25
The smell of smoke still lingered in the brisk October air outside the roller rink, but the winds had blown it all out of the area. Kinsley could barely contain her excitement as she waited outside the door with Dev and Jada for the next arrival. Not only had she been able to review her memories with them, but this one had come to life.
Dev was wearing lime green pants and a matching knit shirt that had belonged to his dad. Kinsley wanted to wear a blue paisley jumpsuit with a riot of flowers covering nearly all of the fabric, but so did Jada. This was the same jumpsuit they’d argued over when they were kids, so they had played Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide. They’d used the same method last night and Jada won, so Sandy gave Kinsley an outfit of wide-legged jeans with flower patches sewn on the bells and a psychedelic blouse. A nice choice, but not the jumpsuit.
“I can’t believe everyone agreed to come tonight.” Jada rubbed her arms to stay warm.
“I’m excited to meet them.” Kinsley didn’t have to rub her arms. Anticipation kept her dancing in place as she waited for the remaining guests. Not one person had said no. A couple people even canceled plans they’d had for the evening to come to the Blast From the Past.
A large black SUV parked in the lot, and an older woman with a blond braid down her back emerged. She wore extra-wide bell-bottom jeans, an orange suede jacket with fringes, and a belt tied at her trim waist. Ryan and his wife Mia stepped out, too, so Kinsley assumed the older woman was Barbie Maddox.
Seeing all the sixties attire was equally as fun as bringing this memory to life. Mia wore hot pink stretch pants and a cropped jacket in a plaid pattern with a pink T-shirt underneath. Ryan had on a knit shirt with a collar in an aqua color and khaki pants that barely reached his shoes, revealing colorful, patterned socks.
Barbie hung a pair of roller skates tied together by the laces over her shoulder and started their way. The man accompanying her wore orange pants and a green paisley long-sleeve shirt buttoned up to the neck. Despite the fashion-forward sixties outfit, he looked pretty straight-laced, while she seemed to be a free spirit.
The older woman stopped by Dev, and a scent of honey and vanilla filled the air. “Thank you for inviting us.” She turned to Kinsley and clasped her hands. “Barbie and Hank Maddox. We’re delighted to meet you and welcome you to our extended family. We’ll have to get together for lunch and catch up.”
“I’d like that,” Kinsley said, now that she knew she was going to be living in Shadow Lake.
Sandy offered to let Kinsley stay at her house in town rent-free, and with no housing to pay for, Kinsley could work part-time, and the travel wouldn’t be that big of a deal. So she could definitely do a lunch with Barbie, who’d done so much to make this night special.
Kinsley squeezed Barbie’s hands. “Thank you for arranging the clothing for some of the guys. Your selections are wonderful.”
“No big deal. I know the perfect retro shop in Portland, and all I needed was their sizes.” Barbie studied the men. “Don’t they look fab? But trust me, the best is yet to come.”
She’d piqued Kinsley’s interest for sure, and now she couldn’t wait for the others to get there. “Pizza is served. I hope you enjoy the night.”
“Are you kidding?” Ryan’s eyes crinkled with humor as he circled an arm around his mother’s shoulder. “This night was made for my mom.”
“No truer words were ever said.” Hank’s lack of enthusiasm came through in his flat tone. “We’ll probably be here till the place closes down.”
“Now, Hank.” Barbie pursed her lips lacquered in orange lipstick. “Let loose for once, and let’s have a good time like we used to do before the kids and your formal accountant job.”
He rubbed his neck. “I’ll do my best. Just for you, my love.”
“Aw.” Barbie flung her arms around him. “See, this is the part of Hank nobody ever sees but me, and why we’ll be together till death do us part.”
Hank sputtered. “Don’t want the pizza to get cold.”
He removed her arms to take her hand and lead her toward the door.
Barbie looked over her shoulder. “It’s good to see you, too, Jada. This guy is in a hurry to get to the pizza, and I never stand between him and food. Find us inside so I can hug your neck.”
Ryan laughed. “They’re a lot to get used to, but thanks for inviting them.”
“And two of the sweetest people you could ever meet,” Mia added. “I’ve known them for so many years, and not my best years. They’ve forgiven and forgotten all of my bad behavior in high school to include me in the family. I’ll love them dearly even if our little Austin and any future children might end up wearing wide-legged jeans and tie-dye.”
Ryan kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad I found a wife who appreciates them.”
Mia ran a hand over her outfit. “How could you not appreciate someone who had pink stretch pants from the sixties in her closet?”
They all laughed, and Mia and Ryan stepped into the building. Not a minute passed before two more vehicles rolled into the lot.
She recognized Micha, his fiancée Ava, and Russ, but not the other two women or boy with them.
The groups merged and made their way across the parking lot, Ava and Micha hanging back. Ava wore the most interesting of outfits. She had on white go-go boots below a tiny black miniskirt, with an orange-and-black striped top boasting a heart cut-out in the middle of the chest. Micha wore brown corduroys with a green striped sweater and a corduroy newsboy hat.
The other woman wore yards of pleated fabric with a white princess neckline, like pregnant women wore in the sixties to hide their baby bumps. She had to be Sydney. Next to her, a teenager with hair dyed a wild shade of blue was wearing a modern outfit of skinny jeans and a T-shirt, and she dragged her feet as if she didn’t want to be there. But the boy skipped along as if eager to get to skating. He, too, wore a basic pair of jeans but paired it with a dinosaur T-shirt.
