Dedicating Every Day to You

Chapter Thirty-Six

It's a rare day that Alex is home from work but John isn't, and yet when I bound downstairs in the morning, Alex is sitting at the table with newspaper, coffee, and an egg and cheese Hot Pocket. I grab some diner leftovers (half of a cold grilled cheese, two bites of scrambled egg with bacon, and what looks like a raw potato) out of the fridge and join him.

"Good morning, honey," Alex says to me, grinning. I go over for a hug, and he kisses the top of my head.

"Morning, Dad." I kiss him on the cheek and then sit across from him. I can read the cartoons in the paper more easily this way. "You're not usually home on Thursday, what's up?"

"What, something has to be 'up' now for me to spend time with you?" He turns a page of his newspaper.

I grab his coffee and take a sip. "No, I just wanted to ask."

He chuckles and takes his cup back from me. "Indeed, this time, something is most definitely up. Can I trust you with a secret?"

I love keeping secrets. They make me feel all special and powerful. "You can trust me with anything. My lips are sealed. Like, I haven't told anyone that Harriet is afraid of singing a solo or that Theo hates Harriet's cat-" I drop my head into my hands. "I've done it now."

Alex pats me on the shoulder reassuringly. "That's alright. I'm not going to tell your friend's secrets. I'm home because, well, today is mine and John's anniversary. I have no idea what to do for him, and I can't let him know I forgot."

I swing my feet, eating my sandwich and thinking. "Take him out to dinner?"

"That's what I do every year. It's our five-year anniversary, though. That's kind of special, and John's very special, so I want to do something for him that he'll never forget." He stares into the dregs of his coffee.

"Buy him a popsicle. Buy him a Ninja Turtle!" I swing my feet faster, knocking them against the chair legs. "Or throw him a party."

Alex thinks for a moment. "You know, I bet he would love a party. But we'd have to pull it together by this evening, and I can only do it with your help. Are you in?"

I think for just a second, then flash a thumbs-up. "I'm in."

************

A few hours later, Alex and I are at the party supply store, standing in the theme aisle. Unfortunately, all of the themes are very...cookie-cutter. Nothing is really screaming 'John!' I step back, thinking. After a moment, I get it.

"What about a pride theme?"

He glances at me, a little confused. "What do you mean, honey?"

I spread my hands in front of me, my vision taking shape. "Like, do white tablecloths and stuff, but put rainbow streamers everywhere. Rainbow flowers, and rainbow food, and little white lights everywhere."

Alex thinks for a second, then nods. "We're going to need a lot of streamers."

I take this as an invitation to start running for things. I grab streamers in an array of colors, strand after strand of tiny white fairy lights, party poppers and balloons and all kinds of party supplies. Alex is more strategic, thinking of what we'll actually need and making a list of expenses.

Our next stop is the bakery where Maria works. While Alex drives and raps along to Macklemore, I use his phone to text all of John's friends.

A.Ham has created the chat.

A.Ham has added PegLeg, Mari-AH, Angel, Lizzie, Herc, French-Fry, Washing-Mom, and Washing-Dad to the chat.

PegLeg- What's up this time, Alex?