Winter Wonderland

  “He seems like a nice guy, I’m sure it’ll be hard for you…”

  “He is a nice guy…” Lea said, “But it’s you I love.” And this time, she’s sure. She just doesn’t know how to tell Jack, or when to. Just then, she heard Jack’s car pulling by their garage, “He’s here,” She told Venizio, “I’ll call you.”

  “Whatever happens, Amore, I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” She told him, “I’ll be back. I promise.” She then put her phone down as Jack came in. He kissed her on cheek.

  “Hey, beautiful…” He said happily.

  “Hey…” She smiled back.

  “I brought you some Fish and Chips…French food, I’m sure you missed them…” He said, holding out this brown paper bag.

  She took it and laughed, “Thanks…” She told him, making her way to the dining room and placing down the paper bag on the table.

  “Lea,” He said as he looked at her, “I’m so glad you’re back home.” He told her, meaning every word.

  She smiled, not knowing what to say, “Oh,” She said, changing the topic, “So, how did tutoring Mikee go?”

  Maybe this time

  Carly tried hard not to be fidgeting the entire time while Alfred drove her to her parents’ home. She wasn’t speaking when they stopped in front of the house, the memories all rushing back.

  Alfred then opened the door to her seat and held out his hand, “Come on,” He told her.

  She gave him her hand and they walked towards the door of the house. She wanted to back away. She didn’t feel like she belonged with her family, like she was never wanted. That’s why she went away. Well, they didn’t have to knock because someone opened the door. It was Ivan, Carly’s younger brother. He was only 16 when she left, and to be honest, they didn’t really get along—they used to, until he became this teen guy who thinks he knows everything. He was rude to her, he always made her feel like she wasn’t good enough, that she was a disappointment—even to someone as young as him. He used to look so cute, so like a young boy who knew what he wanted in life, but now he looks quite different, she thought. His hair was long, he had a goatee, and he was sporting this rugged look. Just seeing him shocked Carly. Ivan looked shocked, as well, tugging his knapsack.

  “Hey…” He first greeted.

  “Hey.” Was all Carly could say, too.

  “Mom, Carly’s here…” Ivan looked back inside the house and then turned to Carly again, “Bye,” He said, trotting away. Carly looked at him as he walked away.

  “Carly?” Carly’s mom said as she saw her.

  “Mom…” She said as she turned to look at her. What surprised her the most was what happened next—her mom hugged her. It wasn’t just a simple hug, it was one of those hugs that you could really feel, one that spells out love and how much you missed one person. One that doesn’t wanna let go. She found herself hugging her back. They never really had moments like these—it was always rows, silent fights, and stuff like that. They always seemed to downplay their love for each other with hate, with disappointment, with all those crappy things.

  “It’s okay,” Carly told her mom, “Mom, it’s just me, it’s okay…”

  “You’re back.” Her mom was crying. Another surprise.

  “Yeah, uhm, I was just visiting…” Carly smiled.

  “I’m so glad you’re here…” Her mom said, holding her hand.

  Carly smiled, “I am, too.” She said, which surprised her just the same. “I saw Ivan, where was he going?”

  Her mom just shrugged, “That’s what he does all the time, goes out, I don’t know where he goes…”

  “Is…everything okay?”

  “He stopped studying two years ago, Carly. He told me not to tell you because he thought you would just laugh at him. He said he was a rude brother, that he didn’t treat you well, that he always thought you were crazy, that he thought he knew everything…”

  “Oh.”

  “We’re so sorry, Carly, we were too hard on you,” She told her, “I’m so sorry…I’m sorry we let what happened to you happen…”

  Carly smiled, “It’s okay,” She said, “I’m sorry, too. I was never good enough…”

  Her mom just shook her head and hugged her, and for the first time in years, Carly found herself crying, unashamed of the tears, unashamed of showing this softer side to the woman she wished would love her all her life.

  ***

  Hours later, after all the tears and all the stories, Carly was ready to leave the house. Her mom hugged her one last time and Carly spoke.

  “Tell Ivan,” She said, “That I’m not mad at him. And…If he needs help, I’m just here. I could bring him to New York if he wants to. Or…let him start his own business here…”

  Her mom nodded her head and they bid goodbye. Minutes later, Carly’s back in Alfred’s car, fiddling with the stereo. She stopped it on a Carrie Underwood song talking about lessons learned.

  “It’s so good of you not to be mad on your brother.” Alfred told her while driving.

  She laughed, “To be honest,” She said, “I was. And I wished him the worst. But seeing him like that is actually…sad.” She said, “He could choose not to accept my offer, though, but whatever happens, he’s still my brother. Always will be.”

  Alfred smiled, “Carly,” He then asked, “When your mom was talking about this thing that happened to you, what did she mean?”

  Carly looked out of the convertible, wind blowing her hair to her face and everywhere. This was one of the few times she let her hair down and she actually missed this. “Well,” She answered after a few seconds, “I had a breakdown.”

  “What?” Alfred asked, surprised.

  “I was lost, you know…I didn’t know what life had for me anymore, I didn’t know what to do…So that’s what made them decide to let me come to New York with Charles. I needed a second chance, if you know what I mean.”

