My heart was beating hard as I read the board of flights. Flight 998 from Dallas to Denver had landed. She was here. It sent a chill right through me to know that she’d be walking through those electric sliding doors any minute now. The last month had felt like forever. But I couldn’t complain; it was a blessing that she could come at all. I would have waited, though. Waited until I was in Waco at college, close to her again.
It happened then; she wandered out with her shoulder-length blond hair in a disheveled bun, a pair of shorts, and a Red Hot Chili Peppers T-shirt on. I grinned. She had insisted that I listen to them a few weeks ago, so passionate about her love of music. I was a fan. She had great taste. She looked around but couldn’t see me. So I took the time to watch her, to admire her teeth worrying on her bottom lip, her gaze moving from left to right as she walked closer to the exit, a small bounce in her step that made my heart thump. She had this adorable light sprinkle of freckles across her button nose, and round cheeks. Her green eyes flicked up like a feline at the outer edge and made her look insanely sexy. Her beauty was impossible not to notice, but who she was, that was the real prize.
Ellie
Dearest Ellie,
I hope this doesn’t startle you. I sat outside and wrote this in the car after our incredible night together. I should have asked for a phone number, but I didn’t think about it until you had dashed that pretty behind inside. You see, I’m a little senseless when you’re in my presence. You’re such a stunning vision, a whisper of perfection, a blossomed beauty. I hope that we can keep in touch. If you’re interested, perhaps phone me? I don’t want to lose touch with the girl who has stolen my heart. It may come across as strong, but I feel more than I ever believed I was capable of feeling when I’m with you. You’re an embodiment of an angel, and I’m counting down the days until I’m in Waco and close to you again, Ellie Livingston.
Sincerely,
Leroy
At the bottom of the letter that Leroy wrote me was a phone number. A jumble of digits that set us on the course to a whirlwind romance. We spent hours on the telephone. We got to know each other through conversation that may have been long-distance, but the smoothness of his voice and the gentle tone of his sweet nothings made me feel so close to him. Now, a month later, the paper was wrinkled and tearing at the corner from how often I reread it because the feeling that it gave me was the same as it had been the first time. Butterfly central.
By some miracle, my mother allowed me to spend the rest of summer in Castle Rock, on a strict set of conditions, of course. More miraculous still was that I could spend it with Leroy, in his home. Our mothers had spoken on the phone and agreed that as long as we were in separate bedrooms and had a ten o’clock curfew, it was fine.
However, there was still the small matter of being accepted by his upper-class parents. Mom’s salary wouldn’t have been a quarter of what his parents made, and I was nervous to think that I might not fit in or be the sort of woman that they want their son to date. What if they thought I was a gold digger? I’d expressed these concerns to him on the phone and he’d said that it was ridiculous to think like that, but still, I couldn’t help but worry.
“You sure you’ve got everything?” Momma asked as I bounced on the spot, watching the boarding chart and waiting for my flight number to be called. “You didn’t pack a lot.”
“Momma, I’ve got a secure system set up,” I assured her, still not one hundred percent focused on her face or words. “As long as I can use the washing machine, and I’m sure that I can, I’ve got all that I need.”
I was nothing if not organized. I had a rotation of outfits that I could mix and match. Accessories to spice them up and seven different lipstick colors to ensure that I could pop a perfect pout no matter what the occasion.
“Be safe, and I’d really appreciate it if you could give your future some thought,” Momma pointed an authoritative finger at me. “I know that I can’t afford to put you through college, but—”
“Come on, Momma,” I cut her off. “I’m going to take a small business course when I’ve got enough cash. And one day, I’ll own a skincare line. I’ve told you all of this. There’s no chance that I could work as a measly employee for the rest of my life—no offense.”
Momma smiled, although it wasn’t convincing. “I know that you don’t want to end up like me but be realistic. And don’t base your future on this boy because these things can be fleeting.”
I frowned at the pessimistic woman who’d raised me. “I’m not basing anything off Leroy. I’ve wanted to run a business since I was a freshman. I’ll do it with or without him. And what we have isn’t fleeting. He loves me, Momma.”
“Whatever you say,” she said. “Look, I mean it, behaving. His mother assured me that she’d phone and have you sent home if there was even a hint of acting up. You don’t be alone with that boy in his room, you keep your hands to yourselves, and don’t even think about touching alcohol. You hear?”
“Yes Momma,” I said, holding back a restless sigh. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t heard it all before. “I promise. Besides, I’ve only met him in person once. It’s not like we know each other well enough to . . . you know . . .”
Fortunately, I’d become quite talented in the art of lying. She didn’t know that I’d given him a piece of me that I could never get back—and she never would. She didn’t know that I was in love with him. I hadn’t given it away on a whim. I’d felt something for him that I couldn’t explain, and I knew that even if he hadn’t kept in touch, I wouldn’t have regretted it.
After a few more “words of wisdom” from Momma, we said goodbye at the gate, and I went through security to wait. The call for my flight came over the PA, and I squealed through a clenched jaw as I slung my backpack on and adjusted my T-shirt, the summer sun making me sweat like crazy.
The flight wasn’t long, just over two hours, but it was my first, and I tried to appreciate it. I had saved every last dollar that I’d made from working at the local pharmacy after school and on weekends. The funds were going toward the business course that I planned on taking. But I withdrew a small amount for the tickets and spending money. I wanted to appreciate what I had paid for, but my mind was spinning with the knowledge that I would soon be seeing Leroy after an entire month of nothing but hearing his voice. It had kept me going, that’s for sure.
When the flight landed, I ran a hand through my frazzled mess of hair and pulled it into a bun. My palms had become damp and I vigorously wiped them on my high-waisted shorts before I stood and joined the line to get off the plane. What would it be like to see him again? Would we slide into familiarity with ease? Would the nerves make it awkward? It felt like every traveler was moving at a snail’s pace, but eventually we made it off the plane.