16 years ago
“You aren’t allowed to cry.”
“I’m not going to cry.”
“Your nose is twitching. I know you want to cry.”
“Do not.”
“Do so.”
I unsuccessfully pushed Rhett away from me, but he had two years on me and was no wilting flower. Last summer he tried out for the football team, and they welcomed him with open arms. He had been training like crazy for the past year, and it showed. I guess anything was better than spending time at home. I knew that feeling all too well.
But where Rhett was being groomed to take over a billion dollar family business he had no interest in, I was groomed to shut up and find a rich husband. I was eight. But according to mother dearest, one could never start their search too early.
“Emmi, it’s not going to hurt. I’m just going to put a Band-Aid on.” He held the pink Band-Aid out in front of him. “The worst part is over. Promise all I’ll do is stick the Band-Aid on your knee.”
“Promise?” I couldn’t stop a tear from escaping. My knee hurt. I’d fallen off my bike going down the hill near the pond where we liked to hang out.
But Rhett wouldn’t let up. He was my best friend and the most patient ten-year-old I had ever met.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded my head, trying hard to suppress more tears from escaping. I knew the next part wouldn’t hurt. But I was upset, having ridden like hell to get away from my mom who was high on something and decided to throw an impromptu party. My brother Nate had taken my two-year-old sister Freddie to Oma’s, but before he could come back to get me, things got scary. I didn’t like Mom’s friends. They didn’t smell good and always tried to touch me.
Before I had another chance to protest, Rhett put the Band-Aid on. I flinched but it didn’t hurt, just like he’d promised.
Rhett tugged on a strand of my hair again, knowing I secretly liked it when he did. “Told you it wouldn’t hurt. Next time, call me and I’ll send a car to get you. Don’t ride your bike by yourself. I’ll always be there for you, Emmi. Always.”
I sniffed but nodded. “I know. Because we’ll live happily never forever.”
He grinned at me, showing his dimple. “It’s happily ever after, you goof. But if you want a happily never forever, you’ve got it.”
If only I had known how much things would change.
