Accept

Chapter 28- Chris

Everything was untouched in my bedroom as if I lived at home. My mother had left my football memorabilia on the walls; high school pictures and trophies covered the shelves. With Lexie beside me, everything seemed childish. My life was so different now.

Lexie walked to my dresser and paused at a black and white picture from Junior High. It was a photo taken from the local newspaper. I was dressed in a football uniform and my helmet lay on the soggy ground. The boys in the background were celebrating as I held the football to my discouraged face.

"Why do you look so sad?" Lexie asked. "Everyone in the background is happy."

"It's just a bad picture," I said grabbing the picture from her hands and placing it back on the dresser hoping she would move on. It was the one picture I was emotional about and embarrassed to convey my sensitivity towards it.

"Come on, tell me the story," she said grabbing the picture and pulling it closer for inspection.

"It was the championship game in our junior league. We thought we were invincible until we played an intercity team from New York City. We had been undefeated all year, but they devastated us. Once the buzzer finally blew, I wanted to go home and never play football again."

I touched the photograph she was holding, and continued, "I remember walking to the sidelines to find my mom and the football was laying on the ground, so I picked it up. The smell of the wet leather was so strong, I held it to my nose and memories came flooding back; the thrill of the games, the competitive practices, and the passion for football. I knew it wasn't about winning or losing, I just loved playing the game. I knew football would be my life."

"Wow," Lexie said as she looked up at me.

"It's stupid, but I never told anyone how I felt that day, except you," I said resting my chin on her shoulder peering at the picture.

She smiled and looked up at me. "I'm jealous. First of all, because you encountered a life-changing event paving the path for your future. I'm still not sure what I should be doing. Second, look at the perfect curls in her hair, you look like an angel," she laughed.

I took the picture from her hand, setting it back and turning her towards me. As soon as she mentioned the word angel, I remembered the psychic from last summer and how true her premonition had been.

"We both know, I am no angel. But, enough of that. I can't wait to see pictures of you as a kid."

"I was always dirty and had long stringy hair. Nothing like you," she laughed.

"Somehow, I can see you playing in the dirt. You would have made a good football player." I jokingly said, kissing her mouth. "Come on, enough of this room," I said guiding her downstairs.

My mom was cooking one of her famous pasta dinners and it was nice to see Lexie working with her in the kitchen. I knew my mom was snobbish at times, especially when threatened by other women, but she appeared to enjoy Lexie's company.

"So Lexie, did you get to see a lot of things in New York?"

"We barely got into go to the observation deck at the Empire State building before it closed. For some reason, Chris was a little hungover and didn't want to get out of bed." Lexie smiled winking at me.

That was partially the reason, but it wasn't due to a hangover. We had taken advantage of the large bathtub which turned into another incredible afternoon of sex.

"Chris, that's terrible. You should have sucked it up and went anyway."

"Mom, we did get to it and saw many of Lexie's other items on the list. We went to Times Square at night, ate in Little Italy, and shopped at the store where I used to drink root beer..."

"Wait," my mom interrupted. "Did you see that clerk that reminded you of Cinderella's fairy godmother?"

She turned to Lexie and laughed. "Chris swore she was the fairy godmother from Cinderella and wanted to go with me every time I went shopping. He said it was magical. For a while, I was sure he was going to be transgender. Not that I would mind, I just wasn't sure why he liked shopping for dresses."

I felt my face redden and wasn't sure why I was embarrassed by the remark, but it was true.

"Really," Lexie replied. "He does have a feminine side to him with his colognes and all the shoes he owns," she smiled at me.

I grabbed her hand under the table and squeezed it. My parents were intently listening to Lexie with enjoyment and it was new to me. A lump formed in my throat, and I fought back the overwhelming urge to cry. I loved Lexie more than I thought possible and couldn't express the magnitude of my feelings.

"Chris, are you ok?" Lexie asked touching my shoulder. "I asked if you still liked dress shopping."

My parents were looking at me waiting for a response. "Yes, it was fun shopping with you."

Lexie smiled and squeezed my hand as she rose to help my mom clear the table. I smiled overhearing their laughter with the clank of dishes as my dad and I stepped into the den for a nightcap. I had never known dinner to be so pleasant and warm.

As I sunk into the brown leather chair, sipping a glass of scotch I noticed a smile on my dad's face. He was usually in his office doing work as soon as we finished dinner and this was a side unknown to me.  An angel had entered my life and brought light into a dreary situation.

The last few nights had made me sleep deprived and I could feel the repercussions. I was certain it was causing the emotional roller coaster I felt as my eyes began to swell.

I yawned trying to hide my tears as Lexie slipped into the chair beside me, slipping her hand under my shirt. 

"It looks like you are ready for bed," she said laying her head on my shoulder.

I smiled, "I think I am. But before I forget, I need to dig out my magician box."

My mom looked shocked as she sat down beside my dad. "I think I threw that our years ago."

I rose from my chair, "You couldn't have thrown it away!"

"I think I saw it in the attic," Chris's dad answered. "Why would you want that?"

I hurried to the attic, digging through the Christmas decorations until I spotted the black metal box. I smiled thinking of the pleasure this box was to bring me.

"I found it," I exclaimed carrying it down the stairs, sitting it in front of the door. "It's all ready to go to Minnesota." I smiled sharing the secret with Lexie.

"You will spend more on the baggage fee than it's worth. Why would you bring it back with you?"

"We have a costume party in a few weeks and I thought I can have Lexie be my assistant," I said.

"Poor Lexie. I remember you practicing your tricks on me when you first got it," my mother said. "I hope you've gotten better Chris. You don't want to scare the poor girl away."

"Believe me mom; I have learned a lot since then. My magician tricks won't be the same."