folklore; conrad fisher

40: a star

That following day, I was still in the midst of healing my sprained ankle. Belly helped me down the stairs that morning, sitting beside me with a notepad on her lap.

"Since you're injured, we can postpone shopping until next week," She said, tapping her pen on her chin, "I think I'm going to ask Conrad to start doing some housework, so that the place looks perfect for the wedding. Have you noticed the shingles on the roof are looking a little dry and rotted? We've also got to mow the lawn for sure... And the guest bathroom sink cannot be clogged..."

She wrote these things down quickly and frantically, clearly overwhelmed with her thoughts. I grabbed my laptop from the coffee table and placed it in between us.

"Or, instead of freaking out, why don't we start Pinterest board-ing your wedding?"

Belly seemed happy to do that. She tossed her notepad beside her and leaned in to see the computer. We created a board titled, "JELLY'S BIG DAY!"

"These floral centerpieces are really beautiful," She said, pointing to a photo of a bouquet made with peonies and mixed foliage.

She saved it onto the board, and the whole thing kept the two of us occupied for almost an hour. I noticed she was getting tired of it by the end, and instead her eyes kept flickering back down to her ring.

She outstretched her hand, eyes glued to the tiny diamond in the center.

"It is pretty small." She sighed.

"He'll get you a new one." I said.

"I mean, I really don't mind it. It's simple, it's me. I just..."

Her voice trailed off, and I was starting to question whether or not her mind was actually on the ring.

"Everyone tells me it's a small ring, and that the wedding is stupid, and that I'm too young to be making a decision like this," She said, finally breaking, "And I've always disagreed with them, but they're right: the ring is small. It makes me wonder if they're right about everything else."

She turned to me, hopelessly, "If my mom isn't going to be there, maybe this isn't right."

I grabbed Belly by the shoulders, "Belly, is being with Jeremiah what you truly want?"

She thought for a second, glancing back at the Pinterest board, and then at her ring.

Finally, she said, "Of course."

"Then Laurel will see that, I promise. She'll come around."

Belly hesitantly smiled at me, trying to get herself to believe what I was saying. Our conversation, however, was interrupted as Conrad came inside from the backyard entrance. His hair was damp and he was wearing his wetsuit, surfboard in hand.

He rested the board against the wall. Belly turned and waved at him, I gave him a small nod.

"Is the wedding planning going okay?"

Belly grabbed the laptop, "Absolutely. We've just made a board of all of our ideas for the wedding. That reminds me, do you think you could fix up a few things around the house for us?"

"'Course, whatever you need." He said, walking towards us.

"Perfect!" Belly exclaimed, "I've made a list right here."

She handed him the notepad, and he took it. Some of the pen ink blotted when he touched it with his fingers, still wet from the sea. He read it over, seemingly taking mental notes of Belly's requests, and then set it right back down.