Atlanta, 1983
The
heat seemed to shimmer in the air, a faint swath of light that only made Riley
more drowsy than she already was. Bees droned in the nearby roses, the cicadas
in the trees providing perfect percussion. Far off in the distance she could hear
the steady hum of the lawnmower, and if she listened really closely, she could
even hear the old bull frog down by the river. Glump, glump. Glump, glump.
She sighed with satisfaction, curling her toes into the soft grass. It was
a perfect spring afternoon.
“And when he saw her looking so lovely in her sleep, he could not turn
away his eyes…”
Riley blinked and focused on her sister’s voice, nature’s symphony
vanishing in favor of tall castle spires and beautiful princesses.
“And presently he stooped and kissed her, and she awaked.”
Caroline looked sort of like a princess. Her skin bronzed from the sun, her
hair glinting silver in the dappled sunlight. She was leaning back against an
oak tree, holding the book in one hand and a glass of lemonade in the other. Riley
let her sister’s words circle around her, weaving their magic spell.
“…the wedding of the Prince and Rosamund was held with all splendor,
and they lived happily together until their lives’ end.”
Riley closed her eyes, letting the sounds of spring surround her again. “Do
you really think there’s such a thing as happily ever after?” she
mused, half to her sister, half to herself.
“Absolutely.” Caroline’s answer was so firm, so certain,
that Riley sat up, blinking her eyes at the bright sunshine.
“For everyone?” Riley chewed the side of her lip. It wasn’t
hard to imagine Caroline with an ever after. Her sister was perfect. Beautiful,
elegant and kind. Full of light and laughter. A storybook princess.
“Yes. I believe that in the end, there’s always a happily ever
after.”
Riley pulled at a clump of clover. “Even for me?” She looked down
at her dirty feet and torn shorts.
“Especially for you, squirt.” Caroline smiled, the warmth there
making Riley believe anything was possible.
“Well that’s a relief. Adelaide says I’ll never amount to
much of anything if I don’t learn to act like a lady. And mother says I’m
hopeless.”
Caroline was quiet a moment, the ice in her glass tinkling as she took a sip.
“Riley, you’re only a little girl.”
“I’m almost eight.” She stated the fact with all the gusto
she could muster. After all, she was a first grader now.
“That’s still a child, squirt.” Caroline’s smile took
away any sting from the remark.
“Well, eighteen isn’t old either,” Riley said with a superior
tone, although she had to admit it sometimes seemed that way.
“It’s old enough to know about love.”
“And happily ever afters?” Riley wrapped her arms around her knees.
Caroline’s smile was wistful and far-away. “Definitely.”
“Caroline has a boyfriend.” Riley chanted, a grin breaking across
her face.
“Well, if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.” Again with the secret
smile.
Riley frowned, her thoughts still centered on prince charmings and happy endings.
Her eyes dropped to her Band-aid covered knees. “I want one, too.”
“Want one what?” Caroline pulled out of her thoughts.
“A beau.” That’s the word Adelaide used for boyfriend --
beau. Riley savored the old-fashioned sound of it.
“Oh, Riley, honey, your time will come.”
Riley met her sister’s solemn gaze. “You swear?”
“I promise.” Caroline reached out and ruffled Riley’s hair.
“Your day will come.”
“And my prince,” Riley prompted.
“Will love you for ever and ever,” Caroline finished.
Riley sighed, satisfied, and lay back in the sweet-smelling grass. “Read
another story, please.”
She heard her sister’s tolerant laughter, and then the rustling of pages.
“It was the middle of winter, and the snowflakes were falling like feathers
from the sky…”
Riley smiled. Life was perfect just as it was. She had her mother and father,
and Caroline and Adelaide. Nothing in the world could be better than that. Maybe
she had all the happily ever after she needed right here at Rivercrest.
Nine hours later, Caroline was dead, and Riley learned there was no such thing
as happily ever after. No such thing at all…
