Chapter 9 #6
“You are. This is for Toady and me. You’re taking them to dinner at Calvert’s Café. As soon as Polly gets out of the shower, I have to help her with her makeup and hair, and then you can get dressed and go pick up Crystal.”
Why did he get the feeling he’d gotten railroaded into all of that? Because he had. It was supposed to be a simple dance, and it was turning into some huge ordeal. All he could muster for an answer was, “Okay,” before he beat a path out of the room and across the yards to his house.
It was quiet there. He could think. At Anne’s it was…
busy. The kids were always doing something.
The TV was always on. He couldn’t listen to his music because nobody else in the house liked it.
Maybe he could just hide out there and nobody would even remember that he existed.
He hadn’t been sitting there on his old ratty sofa for five minutes when the front door opened, and Anne stepped in with Indie on her hip. “Babe, what are you doing?”
Be honest with her, Wallace , he told himself. “I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.”
“How?”
“All the clothes and flowers and restaurant and all that stuff. And I’m going to a dance where there’ll be kids.
I’m not sure I can keep my mouth shut and behave all evening.
I mean, you were with me at graduation, so I had somebody to act as my filter.
But you won’t be there for the dance. What if I say something really shitty and upset a bunch of people? What then?”
“I know you, Brent. You can do this. This will prove to Polly that you’re serious about being their dad, but it’ll also show Toady how a man responds when someone in his family needs him, and he needs that kind of guidance in his life.”
“I get that. I get all of it. But I’m new to all of this, and I kinda feel like…
” Blue buried his face in his hands as he sat there.
Was he going to be able to pull it off? Could he actually be a civilized member of society for one evening?
Oh, he did fine at work. There were mostly other guys, and they only interacted with the customers in a limited way.
But a social setting? He just wasn’t sure.
“Promise me you won’t be mad if I screw it up?
” he asked. His voice was whiny and pitiful, and he knew it, but he was terrified.
“I won’t be mad. Just do your best. That’s all I’m asking. Just ask yourself, ‘If I had a dad, would I want him to act this way?’ That should tell you what’s right and what’s not.”
He blew out a puff of air and opened his eyes. “Okay. I’m going to give it my best shot. I don’t know if that’ll be good enough, but I’ll try.”
“You can do it. I have faith in you.” He started to repeat what he’d said to her all those weeks before, but she interrupted him. “I know, but remember. I told you I have enough faith in you for both of us.”
There it was―that little spark of hope that snapped in his chest. “I remember. No matter what happens, I love you and these kids. If I screw up, it’ll be because I didn’t know I was screwing up.”
“Good enough. Now come on. You need to get dressed, and I’ve got to help Polly.
I’m sure she’s out of the shower now and wondering where I am.
” She reached for him and when he took her hand and stood, he felt stronger somehow.
Anne did that for him. She gave him confidence and optimism when he didn’t have any on his own.
“You’ll do so great. I can’t wait to hear about how much fun you had. ”
“As long as I don’t screw up royally. Hope you know what you’re getting into sending me into this little social occasion,” he groused.
“Have a little faith in me! Gonna shower?”
Blue chuckled as she led him out of the house. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Oh my gosh. Blue?” Polly stood there, her jaw dangling and eyes the size of saucers. “Mom, you need to come in here. Please.”
“What’s going… Holy hell. Brent?”
“Whaddya think?” Palms turned up, he spun once. “Do I look that different?”
Anne’s eyes matched Polly’s. “You didn’t tell me you were going to do that!”
He stroked his smooth jawline. “Yeah, I decided maybe it was time. I was getting tired of taking care of it anyway.” It was the first time in years he hadn’t had facial hair, and it felt kind of weird, but also kind of nice.
There’d been a moment earlier when he’d looked into the mirror and wondered if he really had a “dad” look, so he’d decided it was time for a change.
It was the new BlueWallace, clean-shaven and hair pulled back in a low ponytail.
It hadn’t occurred to him that they’d make such a fuss. “Do I look okay?”
“Okay? Babe… I wish I was going out with you instead of staying here! You stay away from the single teachers, you hear me?” Anne chided.
Blue grinned and rested his forearms on her shoulders. “You’re my only girl.”
“Good. Remember that.”
“Do I look okay?”
“You look very handsome,” Polly said with a smile. “Is it time to go yet?”
“We can. Call Crystal and see if she’s ready. If she is, we’ll head that direction.” Blue straightened his tie a little. “I don’t know if I tied this thing right. Is it okay?” Why was he so nervous just because Anne wouldn’t be beside him?
