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Lauren sat stiltedly in the pool lounger holding her white straw tote against her body like a shield.
“Miss Lauren, won’t you take your Summer Sugar lace dress off and let me see your Pink ‘N Dotty bikini?” Susie asked politely. “It’s a hot day anyway.”
Smiling at Zack’s sister who sat in the lounger beside her, she saw a sweet round face which belonged to a young woman yet had childish qualities. “Just call me Lauren. It is hot. I think I will. I’m just taking in the sights here. The pool area is really nice and your apartment is very comfortable and cozy.” She dropped the tote to the side of the chair. “And I’m impressed that you know so much about Hollander’s clothes. You seem to have every style in the junior’s line memorized. How can you ever remember it all?”
“Zack says that Spring Creek apartments are safe for us to live in since they are gated and we have good neighbors. He worries ‘bout me too much, Miss..I mean Lauren. And Hollanders...I love that store. Before Zack got a job there, I wanted to work there first. You get a discount on the clothes in the department you work in.” Susie was a design in innocence. “I wanted to work in the junior’s department because I like their clothes and commercials. They are fun. But Zack needed a job more than I did and he said since he was the oldest; he should be the one to work. When I saw the job on their website, I told him about it and let him have it instead of me.” A small giggled erupted. “Isn’t it funny that he works in the girl’s clothes instead of the boys? Look what he brought home for me to wear on our date!” Susie opened up her wrap to show off a new swimsuit. “It’s called the Suzy Swing Nautical. Isn’t that funny too? It’s got my name!” She pointed at her side. I like a whole piece and this one has an anchor on the side.”
“I like a one piece suit too. I haven’t worn a two piece since I was very young.” The Summer Sugar lace dress still hadn’t been removed.
“I bet Zack helped you get that swimsuit. He really likes you and you look very pretty in it. He is sweet on you.”
“Susie Q! What are you telling Lauren?” Zack was red faced but not sunburned. “She is painfully honest, you know. Never tells a lie or story.” He ruffled Susie’s sandy blond hair that matched his own.
“Just girl talk.” Susie put her hands on her hips as her lips formed a pout. “I like girl talk.”
Lauren was indeed taking in the sights. With his wind tosled hair, blue eyes and muscular build, he fully looked like the leading actor in a movie. He was beautiful if a man could be called that.
Just above them, a little fairy was rolling her eyes. Actor in a movie? The tiny pixie pulled at her dress. It was itchy and causing her to sweat. Twitching, she muttered a silent fairy grumble. Her petite upturned nose was now sunburned, and her wings were wilting in the heat. She shut her eyes and shook her hair in irritation as it too was sticky and sweaty and springing into a mass of riotous curls. Humans! They did the silliest things. Steadying herself on the rafter over the pool patio, she waged war with a wren who thought she was a midday snack. For anyone who thought that being a fairy was all flying and magic, she could assure them they were sadly mistaken.
"The pizza is ordered. It should be here soon. Now can you girls include a guy in your conversation?" Zack ruffle Susie's hair as one would a child as his gaze all but devoured Lauren.
"I hate it when he does that! I will be eighteen in three months and I'm going to get my own apartment. Right, brother? I am not a baby! Babies do not wear the Suzy Swing Nautical suit. Miss...I mean Lauren will not want to be treated like a baby either. She is a beautiful woman, Zack. Open your eyes. Oh yeah. Eyes. Let me show you my new Diamond Diva sunglasses." Susie reached into her bag and pulled out a pair of red rhinestone studded glasses. "I need to protect my eyes"
"Thank you, Lauren." Zack clasped her hand.
"What for?" She squeezed back.
"For being you. I told you you're special. Kind. Sweet. Beautiful." He leaned in close, not telling her she was his first date in three years. “Uniquely you.”
The little fairy had finally managed to capture Susie’s attention from above. The couple never noticed Susie’s wonderment as she pointed to the patio rafters and smiled as she held her new sunglasses on her face. The pixie placed both tiny hands over her little mouth with eyes wide. Susie copied her motions. Reaching behind her back, she produced her wand and gave it a few practice waves. Susie remained absorbed with the little pixie’s antics. Standing on the rafter, she ruffled her wings, pulled at her pink bodice, and cast her wand over the couple. A spray of tiny hearts began falling over them like a gentle pink rain shower.
Zack leaned close enough that Lauren could feel his breath on her face. The kiss began gently as he captured her lips as if testing their softness and clasped both her hands. Following his lead, Lauren opened her mouth slightly. It was like a ripple of electricity ran through their bodies, accented by her sharp intake of breath.
