Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 14

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Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 14

The senior prom photo caused some debate. The original showed Eli at eighteen in a backless
red gown with his long hair held up by about four dozen mini plastic butterfly clips. Nick had
been his date, of course, looking gawky in the same black suit he wore for jazz band
performances. They were posed in the Wards’ sitting room in front of the picture window, goofy
smiles on their faces. There was a bright red corsage on Eli’s wrist. He could remember how cold
it had been, fresh from the Wus’ fridge when he’d slipped it on.
“I am not wearing a dress,” Eli said as he examined the old photo.
“Of course not. But maybe you could dress up? I could call Nick, see if he has a minute to swing
by.” Cora bit her lip. Maybe this was her way of extending an olive branch, since she’d been so
sensitive about Eli and Nick hanging out lately.
Eli shook his head at her idea. “No way. We’re just friends these days; asking him to re-create a
couples photo we took while we were dating is beyond. Besides, I didn’t bring any fancy
clothes.” He’d packed for mild depression and warm weather, not a prom. He had one nice dress
shirt that he’d planned on wearing for Christmas, but since he hadn’t removed it from his
suitcase yet, it was sure to be in need of ironing.
“Well, I want to replace this with something,” Cora said. She flicked the corner of the photo in
Eli’s hands. “It looked so cute in the hall; I’d hate for that spot to be empty.”
“I’ve got an idea.” Wendall bustled back inside the house. “Eli, pick out one of my ties! Top-left
dresser drawer,” he called without turning around.
“I don’t have any collared shirts,” Eli hollered after him.
The echoing response came through the door he’d left ajar. “Just wear a Tshirt, then! It’ll look
funny.”

-- 89 of 228 --

It looked ridiculous, but this whole exercise leaned into making Eli look ridiculous. And since
looking ridiculous was kind of Eli’s entire career up to this point, there was some comfort in it.
He found a truly ugly purple-and-green paisley tie in his dad’s dresser and looped it around his
neck, knotting it in a single Windsor over his black tee.
He came into the sitting room to find his parents and Max unfolding something he hadn’t seen
in years: the cardboard cutout of Legolas he’d bought from a Sam Goody back in ’01 at the
height of Lord of the Rings mania.
Eli froze. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“I kept it in the attic after you moved out. Thought it might be worth something,” his dad said as
he straightened the back support that kept Legolas upright.
Cora rolled her eyes. “I told him, if Antiques Roadshow ever comes around, we are not taking
this. I will not be laughed out of the convention center.”
“Hey, the elf should be dressed up too if this is a prom photo. Eli, get another tie. Or—oh!
Maybe we should put one of your mother’s dresses on him?”
“Wen, we are not putting a dress on this thing. You’ll stretch it out!”
“Okay, okay, it was just an idea.”
Max, who had been standing well off to the side with the camera, turned to Eli. “This is fucking
gold, by the way.”
“Glad someone’s having fun.” But despite his flippant demeanor, Eli realized he, too, was having
fun. No wonder he’d turned out so silly if these were his parents. He felt his heart grow three
sizes, Grinch-like, as he watched them fuss with the angle of the Legolas cutout, trying to
position him exactly so. He let himself be tugged by his parents and arranged next to his two-
dimensional date.
“You’ll have to put your arm around him since he doesn’t have the range.” His mom put his
hand on the cardboard cutout’s trim waist.
Wendall stood back with Max and made a frame out of his hands like he was Cecil B. DeMille.
“What do you think? Better than your real prom, huh?”
“Depends. Is he buying me dinner?”
“Say cheese,” Max said, and started snapping pictures.

-- 90 of 228 --

Eli looked over the results on Max’s camera with a laugh. One had caught him in the middle of a
blink. He looked ridiculous. Margo would love it. “Can you text me that one later?” he asked
Max. “That’s going to be my new headshot.”