  He nodded his head. Traffic jam and he held her hand, “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

  “It’s okay…” She smiled, “You didn’t know.”

  “Let’s eat out before going home, my treat.”

  She laughed, “I’d like that.” She said, smiling.

  ***

  Alfred and Carly were laughing when they came home later that day. Alfred was holding a bucket of chicken legs and another paper bag full of food as he made his way to the dining room, winking at Carly. Anielle was in the living room then.

  “Looks like somebody made friends again…” She smiled as she went up to Carly.

  “Oh, well…” Carly just smiled.

  Anielle laughed, “Well, I’m glad you two made up…” She told Carly, “No more bickering during rehearsals?”

  Carly laughed and patted Anielle on the shoulder, “You can be sure of that.” She said, “And none of that on your wedding, too.”

  “Wow…” Anielle smiled, “Oh, anyway…I’d always loved the idea of having you as a sister-in-law…” She winked.

  “Anielle, dear, it’s not like that…”

  Anielle laughed, “Well, maybe not right now, but I’m sure soon…”

  Carly laughed, “Come on,” She said, “Let’s eat.” And they made their way to the kitchen, full of laughs.

  Champagne Supernova

  “What’s going on?” Vivienne asked Vince a few nights before Christmas after he called her up, sounding drunk and miserable. Vivienne was at home, writing a story.

  “We broke up. Rina and I broke up.”

  Vivienned laughed, “Vince, what’s new?” She asked, “You break up with all these women everytime…You and Rina were together for what? 2, 3 months? Don’t tell me you’re so into her now…Where are you anyway?”

  “At home,” He said, “Vivs, It hurts. She just…Walked away. I thought, we had a shot, you know? That it was something good going on, that it was okay…”

  She cut him off, “See that’s the problem with you, Vince,??
? She said, “You think you have a shot with all of these girls, you go and cry over them and then sometime soon, you’re with someone else again, someone new. It’s just a cycle. You don’t really know what love or a relationship means.”

  “Why? Do you?”

  “Vince,”

  “Thanks, Vivienne, I just thought I had a friend to talk to. Clearly, I was wrong.” He said sarcastically and shut his phone down.

  “Vince, it’s not…” Vivienne said and then she heard the click of his phone as he turned it off. She sighed as she put her phone down, turned off her computer, donned a sweater, got her phone again and put it in her bag and got out of her pad to drive to Vince’s house which was an hour and a half away.

  ***

  “Vince, open the door.” Vivienne said as she knocked on Vince’s door later that evening. She then turned open the knob which surprisingly wasn’t locked. She then entered Vince’s pad and saw him on the couch, holding a can of beer while other cans were on the center table.

  Vivienne sighed as she placed down her basket of food on the center table, “You should’ve locked your door,” She sighed, “Criminals may be around, you know?”

  Vince placed the can of beer on the center table, “What are you doing here?”

  “Well, I was just…I wanted to say sorry.” She said, “And bring you some food. I drove for an hour and a half to get here, you stop drinking.”

  “I didn’t ask you to.”

  She took a deep breath and sat down beside him, “No,” She said, “But I wanted to.”

  He sighed, “Do you know why Rina and I broke up?”

  “No, why?”

  “It’s because of you.”

  “Me? Why would it be because of me?”

  “Because I’m your go-to guy,” He said, “Because when you’re in trouble, I come running around looking for you. Because when you need me, I’m there. Because I could overlook anyone just for you…”

  “That’s not fair,” Vivienne said, “You cannot make this just about me. Let’s not play dumb here, Vince, you know yourself. You know why all these girls can’t be serious about you.” She went on, “You’re a player. You’re too shallow. You’re—“

  “Enough,” He said, “That’s what you all think. That’s what you still think, but that’s not the truth. For years, I’ve been trying to change, you know that, Vivs,” He stood up and made his way near a window. He turned to Vivienne who stood up and went up to him, as well, “I was serious about you. I wanted another shot.”

  “I gave you another shot,” She said, “It was you who messed it up because you were overanalyzing everything.”

  “Yeah, I may have done so,” He told her, “And I have been stupid, that I admit. But…You didn’t like me well enough, you know? You needed me to do a jerky thing so you could get out of it.”

  “Vince,”

  “It’s true, isn’t it?”

  She sighed, “Fine, it is.” She told him, “There are so many guys out there who are better than you, who I thought, were more than you. And you know why I gave them a shot? Because they didn’t play games with me, the way you always did.”

  “I’m not playing any games with you.” He said.

  “What’s this conversation even about, Vince? Who’s wrong? Who gets persecuted? Who didn’t give a shot?” Vivienne said, “We both didn’t give each other a shot, Vince, you know that. We’re both each other’s in-between people, that’s probably all it’s gonna be.”

  “That’s…” Vince said, “It’s not like that…” He told her, “Vivienne, it’s not like that. I love you.”

  “Oh, really?” Vivienne said sarcastically, “Well, tell that to me when you’re not drunk and let’s see if you can. Prove to me that you’re not only brave when you’re wasted.” She looked at him, got her bag from the couch then made her way out of the house.

