The Lavender Butterfly

Chapter 51

As the sun began to set over the picturesque village of Winnetka, Illinois, our backyard was illuminated with the faint glow of the setting sun. As it always had been, our annual Fourth of July get-together was a rousing success and a wonderful time shared with our many guests. This year’s get-together was by far the most memorable for me. All of my best friends and family somehow converged at one location, for one special day. I couldn’t explain how it happened, but it was one of the happiest days of my life. The crowds had thinned out as many of our neighbors and friends had either gone home or left to see fireworks elsewhere. Meredith, Stella, Colleen, and Molly were on the back porch sharing a bottle of Riesling, Chloe and Amaya were going back and forth playing bean bags and badminton, laughing together as they played, and Lauren, Allie, Evan and I sat around the bonfire reflecting on the events of past few weeks. For one moment, it felt that all was right with the world, at least my world. I leaned back into my chair and gazed at the evening sky with a warm, satisfied smile on my face. Allie rubbed her hand on my shoulder. “Hey sweetie, you’ve been awfully quiet,” she said to me. I looked back at her and smiled. “I’m just so glad we’re all here together. It’s like a dream come true,” I replied. “Yeah,” Allie replied. “Your mom’s pretty cool for getting us tickets to come join you tonight,” she continued. “Yeah, she is pretty cool, isn’t she?” I smiled as I looked over to the porch and gazed at Meredith. She spotted me looking at her and exchanged a smile with me. “So, how did this whole spontaneous trip work out? It seemed pretty last second. I mean, we just talked on the phone last night,” I said to Allie. “Yeah, it’s pretty weird, isn’t it? Anyway, your mom had already planned this whole thing out with Molly before you even left. Molly told us all to pack our bags after you and Meredith left. Honestly, when I called you last night, I was in the airport bathroom. It was the only place that was quiet. I felt that it would spoil the surprise if you could hear the airport noise in the background,” she said. “Well, you sure fooled me,” I said. “I just assumed you were back at home. I will say this has been one of the most wonderful surprises I have ever gotten,” I continued. Just then, Meredith and Stella walked up next to the firepit. “Hey, it’s starting to get dark, we’re going to walk over to the beach and watch the fireworks over the lake, do you want to come join us?” Stella said to us. “Let’s go!” Evan said enthusiastically, encouraging us to come with him. I poured a bucket of water on the fire as we got up and walked a couple of blocks east toward the beach overlooking Lake Michigan. As we walked, Lauren walked up next to me. “This neighborhood…. it’s really nice,” she said to me. “You’re pretty lucky, Olivia. You’ve got a really nice mom, a really nice house, in a really nice neighborhood. But, after everything you’ve gone through, I think you’ve pretty much earned it,” she continued. “Yeah, how are you, are you going to be okay?” I asked. Lauren nodded in reply. “Yeah, I’m going to age out of the program later this year. Now that I’ve graduated, it’s off to college next month. I’m going to continue to wait tables to help pay for room and board and tuition, but I’m excited to see what the future holds for me,” she said. “You should be proud of yourself for making it this far, I mean, especially without having parents to raise you,” I said. “Yeah, my parents wouldn’t be doing me any good if they were still around. It’s always been Molly. I owe so much to her,” she said. “Yeah, I think we all do,” I replied. We arrived at the beach to see crowds already seated on the beach in rows of lawn chairs. Amaya and Chloe were already running back and forth on the beach, waving sparklers in the air. “Hey, Olivia, there’s a nice spot over here that we can sit,” Evan said to me as he motioned toward a secluded grassy berm overlooking the beach. “Mmmhmm,” I said as I smiled as him. I grabbed a hold of his hand, as we walked hand in hand to the spot. We laid down next to each other on the grass, each staring up at the sky anticipating the first fireworks to be shot off. “This has been really fun today, I really enjoy spending time with you and your friends,” Evan said to me. I laughed out of pure giddiness. “Today’s been like a weird fever dream for me. I mean I’m back here with you, I’ve been around all of my favorite people, I’ve just had a plain fun day. I wish it could never end,” I said. “Me too,” Evan replied, as he wrapped his arm around me. I leaned in and laid my head on his chest. “I’ve spent a lot of time daydreaming about that night that we danced together,” he said. “When we went down to Florida, I didn’t plan on meeting a girl so beautiful as you. I didn’t plan on falling in love or anything, but you are the girl I’ve always dreamed about. I mean, that night was……wow,” he continued, at a loss for words. I laughed in reply. “No, I know what you mean,” I said. “That night between us was magical,” I continued. “Hey, Olivia, thank you for everything. That trip was really tough for me. I lost a really good friend in Chris, but I also met my true love that night,” he said to me. I started to blush. “I’m so glad we met,” I said to Evan. “Now that we’re here together, I’d