When we saw Wenton, he seemed excited to finish the portrait and see the final product. I hadn’t let him see it because I didn’t want him to self-criticize. Painting was a step-by-step process that evolved over layers, so I’d forbidden him to look at it and kept it locked away until I was ready for the final unveiling next week.
Although he seemed happy to see us, he also seemed sad. Ever since family week, he’d looked tired and older than when I first met him. KP said his heart was slowing down, and I didn’t want to admit it, but I could see the toll it was taking on them both. However, I didn’t think Wenton had any sense of his own mortality. We broached the subject once, and he said he was happy to live in heaven one day. KP didn’t want to go into too much detail, as large concepts like death, dying, and illness were hard for Wenton to grasp.
We puzzled for a moment about what was troubling him. But as soon as KP asked Wenton what he wanted to do, we found out what had Wenton all in knots.
“I haven’t gotten a picture since the one of Caitlyn, and that was too long ago.”
KP nodded. “Oh right, the scavenger hunt. Well, buddy, as I said, that was a very tall order, but I’m working on it.”
I remembered that he’d been tasked with “falling in love.” I wanted to pipe in and say, bingo, he’d done it, but I wasn’t completely sure he had. We loved each other, but falling in love — that totally selfless place where you find your soul mate? I was heading down that road, but I wasn’t completely sure that KP had. It was as hard for him as he’d said it would be.
“If it helps at all, Wenton, I know how hard he’s trying to find what you want him to look for.” I smiled, wanting to show him that I was working with KP to accomplish this goal.
“I’m not worried about you, Caitlyn. It’s him!” He pointed an angry finger at his brother.
“Okay. I’ll send you a picture tonight. I have one in mind, okay? No worries.”
Time for a change of subject. “So what are we doing today?” I asked.
“I got Twister!” Wenton squealed.
KP and I both looked at the plastic mat with the brightly colored circles with dread. I was young but probably too old to get all twisted up.
“Where are my yoga pants when I need them?” KP joked.
We played for a while, and Wenton, though he loved the game because it made him laugh, was terrible at it. We all fell down a lot, but it was fun. Wenton always made us have fun in ways we didn’t expect we could.
After Twister, I finished his painting, which turned out gorgeous. KP was thrilled. We locked it away to dry and had lunch with Wenton before he went down for a nap. He was getting fatigued more quickly these days, another sign that his illness had been progressing.
The doctor consulted KP again about moving Wenton into the medical ward. KP continued to refuse, saying that he would pay more to have the staff moved to his cottage. Wenton didn’t belong in a hospital. He had the money to afford the best, so he was going to give him the very best money would offer.
“I’m not having him moved,” KP fumed. “That’s it. They’re a hospital; they can keep him in his cottage and not scare him by moving him to the big house. He’s not as sick as they say.”
I saw through the anger to the fear living behind it.
“KP, you know what’s best for him. You’re everything he has. Go with your gut and make every day with him count.”
He knew I was there for him. He wouldn’t face this alone.
By the time we got to my house, Tammy, Ricky, and crew were already there and the party had been set up. There was a big “Congratulations” banner in front of the house I wasn’t expecting, all done in graffiti style. It was so cool.
“I love it,” I said, looking at the sign.
KP smiled down at me. “Your friends really love you.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I just leaned over and kissed him. He reached behind him and grabbed a bag, pulled a graffiti style baseball hat out of it and put it on.
“That actually looks really cute on you.” And it did. He looked both goofy and adorable.
“Actually?” he raised his eyebrows, so snide.
I stuck my tongue out at him. Maturity wasn’t always our strong suit.
He said goodbye to Robert, but I detected something may have been brewing because of the weird way he said it, like encoded language. But I wasn’t gonna dwell on it, it was my party, and we were going to have some fun.
“Are you ready for this?” I asked playfully.
“Oh, I am very ready for this,” he said, flipping his hat to the side.
The party was so much fun. Some people brought a massive canvas to create a communal graffiti painting in the backyard, which would be a gift for me to take to school. It was so amazing. Others brought musical instruments and jammed together. We danced, we drank, we ate off the hamburger bar. The party was on fire.
KP did his best to keep up. I mean, here was this guy, a billionaire, who knew everyone…from the former presidents of the United States to Johnny Depp. He was close, personal friends with the guy, but a room full of talented people who were vibing on love and creativity and had their names on nothing but their dreams made him completely out of his element. I had to come to his rescue.
“Are you hating it? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so miserable.” It was the truth, he looked so uncomfortable.
“I’ll never be as cool as even one of these people. I’ve never felt so obsolete in my life.”
Wow, how was that possible?
“KP! You’re KP, Oscar winner guy.” I patted his cheek, trying to make him smile. “Come on, get your game face on. I sent out the email like you said, and people are just doing their own thing, letting you be you. Only you’re not being you. You’re being freaked out guy in the corner wearing a goofy hat. Come here.” I grabbed his hand and shepherded him to the bar. “You’re going to do a Cuervo shot with me then we’ll get you one of Ricky’s famous lavender margaritas.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Lavender? Eww, really?” I think he was truly disgusted.
“Well, no wonder you feel obsolete, you’ve never tried one. Ricky will fix you right up. Ricky, he needs a Lavarita and fast, make it nice and strong. I’ll get us a round of shots going,” I said, feeling so happy.
“Why don’t you just scoop out my insides and put them in a jar of formaldehyde. It might be a quicker way to end me.”
“And you think your brother is the king of drama?” Seriously, where was his sense of fun?
“Okay. I’m here, I’m ready, let’s go for it.”
I handed him a shot after passing them out to Ricky and Tammy, who had heard KP kvetching and came over.
“KP needs to drink with us, so don’t let him weasel his way out of this.” Tammy glared at him. He raised his shot glass and smiled as she continued. “Okay friends, to Caitlyn’s new adventure!” She raised her glass, and we all took the shot.
“Ahhhh,” KP wailed. “That’s such shit tequila!”
Everyone laughed as KP grimaced and choked.
“Time for your Lavarita,” Rafael yelled from behind the bar.
He produced five large martini glasses filled to the rim with a light purple drink, glistening with sugar on the rim of each glass. KP eyed the beverage with trepidation. We each took our glasses up.