  “Vivs!” Vince called out but she was already driving away.

  Stigmatized

  Candice and Tim were helping Roger and the other workers in the bar decorate the place. Christmas was in 3 days. She was holding a lantern for Tim to place on top of a table when suddenly her cellphone rang. It was her sister, Lea’s number.

  “Wait a sec,” She told Tim as she handed him the lantern and answered Lea’s call. It’s been months since they last spoke.

  “Candice?” Lea said on the other line.

  “Lea…” Candice greeted, “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  “Hey,” Candice said one more time, “How are you?”

  “I’m in Paris.” Lea said.

  “You’re…What?” Candice asked, shocked. Why would Lea go back to Paris? She left her husband five years ago. She has her own life in Venice now.

  “I’m in Paris, Candice.” Lea said.

  “What exactly are you doing there?” Candice asked calmly, “Are you and Jack back together?”

  “Actually,” Lea said, “No.”

  “Oh.” Candice said but Lea butted in before she could say another word.

  “I’m in his house, I’ve been here for days.”

  “And why is that?”

  “He asked me to stay with him ‘til Christmas, just to figure things out…” Lea gave a tiny laugh, “You’re probably wondering why I called, huh?”

  “Actually, yes.” Candice answered.

  She heard Lea sigh and then finally speak, “I need you, Candice. I need some advice. I…I need my big sister.”

  “Oh.” Candice said, surprised. Her sister never asked her for help—especially after she left Boston. Their phone calls merely consisted of Lea just asking her if she needed cash, of Lea telling her where she was, of Lea this, Lea that. It’s so easy to forget that Candice is actually the older sister, that Candice is the one who Lea should look up to. It’s Lea who’s the responsible one, not Candice. But at that point, Candice realized that everyone, even the almost perfect ones screw up. She realized she and Lea may not be that different after all.

  “Candice?”

  “I’m here.” Candice told Lea, meaning it. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m in love with someone else.” Lea told her, “He’s in Venice. And this time, I am sure. We’ve been together for two years, Candice.”

  “And Jack doesn’t know?”

  “Yeah,” Lea answered, “I wanna tell him but he thinks I came back because I still love him. I’m not so sure how to tell him, Candice, I have no idea.”

  “Well,” Candice said, keeping her thoughts in place, “The sooner you get to tell him, the better. I don’t think you should prolong it, Lea, Christmas is in three days. If you’re actually sure about this guy in Italy, then you have to tell Jack. He deserves to know the truth. And,” She went on, “It’s also what would be the best for you. You need your freedom, your real freedom.” She paused then went on, “And whatever happens, Lea, I’ll be here.”

  “You know,” Lea said, “I never thought you were that smart…” She told Candice, “Thank you.”

  Candice laughed, “Well, you needed your big sister’s help…Even if I don’t act like one the whole time.”

  Lea laughed, “No,” Lea said, “You were always the big sister. And I’m glad you are…” She went on, “Thanks, C…”

  “Anytime…” Candice said, “You’re phone bill’s probably big now…”

  Lea laughed, “I’ll see you.” She said.

  Candice laughed, “In what? Ten years? You sure don’t wanna go back here.”

  Lea laughed, “You’ll see,” She said, “Bye, C…Cross your fingers for me.”

  “I will.”

  And then, the conversation ended. But it didn’t matter. What matters to Candice was that she got her sister back—even if she was a thousand miles away.

 

  Beautiful but Dysfunctional

  Jack came home that day with a smile on his face. He kissed Lea hello and he asked her how her day was. She did the same thing. And then
he got something out of his pocket. A necklace.

  “What is that?” Lea asked.

  Jack laughed, “I know it’s not Christmas yet but I wanted to give you this because…Because I love you and I’m glad you’re back.”

  “No, Jack, don’t…”

  “Lea,”

  “Will you listen to me?” Lea asked him, “Please?”

  Jack sat down beside her, “Sure.” He said, “Is something wrong?”

  “Jack, I wanna say sorry for everything. For all the pain I ever caused you, for running away…”

  “Lea,”

  “You didn’t deserve that. You deserved a proper ending, that’s what I’m gonna do now.”

  “Lea, what—“ Jack said and she saw fear etched on his face.

  “When I left you five years ago, it was because I was lost. It was because I didn’t know if I did the right thing, If marrying you was the right thing. And I thought about it and realized so many things…” She started to cry, “I married you because I thought I loved you, I was so smitten over all that whirlwind romance stuff and…And I needed a reason to be away from Boston.” She went on, “You’re a wonderful guy, Jack, you’re sweet, romantic, you’re…perfect, and believe me, when I left you, it wasn’t because there was someone else…”

  “I believe that, Lea, you don’t have to feel guilty…”

  “I’m not, Jack,” She told him, “But you have to know something. You have to know why I came back…”

  “Sweetheart,”

  “Jack,” She said and the next few words came out easily, “I’m in love with someone else. I’ve been in a relationship with someone else in Italy for the past two years. That was why I came here…I’m asking for a divorce.”

  Jack looked at Lea, the girl he loves, stunned. He didn’t know what to say. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and looked at her before speaking.