like to spend more time together. I want to get to know the real Evan,” I continued. He shrugged his shoulder slyly. “The real Evan? You’re looking at him!” he said, laughing. “No, in all seriousness, you’re really special to me, Olivia. I’m glad you’re my girlfriend,” he said, as he leaned in and kissed me tenderly on the lips. As his lips touched mine, I closed my eyes and heard a loud boom behind me. The firework show had just begun over the lake. “I’m so glad to have you as my boyfriend, Evan,” I said as I nestled my head in his chest. We held hands as he wrapped his arms around me as we watched the firework show. I felt just as enchanted that night as the night that we danced back in Florida. I knew that not every night we spent together would be that magical, but I was truly head over heels in love with Evan, and he let it be known that he felt the same way. At that moment, we simply laid down in the grass, locked in an embrace as we watched the firework display. After the grand finale, when everyone started to pile out, Evan and I continued to lay in each other’s arms, neither one of us wanting to leave. “Hey, Olivia,” Evan said to me. “Hmm?” I replied. “Do you think that things might be moving too fast between us?” he asked. I thought about it for a moment. “Honestly, yes. I do think things are moving pretty fast,” I said. Even looked a little dismayed. “But…” I continued, “I love you, and I want to be with you. It’s just that…..we’re still young. And for now, let’s just embrace young love. It feels…..nice….” I said, as we both smiled at each other. “You’re right, Olivia. I…..really love where we’re at. And….I’m really excited to see where it goes from here,” he said to me. “Me too,” I said as I grinned ear to ear. “And besides, it’s not like we’re going to go off and get married today,” I continued. “Wait, we might get married…..someday…right?” Evan asked nervously. “Maybe…” I said with a wink, as we went back to join the group hand in hand. Allie turned back toward us adoringly. “Aww, look at those two lovebirds,” she said out loud. Evan and I looked at each other, both of us blushing. “Hey Olivia, we’re going to be in town all weekend. We should make the most of it!” Allie said excitedly. “Don’t worry, I’ve got a bunch of plans!” Evan said confidently. As we walked back to the house, we all went our separate ways. “Hey, Olivia…..I’ll see you tomorrow,” he softly said to me as he kissed me tenderly on the lips. “I’ll miss you,” I said softly. I felt a great sadness come over me as he left with Stella and Chloe. I missed him already. “Hey, Olivia,” Meredith said from behind me as she watched me longingly gaze at Evan, Chloe, and Stella disappear in the distance. She hugged me from behind as we walked back into the house. “Hey Mom, were you…. watching the entire time?” I asked, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Not the entire time,” she replied. “But…..the two of you look really cute together. And…….” She trailed off. “And what, Mom?” Her eyes began to water. “It warms my heart to see you so happy,” she said. I embraced her tightly. “Let’s head off to bed,” Meredith said with a yawn. After we both brushed our teeth and gotten into our pajamas, we both got into bed. “Mom, thank you…. for everything,” I said as snuggled up to her. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I was today,” I continued. Meredith said nothing, she just smiled. There was a long pause before Meredith began to speak. “This has been like a weird fever dream. I still don’t know how we ended up here, or we got from here for that matter. I lost my husband, and I gained a beautiful daughter, and somehow, I love you even more,” she continued groggily. I wiped the tears from my eyes. “This has been really strange, that’s for sure,” I said light-heartedly. “I know that I didn’t have any control over the situation, or what happened to me, but looking back on it now, I wouldn’t change a thing. This is just who I am now. I was meant to be Olivia. And…..here I am….” I said. Meredith sniffled, wiping another tear from her eye. “And here you are,” she replied. I gave her a great big hug. “I love you Mom,” I said. “I love you too, Olivia,” she said as she trailed off to sleep. I sat there in silence for several minutes. I was very tired, but everything that happened throughout the day, all the joy and excitement I had experienced that day was running through my head. Meredith’s words rang out in my head. “How did I get here?” I thought to myself. None of it really made any sense to me. One day I’m Chris, a thirty-something man, and a loving husband. The next day somehow, I’m Olivia, a thirteen-year-old girl with her entire life in front of her. Every moment of my life from the day I was born seemed to culminate to this moment. This is where my new life begins, and I couldn’t be any more overjoyed. While laying wide awake and lost in thought I looked over at Meredith, who was now sound asleep. I stared at her and let out a sigh. “Just look at her……isn’t she lovely?” I thought to myself. Everything that has happened, she has been right there by my side. She didn’t have to stand by me, but she always did. We had gone through so much together and our love was just as strong as it had ever been. She was always my Meredith, the same strong woman I had always known. And now, I couldn’t be any happier to call her my mother.