick, she probably shouldn't be eating candy any ways. Orange was the only flavour she didn’t like so she dropped those onto the road behind her. 29

Maybe it was a little magic or call it luck but the vague recognition became something concrete. A few little white picket fences guarded lawns of tree lined grass and then a street sign grew out of the ground. Finally, she reached the doorstep of her Grandma's little gingerbread cottage just as she dropped the last candy. Looking back and expecting to see a little trail, the bag had been surprisingly full of orange ones, there were none. It had disappeared just as a trail of food had done in another story of a girl and her brother's trek through the woods. 30

Her Grandmother’s door had been painted red since she last visited. Not particularly garish but she had never assumed it was the older woman’s style. It was the color of the first crop of Macintoshes, under ripe cherries, lollypops. It felt sticky under her fingers when she knocked and she wondered when it had been done. “Grandma?” She tried the brass handle and found the door open. “Grandma, are you there?” 31

That familiar pit of dread sunk low in her stomach. Why wasn’t she answering? Dropping the bag off in the mudroom, she moved further into the quiet house. Then someone laughed and was joined by another voice. One was high and one distinctly masculine. Her Grandma had a man over? Well it was the twenty first century and Grandpa had been dead since Jane was five… Still it was too weird for her to fathom.32

Then she saw the man from the bus… And it took her back. Why was he in the kitchen, holding bags? “Uh, Grandma?”33

They both looked up and suddenly the woman in front of her became less like the carefree person who was leaning on the breakfast nook and more like the cookie baking type. “Oh, Jane, what a lovely surprise!” 34

“Uh Mom sent me with food. If you’re busy I can leave?”35

“Busy?” She shook her silvery hair. “Oh, dear, no! David just brings me my groceries and helps me around the house. I know how busy you and your Mother can get and I hate to bother you.” She looked over at him. “David, this is my granddaughter, Jane.”36

“We’ve met.” A grin sneaked up on his face. “The girl on the bus.”37

“Oh the irony.” Jane muttered, trying to not to watch him. The truth was he wasn’t bad looking. He had a long face, cheeks and chin covered in stubble, and framed in dark, shaggy hair. Grey flecks stuck out in his green eyes. Then there was the constant smirk. Good thing she didn’t trust good looking guys or he’d be tempting. “Mom sent some groceries. I’ll bring them in.” 38

“I’ll get them.”39

Grandma watched with a smile as he walked out of the room. “Isn’t he a hottie?” 40

“Grams!”41

She tittered happily and leaned back on the barstool. “If I was your age, I’d think he was dreamy and he’s such a nice young man. He just moved into the neighbourhood and one day he helped me bring my groceries in. Now he goes and gets them for me and if he needs anything all I have to do is call. Isn’t that nice of him?”42

“How much do you pay him?”43

“Pay him? Oh no, Janie, he won’t accept money. Not even when he painted my door for me.”44

And the distrust grew. What did he want from her Grandma? Was he some sick freak? She crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re too trusting. This isn’t 1950 any more. There are bad people out there. Lots of them.”45

“Oh, Janie, you need to learn to have a little faith in people.”46

“Faith is overrated.”47

“Is little red showing her teeth again?” David came back in the kitchen with the bag, unpacking it on the counter. He passed Jane her copy of Cosmo and palmed her cigarettes, putting them in his own back pocket. Her eyes narrowed at him- She’d get those back. Fortunately her Grandma didn’t see his pocketing of her contraband. 48

“You know how kids are nowadays. Always talking back and such. My Janie has always been so suspicious, looking at life through that half empty glass. She’s a good girl though. Especially when her Daddy-“49

A girl who can hear every word you say. “Grandma! I’m sure your guest doesn’t want to know about me.” 50

He looked up then, the grin losing its mischief and gaining certain softness. David may have been a troublemaker but he was not one without a heart. Right now, his heart was leaning towards the girl from the bus with her red hoodie and attitude. Mrs Bryant was right. Jane was trouble. “Do you still want me to put together that dresser for you?” 51

“Yup. It’s right in my bedroom, dear.”52

Walking like he belonged in that place he left the room. Jane looked sideways at her. “I think you’re the one with a crush on him.”53

