Way Back, A Cantrell Restart

When Past Meets Present, a Cantrell Way Back update, Chapter Two

“Hey, Baby brother, you arrived while I was out last night. So, how’s it going? Pretty good? Good. I’ll let you know how it’s going with me a bit later. Right now, I have to get ready for my very first date with a girl. What’s a girl? You’ll find out soon enough. See ya later."

Erik smiled and left his parents’ bedroom walking with a little skip to his step to the bathroom in the corner. Gazing at himself closely in the mirror, he realized the haze on his lip and around his jaw meant it was time to shave. His first shave.  Easy there, Captain, he thought to himself, razor in hand, after applying the white creamy concoction. Don’t draw any blood, would not be a good look.

After gaining permission to use the Hovercraft, Erik, who had been driving for a year, flew down the hill to the other Victorian in town, next to the large park. He lowered the vehicle to the ground, secured the brake so it wouldn’t lunge forward, a mistake he’d made very early on. Humiliated, he was ever conscious to not allow such a misstep again.

He walked across the street to the house. While he was still in the street, about to step onto the sidewalk, the front gate was pushed open. Kayleigh, and a girl who looked very much like her, except her hair was lighter in shade and shoulder length, came out followed by a middle-aged man with a crew cut. Instantly, Erik worried about his long locks. This man appeared to be the no-nonsense type. Conservative and quite possibly strait-laced.  As if she’d read Erik’s emotions, Kayleigh, smiling, took the man’s arm and led him over to where Erik stood, still in the gutter. “Daddy, this is Erik Cantrell, the boy I told you about. Erik, this is my father, Captain Drake Golden.”

“I’m very pleased to meet you,” Drake said. 
“The pleasure is mine,” Erik said, giving the man a firm handshake.
“It’s my understanding you’re working your way up in the music industry, am I right? And was it you I heard on the radio, recently? The name was similar, if not the very same.”
“Yes, to both questions.”
“I like your work.” This nearly knocked Erik off of his boot heels, he was so taken aback.

“Thank you, sir. May I have your permission to take Kayleigh out? I want to dine with her at Paul’s Bistro over in Oasis Springs.”
“That’s fine with me. Just have her back by six o’clock. We’re pretty new in town and are planning on checking out a particular church tonight. See if it’s a good fit for us.”
“Will do, sir.”

Traveling by Hovercraft, the distance was crossed in a very short time. Parking, Erik hopped out of the pilot’s side and opened the passenger hatch, assisting Kayleigh out of the vehicle. He held the door open  to the Bistro allowing her to walk into the establishment before him.  Stepping over to the host, he requested seating. The two were then shown to a table. The place was quieter than he was used to, but it was still a nice atmosphere. Kayleigh seemed impressed.

“How did you learn about this place?” she asked as they moved toward their table.
“The place has been here for decades,” Erik said. “It was a place my Grand Uncle would take my dad his siblings years ago. Dad couldn’t wait to share it with us once we got here.”

Erik held the chair for her, and after she was seated, he sat next to her. “You handled my father very well,” she began the discussion.
Erik smiled. “He seems nice.”
“Yes, but he’s not been so amenable to the guys either of two of my sisters have brought home.”
“Oh?”

“No, I do think the fact that you’re famous might have smoothed his otherwise slightly ruffled feathers. And that he likes your music. Dad is in the military. He has his standards that don’t often align with the standards of civilians. I’m just saying. I’m glad he took to you.”
“Me, too. As for military, we’re not totally bereft of those who have served in my family. Dad was a Marine who served on Vulcan and my mother’s father was an Admiral in Starfleet.”

“Oh, wow, an Admiral did you say?” Erik nodded.
“So, you graduated early, too?” he said, changing the subject. “What are your plans, if you don’t mind me asking.”
“I have recently applied for a Scholarship to Britechester-U.”

