Grayson (This is Our Life Book 1) (5 page)

It’s Valentine's Day and I found Ella a bluebird charm.  We are at the bowling alley when I give it to her.  She just finished her turn and sits back down. 

“Hold out your hands, Ella. Close your eyes, and you will get a big surprise!”   I laugh at her beautiful face and scrunched-up nose, so damn cute.  She’s hesitant at first, eyeing me skeptically. 

“What are you up to, Mr. Blackwood?”

She closes her eyes and follows my instructions.   She opens her eyes and her gaze lands on the palm of her hand, where a dainty bluebird charm lies.  Shock registers on her face and then glee. 

She continually asks me why I call her Bluebird, and my reply is always the same, "You're my Bluebird, Ella," shrugging my shoulders like it’s no big deal.  I think she likes her special name.  One day, I'll explain it to her, but we aren't there...yet. 

Why Bluebird?  I fondly remember a time when I was around ten years old.  Mom’s really crafty being the teacher that she is.  We decided to make bluebird boxes for all the ones we had on the ranch. 

“Come on, Grayson.  It’ll be loads of fun.  Addie can even help us.”  Mom giggled as we made our way outside to the barn.  Moments like these I’ll cherish forever, they’re my memories that no one can take away.

It was a hot summer day on our ranch.  We set out constructing, cutting boards, hammering nails, and then painting our initials on the front of each box.  Mom sang “Whistle while you work…” from Snow White, and Addie jumbled some of the words as she tried to sing along, shaking her three-year-old baby bootie back and forth. It was a perfect day.

Later on in the evening after we all showered and got ready for dinner, Mom came looking for me.  I’m in my room, staring out the window at one of our newly built bluebird boxes.  The delicate box is perched right outside my window, waiting for visitors.  We put this one in this spot, so I could see it every day.

“Grayson, it’s time for dinner, son.”  Mom leaned against the door, watching me.  “What are you up to?”

“Watching the box,”  I tell her.   “I can’t wait for the birds to come.”

Mom moved over to where I was sitting on the floor and sat down beside me.  “Oh, I see.  Well, let me tell you a little story then.

“Once upon a time there was a little boy bluebird, who loved his family very much.  The little bluebird wasn’t old enough to have his own family yet, so his family protected him, even when he didn’t know it.  One day, a new little bluebird came to town, fluttering around their nest.  She too had a family, and the little boy bluebird was very interested in her.  The two little bluebirds became instant friends.  Going on adventures, playing together, and having fun.  They even learned how to fly further away from their nests...together.  One day, a strong storm came through, huffing and puffing all the nests in the trees.  The little boy bluebird was tossed out of the nest and carried on the wind far away.  Thought to be lost forever.  When the storm subsided, the little boy bluebird saw his friend was there too.  Both being thrown away from home by the storm, they were scared, but they had each other.  As the weeks passed and their search for home continued, they learned to hunt for food.   And before they knew it, they were building a nest together in a sturdy box up against a tree. Never leaving the other or straying too far away. Because bluebirds mate for life.”

The story my mom told me reminds me of Ella.  It’s the reason why I call her Bluebird.

* * *

Before long, we are all ready to escape the everyday life of school and practice.  Thank god for spring break!  Baseball season is in full swing, and we're going to State. 
Yeah!  That's right, we're that good!
  But right now, it's time for a hiatus from the craziness of life.  Our posse is heading to the beach for the week.  Conner's parents own a house on the Gulf, and for the next week, it's fishing, beer, and relaxing with my friends. 

On my way out of town, I stop by to see Ella.  She’s getting ready for work.  She has so many responsibilities and obligations; thinking about it creates a huge lump in my throat.  I do too, but mine involves controlling all things Grayson.  Not like Ella, trying to make ends meet. 

Opening the door, Ella greets me with her brilliant smile.  “Hey, Grayson!  Let’s talk outside.  My mom’s taking a nap and I don’t want to wake her up,” she mutters, pushing me through the door and closing it softly.

