by Alexa Davis
Dad nodded gruffly, looking back at me in the rearview mirror. “I’m glad to have you home, sweetheart.”
I sank back into my seat and sighed, tugging lightly on the button of my jacket.
“So, tell me about this party,” I inquired nervously. “How fancy are we talking? Am I going to have to buy a dress or something?”
Mom just laughed. “I already have one picked out for you in the closet. Trust me; it’s perfect.”
Perfect for what?
“You should give Max a call when you get the chance. I know he’s been swamped with work and could probably use the company.”
I smiled at the thought of my goofball brother, who was always getting into trouble. We had our differences from time to time, but he had always had my back when I needed it. I loved him for that. I’ll admit he had some interesting taste in friends, but that was his issue to deal with, not mine.
“Sure, I can do that,” I nodded in agreement.
We fell into comfortable silence for a while as Dad drove the winding streets of Akron. The city was dusted white and twinkling with holiday decorations. It was hard not to smile at the cool serenity of the winter season.
Mom pointed out some of the construction projects that had happened while I was away and a few businesses that had flourished. Dad was more reserved and listened quietly to her story.
Soon, we approached the neighborhood I recognized, with the brick sign placed in the road divider. I’d never considered my parents rich, but it was undeniably upper-class. I didn’t realize when we were growing up how fortunate I’d been. That’s one of the reasons I was so desperate to find a job: I didn’t want to disappoint them.
I rested my head against the glass and watched the headlights from the oncoming traffic on the freeway. It was calm and quiet for the first time since boarding the plane this morning. I was tired and looking forward to climbing into bed once we got home.
A few minutes later, we pulled into the driveway of my parents’ house, with white Christmas light hanging down along the roof. It looked exactly the same as when I left. Freshly fallen snow had dusted across the roof and chimney, which was exactly how a Christmas should be. I’d spent the last four years in Tampa without the slightest hope of seasonally appropriate weather.
I stepped out onto the driveway, admiring the time and effort Dad had put into making the home look cheery. Mom walked around to the back of the car beside me and helped me lift my suitcase onto the ground. I was grateful to have worn my boots with sturdy tread on them when I skidded on some ice and almost fell into the snow bank.
“Whoa, there! Are you okay?” Mom asked.
“Yeah, it’s just been a while.”
Dad tucked his arm underneath mine to give me some stability and helped me over to the door. “Thanks, Dad.”
He nodded stoically and went back to get my suitcase. As I approached the door, dragging my wheeled suitcase behind me, I could hear the sound of barking from inside. When the door opened, our family dog, Maggie, jumped on top of me and put her paws up on my shoulders. "Hey, Mags! Who's a good girl?" I crooned.
Dad gave me a crooked smile when walking in behind me, carrying the rest of my bags in with him. "Looks like somebody has missed you."
"Oh, I missed her, too."
She licked my face affectionately as I moved her paws off my shoulder so I could put her on the ground. The old, white Labrador had been in our family since I started high school. She whimpered softly and brushed against my leg for petting until Mom came valiantly to my rescue and pulled her off by the collar.
"Come on, Maggie. Give Vanessa some space to breathe."
I smiled, readjusting the strap across my shoulder and looked out around the foyer. It was exactly the same way I remembered. White tile floors covered the entryway leading to a grand staircase that opened to the bedrooms. It always made me feel like Cinderella looking up at it.
I turned around at the sound of Mom and Dad coming in behind me with my suitcases tucked between their arms. “Here, let me get that,” I offered, slipping my arm between the handles of my carry-on bag. Mom assisted, by letting me slide it off her shoulder and breathed out a contented sigh. “Welcome back!”
The next morning, I was unpacking in the bedroom when there was a knock at the door.
Mom poked her head inside and smiled. “Good morning, hon. Mind if I come in?”
I glanced up from putting away the clothes and told her, “Sure.”
