The Space Between Us | L.S

Memorial

"Cheeky girls," he said before sitting down next to me, snaking his arm around my waist and pulling me closer to him. "Heads up the whole family is about to come out....now." Like clock-work the flock of his family streamed out of the small door, and out into the patio. The once quiet nighttime feel was not robust and lively.

"You ladies ready to dance?" He asked, jumping to his feet. He grabbed my hands and led to my wobbly feet and looked down at his sister.

"Fuck that," Lucy said but was still hoisted up by her overjoyed brother.

Sam was the DJ and played all the best 70's and 80's hits, which Louis clued in was his mum's favorite era of music. From Culture Club to Wham to the Beatles, his family danced, chat and laughed in the small backyard. I sat down after giving my all to 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go', and watched with a swelled heart at Louis dancing with his grandmother to 'Here Comes the Sun', he spoke to her while dancing through a toothy smile, their hands interlaced as they performed a ballroom dance/swaying back and forth hybrid. Sam and Lucy were hugging each other and moving their bodies back and forth against the soft melody of George Harrison's voice.

As the song came to an end, I took a large gulp of my red wine and met Louis' eyes. 'More than a Woman' by The Bee Gees played over the boombox and he ushered me up with a soft twist of his neck.

"Hi, my pretty girl," he said as I neared him. His hands folding into mine, and be began leading up in motion alongside the song.

"Hi yourself," I hummed staring up at him.

"Here in your arms I found my paradise. My only chance for happiness." the speakers boomed slightly at the force in which the music was playing. But it all seemed distant as Louis' eyes bore into mine. Maybe it was the wine talking but I feel like I could be in this moment forever.

"Oh for fuck sakes!" Bonnie cried, breaking my thoughts and our prolonged eye contact. Our heads wiped over to Gerry, Bonnie and a few other of Louis' relatives huddled over something.

Out of curiosity we made our way to the group. Gerry was hunched over a lantern, huffing as he attempted to spark the small tea candle inside. "Bloody hell," he said followed by other profanities.

"What's going on?" Louis asked looking at Bonnie.

"Oh, this light won't fly," she said in frustration pointing to the lanterns. "We were giving on a test run before we let everyone take one but it won't fly."

"When did we decide to do this?" Louis questioned, and I was clued in this was a new tradition Gerry or Bonnie was attempting to propose. Bonnie began explaining that she had seen it at one of her mate's husbands funeral and wanted to try it. I tuned my ears off as I watched Gerry light the candle again and watch in despair as it lifted up a bit before dropping back to the grass.

It was too heavy, I thought. The gears of my brain began to turn as I began to work out how to fix their problem. Did I say something? Gerry had been nothing but disregarded me the entire time and put Louis in an uncomfortable position. However, this was a time for him to grieve and not time for me to act like a child.

"This is stupid," Gerry said, rising from his knees to his feet, "I just thought your mother would have liked it." He brushed his hands off his pants and looked down with sadness.

"I can fix it," I said abruptly, "I mean, I know how we can make them fly?"

"You do?" He said, his eyes widening a bit.

"You do?" Bonnie said with delight in her eyes.

"Yes, can I?" I said and Gerry moved out of my eyes swiftly to allow me to drop to my knees in front of the lantern. I studied the makeshift contraption that was holding the candle, I ripped it out, and my fingers glided over the string. Thank god I stepped in, otherwise if this thing didn't get off the ground, it was a fire hazard. "Do you all have wire?"

"Yes, in my shed." Gerry quipped, and he looked ready at any second to run and get it.

"Okay, I am going to need more wire, paper towel, and tape." Everyone started to rush around, grabbing supplies as I guided Louis, Bonnie and Sam in deconstructing the twenty or so lanterns.

Everyone huddled around me as I secured the wire upwards in the inside of the lantern, taping the silver metal against the thin paper. I ignored the creeping insecurity of being the center of attention as I wrapped the excess wire around the damp folder paper towel. Locking it into place with a piece of tape, I grabbed the lighter and prayed this would all work like my mind insisted it would.

I watched as the flame swarmed over the paper towel, sizzling a bit against the contrasting wetness. I let go of my supporting hand, and the medium-size light lit up and guided slowly upwards.

The small crowd cheered in celebration and I caught the lantern before it could get too far up. Standing up, I held it awkwardly as family members began patting my back and applauding my creativity.

"Just simple physics," I shrugged modestly.

I stilled as Gerry walked up to me as his teeth sunk into his lips. "Wendy," he said almost awkwardly, "Thank you for doing that."

I shrugged and mumbled a "no worries", while Louis hand ghosted over my heated neck.

"I mean it, thank you for fixing this and thank you for being here." A small smile broke across my lips as I repeated my answer with a bit more confidence.

"No worries."

The family soon after got to work, picking up a lantern of their own as I guided them through the steps I just took. Gerry then led the family and me through the back fence, and through the neighborhood until we reached a small opening of a field. It looked like it would soon become a construction zone and within the year be full of identical homes to Louis' family. But tonight it was a place for his family to join together, and remember Louis' mom.

Louis and I shared a lantern, and we mimicked others as we wrapped our arms around one another and joined in close. As the lighter passed around the group, silence overtook the outdoor space. Almost as if a telephathic message spread throughout the family, they all let go of their lanterns at once. I held Louis tighter as we all looked up watching the lanterns become smaller and smaller as they joined in with the illuminated stars.

I didn't know Louis' mother, but I am so glad to celebrate the life of her with Louis and his family. This was the perfect night.

"You know this is really shitty for the environment but I'll let it pass," Lucy said, breaking the silence as her family burst into chimes of disbelief at her ability to break the moment. "I'm just saying!" she gasped, and I let out a small laugh, alongside everyone else.