“You working all week, Bluebird?”

She sighs, “Yes.  Mr. Cain has me on the schedule every day with school being out.  It’s good though, we really need the money.”

“Well, shit!  I wanted to see if you could come to the beach with me.  Conner’s family has a house down there and we’re going to do some fishing and other stuff.”

I’m struck by how dumb that sounds once the words leave my mouth.  This girl is working to help her family.  Ella doesn't need me to add to her hardships.  I rethink and start over.

“Sorry, I just want to spend a little more time with you, is all.  I understand duty.”

I gaze into her pools of blue, while my hands seize her waist, pulling her in for a hug.  Her smell intoxicates me, sending ripples of desire over my shoulders, down my spine straight to my groin. 
Fuck, I want this girl.

Ella looks into my eyes, and I see something sparkle, desire. Leaning in, I sneak a peck on her neck, moving up to her ear, leaving soft wet kisses in my wake.  Ella stiffens, and I hear her breath catch.  I play a little more with her neck and feel her relaxing in my hold.  Moving to the corners of her lips, I watch her reaction: flushed cheeks and parted mouth.  Dragging my teeth across her bottom lip, slowly, methodically pouring the attraction, I feel for Ella into my every touch, finally capturing her lips with mine as I impart my need for her.

Breathlessly, she jerks away and our moment has passed.  “That was ... it was ... what was that for, Grayson?”  Ella is flustered and I like it.

Drawing Ella’s hands into mine, I bring them to my mouth, kissing each knuckle carefully while keeping my eyes on hers.

“I’ll miss you this week, Bluebird.”

Leaving her on the porch at her house is hard for me.  It’s going to be rough not seeing her for the week, and my body aches to claim her.  Surprise doesn’t even cut the reception she gave me.  Baby steps.  She allowed me to kiss her again, and it was overwhelming.   Timing is everything.  She’ll be mine soon enough.   I head out down to the beach to go chill with the guys.

Pulling up to Conner's beach house, I notice there are a lot more cars than I expected.  I guess the party started without me.  As I put my truck in park and glance at the cottage, Conner comes around the corner to greet me. 

“Are you ready to par-tay?” he asks in a sing-song voice that cracks me the hell up!  “Come on, Grayson.  Let’s do this!” Conner grabs the front of my 4X4, hopping up onto the bumper, jumping up and down like a madman. “Welcome to the par-tay!” 
He’s not right.

I shake my head at my insane friend.  I take a deep breath and grab my bag as I meander out of my truck and set out for a week full of fun.

Later, my feet sink down into the coarse sand prickling my toes as I walk down to the water.  I grab another beer from the red cooler situated between our setup and recline back into my lounge chair.  The blazing sun is reflecting off the water, and my eyes squint behind my Ray-Bans.  A salty breeze tickles my skin.  People are splashing in the bay, boats are whizzing by, and a calm settles over me.  As much as I’m ready to leave, this is home.

Conner is spread out on his chair along with Johnny, Pete, and Brad.  I’m surrounded by my friends.

“I was thinking about prom,” Conner starts.  “We need a hummer limo…”

“Ella. Ella, can you please come here for a minute?” mom calls out to me from the other room. 

I impatiently move through the narrow hallway to the living room to find mom.  Instantly, I feel awful for not wanting to talk, even though I’ve got a mountain of homework left to do for finals.  Mom is getting worse every day, and I should want to spend every moment I can with her.  It’s just that sometimes I long to be a normal teenager. 

My mom is lying on the couch with a book in her trembling hands. I notice the terse look of pain on her face and wince.  “Ah, there you are, my beautiful girl,” mom sighs.

As I watch her tenuous face, I walk over to sit down beside her and put her feet on my lap.  “What’s up, my favorite mother in the universe?” I try for a joke in such a tense moment.

