Wings of Boden (21 page)

“Yeah, I understand. You should bring your
husband up too. I’d like to meet him.”

“He’s come up here every day for the last
three days.” She pinched her face up, narrowed her eyes. “You mean
he hasn’t introduced himself yet?” She blew a breath. “Huhh, Luca.
You know how males are.”

“Oh, yeah, I know. It’s no problem. I’m sure
he’s just busy or something.”

“Yeah, well, that’s no excuse.” She grinned
as if she had a plan. “I’ll get him over here.”

“Daddy’s a football player, Elle. He’s really
strong.”

“Really, that’s great. My dad’s a football
player too.”

“Oh, that’s nice. We both have daddies that
play football. I think football is stupid. Don’t tell my dad I said
that, K? It’s a secret.”

“Okay, just between you and me.” I gave her a
wink. She tried to wink back but both her eyes scrunched up, making
me giggle as she tinkled a giggle of her own. The thought of how I
felt about football crossed my mind, but I figured it better not to
say anything, since Ginelle was a cheerleader for the
StarWings.

“C’mon,” I said to Ginelle, “let me to
introduce you to my mom and sister.”

“Of course.”

Ginelle followed as I led the way with Steff
on my hip. Mom and Angie were already standing as we approached and
stood on the dirt in front of the porch deck.

“Mom, Angie, this is Ginelle and her
daughter, Steffunnie. She likes to be called, Steff.”

“Well hello there, Steff,” Mom said.

“Hello Steff,” Angie included.

“Hi.” Steff smiled, looked at Angie. “You’re
Elle’s sister?”

“Yes,” Angie replied so sweet.

“And, and, you’re Elle’s mommy?”

“Elle’s my daughter, yes. I like to call her,
Ellie.”

Steffunnie tilted her head to my shoulder,
said on a little sigh, “That’s nice.”

After all the formal introductions, we all
sat together, talking. Mom had brought out some more tea with
floating lemon slices, and a snack bowl of petal chips. Steff had
been let down and skipped around the driveway in her own little
world, chasing butterflies, and crouching now and then to pick up
an interesting rock. I remembered that world, so filled with
happiness, hope and wonder. The image of her taken away by one of
those vultures was appalling—fueling my fire even more. Bub was
barking and running through the forest on his squirrel chasing
adventures. He’d come out and bounce around Steff for a bit,
looking at her as if to say, C’mon, help me catch the squirrels.
Then he’d spin around and run back to the forest.

“Steff,” I called out, stopping her in
mid-skip, “how’d you like to play in the house?”

Ginelle’s hint of a grin seemed to reveal the
comfort of that idea.

“Yeah, Steff,” Ginelle included, “I bet
there’s lots of places to play in there.”

Steff dropped a rock to the driveway and made
her way to us. While Mom took Steff’s hand and led her into the
house, Ginelle said, “Just don’t go outside unless you ask first,
okay?”

“Okay, Mommy.” Then she said to Mom, “What’s
your doggy’s name? I like him.”

The french doors tapped shut.

“She’ll be fine,” I said to Ginelle. “Mom’s
great with kids. I’m sure she’s getting a bowl of fruit right now.”
Almost imperceptibly, Ginelle seemed to ease back into her chair,
revealing the fact that the last month must have been tough on her.
I understood completely.

Over the next few minutes, she and Angie
discussed their husbands. Ginelle’s husband is Luca Callisto. The
name sounded familiar. Then I remembered the posters and
advertisements: Luca Callisto, the famous StarWing player.

“Your husband is, Luca?” I questioned with a
cocked eyebrow. “He’s famous, isn’t he?”

“Maybe, yes, but you wouldn’t know it by the
way he acts. He’s a goof.”

I grinned. “I like goofy, he sounds fun. I
can’t wait to meet him. Oh, and, I want you to meet Vyn, my
boyfriend. He’s in the new lab.”

“Okay, sure. Steff will be okay, right?”

“Oh, yeah,” Angie reassured. “She’s fine.
I’ll keep an eye out, though.”

Ginelle replied, “Thanks, Angie. That’s sweet
of you.”

“No problem at all.” Angie lifted her glass,
relaxed back, crossed her legs at the ankles and took a sip.

Sounds of male jabbering, whooping laughter,
and Bub’s arguments with the squirrel community filled the
surrounding forest.

