African Dreams, I scoffed. Actually, that’s what had caused it all. That had been the start of all the bloody chaos. That storm in that tent drinking African Dreams with Max. I decided I hated African Dreams, and would make sure I shot the best commercial possible to feature it, but I would secretly hate it while I lit it and zoomed in on it and tracked out for the stupid thing. I started taking light readings and filming the various shots from different angles. I got swept up in things for a while, but every now and then I looked up and took in the setting sun and the view of the home. I couldn’t help but wonder who lived here. The place had an old-school feel to it; the house was traditional and farm-housey. Nothing in it was modern or minimalist. It felt cozy, even though it was clearly large. I imagined it was owned by a happy couple with kids. Kids who ran around the lawn and played all day without a care in the world. It was that kind of home, a happy home. A home I’d had for a while, until I hadn’t. A home I’d always wanted to have. And for a moment there, all those years ago, I was sure that Max and I were going to build that kind of home together. A home just like this that screamed of nights by the fireplace in winter, and family dinners eaten outside on warm evenings.
“Ash, I wasn’t expecting you back so soon from the dance.”
I swung round at the strange voice speaking my name. “Sorry, what did you say . . . ?” I took in the face. It was lined and creased and the body was frail and thin, but there was no mistaking those eyes, those icy blue eyes. And was that a parrot on her arm?
“Mrs McAdamson!” I said, then looked around frantically for Max.
“Ash, I wasn’t expecting you home so soon after the dance?”
“The dance?”
“Was it lovely? Your dress was so pretty. Red is the perfect color for you.”
“The farewell dance?” I asked, and she nodded.
“Sexy girl, sexy girl,” the parrot shouted, which only added to the utter bizarreness of the moment.
“Well, let me see.” She moved closer to me, on very shaky legs.
“See what?”
“Your ring, silly.” She walked over to my hand and looked down at it.
“Oh dear, has he not asked you to marry him yet? Have I messed it all up? Oh dear, he will be so upset. It was a surprise and now I messed it all up.” She started getting very agitated and I began to panic, and the bloody parrot started telling me I had a nice ass.What the hell was going on?
But then I remembered something that Max had said. I quickly placed my hand on her shoulder.
“He did do it,” I said, and smiled at her. Her agitation disappeared immediately.
“Was it very romantic?”
I nodded. “So romantic.”
“Oh good, good. Where’s the ring?”
I looked at my hand quickly and tried to think. “It’s . . . at the jeweler. It’s just a little bit too big for me, so it’s being resized.”
“Oh, lovely, lovely. You know, he saved up for that ring for a whole year. And I said to him that I thought you two were too young, but when he told me with such conviction that you were the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and he would never meet anyone like you even if he traveled the world ten times, I knew how serious he was. How much he loved you. Besides, you hear stories about high-school sweethearts all the time. So I’m really happy for you two.”
I nodded. I felt tears in my eyes and my throat constricted. “I’m really happy too.”
“Mrs. McAdamson, you escaped again.” A nurse ran up to her and looked at me apologetically.
“I wanted to see Lucy!”
“Sexy Lucy. Sexy Lucy,” the parrot shouted.
“Oh, shush your beak, you naughty boy,” Max’s mom said, and started stroking her parrot’s head with a smile on her face.
“You should have told me you wanted to see her and I would have taken you.” The nurse put her hands on Max’s mom’s shoulders and gently turned her round.
“Nice ass!” the parrot said. God, this was like the twilight zone. Nothing made sense.
“Do you want me to get your wheelchair, or should we try and get some exercise?” asked the nurse.
“I want to walk,” she said.
“Good, I tell you what, let me message Grayson and ask him to bring the wheelchair just in case.”