Mom lays the book across her chest and takes in a deep, painful breath.  “I just want to talk to you about prom.”

“Not again, mom!  We’ve already been through this conversation and I told you there isn’t any way for me to go this year!” I snap in a miffed voice. 

I just can’t do this again.  My mom keeps telling me that I need to go, I have to go, but I just don’t see how.  Money is tight. The job I have at the Coney Island is helping a little, but not enough to splurge on something as wonderful as prom.  I internally sigh and look back at my mom.  That’s when I see tears in her eyes, and I’m done for.

“Oh, no, mom.  Please don’t cry.  I’m so sorry I snapped at you.”

I snuggle up to her, wrapping my arms around her, holding her in the tightest embrace she can handle in her fragile state.  Grabbing the box of tissues from the coffee table, I wipe her tears away and listen to what I know will be my undoing. 

“Ella, baby.  You have to go, for me.  This may be the last prom I can experience with you. You understand?” she calmly pleads.

My mom is such an attractive woman, even in her sickly circumstance.  I’ve always thought she had a Marilyn Monroe type bombshell appearance with an angel’s heart of gold.  Utterly striking.  Until lately; the sickness is smothering out all the outer beauty that is my mom.  But her inner strength, determination, and love are something to marvel at.  I can’t help but admire her.  She’s always told me the eyes are the windows to the soul.  In this moment as I gaze deeply into my mom’s, I see the pleading and her unconditional love she has for me.  With that, I concede.

“You win, mom.  I’ll do it,” I reply.  “I just don’t know where I’m going to get a dress and shoes...it’s impossible. You know how tight money is right now.  We can barely afford your medications.”

My mom’s face transforms into the most beautiful smile that even reaches her big baby blues. 
I haven’t seen this in a long while.  Gorgeous!

“Well, I have that covered for you, baby girl.” Mom continues, “I’ve already talked with Amy.  She keeps up with me, you know, even though she’s away in the army.  And you know she went last year to prom.  She has the perfect dress for you to use, shoes and all!”

I blush all over, thinking about the sexy black, sequined dress she’s talking about.  I saw Amy’s pictures last year and fell in love with the dress immediately. It hugs every curve and goes to the floor, but has a slit up both sides, stopping at mid-thigh.  The strapless top v’s on the front and bottom which gives a barely there look.  The nude body holds the sequins, giving the illusion of wearing only a top attached with a skirt.  It’s utterly gorgeous and very sexy.  As if my mom knows my inner dialogue, she gets my attention.

“It’s a really beautiful dress, Ella.  It will look even better on you,” she promises. 

Relenting, I hug her tightly.  “Thank you, mom.  Will you do my hair?  You know how to make me look my best. I, uh, mean if you feel like it?” As she nods yes, my mind wonders about what Grayson will look like in a tux, because I’ve got to go to prom with my best friend. Yeah, right, best friends.  He’s become so much more, and then there’s the good-bye kiss we shared before he left for the beach.  I’ve been dreaming about it for weeks.  The anticipation of sharing another one with Grayson is constantly on my mind, combined with what could happen if I let myself go.

Pulling up to the small house in a not so great part of town, my heart begins to pound out of my chest.  I’m nervous as shit! Knowing that Ella lives here still makes my heart ache every time I see it.  I just want to take her away from all of this and protect her, keep her safe, and give her the world. 

On the ride over to Ella’s, Amy kept staring at me, and I got the feeling she wanted to say something.  After a few awkward minutes, I finally ask her, “What’s up?”

“I’m concerned about Ella's emotional attachment to you, Grayson,” Amy tells me.  “And your physical attraction to her really worries me,” she admits.

“I assure you, Amy, we are only friends.” I give her my best smile, but I know she can tell I feel differently.  It’s written all over my face.

Amy gets the craziest look on her face and says, “I know who you are, Grayson Blackwood.  I’m warning you now, DO NOT break Ella.  Ella is new to relationships and naïve at best.  I don’t want to be picking up all the missing pieces when you leave her.”  