“Oh, Janie, don’t be silly. Now, let’s make supper.”54

Food was a very important thing in Jane’s family. It soothed high tempers, broken hearts and sick stomachs. When you couldn’t think of anything to say, cupcakes or cookies were in order and, when you had to work two jobs in order to pay for all of life’s necessities, sending a backpack of cans, fresh baked bread and a bottle of wine with your daughter was a way to say sorry. Even if it was like throwing a teenager to a gossipy, birdlike wolf with a love of British soaps and short bread. They had made shepherds pie for supper and the savoury smell filled the little cottage. “Go get David.”55

“We’re eating with him?”56

“Of course we are. It would be rude if we didn’t. Go in the bedroom and get him.”57

He was seated on the floor, instructions spread out on his lap and upside down. He was looking it over, tracing the lines of the instructions with one finger. A little wrinkle had formed between his eyes. Beside him the pieces were all set out on the carpet floor. 58

“Usually it helps if you read them right side up.”59

“Only if you’re boring.”60

“Well, when you’re done being so original, Grandma wants you to eat with us. We’re having shepherds pie.” 61

“My favourite.”62

“Well I hope you’re hungry.”63

“Like a wolf.”64

Jane laughed and backed out of the room. She grabbed the plates off the counter and went to set the dining room table. The dining room held the same bleak nostalgia as the bus for her. Christmases and birthdays had been held here. When her Father had died, the wake had been held at this kitchen. She had spent the majority of her time under the table that day, watching her Mother’s feet as she paced listlessly. That had been a long time ago. As much as she hated to admit it, flaws were not popular things to admit to, Jane was a girl who dwelled in the past. She lived there in her head. And maybe, it would just take someone who lived differently to shake her from that.65

"The apples are in season now. Why don’t you go pick some? We'll have them for dessert." Her Grandmother smiled and placed a basket on the freshly cleaned table. “Get at least twelve big, ripe ones.”66

Jane sighed softly and nodded. Grabbing the handle, she walked out the backdoor with David in tow. She didn’t want to bring him along but he hadn’t really given her a choice. If she protested too loudly, she might be accused of having an attitude problem again. Once they were far away enough from the house, she held out her hand. “Cigarettes please.” When he didn’t react, she cleared her throat. “David, give them back. Please.”67

“You know, I never understood this whole obsession with smoking. Its dirty, it makes you smell, it kills you. Silly people and their habits.” 68

“Everyone has a vice.”69

“There are better ones to have.”70

“Such as?”71

He shrugged, “Dessert.”72

The orchard fence had seen better days. Rough, sun bleached planks that were kept together with a prayer, lined the entire property. Pulling the latch on the gate it opened with a long whine. The bittersweet smell of apples lingered here in the wind. The ones that had already fallen littered the ground, breaking under their shoes. Their juices mixed with the mud. More memories of fall days spent picking and harvesting, then taking them to market. 73

“You look so sad, Red.” David reached up, grabbing an apple and shining it on his jacket. With a quick move, he switched the basket with the fruit. “Eat this. I promise it’s not poison.”74

She chuckled. “Thanks.”75

They moved together in silence and soon the basket was full. Jane grabbed it with both hands, the straw bending with the weight. David took them from her hand. He gave her a sideways look that dared her to protest. She didn’t. She wanted to but she couldn’t find it in herself to break away from the flood of memories. The silence trapped her inside of herself now. 76

“What are you thinking about?”77

“Nothing.”78

“That look in your eye doesn’t say nothing, Red.”79

“Last time I checked, you barely knew my first name. I wouldn’t say you would be an expert on what my looks do or do not mean.”80

“I wouldn’t bet on that. Your Grandma is a really sweet lady but she tells me things I don’t think you’d want me to know. So I know you a little better than you may think.” He picked one of the apples out of the basket and bit into it. His nose wrinkled at the bitter taste and he chucked it over his shoulder. Reaching back into the basket, he grabbed another. 81

“So you and my Grandma are friends?” She chuckled at the thought. “How’d you meet her?”82

“Well I just moved into the neighbourhood and one day I was out for a walk and I saw her raking leaves. I asked if I could help. Since then if she needs help, I show up. Where I’m from we respect the older generation. We learn from them. She has a lot of great stories if you have time to listen to them.”83

“Is that supposed to be a guilt trip?”84

“Do you feel guilty?” He watched as she bit into an apple of her own. “Sometimes we feel guilt because we realize we’ve been found lacking.”85

