make up is era appropriate and perfect.
“You both look so great.” I tell them.
Smitty agrees, “Yeah, Kathleen, you look amazing. Thanks for going with me tonight.”
I think I see Kathleen actually blush a little. “You’re welcome. I have to apologize. I was calling you Rent-A-Date to Davis, but now I retract that. He’s done a decent job finding me someone to go with tonight.” Now, I think I see Smitty blush.
Davis hands us all champagne. We toast to having a fabulous evening, good company and Davis’ birthday. I only take a few sips of my champagne. That stuff goes right to my head, so I know I can’t drink an entire glass. Besides, I told Davis that I would be the designated driver tonight. He laughed, looked at my breasts and re-used his old joke with a little modification, saying, “You are always the DD.”
“Wait, wait, Davis, I have something for you for your birthday,” Kathleen says over her shoulder as she moves away to get something off the island of the kitchen. Coming back to the living room, she hands a flat rectangular box to Davis. He opens it, ripping at the paper like a five year old. Opening the box and looking as his expression changes – first a frown, then a smile, then a little bigger smile, but with wetness in his eyes. He looks at Kathleen, who is mirroring his expression and then holds the present up for Smitty and me to see. It is a framed picture of Davis, Kathleen and Davis’ brother, Cole, laughing – young, like 14 or 15, before Cole was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, I’m guessing. They all look so happy. “You remember, Davis? It wasn’t a special day or anything. We were just hanging around in your family room on the couch; all three of us, laughing at something stupid like Cole burping the alphabet or something, and your dad took that picture. I think it’s the best picture of all three of us. I didn’t know if you had one.”
Davis’ eyes are wet with unspilled tears. He is visibly moved by the gift. He puts an arm around Kathleen and gives her a squeeze, still gazing at the picture. “It’s the best, Kath. Really. I am such a sucker for pictures. It’s like I can feel what’s in them sometimes. Weird.” Not weird at all I think, very sweet. After all, Davis decided he liked me after seeing a picture.
Smitty, ever the photographer, has to comment, “It’s great that you get that Davis. Not everyone is as drawn in to photos as you seem to be. Kathleen, it really is a great moment Davis’ dad captured.” I completely agree and tell Smitty so.
Davis sits down on the couch to look at the photo some more. I sit next to him and put a hand on his knee. He looks over and smiles at me. A smile that is both happy and wistful. I can tell the picture means a lot to him.
I whisper to Davis, “I’m sorry I didn’t get you anything, Mavis. Sweetie, if I had known it was your birthday… I would have made a cake, or something.”
“And jumped out of it?” The sadness is over. Smart aleck Davis is back.
“Possibly.”
“Baby… Lizard Breath… I already told you. All I want for my birthday is you.” Davis pauses for a second and then with a raised eyebrow adds, “And maybe Flapper you …” He points to my dress and then my hair, “with the wig still on.”
I know in a flash EXACTLY what his present will be.
***
First cocktail of the night finished, we prepare to leave the condo for the party. I go back to the bedroom to collect my coat and clutch. As I head back into the main living
“You both look so great.” I tell them.
Smitty agrees, “Yeah, Kathleen, you look amazing. Thanks for going with me tonight.”
I think I see Kathleen actually blush a little. “You’re welcome. I have to apologize. I was calling you Rent-A-Date to Davis, but now I retract that. He’s done a decent job finding me someone to go with tonight.” Now, I think I see Smitty blush.
Davis hands us all champagne. We toast to having a fabulous evening, good company and Davis’ birthday. I only take a few sips of my champagne. That stuff goes right to my head, so I know I can’t drink an entire glass. Besides, I told Davis that I would be the designated driver tonight. He laughed, looked at my breasts and re-used his old joke with a little modification, saying, “You are always the DD.”
“Wait, wait, Davis, I have something for you for your birthday,” Kathleen says over her shoulder as she moves away to get something off the island of the kitchen. Coming back to the living room, she hands a flat rectangular box to Davis. He opens it, ripping at the paper like a five year old. Opening the box and looking as his expression changes – first a frown, then a smile, then a little bigger smile, but with wetness in his eyes. He looks at Kathleen, who is mirroring his expression and then holds the present up for Smitty and me to see. It is a framed picture of Davis, Kathleen and Davis’ brother, Cole, laughing – young, like 14 or 15, before Cole was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, I’m guessing. They all look so happy. “You remember, Davis? It wasn’t a special day or anything. We were just hanging around in your family room on the couch; all three of us, laughing at something stupid like Cole burping the alphabet or something, and your dad took that picture. I think it’s the best picture of all three of us. I didn’t know if you had one.”
Davis’ eyes are wet with unspilled tears. He is visibly moved by the gift. He puts an arm around Kathleen and gives her a squeeze, still gazing at the picture. “It’s the best, Kath. Really. I am such a sucker for pictures. It’s like I can feel what’s in them sometimes. Weird.” Not weird at all I think, very sweet. After all, Davis decided he liked me after seeing a picture.
Smitty, ever the photographer, has to comment, “It’s great that you get that Davis. Not everyone is as drawn in to photos as you seem to be. Kathleen, it really is a great moment Davis’ dad captured.” I completely agree and tell Smitty so.
Davis sits down on the couch to look at the photo some more. I sit next to him and put a hand on his knee. He looks over and smiles at me. A smile that is both happy and wistful. I can tell the picture means a lot to him.
I whisper to Davis, “I’m sorry I didn’t get you anything, Mavis. Sweetie, if I had known it was your birthday… I would have made a cake, or something.”
“And jumped out of it?” The sadness is over. Smart aleck Davis is back.
“Possibly.”
“Baby… Lizard Breath… I already told you. All I want for my birthday is you.” Davis pauses for a second and then with a raised eyebrow adds, “And maybe Flapper you …” He points to my dress and then my hair, “with the wig still on.”
I know in a flash EXACTLY what his present will be.
***
First cocktail of the night finished, we prepare to leave the condo for the party. I go back to the bedroom to collect my coat and clutch. As I head back into the main living
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