When We Were Wildflowers

Chapter 27 - Bucket List

Mom and Dad accepted an offer on our home at the end of September, four days after the open house. Apparently, the place has so many upgrades that it's a steal compared to the cost of building a new home in the neighborhood with the standard finishes—or, at least, that's what Mrs. Overton said when she dropped off the paperwork this evening. It's hard to be angry with her for being good at her job, although I wish she was inept enough to keep us here through the holidays. Unfortunately, we won't even make it to Halloween before we have to move to Chicago, if everything goes to plan.

The somber sight of Mom and Dad sitting together stone-faced at the dining room table across from Alicia's mom signing the documents that seal our fate sends me running into Teddy's room to bawl into is favorite hoodie. When I finally pull away, two black mascara stains dot his shoulder.

"Sorry about that." I wipe the gunk away with my thumb, but it the lash lines only smudge into an inky blob.

Teddy shrugs it off and tosses the hoodie into his laundry hamper. "It'll come out in the wash... I hope."

"I know Dad wants to take us out for dinner and ice cream tonight to smooth things over but, honestly, I don't want to be around him. I hate his guts."

With a nod, Teddy passes me a Playstation controller and settles next to me on his double bed as we play Fortnite. He's unusually still and quiet, failing to celebrate each of his spectacular kills, and when we finish in third place I realize his eyes are brimming with tears.

"Oh my gosh, Teddy, are you okay?"

"I'll be fine." He wipes his face with his t-shirt and offers a sad half-smile. "Dad's taking us out tonight and it's a fresh start. Let's try to make the best of it. We won't be seeing him as much anymore."

When Teddy's gaze falls to his chewed fingernails, a brutal realization punches me in the gut. While I'm mourning the loss of my friends, our home, and my family's picture perfect existence, Teddy is also grieving the loss of his best friend: Dad. The early morning jogs, late night video game battles, recent driving lessons, and all the other golden memories of his childhood are fading from technicolor to washed out shades of gray. Dad is no longer the hero of Teddy's youth and I imagine disappointment has left a painful, purple bruise on his heart that may never fully heal.

"You don't have be strong for me, okay?" I pat his hand to show him I mean it. Although I'm only thirteen, getting my period makes me a woman, and I need to start acting more grown up. "You know, I'm not a kid anymore."

He chuckles and nudges me in the arm. "You kind of are. I mean, you're barely a teenager. You've still got so many milestones ahead, like high school, driving, your first job, dating, prom—"

"I get it." I interrupt, grumpy Teddy has not only burst my bubble but reminded me of all the teenage things I will do somewhere else. "I guess I'll have those experiences in Chicago. Without Poppy."

"Well, maybe not all of them. I can take you guys driving sometime." The corners of Teddy's mouth rise in slippery grin at this suggestion, which will likely break a dozen rules, but satisfies my wild itch to experience as much of life as I can with Poppy before we go.

Then I am struck with a bolt of lightning—the white hot, electric shimmer of a brilliant idea. "Teddy, you're right! Poppy and I can drive AND do all of those things you said before we move. You know, cross them off our bucket list in the next few weeks!"

"Hold on... what?" Teddy's head tilts in surprise.

I spring to my feet and pace his room. "I'm sure Poppy and I can get a job together, even if it's just for a day, and maybe we can go with you and your new friends to the homecoming dance. Well, it's not prom but it's happening in two weeks, right? And Spence, maybe—"