“Bullshit.”86

He tutted, “Such language, Janie.”87

“Don’t call me that.”88

“Fine, Jane.”89

“And why do you care if I swear like a sailor?”90

“Maybe I don’t but Eleanor wouldn’t like it.”91

“So you’re on a first name basis now?”92

“Jealous?”93

“I’m fine with calling her Grandma actually.” 94

“You know, you’re pretty lucky. I don’t have a lot of family left. It’s just me and my Mom. We live on the other side of the orchard.”95

Jane was looking at the apple in her hand. The skin was dark, deep red with golden spots. Where her teeth had torn it the pale flesh showed. It looked perfect like an illustration from a storybook. And, in her pale hand, she could have been a princess holding poison fruit. “I didn’t think there were any houses over there.” She took another bite.96

Leaves had begun to litter the bare path between the orchard and the house. They crunched underfoot as they walked, the basket getting a little lighter as David ate another apple. Pushing back into the warm little kitchen, he set down their bounty on the table. “I need to be getting home.” He looked out the blurry glass up at the sky. “It’s getting dark.”97

“And miss out on Grandma’s scrumptious apple crisp? I think it’s worth braving the dark for.”98

“My mother, dear Jane, would have a different opinion on the matter.” He gave a little bow. “Now, be a good girl and be nice to your Grandmother. I’m coming to check tomorrow.”99

The night went by slower after he left. The house settled around its two female occupants knowing neither of them would put up too much of a fuss as the light dimmed and night settled in on the forest. The lights of the parlour fended off the darkness, cozy chairs were occupied, blankets unfurled and wrapped around the women. In the dark, dark woods in a semi dark house the occupants of Forest Lane finished baking their crisp and nibbled on tiny slices before tucking into warm beds and falling asleep. 100

True to his word, David was back the next day. Sitting at the kitchen table, eating a bowl of apple brown betty and milk, he let out a wolfish whistle as Jane entered the kitchen in a fluffy housecoat and slippers. Her hair was frizzy without being tended to. “What are you doing here?” Her eyes flickered up to the clock. “It’s nine in the morning.”101

“Told you I’d be back. This is good by the way.”102

Jane rubbed her eyes and poured coffee into her mug. The earthy smell made her tingle a little. First cup of the day. “I didn’t think you’d be here this early. I thought you’d stop by during sane hours.” She yawned and sat down. “How did you get in any way?”103

From his hand dropped a keychain. “Eleanor.”104

“My, my, my.” Jane leaned back in her chair and looked everywhere but at him. “Well, I should go get dressed. My bus leaves in an hour.”105

“How did you sleep last night?”106

Truth was Jane hadn’t slept well at all. She had tossed and turned. It was as if there had been a pebble under her back. No matter how much she moved, it pressed into her. Every time she checked, nothing was there. “It was fine.”107

“Good. Wouldn’t want Princess Red to have been sleeping on a pea.”108

Now that she thought about it, it had felt like she had been sleeping on dried peas. The little ones that her Grandma put in soup. Getting up she left David to go back to the guestroom and began to take apart the bedding. Under the sheets was a little lentil. Picking it up between her fingers she looked back towards the kitchen. Was it a coincidence or a prank? Her fingers slid it back into the pocket of her robe. 109

Grandma was in the kitchen when she got back. She was eating the same thing as David had been. That was a change from her normal routine of oatmeal. “Morning, Janie. How did you sleep?”110

“Fine, Grandma.”111

She busied herself with cleaning up the kitchen- milk splattered on the counter, crumbled granola, toast crumbs. The two bantered behind her over their meal. As the water ran, the soap turning into bubbles, she drowned them out. It was funny to her that her Grandma had a friend her age but it was nice she had someone to talk to. As the plates were cleaned, she felt a certain sense of satisfaction. The clock said it was quarter after ten and her bus would be leaving in an hour. 112

Leaving the kitchen again, she pulled on the same clothes she wore yesterday and put her magazine and mp3 back into her bag. Jane tidied up a little, putting everything back to the way it was. While she stood in the dimness of the room, breathing in the air perfumed with the bottles of scent her Grandma had collected over the years, she remembered the sleepovers she had in the past. While her Dad had been fighting cancer, she had spent nights curled up in this bed, not really knowing what was going on. She had been eight- It was an age of possibilities and stories that seemed to be true. Whatever her Dad told her would happen. So when he told her that he would get better and he didn’t, something seemed wrong. Daddy never lied. One night they dropped her off and he just never came home. That was when the magic really went away.113