She came inside and looked around at all the things I had strewn across my bed. My delicate camera sat on the dresser in its case. “My goodness, you’ve certainly acquired some things while you were away.”
I nodded in agreement, looking up at the dormer window. “I might have to do some redecorating, though. It still looks like I’m in middle school.”
Mom chuckled, running her hand across the pink and white comforter my grandmother made when I was little. “Suit yourself, dear. You’ve grown up since then.”
I tried not to laugh and told her, “I think there’s still a bunch of makeup and body glitter hidden somewhere in the closet.”
“Well, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t need to bring all that to school,” she teased me playfully.
I smiled thinly at her joke but didn’t laugh.
Mom sat on the bed while I unpacked, watching me with a smile. She was the one person I could always talk to without fear of judgment. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” she asked me quietly.
With a tired sigh, I set the clothes down on top of the dresser and sighed before collapsing onto the bed beside her. “Dad’s right,” I told her honestly.
Mom just smiled and waited for me to continue.
“I need to get a job. I love you guys so much, but I have to get my own place soon. This isn’t going to work out long-term.”
“Sweetheart, we know that.”
“No, I don’t think you do,” I insisted firmly. “All my life, you and Dad taught me to be self-reliant and independent, so it’s a drain on my ego knowing that I can’t stand on my own two feet. It feels like an imposition, leeching off you and Dad. I’m a big girl. I should be able to take care of myself by now.”
“You’re our daughter,” she reminded me with a dimpled smile. “Take all the time you need. I know you’re ready to move on, but sometimes, you just need to let things happen when they happen.”
I nodded sadly, and she gave me a kiss on the forehead.
“Don’t you worry about a thing. Can I ask you a question, though?”
“Uh, sure.”
“What is it that you really want to do?” she asked me honestly.
I blushed and looked away from her embarrassed. “It’s silly.”
“No, it’s not! You’ve got more tenacity and drive than half the people your age. You can do anything you set your mind to. I really believe that.”
I smiled at the encouragement and said, “Okay, what I really want to do it open my own studio. I could book corporate events or photograph weddings. Oh!” I squealed getting excited at the thought of it. “I could even do baby pictures or engagement shoots. I would love that.”
As she listened to me talking, Mom’s smile widened even further. “Then that is exactly what we need to make sure happens.”
“Are you serious?”
“Deadly serious,” she insisted. “And, your father and I will help you. You’re going to need business cards and a website to get you started, after that, we can figure things out as we go.”
“Wow… Mom, I don’t know what to say.”
She grinned. “Would you like to see something that might make you feel a little bit better?”
I breathed out a sigh, placing my hands on my hips and nodded. “Yeah, I think I do.”
She got a mischievous twinkle in her eye and took me by the hand. I unfolded myself off the armchair and let her drag me over to the closet.
“Oh, you mean the dress?” I asked her curiously.
“Uh-huh!”
/> As she pulled me into the walk-in closet and pushed aside the hangers until I saw the most gorgeous teal blue fabric I had ever seen. I had to blink a few times, examining the cut and shape of the shiny, iridescent ballgown.
“What do you think?” Mom asked with a smile.
“It’s perfect.”
She gave me a one-armed hug and whispered. “I think it will bring out your eyes.”
I nodded, still in awe, as she patted me gently on the back.
“I’m going to make some lunch; are enchiladas still your favorite?”
I chuckled. “Of course, they are. You’re clearly not staying with the Christmas theme, I see.”
“Pooh on Christmas,” she told me with a wink. “My favorite daughter has finally come home from college, and I’m going to make her favorite meal.”
“Nice of you to say, considering I’m your only daughter,” I responded with a laugh. “But that’s really not necessary…”
“Enchiladas!” she exclaimed before disappearing down the hall.
I shook my head indulgently and started back on the task at hand, unpacking all my clothes. No matter what she said, I would never be okay with staying at their home.
Hopefully, I’ll find something soon.
