Strawberry Wine (33 page)

Alli made a half hearted tsking sound. “That girl has some serious issues.”

Suddenly Alli’s mood shifted. She frowned, and the energy seemed to deflate out of her.

“What is it?” He asked in alarm.

“My parents have reconciled.”

“But that’s a good thing!”

“No. They’re moving me back to my old high school...”

“Oh.” Jason’s eyes flashed with understanding. He took a moment to collect his thoughts. “Maybe that’s a good thing too, Alli.”

Alli’s eyes widened in shock, then began to fill with tears.

“Alli, please don’t cry...”

“You don’t want me.” She sobbed. “You’re relieved to be rid of me.”

Jason was gobsmacked. How could such an intelligent girl possibly come to such a ridiculous conclusion? “Alli. Are you crazy? Of course I want you.” Her heartbroken tears were impossible to watch. Jason perched himself on the edge of her bed, and leaned back against her pillows. Careful not to pull out any IV lines, or upset any equipment, he pulled her against his chest and held her. “That’s what your father and I were talking about. I let him know of my intentions.”

Alli raised her head to look up at him. “Your intentions?”

He smiled sweetly at her. “To be with you. On July twelfth of next year you will find me gift wrapped on your door step. That is, if you still want an old man such as myself.”

Alli beamed at him. “So it’s all okay then? My dad understands about us?” The hope and elation in her voice broke Jason’s heart. He threaded his fingers through hers and gently squeezed. “I’m afraid it’s a little more complicated than that, love. Your dad is understandably upset. It’s a pretty safe bet that he’s going to pursue legal action.” Jason was reluctant to go into it with Alli, not wanting to get her worked up.

“Jason, no! He can’t!” Jason shushed her, hugging her tightly against his chest. “Shhh. Alli, listen to me. I need you to look at this from his point of view. You are his baby girl, and he loves you very much. Anything he does will be done out of his sense of duty to protect you.”

“That’s not fair! You didn’t do anything wrong!”

“You’re father doesn’t see it that way.”

“If he really loved me and wanted me to be happy he would leave you alone and let us be together.” Jason could feel hot tears splashing onto his wrist.

“Alli? Sweetheart?” He turned her face toward him so he could wipe at her tears. “Legally, your father doesn’t have much of a case. He’s a smart man. He’ll figure that out. In the meantime, he needs an outlet for his anger. If it’s between the two of us, I will gladly take the brunt of his punishment.”

He leaned down and kissed her ever so softly, then settled her back against his chest. “I don’t want to come between you and your family.”

Alli shifted her weight so she was lying on her side, able to wrap an arm around Jason. She took comfort in listening to the steady beating of his heart. He rubbed slow circles on her back through the opening in her hospital gown.

“It’s nine months, Alli. It will pass before you know it. Go home, focus on graduating. Behave...” Jason swallowed around the lump in his throat. He hated the thought of not seeing Alli for the next nine months. “I’ll be here waiting for you.”

For the second time in as many days, Alli awoke in Jason’s bed. She turned toward his side of the bed and stretched out an arm, searching for his comforting warmth. Her hand landed on an empty pillow, and she opened her eyes in surprise at the crunch of a piece of paper. Alli rubbed her eyes and studied the note. Jason’s familiar handwriting greeted her.

Good morning, Beautiful.

If you wake up before I get back, please don’t leave! There is coffee in the coffee maker if you want it. My God, I don’t even know if you drink coffee. I can’t wait to learn that about you - how you take your coffee. I can’t wait to learn everything about you, Alli. I love you! There is creamer in the fridge, and sugar in the cupboard above the coffee pot. Never mind, I’ll leave it out for you just in case. This is probably all moot anyway because I plan to be back before you wake up - unless you’re an early riser. One more thing I can’t wait to learn!! Did I mention I love you? I love you!

Alli giggled at Jason’s love note. She could hear him moving around in the kitchen. She folded the note and tucked it into her purse, then rummaged through their clothes on the floor, donning Jason’s second tux shirt.

Resisting her urge to go sliding into the kitchen a la Tom Cruise in Risky Business, she settled for leaning against the doorway and watching him for a moment. He was putting a big pot of water on the stove. There was a palate of strawberries on the counter next to a colander and a cutting board. A grin split Alli’s face as a wave of déjá vu overcame her. “What’s all this?” She asked.

Jason turned and scooped her into his arms in one movement. Alli was caught off guard by his black eyes. She cringed and raised a gentle hand to brush softly across his upper cheek. His eye sockets were stained a deep blue, blending to maroon toward the edge of the bruise. His left eye sporting more color than his right. “Does it hurt?” He shook his head and answered her first question.

“This is our do-over.”

Alli cocked a brow and gave him a discerning stare. “Are we making mulligan wine?”

Jason chuckled at her wit. “That’s exactly what we’re making.”

Alli caught sight of a familiar wine bottle on the counter amid the wine making sundries. She gave Jason a peck on the lips and stepped out of his arms and over to the bottle. “Is this what I think it is?” Picking up the bottle, she turned it over in her hands and took in the label. Her own face stared back at her in miniature, her hair depicted as a riot of strawberry leaves interspersed with cheerful white strawberry flowers. “Did you taste one? Was it good?”

Jason nodded. “It was amazing. The best I’d ever made.”

Alli smiled with excitement. “Can we open it?”

Jason shook his head and stepped in front of Alli. He took the bottle by the neck and perused the label a moment. “It went bad.”

Alli’s face fell, but Jason flashed her an encouraging smile. “Fruit wines don’t last long Alli. You have to get the timing just right.”