“You seem sad, Red.” 114

“Nah.” She didn’t turn to see David in the doorway. Already, she knew what expression he would be wearing. The same one he had worn in the orchard when he passed her the apple. There was something vaguely sympathetic- And she hated people feeling bad for her. “I have to go soon.”115

“I know, I have to take the bus into town.”116

“So we’ll be on the same bus?”117

“Disappointed?”118

“Only if you ask me how the Yankees are doing again.”119

He chuckled and nodded “Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind. No baseball stats.” David reached out and grabbed her bag. “Come on. Let’s get going.” 120

Eleanor was sad to see them go. She knew David would be back but she never knew with Janie. The girl had avoided this house and her. She knew this visit was more Amy’s ideas then her granddaughter’s but she was thankful for it none the less. At least David was getting along with her. He was such a sweet boy, always willing to lend a hand. His mother was lucky to have a son like him.121

“Grams, we’re going to go now.” Jane leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I love you.”122

“I love you too, Janie. Have a safe trip home. David, I’ll see you soon.”123

The two walked back into the chilly morning air. Leaves crunched underfoot and like the day before, it was perfect. They walked in silence down the lane, past the picket fences. The neighbourhood had practically become a retirement community. It started to react to the two, come alive as it sensed people at the beginning of their lives. Houses that had remained gloomy cast off their shadows and shifted straighter on their foundations. Jane didn’t seem to notice or care but David’s light eyes caught everything. The corners of his lips curved up. “It’s nice out today.”124

“Rule two, no weather chat.” She teased him and took back her bag, rifling out the cigarettes and lighting one. 125

“Rule three, no cigarettes.”126

“Negotiable.” 127

“Do you want Eleanor to find out?”128

She threw it to the ground and muttered another one of those unladylike phrases. Following blindly normally wasn’t her thing but he seemed to have an idea where they were going. “So do you go to school?” Jane herself had graduated the year before and opted out of going to school right away. It was hard to see all of her friends go away; the only person she had left was her boyfriend, Andy who worked in his Dad’s garage. 129

“No.”130

“Dropout?”131

“Never went.” 132

“Never?” 133

“My Mom taught me herself. She thought she could teach me more than any teacher could.”134

“But you can’t get a job without a diploma.”135

“Maybe where you’re from.”136

“David, you can’t get a job anywhere!”137

He shrugged, hands sliding in his pockets. It had never been a problem for him. They kept moving as a family, worked small jobs, and did what they needed to survive. Not that he could tell Janie that yet. First, he needed to make sure he had her trust. “Bruno normally picks me up on this block.” He grumbled, still looking down. “You want to just hang out here?”138

She nodded and sat down on the curb, opening her backpack. She handed him an orchard apple and took one out for herself. “I promise mine isn’t poison.” 139

“That’s reassuring.” 140

Jane twisted the stem and went through the alphabet. A, B, C, D… It came off and she marked it down to coincidence. Shining it up on her sleeve, she bit into it again. Sweet and tart on her tongue. She forgot how much she loved apples. How much better they were than the junk she bought in the cafeteria. Smiling, she leaned back on her bag and looked up at the grey sky. Looking over at David, he was looking right back. Her cheeks heated and she looked away. Boys always screwed everything up.141

With the familiar squeak and pop and rattle, the bus appeared rounding a corner. David stood and wiped off his pants, offering a hand to Jane. It was effortless for him to help lift her to her feet. “The great beast awaits.” He murmured as the doors opened. He pulled the rumpled ticket from his back pocket and handed it to Bruno. The mangy man gave him a knowing look with his big, brown eyes. With a nod, he went to join Jane. Everything was going to plan.142

“How was the visit to Grandma’s house?” Amy asked her daughter. For the first time in a while she was smiling. It was nice to see. “Have any fun?”143

“It was alright. We made apple crisp.” Jane slipped off her sweater and sat back on the barstool of the breakfast nook. It had been the same place she had been sitting less than twenty four hours ago. “I met Grandma’s new neighbour. He and his Mom just moved to the other side of the orchard. It was funny- He and I were on the same bus going in and then he made it to Grandma’s before me.” 144

