“That’s a good idea. Flowerswould probably cheer her up.”
“Here’s hoping.” I swallow. “So,do you think I could snag your address off you for the deliveryguy?”
“Sure thing.” Dawn rattles offthe address. It’s an apartment downtown on Thurlow on top of aChinese restaurant.
“Thanks, Dawn. Oh, and keep thisbetween us, would you? I want the flowers to be a surprise.”
I’m smiling wide as I hang up. Ican’t believe it worked. Dawn sounded like a bit of an idiot, andthank God for that. Mostly, though, I’m grateful that Dawn didn’ttell me Annie was out with someone. I wonder if I should havementioned Raj, asked Dawn who he was, but it would be toosuspicious.
Dawn obviously didn’t know Anniewell. If she did, she’d know that flowers would do jack shit inhelping her mood. I know Annie, and I know that if there’ssomething rattling in her head, flowers aren’t going to changethings. I know I have to see her face-to-face and make sure she’sall right. And maybe, just maybe, I can convince her to comehome.
For the next hour I think,sitting at the kitchen table in front of a cooling cup of tea.Then, when the tea is stone cold, I remember the ring.
I was waiting for a specialmoment to ask her. This is not the moment I had in mind, but witheverything considered, it’s the moment I need the ring themost.
I check my bank balance online,then call the jewelry store for the exact amount due for the lastpayment.
I’ve got enough. I even havesome to spare, enough for ferry costs, both ways, and a hotel roomif I need it.
I pack enough clothes for oneday, have a quick shower and take more time sprucing myself up thannormal—I even put on a little mascara, making my eyelashes feelawkward and heavy. I load Stinky in the truck and we’re on ourway.
After stopping at the jewelrystore in Nanaimo, I run to the flower shop next door and buy apretty fall bouquet. Waiting at the terminal, I call my boss andask him if I can have ten days off? I’ve never taken so much timeoff since I started working there. But this is important. There’sjust way too much going on for me to have to work amidst it all.Thankfully, he tells me that I can have the time off, but that’sthe last time until after the new year.
* * *
The ferry ride is rocky andrough, and Stinky and I stay in the truck. I keep an eye on him incase he suddenly wants to hop into the backseat, where I put thefall bouquet I’d picked up. In my pocket is the ring. I glanced atit only once to make sure it was the right one. Seeing it had mademy throat close up, and I quickly stuffed it away so I didn’t startcrying in front of the smiling jewelry store worker.
Halfway through the trip, Stinkyis fast asleep on the passenger side and I am starving. I forgot tobring food and drinks, and he didn’t seem to be waking up soon, soI leave him in the truck while I run upstairs and grab us somesnacks and water. When I return, Stinky has massacred the bouquetof flowers and there are petals and stems everywhere.
I glare at him, and he lowershis head, his guilty brown eyes on me. “Thanks, you jerk. Thosewere supposed to be for Annie, not to mention how much money youjust cost me.”
Hearing my stern, disappointedvoice, he lies down and turns his head away. It takes me a goodfifteen minutes to clean up the mess, in the process, my angerdissipates. “Alright, pouty. I’m not pissed at you anymore. Quitsulking.”
He still won’t look at me. Irustle the sealed sandwich paper, and his ears perk up and he whipshis head around. “Yeah, I knew it, cupboard love. You would’vesulked all day if I didn’t have food, wouldn’t you?” I hold outhalf the sandwich, and it’s gone in half a second. “How is thatfair anyway? You screw up, and I’m the one trying to get you out ofyour shitty mood?”
He ignores me, his eyes only formy half of the sandwich. I give it to him. All of a sudden, food isthe last thing on my mind. I’m too nervous at the thought of seeingAnnie.
I think about the best-casescenario. She falls into my arms, crying, wearing my ring. Wereturn to Gabriola and she’s back to her normal self, smiling andplaying with Stinky and making her mobiles. I know this is too muchto ask of the universe, so I compromise. She comes back with me butneeds time to get back to normal. It’s slow, and I need to driveher to counselling in Nanaimo for a while, but she improves.Eventually the light returns to her eyes. Eventually everything isperfect again. I can handle eventually.
* * *
The sun sets as Stinky and Idrive over the Lionsgate bridge and into Stanley Park. I haven’tbeen to downtown Vancouver in a long time. Even though it’sraining, the park is beautiful, lush and green, with huge treeslike umbrellas. My parents used to bring Denny and I here when wewere young. The Vancouver Aquarium is a pretty spectacular sightfor small kids, though both Annie and I were happy when we learnedthat BC doesn’t allow any more wild aquatic animals to be kept incaptivity. Living on Gabriola and seeing whales, porpoises andotters swim free makes me feel sick at the thought of them in atank.
The dark clouds overhead reflecton the glass buildings as I head down Georgia Street, makingeverything monochrome. I honk at a typical Vancouver driver whocuts me off, and I throw him the finger while Stinky barks happily.I take ten minutes trying to find a parking spot close to a smallflorist on the corner of Burrard and Smythe streets, and I paydouble for a bouquet the same size as the one Stinky hadmassacred.
The closer I drive to Thurlow,the more anxious I feel. What if she doesn’t want to see me? Maybeshe’s finally come to the realization