The ethereal sprite overhead had resorted to sitting down again, breathing rapidly from her efforts. These two were a tough case!
Susie just sat and smiled, watching it all.
As they broke apart, Zack started to speak. “I... I....”
“Shhh.” Lauren interrupted, not wanting to break the magic of the moment. “That was nice.”
He gave her a sly smile.
Susie clapped.
The fairy clapped then picked at her shimmering dress again before giving her wilted wings another ruffle.
“Why don’t you ask her to be your girlfriend, Zack? I really like her.” Susie finally broke the silence. “Please?”
“Susie Q, where are your manners? You might embarrass Lauren.” He chastised.
“But the little fairy is helping you two fall in love. I saw her.” Susie shot back.
Zack was almost puzzled. Susie was becoming a young woman in her own way, but she had never blatantly told stories or acted so boldly. “Fairy?”
“Yes, fairy.” She stood remained adamant. “Just because you don’t see her doesn’t mean she isn’t real. Sometimes you can’t see magic. Sometimes you can. You just have to try.”
Lauren smiled and patted Zack’s sister on the arm. She could understand where the young woman wanted another female in her life. Zack was no doubt a great brother, but she knew from firsthand experience that a mother figure was much needed and priceless. Susie was dreaming and so was she. Honestly asking herself the question, she knew she would like to be Zack’s girlfriend and possibly more. She had never really had a boyfriend due to her weight and this was as new of an experience for her as it was for Susie. Considering Susie, Lauren knew the young woman was a large part of Zack’s life and felt she could be helpful to him in that area. After all, her course of major in college was high school guidance counselor. After leaving her hometown, she had vowed to do something to make a change for others, not just herself. Susie was a sweet young woman she could come to love as a sister. “If Susie saw a fairy, then she saw a fairy. That is not so odd when you have a good imagination.”
“I’m not so sure it is a good idea to encourage that line of thinking.” He was skeptical. “It has been difficult enough since the accident.”
“But Zack,” Lauren whispered as soon as she saw that Susie was distracted. “It’s her coping skills. She has wants and dreams for her life. For you to have a girlfriend and be happy is obviously one of them. Even though she has Down’s, she obviously feels like a burden to you and feels like she is keeping you from having a life. She is a young woman now, not a child, you know.”
“Again, I bow to your wisdom, sweet cheeks.”
“Sweet cheeks?”
“Yes. Sweet cheeks. If we are going to go all storybook here, you taste like honey from a magical flower.”
Lauren elbowed him as she still clasped one hand.
Neither realized that Susie was liste
ning in on their conversation. “Yeah. I am grown up. And any boyfriend would get his girlfriend a Tutti Fruiti Frozen Treat that comes in the big glass with a straw and umbrella decoration. I know they don’t have booze in them ‘cause Zack lets me have them.”
“Well that’s a good thing because I don’t really like alcohol, Susie.” Came Lauren’s reply.
“Well?” Zack asked offhandedly. “How would you feel about dating?”
“I would very much agree to it.” Lauren didn’t have to give her answer another thought. For a fleeting moment she wondered how this man with boyish good looks and down to earth personality could be interested in her. A bad memory of being elected prom queen her senior year as a joke as all her classmates made fun of her tried to invade the moment but another force from the rafters was on her feet and working from above. Lauren never felt the gentle spray of starry dust that washed over her yet again.
The hot, sticky, sweating fairy was almost spent and wanted a Tutti Fruiti Treat herself. She imagined herself swimming in it and basking under the paper umbrella.
“So...you’ll be my girlfriend.” He felt awkward and fifteen years old again.
“Yes.” She felt the same but elated.
“Oh goody! Here come the snack cart. Let’s order!” Susie clapped and looked to the fairy with thanks. “Thank you Miss Fairy!”
“Susie, there is no such thing...” Zack started to correct his sister but Lauren interrupted.
“Can I see your sunglasses, Susie?”
“Sure. Try them on. Everything looks good through them.”
Lauren tried them on and noticed an immediate change as she looked through the specially treated lenses. “Zack, have you tried these things on?”
“Not really. How do you think they would look on me?” His eyes crinkled.
“Seriously. The lenses must have some sort of special coating on them. Everything looks like it sparkles. There’s your fairy.” She scanned the area once again.
“Let me see.” He put them on only to be greeted with loud laughter from both girls. “What? You don’t think that Diamond Diva is my style?”
All he heard was a resounding NO!