Addi & Lane

Addi sat in a dining room chair situated under the front window. The other five chairs from her grandmother’s dining room table were positioned around her as people had come to sit and talk to her. Now, most of the visitors had left and the remining people bustled about the small farmhouse, picking up half-eaten plates of food and empty glasses. Addi played with her French braid that hung over her right shoulder. Her blonde hair was getting long; she hadn’t gotten it cut since last year at the start of her freshman year of high school. The black dress she wore had been in the back of her closet from eighth grade graduation. She was surprised it still fit; Grandma Dorothy told her that was the beauty of growing taller and not rounder at her age.

The sun was setting and Addi was having a hard time sitting still. She just wanted to go outside to the old barn instead of sitting here, but she didn’t want to be rude. She wondered how long this thing would last.

“Hey, sweetie. Come ‘ere.” Addi stood as Ms. Rylynn embraced her, squeezing tightly. Addi’s eyes welled up with tears for the thousandth time. “I brought your favorite chocolate cake from that bakery you love downtown. Why don’t you come have a slice with me? There are extra frosting flowers on top!” Shaking her head, tears escaped down Addi’s cheeks. She felt guilty saying no, especially to Ms. Rylynn who was the best teacher she and her brother ever had. They had known her for so long, it was like she was part of the family.

“I can’t. It’ll ruin chocolate cake for me. For the rest of my life.” Addi sniffled, watching Ms. Rylynn think about this, her own eyes welling up with tears.

“Oh,” she exhaled. “I hadn’t thought about that.” Ms. Rylynn ran the bottom of Addi’s braid between her fingers. “Call me if you need anything?” Addi nodded vigorously, more tears falling. “Alright,” Ms. Rylynn agreed, pulling Addi in for another hug.

“Can you take the chocolate cake with you?” Addi asked, pulling away. Ms. Rylynn laughed at this request, making Addi smile.

“Of course I can!” Wiping her cheeks, she turned to call out over her shoulder. “Grandma Dorothy? I’m gonna take that chocolate cake to my kids on Monday so you better grab yourself a slice!”

“Naw, I don’t need the calories,” Grandma Dorothy responded from the kitchen. Addi and Ms. Rylynn laughed.

“Hey, you call me when you’re ready to have chocolate cake again, alright? It’ll be my treat.” Ms. Rylynn smiled widely, her cheeks flushed from wiping them. The guilty knot that had formed in Addi’s chest melted away.

“Deal.”

“Why don’t you get out of here? Go hide in the barn, they won’t notice for a bit.” Ms. Rylynn winked at her before walking away. Addi smiled and thought about running back to her bedroom to change but decided against it; she didn’t want to get caught on her way out. She slipped out of her black dress flats and put on her navy striped rain boots with daisies and ran out the door. The warm setting sun hitting her face brought such a feeling of comfort, and she took a deep breath. Aside from the noises coming from the farmhouse behind her, it was very quiet. She walked, shuffling her feet a bit to give any nearby snakes a head’s up she was coming.

The barn was her favorite place, the mahogany red color beautiful, rich, and welcoming. It was old and had seen better days, but Addi knew Grandma Dorothy would never tear it down. There was too much history here. Addi’s mother had planted marigolds on each side of the barn before Addi was born, and they bloomed every May all on their own. Opening the barn door, she was greeted by loud barking.

“Hey, guys!” Addi knelt and was overtaken by Jackson and Luca, tackling her backward onto the floor. The yellow Labrador Retrievers jumped on her chest, licked her face, and continued to bark with excitement. “Okay, okay,” she laughed, sitting up. She tried to brush off the yellow dog hair from her black dress, but it refused to budge. “I better find a lint roller before Grandma Dorothy sees this.”

“Hey, Addi.” She looked up to see Lane standing in the doorway of the barn. Jackson and Luca ran toward him, barking incessantly and jumping all over each other. Lane clapped his hands loudly, reaching in his pocket. “SIT!” he yelled. Both dogs sat immediately. “Good boys,” he laughed, giving them each a piece of something. Addi smiled, tilting her head to the side as she watched this interaction. “Now, DOWN!” Lane yelled. Jackson and Luca flopped to the ground. “Yeah!” Lane praised, giving them each another piece. “Now, ROLL OVER!” Addi laughed as the dogs just looked up at Lane, wagging their tails. “Oh, come on now, you know this one, we’ve practiced. Roll… over…” Lane grunted as he tried to show each of them what to do, but neither of them was moving. Lane stood back up. “Fine, but we’re going to work on that one. Now, SIT!” he commanded again. Jackson and Luca sat at attention, receiving another treat. Addi clapped.

“I’m impressed! I didn’t know you taught them any tricks,” Addi pointed out. Lane shrugged, wiping his hands on his jeans. “And what do you give them?”

“Beef jerky. I just try to work with them when I pass by. Rough house a little but also make them mind.” Addi nodded, continuing to pick hair off her dress.

“Addi-”

“Nick and I used to play hide and seek out here,” Addi said softly, cutting him off. Lane nodded, rolling up the sleeves of his button-down plaid shirt. He bent down, picked up a dirty wet tennis ball and threw it. Jackson and Luca barked as they chased after it. “That is, until-”

“You fell and broke your arm,” Lane interrupted, smiling. Addi laughed.