A few minutes later, Ginelle and I were
meandering through the tall grass and wildflowers just beyond the
front lawn. Flying insects would dart from the weeds, disturbed by
our walking, only to land a few feet away, and do it again. The
deer feeder box was to our right, just inside the tree line on a
bed of dirt, spilled oats and pine needles. Pine trees dropped
patches of shade here and there as sunlight misted through the
woods.

Faint sounds of construction hammers echoed.
Bub’s barking from afar,
roaf, roaf, roaf.

We were on our way to the cellar entrance on
the opposite side of the house, taking our time while enjoying the
pine- and pollen-scented air. Ginelle seemed to have a sense of
motherly direction. She’d stop and pick a bud, lift it to her nose
with an unconscious glance at the house, seeming to sense the
presence of her daughter. She was so lovely. As if in slow motion,
she seemed to be drifting in a world where time had nothing to do
with a clock, but defined by moments of taking in all the beauty
around us. I couldn’t help but think; she was the perfect image of
an angel, soaking in life.

“I love your jeans,” I commented. “I have a
few pairs myself.”

Even as she glanced around, she said, “Yeah,
I couldn’t live without my jeans. I wear dresses at home, though,
like what you’re wearing now. We all need our comfy dress, right.
After years of male hooting and hollering from the stands, I guess
I just wanted to cover my legs up. Jeans got so comfortable. They
just kinda grew on me, you know. And I love the tall flowered
fields, so they protect my legs while I wander.” She turned with a
gentle grin, lifted a yellow bud to her nose, a light inhale.

Considering, I raked some hair off my face
and tucked it behind my ear. The jeans were waiting for me in my
bedroom and she made them sound so much more enticing, later
though.

Ginelle gave me a long look. “You’re
eighteen, right?”

“Yep”—I felt so young—“the big eighteen. For
another week, anyway. I’m beginning to think it’s the year of
confusion.”

“I know, I remember that age. I hope I’m not
prying, but, you have male questions, right? I mean about”—her
voice dropped to a careful whisper, eyebrows lifted—“Sex?”

My gaze drifted to the ground, more out of
confusion than embarrassment. “Yeah, that and a few other things. I
don’t know. It’s just weird, I mean”—I looked up—“just a little
while ago everything was normal. Vyn and I played together. My life
was shopping and fashion and friends. Now all of a sudden I’m a
drek hunter. It was my choice, and I’ll do it, of course, for the
children. But what about when it’s all done. Dad already pulled me
out of school, so, I don’t what I’m gonna do afterward. I mean, for
a career.”

“Oh, sweetie.” She paced over to me. “It’s
your
life. You can do anything you want.” She paused, seemed
to study my face. “Just look at you, eighteen? My Source, if I had
your beauty when I was your age. Sweetie, you know, you could be a
model. With your facial structure and those unique, crisp blue
eyes, and that hair. You have that look. I just know it. I’ve seen
that look. I know what I’m talking about. I have a few friends, you
know, being so close to the entertainment world. You’ve heard of
Dahlia Emil, right? That store Angel’s Closet would be knocking
down your door to hire you. It’s out there for you, just be
patient.”

My face was burning; I must’ve been blushing
like a ripe tomato. Ginelle, the famous cheerleader; I couldn’t
believe she was telling me this. She was just being nice, right …
Wait. She knew Dahlia Emil! I had just been staring at her picture
in my magazine a few days ago. She was Angel’s Closet new model.
No flappin way!
Ginelle couldn’t be serious. She should not
tease me like that. Just coddling little Ellie like the rest of
them, wasn’t she?

“I know what you’re thinking, Elle. I’m
telling you as a professional. You have what it takes. Now, if you
want my opinion, I think you should follow what you’re doing right
now. It may not last that long. And when it’s over, I’ll get you in
touch with the angels that make it happen. Now”—she placed her
hands on my shoulders, locked her blue eyes into my twitching
gaze—“I want you to grit your teeth and get through this, and then
come see me. Let’s show the world who Elleria Soepheea is.”

The little girl would
not
let me catch
up to her. She’d giggle at me, then skip down the dirt trail and
round the bushes. Why wouldn’t my legs listen to me? I wanted to
catch her, talk to her. A sound came from the trees, from the sky,
a delicate female voice, “You’re okay now.” A breeze touched my
cheeks. Puffy clouds drifted in blue above the trees. Shapes turned
and churned into a form, a face, a beautiful clouded face looking
down at me. It spoke again, “Are you okay, sweetie?”

