Someone Is Missing
Dahlia
“Go up and change for the party. I’ll finish down here.” Mom takes the spoon from my hand.
That’s it. I’m out of excuses and time to procrastinate. “It’s a little chilly out. I think I’ll switch dresses.”
“Dahlia Prudence Fleur, you are not wearing some sack that hides your body to this party. You’ve made so much progress. Why stop now?”
“Mom—”
“Were you about to give me some excuse?” Mom puts her hand on her hip and challenges me to talk back.
“What if they make fun of me?”
“Dahlia.” She wraps me up in her arms. “Adults aren’t like children. But if someone does, your father will throw them out after he gives them a black eye.” She leans back to look into my eyes. “You can’t let fear rule your life. Fleur women are made of sterner stuff than that. If they say something mean to us, what do we do?”
“Give ‘em attitude right back. ”
“Exactly. Now go take one step forward.” She nudges me towards the stairs.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
She gives me a brilliant smile.
Fear clouds bravery as soon as the dress wraps around my body. It shows every one of my curves off. Bile builds up in the back of my throat. I can’t do this. I pull out my phone and text Vex.
Me: I miss you!
He’s probably too busy to resp—
Vex: Miss you too, Dahl.
Vex: Are you enjoying your time with your mom?
Me: Yes. No.
Vex: What’s happening?
Me: I hate the idea of having a housewarming party without you.
You make my house feel like a home, and not a trial for me to overcome.
Me: Mom has got me wearing this insane dress. I should just go hide in your library until the party is over.
Vex: Show me
NO!
You’re about to show every one of your neighbors. Why are you afraid of showing Vex? He’s seen you at your worst.
Vex: Dahl, if it makes you that uncomfortable, don’t wear it. But definitely send me a picture!
Me: LOL
Vex: Waiting on my picture…
Me: Patience is a virtue.
Vex: What is that?
Me: HaHa! Fine, I’ll send you a picture.
Just do it.
Ignore the trembling and fear .
This isn’t the same thing.
You’ve sent Vex dozens of pictures already.
But none of them were flaunting my body. The library dress was floaty and loose. It only showed the barest hint of curves.
It’s not like you’re naked. Bile floods my throat.
Everything is covered. Even according to the most pious of grandmothers, this dress would be considered modest.
Just do it.
Vex: You need help over there?
Maybe. I snap the picture and run to the bathroom to vomit.
The photo stares back at me as I brush my teeth and rinse my mouth.
If I slide the image up, I can almost pretend it isn’t me.
But it is me.
And I’m not a child afraid of her reflection anymore.
Vex will not mock or leer or grab at me.
They don’t matter anymore. You’re a beautiful woman. You should be proud of your body.
How many times has my therapist asked me to say that? Dozens, maybe hundreds of times.
Each time I believe it more.
Believe it now.
Send him the picture.
You are a beautiful woman. You should be proud of your body.
I am beautiful.
I am proud of my body.
My hand doesn’t tremble as I click send.
Vex: Dahl, you look beautiful.
A sigh escapes.
Me: Say it again.
Vex: LOL you’re a nut, but I think that’s one of the reasons I love you so much.
Me: I love you too.
Let’s get this over with.
***
“Wow, Prue you look amazing.” Imogene gives me a hug. “That’s your color.”
“Thanks.” Warm tones work well with my complexion. “I can’t believe you dragged Payne here.”
“Imogene didn’t have to drag me. I wanted to come.” Payne snakes an arm around Imogene’s waist.
She leans into his side. “More like he wanted to come keep an eye on you since Vex couldn’t be here to protect you himself.”
“And to eat. That barbeque smells wonderful.”
The combo of tangy but sweet barbeque sauce blends well with the brisket that is almost done smoking.
There’s Mom making a beeline towards me. “Gotta go mingle.” I rush off to hide in the throngs of people.
Hope finds me at a picnic table that just kind of showed up by the fence. “Are you hiding?”
“Yeah.” There’s no sense in pretending not to be. “My mom is trying to introduce me to every single man in the neighborhood.”
The kind, sweet child laughs at my pain.
“Wait until you’re old enough.”
“My dad would literally kill someone that tried to date me before I turn thirty.” She pouts.
“Trade you?”
We both laugh.
“So why isn’t Vex here? Your mother wouldn’t be trying to fix you up if your boyfriend was sitting next to you.”
“Because he’s Vex. ”
“Ahh.”
Does she really understand? She’s part of a mafia family.
What happened to my nice, quiet life?
Gabe saunters over. “Hope, got anyone for me to beat up today?”
“Prue doesn’t like fighting at her parties.”
Gabe looks down at me. “Well, hello again.” He slides the empty chair closer to mine and sits down.
A flirt and a fighter. “Hello.”
“Uncle Gabe, she has a boyfriend.” Hope wrinkles her nose at him.
“Don’t see him around. Are you the type to lose your mind over a football player?” Gabe gives me a practically lecherous look.
I try hard not to laugh, but fail at it.
His entire body relaxes. “My heart just broke, never to be fixed again.” Gabe raises a hand to wave some friends over.
“That’s very apparent. So, do you actually play football?”
