Oh, no.Childhood memories are embarrassing enough when it’s just you and your immediate family. You assume they’ll give you a pass. You’re related. And it’s expected they’ll do something equally as ridiculous that you’ll promise to take to your grave.Thanks, Mom.
“I blame the dog.” Mom laughs. “That child was forever chasing after animals. If we went to the park, I had to watch him like a hawk, or he’d run off after a squirrel, and I’d lose him.”
“Oh, my god.” Addison wails.
It’s not that funny.
“I thought that was my friend’s house. He said to meet there after I got done trick-or-treating, and we’d count our candy together. But I went to the wrong house.” I scratch the back of my head, replaying the events of that evening. “Then their dog brought me a ball to play with, and I lost track of time.”
“Oh, Mylanta. I was so worried. It was the first time I let him trick-or-treat on his own, and he was supposed to stay with his group of friends.”
“They were wimps and wanted to go home. There was so much more candy out there!” I bellow.What kid willingly calls it a night when there are more houses to hit? Duh?
“The Swanson’s finally called and told me he was there, and I find him eating a corn dog and playing fetch with their dog.” Mom bends over in a fit of laughter. “He seemed highly offended I wanted him to come home.”
“Awe,” Addy says, placing her palm on Mom’s forearm to comfort her.
“I think the farting incident during the school play was just karma for scaring me half to death that night.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
Addy is now laughing so hard she’s crying.
“Sassy, can you go get ready so I can spend the rest of my evening trying to get you drunk enough to forget today ever happened?”
She pops up from her chair, wiping tears from her eyes, and comes to stand in front of me. Standing on her tiptoes, she gives me a chaste kiss. “I’ll never forget this day, brownie licker.”
Ugh!Apparently, my mother shared the incident where she dressed me up in a little suit to take me with her to a bridal shower, and I proceeded to pick up every brownie on the tray in the dining room and lick the top of each before returning them to the platter.Yes. I was that kid.
* * *
Addison comes down the narrow steps of my childhood home dressed in a short, figure-flattering black dress and four-inch heels, and I let out a whistle. Her dark, silky hair is tumbling down around her, and the only jewelry she’s wearing are those stunning gemstone bright blue eyes. “You look incredible!”
“Thank you.” Her cheeks sport a rosy glow, and I’m instantly reminded how damn lucky I am.
“You ready?”
She gives me a curt nod, and I wish Mom goodnight before we head out.
“You two, be careful.”
We make the drive to downtown Richmond and surprisingly find parking easily. The line isn’t terribly long to get into the club, but I admit I was in a hurry to get out of the house and the humiliating walk down memory lane. Most of my friends won’t be here for at least another hour.
“Wow, this place is great!” Addy shouts over the music. The Zone is a loud, multistory club in an industrial warehouse setting. The first floor houses several bars, shot stands, a stage, and a large dance floor. There are some tables on one side and seating on the other. There is VIP seating located on the first and second floors, as well as room along the railing for patrons to have a bird’s eye view of the dance floor from above. It’s not really my scene. I’d much prefer the local sports bar, The Sports Page. But I knew this would appeal to Addy, and according to my friend, Mick, his wife Ava enjoys the chance to dance here too.
Addy points to a set of open bar stools at the larger of the two bars, and I’m about to take a seat when my phone vibrates in my back pocket. It’s Mick. “Hey, man. What’s up?”
“Trevor. … making sure… tonight.”
“Hey, Mick. Hold on. You’re breaking up, or it’s too loud to hear in this place. Let me go up front.” Placing a kiss on Addison’s temple, I ask her to order us both something while I move somewhere a little quieter.
“You still there?”
“Yeah. You already at the club?”
“Ha. I needed to get Addison away from my mother before she broke out bridal magazines.”
A very clear chuckle comes over the receiver. “Completely understand. We’ll be there soon. Hadn’t heard from you since yesterday and just wanted to make sure we were still on. There’s no way I’d be going to this place if you weren’t there.”
