“I came to drop off your luggage, and Iwanted to see the bed.”
“See.” I lay back down.
“Yes, I do.” Cole lays himself on top ofme. “Do we have time to christen it?”
I wrap my legs around his hips, sighing.“No, not really. My mom was a bit disgruntled I came over here in the firstplace.”
“It’s a shame. We’ll just have to do ittonight.”
“If you think my mother is going to letyou within a hundred yards of this house tonight, you’re crazy.”
“I have some stealth moves up my sleeve.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, pullinghim closer. “I can’t wait to see them.” Cole covers his lips over mine.
“Ugh—what are you doing?”
I glance over Cole’s shoulder to see Kurtstanding in the door. Cole rolls off me, sitting on the bed. “It’s calledkissing.” I wink at Kurt.
“Well stop.”
“We’re done.” I raise my hands insurrender.
“Good. Mom made me come over to get you.She said Annieisat the house, and they’re ready to start.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
“She said not to take my eyes off you.”
“Okay, but you might want to close themfor a minute, because I’m going to kiss Cole again.”
“I don’t know about this love thing.Fine.” Kurt turns his back to us.
I kiss Cole goodbye and Kurt and I makeour way back to my parents’. Mom, Annie and I spend the next two hours goingover last-minute details, like where to put the flowers and do I want realcandles or fake ones on the table? Do I want rose petals down the aisle and ifso, what color? Stuff that they really could have done without me. But I guessthey’re trying to make me as much a part of the planning as possible after themisunderstandings we had.
“It’s a quarter to three. We need to getgoing.” My mom stands. “Rob, did you pack the cars?”
“Yes, dear.” My dad grumbles from thefamily room.
“We need to leave.” Mom pats him lovinglyon the shoulder.
We all pile outside to leave; the carshave been packed to the brim with stuff. “Where am I going to sit?” I glance atmom.
“Why don’t you and Kurt take the Dart?” Istare open-mouthed at my mother. She can’t be serious. It’s one thing to drivethe Dodge around town, but she’s asking me to drive it to where all our friendsand family are waiting. Where Olivia is waiting.
“No way,” I blurt. “I’d rather walk.”
“Katherine, we are late.” My mom puts thekeys in my hands, pushing me towards the powder blue beast sitting at the curb.Only yesterday I was driving a cobalt blue Ferrari. Now I’ve been reduced to alow riding 1972 powder blue Dodge Dart. Where’s the justice in this?
“Hey Kurt, ride with me.” I wag myeyebrows at him.
“In the Dart? I’ll pass, thanks.”
“Thanks bro, for having my back. You knowthis will be your car one day.”
“Nah, I have a new brother-in-law that’sgoing to buy me a Ferrari.” He sticks his tongue out at me and jumps into thecar with my dad. Super. I crawl into the Dart and start it up. This poor cardoesn’t even have FM radio. It does, however, have an eight track. I open theglove box and a pile of eight-track tapes fall out. I rummage around and findmy favorite ‘Something for Everybody’ by Elvis Presley and pop it in. Itimmediately brings back memories from high school and college. Especially theselast few months after I sold my car, and I had to drive the Dart around.Memories of my grandma, her and I singing to this album at the top of ourlungs, of curling up next to her and watching movies like ‘King Creole,’ or‘Live a Little, Love a little.’ This car holds so many memories of my life herein Crystal Falls. A life I’m not going to have anymore.
I’m the last to arrive at the Vineyard.I’m vaguely aware that everyone is standing out front staring at me, but it’sthe last thing on my mind. I park at the back of the lot. Tears are streamingdown my face. I don’t think I can face everybody. I search through the glovebox again, finding a solitary Dairy Queen napkin that looks like it’s been inhere since the eighties. I need to get a hold of my emotions. It’s not that Idon’t want to start a new life with Cole. It’s just for the first time, Irealize I’m not going to live in Crystal falls anymore.
