Marion Ekholm - An Act of Love

“Let’s play hide-n-seek,” Michelle said and bounded for the bedroom door.

Didn’t Michelle ever tire? Marley wondered. “Wait. Wait till I’m up,” she told her niece. “Go down and see Granny and get breakfast. We’ll play when you come back.”

When Michelle took off, clunking down the stairs to the kitchen, Marley flopped back on the bed. At least she’d have a few minutes of undisturbed sleep...

She awoke to someone screaming in the hallway.

“I could kill you!” Lindy yelled.

When Marley made it to the hall, she found Lindy staring at Michelle, who was sitting crying on the floor in the spare bedroom. The room Lindy had her wedding dress in. A room that was usually locked.

Lindy turned on her in fury. “Aren’t you supposed to be watching her? She just ruined my wedding dress!” A bright red blotch ran down the back of the gown where the plastic covering had been ripped away. An empty pink child’s cup decorated with princesses lay on the floor.

Marley rushed in and picked up the child.

“I tripped,” the little girl said, burying her tear-streaked face in Marley’s neck. “I’m sorry.” Lindy came into the room, and Michelle tensed in Marley’s arms.

“Sorry doesn’t cut it.” Lindy turned to Marley. “Why is she here, anyway?”

“I’m...” What was the reason? “I wanted to see what it would be like taking care of children...now that I’m getting married.”

“Well, my solution is don’t have any!”

CHAPTER FOUR

THE NEXT TWO DAYS didn’t improve as tempers ran hot, especially the bride’s. At least the woman at the cleaners promised to do her best and return the dress by Saturday morning in time for the wedding.

Marley’s babysitting assignment turned into several days of dealing with Michelle while Chloe suffered through bouts of nausea. And her mother, who usually could be found in the kitchen when she wasn’t serving meals to clients in her catering business, had disappeared. Maybe she was dating someone.

Lindy avoided her and Michelle, and everyone else managed to disappear into their own activities. On Wednesday morning, Michelle again woke Marley by pulling her hair.

“We have to get ready.”

Marley opened one eye. “Why?”

“We’re going to Kenny.”

Instantly, Marley felt revived. Kennywood Park. Her sisters and their children had planned a day trip to the park, including Chloe, provided she was up to it. As much as Marley adored her niece and enjoyed the park, she wouldn’t have to go. And that meant she’d be free! After several days of watching the munchkin, she’d have some time to herself, even if it only meant catching up on her sleep.

Marley pawed through the girl’s clothes that she’d washed the night before. “Shorts?” Marley held up the red ones and saw a frown settle immediately on her niece’s face. “Great! I’ll put on my red shorts, and we’ll be twins.” Magically, Michelle’s expression brightened. Marley packed all the girl’s cleaned clothes into her Dora suitcase.

Was it only Wednesday? Four more days, not counting today, to go before she could take off for home. Home. She missed Phoenix and its low humidity. Marley forced a comb through her hair, endless curls that had assumed a life of their own. Her constant companion started to laugh and pointed at the uncontrollable bush on top of her aunt’s head.

“You look funny.” After some tickles, the giddy girl dropped the subject.

The rain had subsided for the present, and the dreaded daytime heat hadn’t started yet. Marley dressed in red shorts, a sleeveless T-shirt and her sandals, grabbed Michelle’s hand and headed for the kitchen staircase. They passed the assortment of gifts stacked in the playroom on the second floor while Michelle pulled her pink suitcase with Dora emblazoned on the side.

Buster, the family’s old mixed-breed dog, bounded over, and Marley leaned down to pet him, roughing his neck and ears the way he liked. Michelle went to her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck. “He’s glad to see me.” After the watchdog wagged his tail and pulled out of the embrace, he rambled toward the stairs that led to the living room, where he usually stayed.

Michelle started after the dog, and Marley had to rush to reach her. “Come with me. We’ll get some breakfast.” She pulled the girl in the opposite direction and headed toward the stairs that led to the kitchen. Having two staircases had provided easy access and escape for her and her sisters but had often proved a bane to their parents and grandparents.

Michelle pulled back. “I don’t want to. I want to go to Kenny.”

“Your mother will take you later.” Marley sighed. This experience with her niece had been a wonderful revelation. Children were tolerable in small doses.

As they passed Lindy’s room, Marley had another idea. Should she risk waking her? Had Lindy finally forgiven her for the stained dress? Hesitantly, Marley knocked on the door. “Lindy, you decent?” They’d had little time to talk since her arrival thanks to the spilled juice.

“Marley? Sure, come in.”

Lindy sat in the middle of the bed, dressed in summer pajamas, rubbing sleep out of her eyes as Marley entered the room. Lavender violets covered the white walls as well as the curtains, bedspread and canopy bed. A menagerie of stuffed animals lay strewn around the purple rug and topped every available surface. Marley pushed several aside to sit on the edge of her sister’s bed, while Michelle warily glanced at her aunt. When Lindy didn’t appear ready to scold her, Michelle dived into a group of bears on the floor and began to play.

Although twenty-one, Lindy still looked like a child hardly old enough to take on married life. Her long blond hair was swept over her shoulder in loose abandon. Marley had always considered Lindy—the baby of the family—a little spoiled. But then hadn’t she contributed, always giving in to any demands made by her sister or the family.

After making a face at Michelle, Lindy leaned across the bed to greet her niece. “Hi, Shelley.”

“My name’s Michelle.”

“Oh.” Lindy straightened, suppressing her amusement. At least she wasn’t scolding any more. She turned to Marley. “You’re sure an early riser, all dressed and everything. Did the past few days make you decide to have kids?”

“This one has been way more active than any of you were.”

“As I recall, you always calmed us down with your guitar. Why didn’t you bring it this time?”

My fake fiancé made me forget it! “Too much luggage.” As the firstborn, Marley had received lessons in guitar and dance, an opportunity that dried up as more and more daughters joined the family. Lindy patted the mattress close to her. Marley moved over and was immediately entrapped in Lindy’s arms.

“Oh, I’m so excited for you,” Lindy said as she squeezed.

“Me? Why me?” Marley asked, returning the hug. She avoided entangling herself in the long blond hair. Memories flooded back of trying to brush out her sister’s snarls and listening to her scream. During their early years, they had been devoted to each other.

“Your engagement, silly.” Lindy pushed away, flipped her hair behind one ear and focused those blue eyes on her. “If only we could have made it a double wedding. When am I going to meet this Brant? He’s coming to my wedding, isn’t he? The best man can’t get leave from the army. I know it’s last-minute, and we’re devastated, but I was hoping maybe Brant could fill in.”

Marley choked on her own saliva and started to cough so hard, Lindy gave her a couple of whacks on the back until she was able to catch her breath again.

Michelle walked over carrying a large gray rabbit and attempted to climb onto the bed between her aunts. Marley quickly picked her up and placed her on her lap, relieved by the distraction. Lindy pulled the little girl away and handed her another stuffed toy before setting her back on the floor. “Your aunt Marley and I want to talk.” She turned to Marley. “So tell all. I want every detail. Can you get him here for the wedding?”