Hope stifles a laugh.
“You really don’t know who I am?” Gabe gapes at me.
“Hope’s uncle.”
“What is this world coming to when a beautiful woman doesn’t know who the best quarterback in the world is?” Gabe puts a fist to his chest.
A massive man walks up to the group with a plate mounded sky high. “Hardly the best. Did you see that sack last game? Did you forget how to run or something?”
And another joins.
Then another until there’s a wall of muscle surrounding us.
Hope scoots over. “I hope you don’t mind my uncle inviting a few friends. That tends to happen a lot around here.”
Who in their right mind would care when there have to be at least two hundred people wandering around my house, backyard, and now in the street? “Not in the least. Will the police come knocking at my door soon? ”
“Nope. Dad notified them when he heard. But they wouldn’t come anyway unless they were called by someone in my family.”
Not scary mobster vibes at all.
Another man joins us. He isn’t close to the other guys in size—No! It can’t be. “I’m seeing things. Someone pinch me.” My eyes have to be playing tricks on me. He can’t be here. It’s impossible. Absolutely impossible.
“Hope, something’s wrong with your friend.” Gabe places a hand on mine. “Do you need a doctor?”
“Just an optometrist. I’m seeing a person that can’t be real. Tell me he’s not here.”
“Who? Ollie? You can’t be fangirling over Ollie.”
Gabe just called Oliver Schoolers, the best shortstop in the world, OLLIE. “He’s really here?”
“Hope, why didn’t you tell me your friends have bad taste? Who passes out for a baseball player?”
WHAT? I spin around to scowl at Gabe. “’A’ player. You didn’t just say that about Oliver Schoolers, the best shortstop in the world. He’s—”
“Ollie, get over here and say hi before this woman attacks me.” Gabe gives my hand a pat and whispers, “You’ll be okay. Ollie is a nice guy.”
My heart might stop beating, but I’ll be okay.
“Hey.”
If Vex wouldn’t be mad at me, I could die happy right here and right now. Oliver Schoolers said hi to me.
“Don’t worry, she’ll figure out how to speak soon. It seems Hope’s friend is confused about which sport is the better sport.”
Oliver Schoolers takes a seat, placing his full plate down. There are two cookies on the top. He’s going to eat cookies I made. Would he marry me if I made him a brownie cheesecake? Vex would understand because it’s the Oliver Schoolers.
Vex would not understand. He would probably kill Oliver.
Poor dead Oliver .
“Obviously, it’s baseball or you wouldn’t be jealous enough to play a game with us.”
“That’s because you baseball players are afraid to play football. You might get hurt.” Gabe hi-fives a few of the guys standing around.
“Tell me that when a baseball comes flying towards your head at around one hundred miles per hour.”
Stop. Fangirling. Think. Form words. I haven’t passed out so far. That’s something, at least.
The men chuckle like that’s nothing at all. They start ribbing each other about football vs baseball and I tune them out.
There has got to be something intelligent that I can say.
“Mmmmmmmm. This cookie might be better than my mother’s.” Oliver stares at the cookie in his hand. “Don’t tell her that. Or maybe I’ll tell her that while I’m explaining why I just got married. Someone point me in the direction of the magnificent woman who made these. I think I’m in love.”
“That would be the woman sitting next to me staring at you like the sun rises because you requested it.” Gabe nudges me.
Thanks. That really helps. Now he’s staring at me and any hope of speech leaves my brain.
“What’s your name beautiful, so that I can arrange for our marriage license?” Oliver leans forward, placing an elbow on the table and resting his head on his hands.
Name?
Name?
You have a name.
“You don’t want to flirt with Prue,” Gabe warns.
“Why not? She’s beautiful and bakes cookies that make my mouth sing.”
Hope bounces up in her chair, but Gabe answers first. “Because she has a boyfriend that’s bigger than most linebackers I know, and he’d enjoy taking you apart with his bare hands.”
“Is this true, beautiful? ”
Kinda. Probably. “Vex is a nice guy… about most things.”
“She’s not one of them.” Gabe points to me.
Wait, Gabe flirted with me. “If you’re so afraid of Vex, then why did you flirt with me?”
He shrugs. “Because flirting is fun, but I’m a perpetual bachelor.”
“You sound like my friend Stella. She flirts with everyone, but her true love is her horses.”
“That’s one smart woman.” Gabe takes a bite of smoked brisket.
“I’d love to meet the guy that has Gabe shaking in his boots.” Oliver turns to search the area.
Vex should be here next to me, making friends. “He’s not here.”
“Why don’t you two come to our game next weekend? It’s an exhibition game with players of all different sports to raise money for charity. I have a box.”
Like I’m going to say no to an invitation from Oliver Schoolers to watch him play. “We’d love to come.” Even if I need to drag Vex kicking and screaming. I’m going to a Dragon’s game!!!!! As Oliver Schooler’s guest.
Max sits down next to Hope as the wall of men fades away. “What is everyone talking about?”
***
“Is this seat taken?” Temperance gestures to the spot across from me at the bistro table.
“No. Please sit down.”
“Are you having fun?”