“Did you say the other side of the orchard?”145

“Yeah.”146

“There aren’t any houses over there.”147

Jane looked up. “Maybe they’ve built since you’ve last been there. You know, we haven’t gone to visit Grandma in a long time. David says I should stop in more.”148

“You sound awfully impressed with this boy.”149

Jane, back to her normal character rolled her eyes. “Now you sound like Grandma, Mom. She called him a hottie. I think leaving Grandma alone gives her the opportunity to watch too much MTV.”150

Amy laughed and shook her head. Her Mother-in-Law had always been slightly eccentric to say the least. Sitting beside her daughter, coffee mug between her two hands, she looked into the milky depths. “Did I ever tell you about the first time I met Eleanor?” Her daughter shook her head. “It was around Halloween. Your Dad and I had been dating for a couple of months and it was my first time going to home with him. We were in that whirlwind love that just swept me off my feet. Of course, we took the bus and waited until the last stop to get off. We were in the middle of nowhere. I hated it right away, being from the city. I didn’t like all the trees or how quiet it was. But your Dad just got this look in his eye- It was like he knew he was home. I rarely saw him so happy when we lived in the city but every time we came back here, he seemed to relax. We walked back through the laneway until we reached the neighbourhood. All the houses were decorated. There were cauldrons and monsters, lights galore. I’d never seen a neighbourhood so done up for Halloween.151

Your Grandmother’s house was the best though. The walkway up to the door was lined with these giant lollypops and the house looked like it was decorated in candy, icing around the window panes and doorframe. The smell of sugar was in the air. I almost wanted to break pieces off. We rang the doorbell and this tiny lady dressed all in candy apple red answered. I almost laughed when I saw her. As much as Eleanor is odd, she loved you Dad. She had this way of making him seem like a little boy again- Bring out his inner child. When she looked at me she just pointed one of those bony fingers and said, ‘So you’re the woman who’s going to marry my son.’ And in that moment, I knew. I just knew that I’d be with your Dad as long as I could be.”152

Jane saw that her Mom was crying. Reaching out, she hugged her and blinked away her own tears. She didn’t cry anymore. Not when her Mom could see her at least. As much as she missed her Dad, she knew her Mom missed him a million times more. They’d been together for twenty five years. She’d helped him go through law school and he’d supported her career as an artist. They’d bought this little house in the village because it was halfway between their separate worlds of city and grove. It was here that they’d made their family. 153

Amy wiped her eyes and pulled away. “Why don’t you go shower and change and we’ll go out for dinner before I have to go to work? It’ll be a nice to have no dishes.”154

Jane nodded and grabbed her bag. She pressed her lips to her Mother’s cheek before wandering upstairs to her bedroom. Flopping down onto the mattress, she closed her eyes and tried to picture her twenty year old parents showing up at the candy cottage without her Mother running in fear. It made her laugh and it made her cry. Sniffling, she threw off the jeans and tee and pulled on a woollen sweater dress and a pair of old, comfy boots. Her fingers graced the frame of their last family picture before she left her room. Dinners without Dad never got any better. 155

Thursday night was bowling league night. If you didn’t have a team, you knew someone on one and that was reason enough to show up at the alley. After dinner, Amy dropped Jane off at the small square building. The parking lot was already full. The stale scent of cigars and beer mixed with the dually revolting and enticing scent of battered and fried foods and it hit Jane like a wall as she fought her way in. She never really liked bowling. It seemed rather pointless to her. Andy was on the garage league though and they liked to make a big show of annihilating the butchers, bakers and candle shop owners. Looking for the familiar grey bowling shirts, she joined the wives, girlfriends and admirers of Fred’s Auto. Andy’s mom gave her a hug. “How ya doing, Jane?” Doughy and perpetually made up to look like someone who had fallen out of the eighties, Dolores Thom was Fred’s better half. 156

“Fine thanks. I just got home from Grandma Bryant’s house.” 157

“Is everything alright?”158

“I was just visiting.”159

“Sounds fun.” She let out a whoop as Andy bowled a strike. “Show ‘em how its done, baby!”160

Doing an air punch, Andy jogged off the lane and sat down beside Jane, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and kissing her cheek. “Hey, glad you could make it.” His breath was warm and yeasty like beer. “Your mom said she wasn’t sure if you would be home in time. Something about you going to visit the old bat.”161

“Andy, that’s not nice.”162

“You’ve said it yourself.”163

“Well, maybe I’ve realized I need to be nicer to my Grandma. I can learn a lot from her and she has some really great stories.”164

