to recall that you always liked bananas with your ice cream.”
Brady stared in puzzlement, unsure of how to respond. “I…uh…excuse me?”
The woman’s smile widened as she continued. “Or have you outgrown the banana splits?”
In that instant Brady’s eyes traveled from the woman’s face to the name tag on her blue smock. Brady’s already reddened face flamed to an even deeper shade of crimson.
Of course, he told himself. Her blonde hair was shorter now, hanging loose above her shoulders, but the splash of freckles across her nose and cheeks marked her as his April.
They shared uncomfortable laugh followed by a nervous silence before Brady collected his thoughts and found his voice.
“So, uh…still in Bedlam Falls, huh?”
April cast her eyes back to the groceries and continued scanning the items. “Yeah, life doesn’t always work out like you planned.” She paused, and then added, “I’m sorry about your parents, Brady.”
“Yeah,” he replied, thinking about his own life over the past 18 months, “full of surprises.”
The crackle of the overhead pager interrupted the conversation. “Clean up in aisle five, April. We need clean up in aisle five.”
Brady laughed. “So what’s in aisle five?”
“It’s the breakfast aisle,” April replied, and then muttering, “but something tells me it’s not cereal I’ll be cleaning up.”
Brady chuckled as he paid for his groceries. “Better you than me.”
April’s frown eased into a loose smile. “Gotta run, but I’ll be at Charlie’s tonight about seven. First split is on me.”
Brady watched her turn and walk towards aisle five. Wow , April Mayer all grown up. He thought as he wheeled his squeaky cart of groceries into the parking lot, and then it dawned on him, and still taller than me!
Brady arrived at Charlie’s shortly after 6:30 and laid claim to a picnic table in the shade. Gruff sat at his feet panting in the evening heat. The pair had spent the better part of the day puttering around the Up North House; Brady had witnessed the Tigers get pounded by the Royals while Gruff kept watch. The usually lazy dog hadn’t quite yet grown comfortable in his new surroundings. Truth be told, Brady wasn’t entirely comfortable either.
He still found himself avoiding his parent’s room; doing his best to keep those memories tucked neatly behind the closed door at the end of the hallway. The problem was, however, each and every room, piece of furniture, and knick-knack carried the weight of some memory. Fortunately, bumping into April had provided and unexpected bounce to his step… and a pang of unforeseen guilt.
Brady found himself playing with his wedding ring; twirling it about his finger. It was a nervous habit he had picked up after Karen’s death; a comforting reminder that he always carried a little piece of her heart with him. Today, it made his finger itch. Guilt, he thought, and I haven’t even done anything. He was going to add yet, but reconsidered.
Instead, Brady turned his attention to what he was wearing. Although his cargo shorts, Pearl Jam concert t-shirt, and black Chuck Taylor’s looked casual, it had taken way too much effort and energy to look this hip. He had felt like a teenager while trying on outfits in front of his mirror. Now, he felt like an old man trying to act young. Brady was so caught up with his tangled thoughts, not to mention trying to keep his stomach sucked in, that he didn’t notice April’s approach.
“ You see honey; this is what a stranger looks like. You never ever want to talk to someone who looks like this.”
Brady coughed nervously as he looked up from his sucked in stomach to find April standing over him. Beside her was a child, a miniature version of the fetching woman that still, it would seem could take his breath away.
Brady rose to his feet, trying his best to suppress his lopsided grin. “Yes, sweetie, it’s true. This is indeed what a stranger looks like.” Brady
Brady stared in puzzlement, unsure of how to respond. “I…uh…excuse me?”
The woman’s smile widened as she continued. “Or have you outgrown the banana splits?”
In that instant Brady’s eyes traveled from the woman’s face to the name tag on her blue smock. Brady’s already reddened face flamed to an even deeper shade of crimson.
Of course, he told himself. Her blonde hair was shorter now, hanging loose above her shoulders, but the splash of freckles across her nose and cheeks marked her as his April.
They shared uncomfortable laugh followed by a nervous silence before Brady collected his thoughts and found his voice.
“So, uh…still in Bedlam Falls, huh?”
April cast her eyes back to the groceries and continued scanning the items. “Yeah, life doesn’t always work out like you planned.” She paused, and then added, “I’m sorry about your parents, Brady.”
“Yeah,” he replied, thinking about his own life over the past 18 months, “full of surprises.”
The crackle of the overhead pager interrupted the conversation. “Clean up in aisle five, April. We need clean up in aisle five.”
Brady laughed. “So what’s in aisle five?”
“It’s the breakfast aisle,” April replied, and then muttering, “but something tells me it’s not cereal I’ll be cleaning up.”
Brady chuckled as he paid for his groceries. “Better you than me.”
April’s frown eased into a loose smile. “Gotta run, but I’ll be at Charlie’s tonight about seven. First split is on me.”
Brady watched her turn and walk towards aisle five. Wow , April Mayer all grown up. He thought as he wheeled his squeaky cart of groceries into the parking lot, and then it dawned on him, and still taller than me!
Brady arrived at Charlie’s shortly after 6:30 and laid claim to a picnic table in the shade. Gruff sat at his feet panting in the evening heat. The pair had spent the better part of the day puttering around the Up North House; Brady had witnessed the Tigers get pounded by the Royals while Gruff kept watch. The usually lazy dog hadn’t quite yet grown comfortable in his new surroundings. Truth be told, Brady wasn’t entirely comfortable either.
He still found himself avoiding his parent’s room; doing his best to keep those memories tucked neatly behind the closed door at the end of the hallway. The problem was, however, each and every room, piece of furniture, and knick-knack carried the weight of some memory. Fortunately, bumping into April had provided and unexpected bounce to his step… and a pang of unforeseen guilt.
Brady found himself playing with his wedding ring; twirling it about his finger. It was a nervous habit he had picked up after Karen’s death; a comforting reminder that he always carried a little piece of her heart with him. Today, it made his finger itch. Guilt, he thought, and I haven’t even done anything. He was going to add yet, but reconsidered.
Instead, Brady turned his attention to what he was wearing. Although his cargo shorts, Pearl Jam concert t-shirt, and black Chuck Taylor’s looked casual, it had taken way too much effort and energy to look this hip. He had felt like a teenager while trying on outfits in front of his mirror. Now, he felt like an old man trying to act young. Brady was so caught up with his tangled thoughts, not to mention trying to keep his stomach sucked in, that he didn’t notice April’s approach.
“ You see honey; this is what a stranger looks like. You never ever want to talk to someone who looks like this.”
Brady coughed nervously as he looked up from his sucked in stomach to find April standing over him. Beside her was a child, a miniature version of the fetching woman that still, it would seem could take his breath away.
Brady rose to his feet, trying his best to suppress his lopsided grin. “Yes, sweetie, it’s true. This is indeed what a stranger looks like.” Brady
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