AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The car door is heavier than normal, or maybe my arms are just weak at the sight of them. I know my legs are, because when I go to stand, I falter a little, dropping back into the leather seat. On the second go, I find a set of hands on me, holdin’ real gentle, pluckin’ me up.
“Sweet Clementine,” Rhett coos, and oh my, what a sight for sore eyes. He was surely handsome a year ago, but something about him now just eats me up. His hair is freshly trimmed and neatly styled, and he’s wearing jeans with boots, and a new, pressed flannel. “We’ve missed you, sweet thing.”
Holden and Banks appear, and my oh my do they look even better too. It’s hard to imagine men as beautiful as they are getting better looking, but somehow they’ve done it. Banks’ blonde hair is cut all neat and gentleman-like the same way as Rhett’s, and I notice then that Holden’s got the same style.
“You three look very handsome,” I say, my mouth sticking together like I just ate a spoonful of homemade peanut butter. “And I’ve missed you all so much.”
Holden grabs the back of his neck while Banks fiddles with the buckle of his belt.
“We didn’t look like this a week ago but when May told us we could come help you out, we got haircuts,” Rhett discloses.
“Stopped drinkin’ and got our shit together to come take care of you, the way we should have last year,” Banks says, his voice heavy with guilt, but soft with grief. I get that. Because I feel guilty when I enjoy a nice dinner, guilty when I swing on the porch and enjoy the cicadas singing, guilty everytime my eyes open and I remember it all. And that grief comes next, because Daddy will never have another nice dinner, or listen to them cicadas take evening to night.
“You look so beautiful Clem. So grown up,” Holden adds, giving me a chest thumpin’ smile.
“I guess turning 18 looks good on me,” I reply, not realizing I’ve been twining my chestnut and ruby hair around my finger. “And graduating high school.”
“We’re so proud of you, finishing school despite the hand you've been dealt,” Miss May adds, smiling proudly the same way a mama would.
I twist my lips. “Daddy would’ve wanted me to finish.”
She holds my shoulders, and I feel six sets of handsome eyes on me. “And he’d want you to live. Be happy. Find your passion, find a husband, be a mama, and love your life.” She nods until I nod along with her, but I only do it so she leaves here feeling safe. Because the truth is, I don’t have any idea how to move forward.
“I gotta go now, darlin’,” she says right before she pulls me into the world’s tightest hug. “I love you, and so do they. I’ll call you when I land, and I’ll call you every day.”
She kisses my cheek, and I kiss hers, and a moment later, Miss May is nothing more than dust and tail lights.
Rhett outstretches a hand, but so does Holden. I take them both, and Banks leads the way up the porch, shooting me a million dollar smile as he pulls open the screen door.
“We’re here for you now Clem, any way you need us,” he says, his voice much deeper than I remember. Parts of me stir when he says that, parts of me that I only give into when I’m alone in my room with the door locked and lights off.
“Any way you need us, because that’s what your Daddy would’ve wanted,” Banks says.
I bet Daddy is up in heaven smiling down on all four of us, glad his best friends are here, taking care of his little girl.
For some silly reason, my lips keep silently saying those words.
Any way you need us.
ChapterThree
Two darn weeks have gone by, and I can’t even believe it. That first year without Daddy felt like ten years, and now, weeks feel like mere minutes.
Uncle Rhett, Uncle Holden and Uncle Banks have been nothing but a delight to have around. The first night they were here, we sat around the long dining room table having a nice talk.
They told me that Miss May kept them well informed on what I’d been up to, and even sent them the video of my graduation. I asked them what they’d been up to for the last year, but not before telling them that I understood why they couldn’t come see me. I didn’t hold it against a single one of them, because I knew how much they loved my Daddy.
Then… we talked about him.
I hadn’t done too much of that with Miss May. She was workin’ real hard on makin’ me less sad, and gettin’ me through high school. I think she pretty much knew that when I went to visit him, I was talking about and to him enough anyhow.
Did feel good to talk about him though, especially with my Uncles.
I hadn’t said his name aloud since I heard it announced over the loudspeaker in the stadium that day. I’ll never forget that moment because it was the first time they talked about him in past tense.
Perry Praise was one of the greats, that’s what that man on the loud speaker said.
I remember when the media named him Perry Praise. They said Perry Clark is so kind to all the racers, whether they’re winners or losers. He’s the first one to tell you how good you did on the track. And after so many photos of him smiling, shaking hands and laughing with competitors,Perry Praisewas born.