 You’re going away? Erik’s eyebrow shot upward with that, realizing all wasn’t as lost as he immediately feared. “Indeed, how fortuitous.  Are you going to live-in? And if so, which dorm, by chance?”
“Wyvern Hall. Are you going, too? I know you’re very busy building up your career . . . ”

“Well, now that I’m a Global Superstar, some of the pressure is gone. I just have to clear things with my dad, then I’ll get setup to attend, too. My two brothers and sister are also set to go. I know they chose Wyvern Hall. Britechester is our parents’ Alma Mater, which makes us –”

“Legacy. Oh, I do hope I see you there—” 

The server arrived and the two ordered their meal. While they waited,  Erik regaled Kayleigh with an Outrageous story.  She clearly enjoyed it, judging by her apt attention and her laughter, which warmed his heart.

Just as he finished his tale, the food arrived.  “So, what will you be studying,” she asked.
“Fine Arts, so if my career fizzles out, I have something to fall back on.”
“I don’t see your career ever fizzling out. What makes you think so?” She tucked an errant stand of blonde hair behind her left ear.

“It was my dad’s argument for just why I should go, despite my career. Can you just picture me teaching Music Theory?”
“No, unless it’s after you’re a gray-haired old man, retired from the concert stage.  Your hands full of arthritis and you can’t play an instrument anymore. You have to know I’m your biggest fan. There, I’ve said it.”

“Really? There are so many artists out there better than me.” He then began to count them down, on his fingers, giving their names.
“Pshaw! Don’t even say it. You are the best of the best. And your song has been nominated for Song of the Year, good sir.  For somebody’s who’s skyrocketed to the top so quickly, you sure are insecure, aren’t you.”

“While I do appreciate your support and kind words. We’ll see what we see come Sunday evening. Do you mind if I say grace over our meal?”
“Oh, not at all, I love that you’re a praying man.”
Folding his hands, Erik gave a prayer thanking God for their meal. He was amazed when Kayleigh also crossed herself, in the very same manner as he. “Would that church you’re checking out this evening, be St. James, in Brindleton Bay, by chance?”

The two chatted about all kinds of things, getting to know each other better. Sharing dreams, hopes and some secrets, too. “So, after you graduate from college what are your hopes for the future?” Erik said, daring to place his hand over hers resting on the tabletop.
“This may sound silly, but I want to be a writer. I hope to write a bestseller in my lifetime. And one day I do hope to marry and settle down.” Kayleigh refrained from asking about his future. She knew he would continue on with his career.

“Me, too,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze.  
“You, too, what?”
“I want to marry and settle down. And I want kids lots of them, I do hope that hasn’t scared you off.”
“Don’t be silly. How many is lots?”
“Hm — maybe six?” Erik watched her expression, carefully. She was either a master of masking her emotions or she liked kids, too. 

“You are kidding me. I want six kids, too.”

“That is amazing, it’s almost as if we were meant to be, or something,” he said, gazing deeply into her big blue eyes. Reaching out to place a hand on his arm, she said, “I have only ever once felt this way, this sudden rush of — something. The first time was when we were back on Vulcan. There was this boy I met at the park. What I felt then was powerful, so intense, it frightened me. I had never felt that way in my life. I ended up screaming at him, poor guy. He took it well, and if my actions hurt him, he never showed it — you have his eyes, which is what drew me to you.”

“Really? Wait a minute,” he said, placing his warm hand over hers “It’s you you’re the girl, you’re the one! I knew there was something familiar about you the moment I saw you. You came out of the throng of people and BOOM — it struck me. All my initial emotions came flooding back. It’s you.” Suddenly his eyes got watery under his glasses. “Huh, maybe we are meant to be. I thought so once, but then you moved away . . . I actually never expected to see you again. I can’t tell you how happy I am.”

Kayleigh smiled, squeezed his hand. “Me, either and I was miserable for a long, long time. We were all of twelve. My mother told me that if we were meant to be then I just needed to be patient and trust the timing. And now here you are. I still can’t believe it. Are you real, is any of this real?”

All for now, thanks for reading!