Bittersweet

“You look really nice, Bam.” April stepped into his room as he straightened his tie. She smiled. Like when she’d won the no whining bet, Bam was dressed in a suit. He looked uncomfortable.

“Are you sure?” he worried out loud. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

“Lenny will love it.” April fixed his tie for him and fussed with his cuffs and sleeves for a moment.
“Any particular reason you look so nice tonight?”

“You’ll see,” he smiled mysteriously. “There’s something for you and Phil in your room, on your bed, with directions. I’ve got to get a move on.” He checked his watch. Suddenly, he kissed April on the cheek.
“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too.” She smiled at her son as he raced away. She touched her cheek where his lips had touched her. That girl certainly was a good influence on her son, wasn’t she?

**

“These are beautiful.” Lenny breathed as she saw the things Ville had picked out for her. Rich silks and satins, long skirts the swished when she walked, short leather ones that clung to her curves.
“Oh, Ville. These are far too nice for me.”

“Nonsense. You’re a princess, and it’s time you started dressing like one.” Ville shoved her into the dressing room and made her try everything on. Some of the things she had to try on twice.

Lenny quickly soon learned what it was that made the man look so gorgeous. He was incredibly picky. This shirt was discarded because it made her too pale, that one was too tight, this one too loose. It was worse when it came to the skirts. A centimeter too long made her look too short, and a smidge too shirt made her legs look disproportionate to the rest of her body.

She left with heaps and heaps of things though. She thought to herself that most of this stuff would probably never be worn; it really was much too nice for her. Where did she ever go? She was just a little writer girl.

Lenny was sitting on pins and needles the whole way home. She wanted nothing more than to throw herself into Bam’s arms an take both her boys to bed. When they arrived at the castle, she gathered her things and rushed in.

“Bam! Bam!” she called. Her heart sank when there was no reply. She seemed to physically wilt, her bags sinking to the floor. “Bam?” her voice had lost the joy of the day, had turned pathetic.

“I don’t think he’s here, sweetheart.” Ville came in behind her. She turned to him, her eyes big and wet with unshed tears.

“Where could he be?” she whimpered. “I wanted to see him, Ville. This is one day I really, really need to be with him. It was going to be so perfect. I have you; I was going to have him. It would have been the best birthday ever.”

“Oh, Helena,” Ville rested his chin on her shoulder. “Don’t cry, darling. I’m sure he had to do something very important.”

“More important than me. Everything is more important than me.” She sniffed. Ville sighed. She was getting ready for a good long night of self pity, and he had to concede that maybe she deserved it. He knew first hand Bam wasn’t easy to love.

“Come, my love. Let’s go on upstairs. You can lay down with me and we’ll watch any movie you want. We’ll even order Chinese food or pizza. Anything you want.” A night snuggled up with him was indeed a treat. Her tears seemed to dry.

“Anything I want?”

“Anything,” he smiled. She nodded and headed upstairs to wash her face. Ville busied himself collecting the bags. She had washed her face and was getting ready to change into her pajamas when he came into the room.
“Don’t you want to hang your things? They’ll wrinkle.”

It was important she open the closet. Lenny sighed and shuffled over to do as he suggested. As soon as the door opened, her jaw dropped. Her eyes went wide. Hanging up was the most beautiful dress she’d ever seen.

A long, blue, sparkly, fluffy dress. She had owned something like it once. She smiled as she felt it. It was a halter top that laced up the back. She turned to Ville.

“This is beautiful, isn’t it? One of the boys must be hiding it from someone.”

“There’s a tag,” Ville pointed. Lenny reached out and read it. Her eyes went even wider.

“It’s for me,” she said softly. “For Helena, from Bam. Please wear this tonight. Ville knows where you’re to be, and he’ll help you get ready.” She turned to the rock star.
“Where are we going? Where am I supposed to be?”

“Patience is a virtue,” he smiled at her. It was so nice to see her excited now after the tears downstairs.

“One I do not possess. Where are we going? Is it a surprise? Did you know about it?” the questions flowed; she practically bounced in her excitement. Ville just smiled.

“Let’s go and get this on, hmm? Look, shoes.” He pointed to a sparkly pair of sandals. Lenny smiled and took pulled her t-shirt off, eager to put the garment on.