Alli nodded in understanding. “We don’t have the best track record where timing is concerned, do we?” Jason chuckled. “No. No we don’t. Hence the mulligan wine.”

Alli reached around him and plucked a strawberry from the palate. She bit into it, the sweet flavor bursting on her tongue. “Mmm. Mulligan’s are delicious.” Jason leaned in and kissed her, then said against her lips, “I quite agree.” Then he deepened the kiss.

Fumbling behind Alli he managed to turn the stove off as their kiss was growing more heated. Alli was flushed and practically panting when she pulled away a moment. “Jason?”

“Hmm?” He hummed against her neck.

“I don’t drink coffee.”

He barked his laughter before scooping her up bridal style and carrying her back to the bedroom. Their mulligan wine would have to wait. They had all the time in the world.

Jason sighed with contentment, loving the solid weight of his daughter against his chest. He never could have imagined how magical these quiet moments would be. Resting his hand against her back and feeling the steady rise and fall of her rib cage, Jason couldn’t believe she had only been a part of their lives for one year. It felt like she had always been with them.

Lizzie stirred, then settled back into her father’s warm chest. Jason listened to the muffled sounds of the women getting things ready for the party. It wasn’t going to be a big event; Just the family, a nice dinner, and cake and presents.

Shifting his weight, he dropped a foot to the floor and wriggled a bit, trying to maneuver around an errant spring in Gran’s old sofa. “Note to self,” He murmured. “Next time we nap at Gran’s we go for the armchair.”

As if in response, Lizzie arched her back and let out a thunderous fart, filling her diaper. Yes, parenthood was magical, but far from glamorous.

Gran’s dining room was decorated with pink and yellow streamers. There was a large bouquet of balloons tied to the back of Lizzie’s highchair. The table was draped in a matching table cloth, and in the center sat a beautiful cake that had been lovingly crafted by Grandma Mary. The cake was a round, two layer cake, made to look like a lush green hill. Prancing across the top of the hill were three familiar goats made from gum paste. The attention to detail was supreme - exactly what you would expect from an artist such as Mary.

“Oh, Mary! It’s perfect!” Enthused Alli.

When Mary had volunteered to do Lizzie’s first birthday cake, Alli had excitedly agreed. She had given Mary full creative control, wanting to be surprised. She couldn’t have chosen a more delightful cake.

As everyone filed into the dining room to get a look at the cake and sit down, the sound of tires crunching on the gravel drive alerted them to a late arrival. Margot jumped up to see who it was. She was gone for several minutes, causing everyone to start shuffling and craning their necks in curiosity.

You could hear a pin drop when she finally returned. “Everyone,” She announced. “Dad’s here.”

Bill stepped out from behind Margot. His back was ramrod straight, under his arm he held a cheerily wrapped gift box. Linda beamed and ran to hug her husband. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She said into his neck. Then she took his coat.

Gran was the next to acknowledge him. “Bill, welcome. Come on in and grab a seat. You made it just in time for dinner.”

Bill nodded in response to Gran’s words, but his eyes were focused on Lizzie. Alli had never seen her father cry. She was amazed to see his eyes filling with moisture as he gazed at her daughter. “She’s beautiful.” He managed to get out before his tears spilled over. “She’s so beautiful.”

Linda slipped a napkin into Bill’s hand, and he wiped at his face. Alli stood and pulled Lizzie from her highchair. She walked to within a few steps of her father. Lizzie took in the strange man, seemingly fascinated with his mustache.

“Would you like to hold her?” Alli asked.

“May I?” Bill asked in awe. He thrust his gift into Linda’s waiting hands and slowly stretched out his arms to collect Lizzie. Lizzie leaned into him willingly, eager to get her hands on his mustache and tug. He winced and laughed. Lizzie laughed in response.

“I... I brought her a little something.” Bill gestured toward the package he had brought. Linda handed it to him and he sank to the floor right there in the dining room entryway with Lizzie on his lap. He helped her to unwrap it.

“I was going to get her a stuffed bear, but the lady at the store said she would like this better. She can chew on it to soothe her gums... And it’s easy to clean.”

It was a small rubber giraffe. Lizzie squealed with delight as Bill took it out of the box.

Dinner was punctuated with laughter and cheer. It was as if an unspoken agreement had been reached to not mention Bill’s absence from the majority of family events these past six years. When Lizzie smashed into the top tier of her birthday cake, smearing it all over her face, Bill laughed and encouraged her with the rest of them.

Afterward, while Alli was upstairs giving Lizzie a bath, Bill sought out Jason on the back porch. Jason heard him come out. He straightened from leaning against the porch railing, and turned to face Bill. The two men stood staring silently at each other for several beats. Finally Bill spoke.

“I believe I owe you an apology.”

Jason raised his hand to disagree, but Bill stopped him. “No, no. I’m a firm believer that when a man makes a mistake, he acknowledges it, and tries to make amends. I’m not wrong often,” Bill’s eyes twinkled with humor at his attempt at a joke. “but when I
am
, I’ll admit as much.”

Jason inclined his head, letting Bill continue.

“I was wrong about you. About your character. I see that now, in the way you care for my daughter and grand-daughter. I can see your love for them every time you look at them. Furthermore, it was wrong of me to shun you these past six years.” Bill’s voice broke, but he kept talking, needing to say his peace before he completely broke down. “When I think of all that I missed - My baby girl’s wedding day... the birth of my first grandchild... All out of some misguided sense of foolish pride-” Bill started sobbing openly then.