Surprisingly. “Yes.” This party might never end. The sun set hours ago, but people keep filtering in and out, eating, and bringing piles of food and drink. The food Mom and I prepped ran out hours ago. Nothing could have prepared me for this many people or just how friendly they’d be.
“Your parents are lovely people. ”
They really are.
“It was nice of them to want to get to know your friends and neighbors.”
More like meddle in my life. “My parents have always made a point of knowing who my friends are.”
“That’s smart. Your mother seems to think you’re friends with my son.”
Ahhh. And we come down to the reason behind this little chat. “Max is a very nice man. I’m honored to have him as a friend.” Wow, that sounded stuffy and awkward. Brilliant word choices from a wordsmith.
I should have hidden in Vex’s library.
“Max has always been a good boy.” She folds her hands and turns to stare at me.
Uh oh.
“But your mother seems to think there might be more between the two of you. My husband says otherwise. Do you have feelings for my son? I ask this because he’s had a very hard life, and he needs someone who’s going to love him and not play games with his heart.”
Mom, you make my life hard sometimes. “I can’t play games with something that’s not mine. Your husband is correct. I’m in love with someone else.”
“But your mother thinks you love my son.”
It’s not a question… more like an accusation.
“As a mother, I’ll offer a word of advice. Tell her the truth. She’ll still love you.”
That isn’t in question. My mother will always love me. But she’ll never understand me falling for Vex. How could she? Mom hasn’t even jaywalked. There’s no way she’d accept me marrying a morally gray man.
***
As fast as people started flowing in, they disappeared and with them all evidence that any party happened; The dishes are washed, the trash has been taken away, the tables and chairs are gone, and the leftovers have been donated somewhere. Neither Mom nor I had to lift a single finger to make any of that happen.
These are the kind of friends anyone would like to have.
“Did you have a nice time?” Dad asks as he walks into the living room where I’m sprawled across the couch.
“I did.”
“We made a good choice picking this neighborhood. You’ll be safe here.” He leans down and kisses my forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning. Love you, Dahlia.”
“Love you, Dad. Sleep well.”
“Tell your mother to hurry up to bed. We need to drive home early tomorrow to avoid the traffic.”
“Will do.” Not that Mom will listen. She does what she wants.
Just like I do.
I pull my phone out of my pocket to check for messages from Vex, but there are none.
He knows you have a lot going on. The radio silence means nothing.
Where is Mom? The backyard emptied out long ago.
The front door opens, and Mom walks in, locking it behind her.
“Dad went to bed.”
“Of course he did. Your father needs his beauty sleep, or he becomes a grouch.” She flops down on the couch across from me. “Did you have a nice time at your party?”
“I did.” It’s kind of cute that both Dad and Mom asked the same question.
“I’m proud of you for wearing that dress. It wasn’t easy, but you did it.”
The dress. It’s been hours since I thought about what I was wearing. “Little steps make big steps easier.”
My mom smiles. “Are you saying this one was easy?”
“No. I was mad at you for even suggesting it.” More like demanding it. “But I’m glad you did.”
“Mother always knows best.” She winks at me .
We both know that’s not always true, but she does always have my best interest at heart.
“Did you make any friends today?”
Ignoring the loaded question is a finely honed skill. “I did. Not only did I get invited to a baseball game—”
Mom rolls her eyes.
“—I also got invited to two luncheons, a dinner party, and an engagement party.”
“Good. I better head to bed. Your father’s waiting for me.”
What? But she didn’t ask a single question about Max? “Mom?”
“Yes?”
“You aren’t going to ask me about Max?”
“Why would I?”
My eyes feel like they’re going to pop out of my skull. “Wasn’t this whole thing so you could get to know him?”
Mom laughs. “No. This whole thing was so that I could assure myself and your father that you are safe, making friends, and most of all making progress with your mental health. It doesn’t matter to either of us if you fall in love as long as you’re happy and healthy.”
WHAT?
She walks over and leans down to give me a hug. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Does that mean you’re canceling the clubhouse reservation?”
Mom stands up with a laugh. “Absolutely not. I’ve got hope that the right one will come around. Even if it isn’t Hope’s father.” She stops at the stairs and turns back to me. “Though it wouldn’t have been terrible to have a granddaughter or a billionaire in the family.”
“You knew?”
“Of course I knew.”
If only she really did know everything, all of this would be so much easier. It’s nice to hear Vex’s insane amount of money wouldn’t be a stumbling block.
I glance down at the phone .
Why am I waiting for him to message me?
Me: The party is over. Everyone left.
Vex: Did you have a nice time?
Three for three.
Me: I did. But I missed you.
Me: How was your day?
Vex: Terrible without you.
Me: My parents are leaving early tomorrow morning.
Vex: Have breakfast with me and call in for work.
It’s tempting to say yes.
Me: Yes and no.
Time to distract him.
Me: We got invited to a baseball game next weekend.
Vex: Let me guess… you accepted for us.
That doesn’t sound good. Is he irritated that I made a decision for him?
Me: Yes.
Vex: Good. I know how much you love baseball. I can’t wait to watch you at the stadium.
I love that man.
Could Temperance be right? Is all that’s stopping us from being together an irrational fear?