Prologue
I pick up a bin of old clothes from when I was little. Mom must have saved them. I can’t resist. I open up the lid to the clear box. I’m leafing through soft, tiny clothes when my hand brushes against something silky. I pull it out.
Silk on a child? Oh, it’s my pink princess dress from when I was four! I remember this dress...
Flash Back >>> Age 4, Year 1989
“Mommy Mommy!” I’m so excited!
“Yes my darling?” She smiles as peers around the corner and sees my standing in my pink princess gown. I smile right back.
“I’m acting out how my future will go with my Barbies!” I know what I want and I want my mom to approve of it.
“Oh really now, lets see.” Her tone is warm and welcoming. She wipes off her hands - greasy from baking cookies I hope! - and sits on my treasure trunk.
I grab my brown haired Barbie because it looks most like me. I pull out Barbie’s Play House and found Ken.
I dance my Barbie’s around the house, Ken lying to the side. He comes in later.
“I’m going to be a princess! Then I meet a handsome prince. Prince Charming is what they call him. But his name is really Bob,”
I say as my mom laughs at my choice of name
“We fall in love,”
Now I pull Ken into the picture. I make him and ‘My’ Barbie Hold hands and walk down a little aisle made of detached Barbie arms.
“We get married and have children. I’m happy forever!”
I finish excitedly. My mother smiles at me.
“What about your work? What laws will you pass? And what about Daddy and me? And Charlie? Do we get to live with you?” My mother asks, clearly trying to keep me busy until the cookies are done, so I don’t bother her.
“That depends,” I say narrowing my eyes. Mom looks confused.
“Depends on what?”
“How many cookies I get to eat and what kind they are.”
Mom laughs at me, but I don’t mind.
“As many as you want, so long as you don’t get sick. And they’re you’re favorite. Chocolate Chip.”
I smile and bound ahead of her into the kitchen. Never answering her question.
Back To Reality >>> Age 24, Year 2009
Thinking of Charlie makes me sad. Even on this infinitely happy day. Charlie was my younger brother. He died when he was little. Influenza. I don’t remember him very well, but I remember him well enough to know I loved him, and he loved me.
I shook the thought away, today is supposed to be happy. Busy, but happy none-the-less. Leo and I just got married a year ago. Now we are moving into a beautiful house in Minnesota, my home state.
Leo and I met while I was traveling. We had actually gone to pre-school together. Who would of thought? Wonderful, fairytale love. Didn’t even know we made mud pies together!
Leo’s grunt brought me out of my memories.
“Sweetie, will you help me with this box here?” he grunted. It was a big flat box. I ran over to give him a hand. It was surprisingly heavy. Together we managed to drag it into the den.
“How much do canvases weigh?” He growled playfully.
“This is my easel and my paints! Of course it’s heavy!” I laughed. He leaned down to kiss me on the lips. His lips were soft and warm, and familiar. Then I detected a faint trace of something and pulled back.
“Redbull? Really? I’m running on nothing here!”
“Damn” He said under his breath. “Just when I thought I was in the clear!”
“Redbull is not good for you! That’s why it tastes delicious!” We both laughed at my remark.
“Isn’t that always the case?” He grinned. Then we sighed collectively and went to move more boxes.
Boxes filled with memories, blank canvases, clothes, food, china, blankets, pillows and packing dust. I hate the smell of packing dust. And it was everywhere. With every box, and every object that lie within those boxes.
We moved big things and little things. Fragile things and blunt things. It seemed like we should be done, but we still had to unpack.
>>>
By the end of the day I was exhausted and fretting.
“How are we going to throw a house welcoming party if it’s still dirty?” I complained.
“We’ll clean it up. Work our butts off for the next few days. Then we can relax” Leo said with his usual charm and calm. He moved a strand of my brown hair from around my mouth then traced his finger down my neck and along my spine. I shivered. Then I laughed. He laughed too as he leaned down to kiss me again. I knew, right there in that moment, that I could love him forever. Something inside me growled, and we laughed again,
“Hungry, Huh?” He laughed as he pulled away.
“We worked hard today, we deserve some ice cream don’t you think?” I propositioned. His eyes lit up like he was a kid.
“Really?” He asked, eyes full of hope.
“You are such a child!” I laughed. He continued with the doe eyes. “We have some in the fridge you dork!”
‘Woohoo!!!” He screamed and ran to the kitchen. Or, well... our kitchen.
