cottage out of a fairy tale. I wanted it!
“Stop, Stanley! Stop the car!”
Stanley slammed on the brakes, sending me into the dashboard. “What? What is it?” He responded a bit frantically. But I was already out of the car running through the tall grass. It was beautiful. Moss grew on the chipped wood shingles. Painted glass windows adorned the second floor and the porch, wrapping entirely around the house itself. The front door lay on the porch. The hinges had long since succumbed to the rotted wood. I ran up the steps and proceeded to enter the house when the wood gave way under my left foot breaking through and breaking my ankle. I screamed in pain.
“Juliet!”
I could hear Stanley approaching. I tried to free my leg from the hole in the porch before he could see what had happened. I didn’t know which was worse, the pain in my ankle or the anticipation of the coming lecture that I was sure to receive once Stanley arrived. It was of no use. I was trapped. My foot was wedged in between the broken pieces of wood. So there I waited helpless for Stanley.
“Oh my god, Juliet, are you okay?”
“I think so. Just a little stuck.”
Stanley scaled the stairs up to the porch and began to assess my situation. He knelt and kissed my sweaty forehead then looked into my eyes, somewhat amused.
“So what are you doing?”
“Oh, just hanging out.”
The pain in my ankle was now fully awake. I did not mention this to Stanley. I didn’t want to alarm him. He bent down next to me, pulling boards apart and breaking pieces away to free my foot from its wooden prison. I had a large gash to my shin that Stan said would need stitches. My ankle had begun to swell, turning a shade of dark purple and blue. Stan removed his shirt and wrapped it around my shin to stop the bleeding.
“Pretty sure you broke that ankle, Juliet.”
“I think you may be right, Doctor.”
“I am going to pick you up now.”
“I think I will just stay here.”
“Well, I am almost positive that there are some nasty little creatures living under this porch that may consider your dangling foot a tasty treat.”
This had not crossed my mind before. I was too preoccupied with trying to get free from this hole to think about what may be in it. But now I realized that Stanley presented a very good point. God only knows what was living under that porch! Now I was more than motivated to get up and get my leg out of that hole.
“Stanley! I am going to need you to get me free from here, right now!”
Stanley looked at me endearingly and laughed. He carefully maneuvered my foot to freedom, leaving my red Converse tennis shoe under the porch. Stanley was so gentle, so careful with me. I watched as the concern deepened in his face as his hands secured my swollen ankle. His touch was so light, so thoughtful. I could feel my heart melt in my chest with all the love I had for this man.
He picked me up and carried me all the way back to the car. I nestled my face into his neck and took in the smell of him. The light fragrance of his sweat mixed with his cologne, a hint of beer, and the smoke from his last cigarette—it was delicious.
Stanley placed me in the car, secured my seat belt and ensured my comfort. Then he shut the door and ran around to the driver’s side.
“So, my dear sweet Juliet, what were you doing back there?”
“Stanley Epstein, that was our new home!”
“Now Juliet, we just started looking, there is no rush. There are plenty of houses to see.”
“I don’t need to see any more houses, Stanley. That house is the one. The only house for us as far as I am concerned.”
“My dear sweet Juliet, did you bump your head on that porch too?”
“Ha-ha, Stan! Nope, I am perfectly head-injury free. And I am telling you that that is the house you and I are going to grow old together in.”
“Okay, but for now let’s get you to a hospital.”
* * * * *
I was four years old the first time I met Liam O’Brien. Dressed in a pink sun dress with little white flowers and shiny black shoes, I stood next to my mother as a tall man, with hair like mine, approached us. He reached out, placing his hands on my mother’s shoulders. Then he kissed her forehead. My mother stood there free from expression. The man seemed annoyed but did not say anything. He stooped down, eyes level with mine. His face was very familiar. The same face I saw when looking into a mirror. Eyes green, like mine. The same strawberry blonde hair.
“Hello, young lady.”
“Hello.”
“Would you be Juliet?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then, I am pleased to meet your acquaintance.”
I turned to my mother. “Mommy, who is this man?”
“This is your father, Juliet.”
The man stood upright and reached for my mother’s hand, grasping it firmly with his own before she could pull it away. “I guess there is no reason for me to doubt it now, Mary Ann. I can see just by looking at her that she is mine.”
“So good of you to acknowledge that, Liam.”
“Don’t be cross, Mary. We had a brief encounter. Did you really expect me to believe you?”
“Why yes, Liam, I did!”
“Come on, Mary. I am sure you had lots of passing fancies to sort through.”
“No, Liam, only you. You were the only one.”
I could see tears welling up in her eyes, even though she bitterly fought them off. Her cheeks turned a bright shade of red. She began to use a tone with him unfamiliar to me. “What in God’s name do you want, Liam? Why are you bothering us?”
“I am getting married, Mary. My fiancé is unable to have children, and I want Juliet to be a part of our lives.”
Unable to hold back her tears any longer, my mother began to cry. She grabbed my hand and swiftly pulled me toward her. We began to walk away from this man.
“Don’t walk away, Mary. I am willing to help you provide for her. Make your life a little easier. But make no mistake, I will be a part of her life.”
My mother turned quickly, leaving me standing alone. She stormed toward the man and with a closed fist, struck him in the face. I never saw my mother act this way. It scared me, and I began to cry. The man rubbed his face where mother had socked him, then smiled at me and winked. My mother returned to me, picking me up and holding me tight.
“You stay away from us, Liam!”
I watched the
