"IED."
My stomach sank, and my eyes found Wade, imagining all the things he'd seen, all that he'd been through, the normalization of war. But his eyes were on Ben as he changed the subject.
"Germany is easy though. Feels like the Ritz compared to life on a FOB."
"So much beer. I actually had to start working out again because my pants were tight." He leaned back and patted his stomach for emphasis.
"Ah, to live in Europe, though," Rick said wistfully.
"Where would you have lived?" I asked Rick with a smile.
"Well," he looked up to the ceiling in thought, "Rome, I think. For a while at least. I'd have liked to move around, a city a year. Abby and I went after we graduated. Best summer of my life."
An idea sparked in my heart. I prodded for details. "What other places do you wish you could see again?"
He sighed, still smiling, and Wade caught my eye, his face full of curiosity. "So many. Fiji — we went there on our honeymoon. Or the Adirondacks. We had a cabin there, do you remember?" he asked his children, who brightened at the mention.
"We haven't been there in so long," Sadie said.
"I remember camping in those woods as a boy," Rick continued. "Some of my most cherished childhood memories were made there."
The doorbell rang, and Wade stood to answer it, coming back with the nurse, effectively clearing the room while she went about her business. I made my way into the kitchen to make coffee, and everyone followed, none of us knowing where else to go. But I was giddy as the idea not only formed, but bloomed.
Sadie pulled down mugs as I filled up the pot.
"I have an idea," I said quietly, smiling at the prospect of what I was about to propose.
"What's that?" Sadie asked as Wade and Ben sat down at the island next to her.
"What if we bring all of his favorite places to him?"
A slow smile spread across Sophie's face. "Elliot, you're a genius."
"We can bring Italy to him. Fiji. Camping. We can get a tent, roast marshmallows. Recreate his memories. Make new ones. Do you think he'd like it?"
As I looked everyone over, Wade smiled at me, and I found I couldn't breathe. "It's perfect," he said.
I felt bright, as if I were shining. "Then let's start today. We'll need a few days to plan it, I think. We can get a planetarium to project stars. Oh!" I straightened up with excitement. "Christmas trees."
Sophie nodded enthusiastically and hiss-whispered, "Yes! I bet we can find some plastic trees on clearance from the holidays."
I leaned in, smiling conspiratorially. "We'll bring him a forest."
Sadie beamed. "He's going to be so surprised. It's brilliant."
"I hope he loves it. I hope it makes him happy," I said, already tallying the things I'd need in my head, excited to have a way to celebrate him, to bring him joy while we could.
We sat in the kitchen, drinking coffee and making plans. Wade was happy and smiling, the afternoon forgotten, his apology lightening my heart. His laughter, his joy at Ben and the camping trip — it reminded me of a time years ago when he was like this every day. I wondered again over all the things that had changed him, hardened him, wondered just how bad it had been to erase him so completely.
The nurse came in a little while later to let us know she was leaving and Rick was resting. With my new objective, I decided to leave, anxious to get started so we could give him our gift as soon as possible as the little voice in the back of my mind whispered, Time.
I felt lighter, happier as I walked home. What a strange day it had been — I recounted the moments. Meeting Ben. Our surprise for Rick. Wade. Walking with him, touching him, being seen by him in a way that no one had in years, even if it was hard, even though it hurt. The invisible girl, visible again, but only to him.
Of course, the second I opened the door to Mary's, I was invisible again. I found everyone in the living room, sisters and father on the couch talking while Charlie sat in his armchair, chatting with his friend Jack, who lay on the ground on his back covered in giggling children.
I smiled at the scene, and Sammy chanted Uncle Jack! until Jack tickled him. Dad shot him a look at the burst of noise, but Jack didn't seem to mind, making punching sounds as he tickle-assaulted the little boy. Jack smiled when he saw me.
"Hey, Elliot."
Maven squealed and ran over to me, and I picked her up.
"Hi," I said before kissing her on the cheek. Jack sat up, and Sammy proceeded to climb up his back.
"How's Rick?" Charlie asked, and my sisters and father quieted down to listen.
"He's good. His speech has improved, and there was a lot of excitement today. A friend of Wade's flew in from Germany to stay for a while and help out. Rick seemed so happy to have everyone there."
Jack's eyes softened. "I'm really sorry to hear what happened, Elliot."
"Thank you," I answered politely as I took a seat on the floor with Maven, who toddled off, picked up a Barbie from her little toy box, and brought it to me with a new dress to wear. Dad started talking to Mary again, still without acknowledging me, and I was thankful for Charlie and Jack's company at least. "What are you doing over, Jack?"
He smirked at Charlie, eyes darting to Mary for a flash before landing on me. "Charlie called in the cavalry," he said under his breath.
"Ah," I said with a chuckle. "My condolences."
"The things I do for love."
He smiled a handsome smile from his long face, his blue eyes twinkling. I'd known him for years, and though he'd never paid me much attention, he'd always been kind, providing friendly conversation and sometimes a safe haven from the exhaustion of socializing with my sister. When it was the four of us, it was easier — Mary was outnumbered. Rather than argue with us, she drank.
"So your friend's dad, he's really doing okay?"
"He's in good spirits," I answered as I worked the Barbie's stiff hands through blue, sparkly dress sleeves. "We're just spending as much time with him as we can. We came up with a plan today to bring the world to him, starting with an indoor camping trip. I've got a list of things to get for it."
Jack perked up. "Oh yeah? I've got a ton of gear, what do you need?"
"A tent, sleeping bags, camping chairs, that sort of thing. I want to get some other stuff too, like there's a shop that sells candles that smell like pine trees, and I need to find a star projector for the ceiling. We want to turn the library into the Adirondacks."
Jack smiled with appreciation. "That's brilliant. I've got a lot of the gear, and I think I know where we can get what I don't have. When were you wanting it by?"
"Tomorrow is the day to get everything together, if we can. Then I think we're planning on actually setting it up the next night."
"Well, I'm off work tomorrow. Want to go together? We can go shop, then swing by my place and grab everything."
"Oh, that would be so great." Relief settled in at the thought of having a little help and company.