“Yep.”

“I remember,” Lane nodded. “Grandma Dorothy was so mad.”

“I knew I could climb up there, I just slipped is all.” Jackson and Luca returned, panting. Luca dropped the ball at Lane’s feet.

“How old were you? Nine?” Lane asked.

“You were nine, I was eight.”

“And Nick was what, sixteen then?” Lane asked. Addi nodded. “That was such a long time ago…” Lane trailed off. Addi could feel him watching her pick dog hair off her dress.

“Addi-” Her head whipped up at the tone of his voice. Looking over at Lane, Addi begged him not to say anything. Her cheeks burned and her eyes stung as she tried to keep her tears under control. They stood there for a moment, staring at each other. Jackson and Luca came running back into the barn, growling at each other as they fought over the tennis ball. A loud thud made Addi and Lane look over; the two dogs were wrestling on top of the mound of hay in the corner. Lane shrugged. “I’m sorry for your loss.” Addi looked back down at her dress. Everything blurred as her eyes filled with tears.

“Thanks, Laney,” she whispered, trying not to sob. Lane sniffled and Addi looked up at him. He cleared his throat, wiping his face with his hands.

“You know what, I got an idea. Be right back.” Addi watched as he left the barn going out into the evening glow of summer, Jackson and Luca running after him. Addi closed her eyes and took a slow, deep breath. This day was almost over, she could get through it. She took a minute before opening her eyes. Jackson and Luca turned the corner of the barn door and came running toward her.

“SIT!” Addi yelled. Both boys dropped to a sit. “Good boys!” Addi laughed, sniffling.

“Here,” Lane offered, handing her two small pieces of jerky. “You have to reward them for doing what you asked, we’re still training.” Addi took the two pieces and began to offer the treats. “Wait!” Lane hollered. “They kinda don’t know their own strength, you have to remain in control. Here,” he offered, coming to stand behind her and wrapping each of his hands around each of hers. She could feel the hard callouses on his palms touch the top of her knuckles. “You only show a bit of the jerky, so they don’t just bite your hand off. And tell them ‘easy’.”

“Easy,” Addi demanded bending over a bit, stretching out her arms so each dog could take his treat. Their teeth delicately maneuvered the jerky out of her hands. She was impressed with how Lane worked with them, getting them to mind. Addi pulled her arms back and straightened, but Lane didn’t let go. She looked down at his hands, how big and strong they’d become, and how small they made her own hands seem. They’d known each other for as long as Addi could remember. Suddenly, she realized Lane Garrison wasn’t a kid anymore and her heart pounded in her ears.

“ADDISON!” Grandma Dorothy yelled, causing them both to jump. Lane ran his hand through his short, strawberry blond hair. Stepping back, he quickly pulled duct tape out of the back of his jeans.

“Here,” he said, pulling off a strip and separating it from the roll with his teeth. “For the dog hair.” Lane offered it to her and she took it, applying it to her dress in all different directions until she couldn’t see any more yellow hairs.

“Thank you,” Addi smiled, rolling the tape into a ball.

“I can throw that away,” Lane offered, holding out his hand and stepping forward. Jackson and Luca stood between them, their tails wagging. Addi looked at his face, appreciating his light blue eyes and warm smile. He did look a lot older since getting his braces off, maybe that was it.

“AD-DI-SON!” Grandma Dorothy yelled again.

“I better go,” Addi said with an awkward smile, handing Lane the ball of duct tape. “Thank you for working with Jackson and Luca, you’ve done a great job. Nick would’ve appreciated it,” she complimented, backing away toward the barn door.

“My pleasure,” Lane nodded, pocketing the duct tape ball. Turning on her heel, Addi ran toward the farmhouse, a smile taking over her face. Despite the funeral, today had become one of her new favorite days. She ran up the porch steps and flung open the screen door.

“There you are,” Grandma Dorothy pointed. “Leaving in the middle of your brother’s funeral? Where have you been?”

“I’m sorry,” Addi’s heart sank and she looked down. She did not want to upset her grandmother.

“Were you out in the barn again?” Grandma Dorothy asked softly.

“Yes, just hanging out with Lane.” A small smile crept over Addi’s mouth as she thought about their moment. Tucking whisps of hair behind her ear, she looked up at her grandmother.

“Well, I’ll be! Lane Garrison, it’s about time,” Grandma Dorothy shook her head, grinning. Addi felt her face burn as it flushed with embarrassment. “Anyway,” her grandmother continued, turning on her heel to head to the kitchen. “Everyone is gone now. I need you to take out the trash, I can’t do it with my hip.”

“Okay,” Addi said, following her grandmother into the kitchen.

“How about opening that package on the mantle?” Addi stopped and looked over at the fireplace. On top of the mantle was a small unmarked box wrapped in brown paper.

“Not yet,” Addi shook her head. She wasn’t ready to know what was in there.

“Okay, you tell me when,” Grandma Dorothy nodded. “And get your jeans, I’ll wash them for your first day of school Monday.”

“Thanks, Grandma Dorothy,” Addi said warmly, kissing her cheek. “And thank you for all of this,” Addi indicated the funeral service. Her grandmother nodded.

“Of course, honey. My pleasure.”