He pulled her closer, eyes on the game and not really understanding where his girlfriend was coming from. “Whatever you say, babe.”165

Jane rolled her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. Is this how her mother felt when she first met her dad? She had described it was a whirlwind this afternoon but to Jane this seemed to be a dust storm at most. She could never imagine Dolores sagely advising her to marry her son, dressed all in the color of candy. Maybe what her parents happened was special. It was like lightening striking. Not everyone got hit. She ran her fingers through Andy’s sandy curls. “So what are we doing after this?”166

“I thought maybe we could drive out to the Quarry and watch the stars.”167

If they ended up there, Jane had a feeling that they wouldn’t see very many stars. Not the celestial type anyways. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d ended up parking there. Or the first time for her trying to change his mind. “We’ll see, okay? I don’t know if I feel like freezing my butt off.”168

“I’ll keep you warm.”169

She chuckled. “I’m sure you will.”170

It was Andy’s turn again and as he slid away, Jane relaxed again. She really didn’t want to go to the middle of nowhere tonight. Maybe she’d try and convince him to come over until her mom came home. If he really wanted to just fool around, the den couch was more comfortable then his car. Drumming her fingers against the table, ignoring her table’s gossiping tendencies, Jane paused. Her skin crawled and the hair on the back of her neck began to stand up. Someone was starring at the back of her head. Slowly, with an attempt to be discrete, she turned just enough to see out of the corner of her eye. Sitting at the bar, wearing a sweater that made the 171

grey- green of his eyes stand out was David. He gave her a wave and a bashful smile. 172

“I’ll be right back.” Jane slipped away and walked over him. “Now, you’re either stalking me or this is another amazing consequence.”173

“Well your Grandmother told me the bowling alley was the place to be on a Thursday. Cheap beer, stale pretzels, sweat, who wouldn’t love this?” He laughed. “Can I buy you a drink?”174

“I’m not really thirsty.” 175

“Food?”176

“I just ate.”177

“Jane?” Andy appeared behind her. One of his arms wrapped firmly around her middle and she could feel him sizing up Dave. He never really pulled the protective, alpha male card until he was threatened. She could practically feel his sneer on the back of her head. “Hey, man, sup?”178

“Nothing much. Having fun bowling?”179

“We’re winning.”180

“That didn’t answer my question, man.”181

“It’s all that counts.” Andy paused and turned Jane part way to face him. “If we’re heading out to the Quarry tonight we better leave right after the game, kay?”182

David nodded like everything he wanted to know about him had just been answered as she stood embarrassed in silence. Smiling at Jane, he slid off the seat and drained his beer. “It was nice meeting you but I’m going to jet. See ya, Jane.” He shrugged the worn corduroy jacket on and slipped towards the door. He could feel the boyfriend raring to come after him but Jane wouldn’t let him. She didn’t want a fight. Smart girl. Opening the bowling alley door, he slid into the comparatively fresh night air. 183

“Who was that?”184

“A friend.” Jane rolled her eyes and pulled away from Andy’s arms. “I’ll be right back.” Without grabbing her jacket, she went outside, catching David just as he was turning around the corner. “Hey, wait up.” He stopped, leaning his back against the wall. “You don’t have to leave.”185

“I know I don’t. I just thought it would be better if I did.” He watched her carefully. “You have a really classy boyfriend. Seems like the type of guy to sweep a girl off her feet.”186

Jane just stared at him. Seriously? He just showed up out of nowhere. Who was he to judge her or Andy? Jane pulled a cigarette out of her pack and lit it defiantly. The smoke rolled from between her lips like the angry words she wished she could get out. “Not everyone gets a prince charming on a white horse, David.”187

“And just because little red is lonely, doesn’t mean she should run into the arms of just some guy.”188

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I really like Andy.”189

“I’m sure you do.”190

“You should leave now.”191

David nodded and disappeared into the darkness of the parking lot. She thought she could see the outline of his body turn to face her once more before vanishing entirely. Sighing she smoked the remainder of her cigarette. Andy smoked too and wouldn’t criticize her. He also wouldn’t have the thought to hide the pack when Grandma was riffling through her bag of goodies. She extinguished the burning end of her cigarette against the wall and, licking her thumb, cleaned off the ashy residue and then wiped the mark on her pants. 192