Forest sounds seemed to be approaching—birds,
male laughter, Bub barking—distant, as if coming from the other end
of a tunnel. Even the sweet aromas were getting stronger. What is
that, flowers? The face of Ginelle hovered above, blue eyes staring
down. I rolled my head side to side, realizing I was on my back in
the middle of the yard, in my sundress, wild grass all around my
face. Bent over me with a lopsided grin, her long hair falling down
almost to my cheeks, Ginelle brushed a dandelion under my nose.

The tickling bud made me crinkle my nose. I
wondered out loud, “What happened?”

Ginelle giggled. “Oh, sweetie, you just,
fainted.”

“
What?
” I huffed out and bounded up.
“OH, I’m so stupid.” My skin warmed with embarrassment while I
stood brushing the grass and stuff off my dress. I couldn’t look at
her.

“No, sweetie, you are
so
cute. I just
love you.” Ginelle giggled again. I wished she would stop that, it
wasn’t helping my recovery. I felt like crying. She pulled me into
a hug, rubbed my back and wings while I stood limp, slack arms by
my side with my chin on her shoulder. She said behind me, “There’s
nothing wrong with you, sweetie, and there’s nothing wrong with
laughing at ourselves. Maybe we shouldn’t talk about modeling. It
was just an idea.”

I sighed ... “Thank you. I guess it must’ve
been kinda funny, huh?”

“It’s okay now.”
Squeeze
. “You’re just
so, adorable. I could just eat you up. Hey.” She pulled back,
brushed silky strands of hair away from her forehead with
fingertips, revealing an excited gleam in her eyes as she added,
“We should plan something. What do you like to do? I mean, for
fun.”

“Um, I don’t know.”

“Oh, c’mon, there’s got to be something you
like to do for fun. And don’t say shopping.”

After considering for a minute, I replied,
“Um, it’s kinda weird, but, oh, never mind.”

She tilted her head, a little grin playing on
her lips. “Now, Ellie, I’m going to find out sooner or later, so it
might as well be sooner.”

“Okay, well.” I paused for a moment to have
second thoughts about telling her … then spilled it, “I like to go
to weddings, even when I’m not invited. Just to see all the flowers
and colors. Please don’t tell anyone. The flowers are just so
pretty, and the beautiful dresses. I can’t help it. There’s just so
much love and happiness all around. Don’t make fun of me, please.
But sometimes I just sit in the back and cry. That’s why I haven’t
told anyone. It’s my secret. I tell them I’m going shopping. My
sister would never stop teasing me if she knew.”

The smile on her face grew wide as she
considered. “Oh, that’s sounds like so much fun. I don’t know why I
never thought of that. I bet you can’t wait to get married,
huh?”

The question sent my eyes to the ground. “I
guess, someday. I try not to think about it.”

“Well, I won’t tell anyone, on one condition.
You need to take me with you. We could crash a few weddings
together. And guess what? They have my weakness. Cake!”

I looked up. “Ooh, I know. They’re just so,
yummy. Weddings have the best cakes. Angie’s obsessed with them.
She’s been trying to copy her wedding cake for a year. But Faye
won’t give her the secret. It frustrates Angie so much. Sometimes I
think about bringing her along with me, just for the cake, you
know, but I know she’d tease me.”

“Well, I’ll see what I can do about getting
that recipe. Maybe I can charm it out of Faye.”

“Good luck with that, Angie’s tried.”

She paused, smiled, gave me a long, soft
look. “We’re going to have so much fun this summer, Ellie. I’m so
glad I met you.”

Did she just say, she— She’s so glad to meet,
me! I launched a hug into her, said over her shoulder. “Me too,
Ginelle. Thank you so much. I can’t wait to go to a wedding with
you.”

She pulled back, stood me up, picked
something off my cheek and cleared some hair away from my eyes.
“Okay, we’ll plan on it then. Now, show me that lucky boyfriend of
yours.”

****

Vyn’s lab was so bright; it made the cellar
look ten times bigger. They’d even painted the brick walls white.
Racks of glass tubes and round little dishes covered polished metal
tables. Off silver chains, fluorescent light fixtures hung from the
ceiling like long white boxes.

Vyn stood before a stainless table, wearing a
white lab coat, his wings out the wing-flaps and folded to his
back. So official looking. When he looked up at Ginelle and me, his
blue eyes soaked in the fluorescent light. He was beautiful. No,
sexy. If that was the right word. Whatever.