Not gonna happen. 
“Don’t get twisted up about this, Amy.  I promise you, hurting Ella is the furthest thing from my mind.” 

Being honest with myself, it is.  I want Ella so bad, nothing else matters.

“That’s the problem, Grayson.” Amy glances at me once more as the car stops.

Just friends, remember.
  I struggle with my inner voice, because my heart is saying something very different.  Ever since we made our pact, I’ve been trying so hard to keep it, but she is just so perfect, so right for me.  I want her to see the real me.

As we all file out of the stretch Hummer limo, thanks to the wonderful wisdom of our best bud, Conner, I notice a woman sitting in a rocker on the front porch.  Instantly, I know it has to be Ella’s mom.  I’ve never had a chance to meet her.
 
She’s a beautiful woman.  Even though sickness and death seem to dominate her on the outside, there is a glow about her, a beauty that’s not just skin deep.  Much like the girl I’ve gotten to know pretty well over this past year.  The dark circles around her eyes and sunken cheeks are a dead giveaway for the hideous disease that is plaguing her body.

She leans up a bit from the rocker and smiles, saying, “Hello.” 

I fall hook, line, and sinker for the beautiful aura that surrounds Ella’s mom. Feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside just from her simple ‘hello’.  I lean toward her with my hand out and shake her hand gently.

“Hello, Mrs. Anderson.  I’m Grayson Blackwood.  Nice to finally meet you in person.”

She gently takes my hand in hers, putting her other hand on top. 

“Very nice to meet you, Grayson Blackwood.”

Mrs. Anderson smiles and winks at me genuinely.
Just then the worn, brick red front door opens.  And out steps the most beautiful living creature I’ve ever seen. 
Ella.

I watch Ella walk gracefully to her mom and kiss her on the cheek.  They share a glance toward me, as well as a secret smile that only a mother and daughter can. I’m speechless and a lump forms in my throat.

I'm so fucking glad Conner came up with the idea of everybody going to prom together.  All of us are close friends, well except for Amy and Brad.  The fact that we invited Brad ensured me that Amy would get Ella to come along with us.  Amy’s been deployed on a tour of duty in Germany for the last nine months and was due her leave.  Talk about timing.  It was perfect that she came home to go to prom with Brad.  I knew that would be the only way we could go together, without going together.  The plan was perfect.  If all goes well, Ella will become mine tonight.  If she'll play along; and if not, then I'll have to persuade her otherwise. 

Turning away from her mother, Ella whispers, “See ya later, mom.”

“Bye, baby girl.  Y'all be careful now.  Have lots of fun.  Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”  Ella’s mom jokingly states.  “Make sure to watch out for each other.  Oh, and Grayson...you take good care of my baby,” she adds, waving.

I can’t believe that just happened.  Did her mom just tell me to behave, or was she giving me permission?  I shake the cobwebs from my brain on obvious overload and respond,  “Yes, ma'am.  You have nothing to worry about,” I announce for the whole world to hear.

Did I really mean that though?  Nope, if I can get Ella alone for one minute…

My thoughts are interrupted by a few hushed giggles, and then we all make our way to the limo.   Taking a good look at the goddess in front of me, I am speechless yet again.  That black dress she has on is wreaking havoc on all my senses, and Mr. Big Shot is making an appearance.  The back is low cut with sequins sparkling all around the edge, sitting just above her delectable ass.  It hugs every curve, every beautiful place on her body. 
Man, what I’d give to take my tongue and lick from top to bottom. Damn, I’m so jealous of her dress. 
Her dirty blonde hair is piled high up on her head with gentle curls falling around her face, which makes her look almost angelic.  But the view of her neck makes me want to take a bite. 
Down, boy!  Shit, I'm horny!

I’d known for a while now that I was falling hard for this girl. She has the power to bring me to my knees with just a look.