Alexis
Chapter Three
The sun is fierce today so all the kids get an extra dose of suncream. And everyone is told to keep their baseball caps on.
Which they all do, except for Lincoln.
Lincoln is different, even in a summer program designed for kids who don’t fit the mold. Some of the other kids are in foster care like he is, a few have troubled backgrounds, like he does, but he stands out. You won’t get him to do something he doesn’t want to do.
Despite this, he manages to charm everyone he meets.
It’s like an eccentric old professor has manifested in the body of a skinny seven year old boy.
My nickname for him is “Doc” since he reminds me of Doc Brown from Back to the Future.
Sport isn’t really his thing, but he’s fascinated by the angle at which the bat hits the ball and, weirdly, has worked out a system which means he’s gone from missing the swing every time to hitting a perfect home run more often than not.
When he decides to play, that is. Most of the time he wants to sit in the bleachers and spectate.
I love this job. I teach Phys Ed and Science to second graders during the school year and then split my time tutoring and coaching over the summer break.
I’m always on the go but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Teaching kids how to play fair, work in a team, enjoy exercise; it makes me happy.
Well, most of the time.
When they’re fighting or being rude I do sometimes wonder whether relaxing in my swimsuit in our back yard might be a better option. But then a kid will make me laugh, or tell me how much they enjoyed the class, or sign up for a team and it makes it all worthwhile.
Our game is in full swing when a tall, broad shouldered figure catches my eye. As he comes closer and sits down near Lincoln in the bleachers, I realize it’s Dax. Nodding my head at the assistant coach to take over, I walk slowly from the field over to the bleachers. It’s too hot to run.
“Some guy is here to see you.” Lincoln says, looking suspicious.
“Thanks Lincoln.”
“Affirmative... Coach Alex.” Lincoln’s into using his robot voice at the moment, which makes Dax do a double take.
“Hey stranger. Whatcha doing here?” I take a seat next to him.
Dax opens his mouth and then closes it.
Lincoln and I both stare at him, waiting for him to speak.
The awkward silence continues as a fly buzzes past. I’ve never seen Dax this unsure of himself.
“Speak now. Human.” Lincoln says in his special robot voice and we both laugh. It breaks the tension and Dax smiles.
“Alex, I have a proposition for you. It’s a weird one but I want you to bear with me. I think I told you about this big party I’m going to tomorrow? Where I have to impress Magnus Huckle. The architect. The one who designed Peppermint Lodge.”
I nod my head slowly. Peppermint Lodge is seriously impressive. My twin Taylor had a whole experience up there where she was catering for a party, then got lost in the woods and her future husband Miles rescued her. They tell the story at family parties and get all smoochy.
“This Huckle guy will only do business with people who he thinks are trustworthy. And trustworthy means being married or engaged. For the love of a good woman type of deal. So I need a date.” His eyebrows shoot up.
I stare at him blankly. Surely he doesn’t mean me?
“I know it’s a big hassle. And I bet you’d rather spend the afternoon with family. But we can spend a couple of hours there pretending and then race back for the party back home. And I promise I’ll help out here with the little darlings. I was going to anyway, but work got in the way. Deal?”
We stare at each other.
Everything’s quiet apart from the sounds of the game coming from the field.
Lincoln reaches for Dax’s hand and holds it out, then grabs mine and puts it in Dax’s. He puts his own on top and shakes them up and down.
“Affirmative.” He says in the robot voice, which cracks us both up again.
Dax and I stare at each other again for a moment.
“Okay then Dax, what’s the plan? How did we meet? I mean, my acting skills will only stretch so far.” I shift in my seat, imagining being interrogated by Magnus Huckle who’s taken on the appearance of my scary old Maths teacher.
“Let’s keep it simple. We live next door to each other, you do your same job, we just throw the love thing into the equation.” He looks down at his hands and then at me. His deep brown eyes seem lighter in the fierce sunlight, almost a dark caramel color.
“What about the wedding? There’s no way people won’t ask about it.”
Lincoln looks up from his book. “Weddings are important. But I’ve never been to one.” He’s dropped the robot voice.
“I’ve been to lots of them Linc, they’re not that exciting. All my sisters got married, one after another like dominoes. Anyway, this is just a pretend wedding.” I pat him gently on the shoulder.
Dax takes my cue. “Yeah, they’re pretty boring. Lots of love stuff. Sometimes the food is good.”
Lincoln looks thoughtful, then goes back to his book.
Dax stretches. “Let’s say we’re getting married next year and we’ve just got engaged. We’re looking at places for it, maybe even Peppermint Lodge.”