“It looks great. Polly, get off the phone and come over here.” Anne was holding her phone in her hand, and Blue knew what that meant. “Get up there beside him and let me get a couple of pictures.”
“Mom! Come on!” Polly whined.
“We want pictures for later on. Smile, both of you.” Blue drew his arm around and behind Polly and rested his hand on her shoulder.
“Ready? Three, two, one…” The camera on the phone flashed.
“Okay, one more the other direction.” Tipping her phone sideways, she took another pic.
“There we go. You two have fun. Oh, wait―the corsages! Here you go,” she said and pulled the boxes out of the refrigerator.
“Do I get mine now?” Polly asked, bouncing on her toes.
“No. After dinner. I’ll give them to you and Crystal both. Let’s go. Bye, babe,” Blue said and kissed Anne on the cheek. “And you too, pumpkin,” he told Indie as he passed her play yard and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Bye, Toady!”
“Bye! Bye, Polly!”
The girl just rolled her eyes. “Tell your brother goodbye,” Blue directed.
“Bye, Toady.” She glared at Blue. “Happy now?”
Blue hiked up an eyebrow. “He’s the only brother you’ve got. Be nice to him.”
“Yeah, yeah. Okay. Let’s go. Crystal’s waiting for us.”
Thirty minutes later, they were seated in the café and enjoying soft drinks.
Blue had made both girls stand until he could help them into their seats.
Wasn’t that what a gentleman did? He’d given it some thought on the way, and he’d decided he wanted Polly to be treated like a lady so she’d expect that from any boy she dated.
If he treated her like a lady, and treated her mother that way in her presence, her expectations would be high.
Maybe she’d pick someone better than Blue to marry.
In his way of thinking, that was pretty much anyone.
As soon as they got to the car, he gave them their corsages―wrist corsages, to be exact. Apparently that was what all the girls wanted those days, and he’d never seen one before, but it was cool. They didn’t have to carry them, and he didn’t have to pin them on. It was a win/win.
“Aren’t you going to escort us in?” Crystal asked as they headed toward the gymnasium at the high school.
“Uh, okay.” He glanced from girl to girl. “How do I…”
Crystal pointed to his stomach. “Put your hands on your belly. Now, make soft fists but leave your arms bent like that.” Before he realized what was happening, one girl had taken his left arm and the other his right. “Like at a wedding.”
Blue shook his head. “I’ve never been to a wedding.”
Crystal’s eyes popped open wide. “Never been to a wedding?”
Polly rolled her eyes. “He was a foster kid. He didn’t get to do a lot of things we’ve done, Crystal.
” She patted his arm with her free hand, and for some reason, the matter-of-fact way she said it didn’t embarrass him.
“It’s okay, Blue. You’re doing good. That door right there,” she said and pointed.
The music was already pouring out of the big speakers on the stage, and there was a DJ working the sound system and lights. There were streamers and balloons everywhere, red and yellow ones. “What’s with the red and yellow?”
“That’s our school colors,” Crystal explained. “Our mascot is a bull. The Jonas Ackerman High School Bulls.”
“Oh! Nice.” Blue didn’t know what else to say. That was better than turtles or garden slugs, he supposed.
“Look! There’s Katie and Jillian! Come on!” Polly almost screamed to Crystal. “Bye, Blue! Gotta go!”
“So what do I…” They left him standing there, and Blue wasn’t quite sure what he was supposed to do.
Sit down? Mill around? Then he noticed a group of men sitting on the bleachers across the gym.
Dads, he supposed, all cast off when their little girls saw their friends and abandoned them.
He didn’t know quite how to approach any of them, so he just found a seat and sat down.
He’d only been sitting there for a handful of seconds when he heard a familiar voice bellow, “Wallace? Is that you ?”
Blue turned and fought the urge to roll his eyes. Turdbucket. What were the chances? Oh, right. Small town. Great―just great. “Yeah. It’s me.”
Turner looked positively gleeful. “What the he… heck are you doing here?”
“Brought my daughter to the dance,” he said and pointed in Polly’s direction.
“The ugly one with the wiry hair and metal in her mouth?” the uncouth asshole asked.
“She’s not ugly. She’s a pretty little girl. And no, she’s not mine. She’s the taller one with the medium brown hair.”
“Boy, you must be a first-class dad. That baby in the basket really grew up quick! What’s your secret?” Turner asked, his voice pure vinegar.