“Where did you propose to me?” This is so ridiculous, but I feel a wave of warmth creeping up the front of my neck. It must be the heat. I can’t look directly at Dax so I run my finger back and forth against the weathered surface of the bleachers.
Dax shifts in his seat again. “Ummm...how about Silver? It seems like the kind of place to propose.” I sneak a glance at Dax and he’s watching the game intently. How come I’m feeling so awkward about this? I need to get it together.
“Perfect. That’s definitely the kind of restaurant I can imagine you proposing in. I mean, that someone would propose to me in. Hell. You know what I mean.” I’m still blushing. It’s so strange to be talking about this kind of stuff with him - romantic conversations are always off the table with us.
“My Mom’s away looking after my Aunt after her accident, but I told her I was going to ask you last night.
” Dax looks uncomfortable and then stands up.
“I mean I told her about the plan when she called. She said we could use my Grandma’s engagement ring; she laughed and said she wished she could be here to witness the whole fake fiancée thing. ”
“That’s the last thing we need - your Mom giggling on the sidelines.
Okay Dax but you owe me at least ten sessions helping out here.
If I’m going to go to a fancy party then I’ll need some serious work this evening to try and get beautiful for tomorrow.
” I run my hand over my scraped back ponytail.
I don’t even know where my makeup bag is.
I think one of the dogs must have chewed it and I threw it in a drawer somewhere.
Lincoln raises his head and smiles at me. “Coach Alex, you don’t need help. You’re already beautiful.”
Dax smiles too. “She is.” He smiles awkwardly down at me. “So I’ll text you the details and meet you at the Lodge? I have to get there early to help set up. I’ll bring the engagement ring round tonight.”
“Great. Uh - see you then.” I stand up too. Dax waves at Lincoln and walks quickly away, taking the steps down from the bleachers two at a time.
When I get home Bette has arrived and is causing her usual whirlwind by simultaneously calling her husband, rubbing cream into her non-existent stretch marks, watching a TV show and painting her nails at the same time.
After I’ve said hello I go looking for my makeup bag.
Bette follows me into my bedroom and I fill her in on the plan.
“OMG. Alex! This is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. And Dax is so handsome. Lucky you.” She waves her hands in front of her face so her nails dry more quickly.
“Bette. It’s not like that. We’re just friends. But I do need to make a good impression. Can you help me out? I can’t find my makeup bag.”
She grins. “I can see that. And yes, I can work my magic. Let’s have a look at your closet, then I’ll do your nails.”
After an evening of scrubbing, filing, hair highlighting, eyelash dying and nail painting, I feel like a horse being prepped for show day.
In the morning, Bette has laid out a selection of tools designed to make my hair look its best. I can’t believe it takes so much effort to make an impact and I just hope this Huckle guy is impressed by all this glam stuff. I’m nervous already and my Mom has to persuade me to finish my breakfast.
Bette’s selected a fitted blue dress from my closet which I bought and never wore, and has ironed it within an inch of its life.
For a heavily pregnant woman she has a boundless amount of energy.
Maybe that’s how she keeps up with her husband, who flies all over the country doing financial deals.
It’s a world away from life in Snowflake Falls, that’s for sure.
Bette takes an hour to do my makeup and then spends half an hour curling the ends of my hair and blow drying it. This whole thing is making me restless. Why did I agree to it? I could be relaxing in my jean shorts in the sun, drinking my Mom’s incomparable lemonade right now.
“Okay Alex. You can look now.” She gives a final dusting to my hair with a can of hairspray. I stand up and look in the mirror.
There’s an elegant stranger staring back at me. Her hair is shiny, flowing down her back in effortless loose waves. The light blue dress she’s wearing highlights her curvy hourglass figure, while her makeup is sophisticated. The plunging neckline gives the whole ensemble an element of sexiness.
Is that me?
Bette is waiting. “Thanks, Bette. This is amazing. I don’t recognize myself!”
“Just call me your extremely pregnant fairy godsister. You’re welcome, you look gorgeous. Good luck!” She goes to lie down on my bed, texting with one hand and drinking some water with the other.
My Mom drops me off outside the party. My sister Taylor and her business partner are in charge of the catering, so she’s already been hard at work for hours.
Peppermint Lodge is always impressive, but it looks like it's been specially dressed up for the party. There are baskets of red, white and blue flowers everywhere, banners and balloons, servers circulating with silver trays of champagne and a band playing easy listening versions of Billboard hits. It feels almost surreal to be here, but I’m glad Bette worked her magic.
Some of the women here have really gone to town.
I throw my shoulders back and go to find Dax.
Time to get in fiancée mode.