Chapter 5
Adam
Sunday
I quirked an eyebrow, gazing at my reflection in the bathroom mirror as I folded the silk fabric of my tie around my neck. Years of experience wearing the damned things, and I still hated putting them on. Unfortunately, the party we were going to was formal attire, so that part of my wardrobe was inevitable.
A neat pair of clean gray towels hung from a rack on the wall beside me and reflected in the shiny black tile of the counter. It could have used a splash of color here or there, but for the time being, I was comfortable with the neutral choice. I mean, it’s not like I was expecting company.
I snickered at the thought of it. Having a lady caller, as my dad would have called it, was the last thing on my list of priorities.
The gift I’d picked out earlier was wrapped and sitting in a chair with a ribbon wrapped around it, just waiting for me to pick it up on my way out. It was the least I could do to thank the Butlers for their hospitality.
Max was like a brother to me, and he’d helped me through some rough times back in college. I was lucky to have him as a friend, and I reminded myself of that as I finished tying the final piece of my suit and grabbed the package before heading out the door.
Dad was expecting me to pick him up and bring him with me. The Butlers were old family friends of ours; we’d known each other since we were children and grew up together in the suburbs. He was probably looking forward to seeing them every bit as much as I was.
When I pulled up to my father’s house, he was waiting for me. “Adam! Good, you finally made it. I was wondering when you’d show up,” he exclaimed patting me firmly on the shoulder. I scoffed gently at the sight of his tacky Christmas sweater and just smiled in response.
“Sorry it took so long,” I apologized. “I had to stop and get something for our hosts.”
“Well, let’s not keep them waiting any longer,” he encouraged. “How are things at the new job?”
Dad was always worrying about my career choice, but I knew he wanted me to be happy. After all, I was his son. I’d always been referred to as a little version of him when I was growing up. I had the same mahogany brown hair he had, except his now sported silver streaks around the temples. I could have been the spitting image of him thirty years ago.
“Good,” I told him honestly. “In fact, I spoke with one of the partners Friday, and they complimented me on a job well done.”
“Good for you! I knew you’d do well there. Should we start heading out?”
“Sure,” I agreed enthusiastically. “Don’t forget your coat; it’s freezing out there.”
“Oh, right!”
He quickly grabbed a jacket from the hall closet and shrugged each arm into the sleeves. As soon as he was ready, I led him out toward the car and watched him lock up behind us. It was only a few blocks to the address we were headed, but far enough that I wouldn’t care to walk. Especially not in the snow.
Dad buckled himself into the passenger seat and turned to me with a smile as I started up the engine. “Thanks for taking me, son. It’s nice to know you’re not too cool to be seen around town with your old man.”
“No, problem,” I responded automatically. My stomach was all in knots, and my palms were sweaty with anticipation. God, what is happening to me?
“You know, Sarah would love to have you come by sometime for dinner,” he offered hopefully.
I snorted dryly, repulsed by the very idea of having dinner with my father and his girlfriend. I supposed it was safe to say I held a bit of resentment where she was concerned. I knew in a way I was just being selfish, but I couldn’t change how I felt about it. My fingers clenched unconsciously around the steering wheel, and I took in a slow breath, not sure how to avoid the uncomfortable topic. How can I get out of this?
My eyes glazed over, staring at the oncoming traffic.
Dad recognized the signs of my disapproval and pleaded with his eyes. “Adam, please. You’ve got to give her a chance sometime.”
“Well, sure. I know eventually that will happen, but why does it have to be now? I’ve got a lot on my plate.”
“You’ve been using that excuse for months now,” he reminded me.
He was right. I had been. But I just wasn’t ready to deal with it yet. “Alright, I promise to think about it.”
He gazed out the window next to me, quietly lost in thought. I couldn’t help but feel a guilty twinge for being cynical. I wanted him to be happy; ever since Mom died, he’d been in a state of perpetual mourning.
That was six years ago.
Sarah obviously filled the void that had been present in Dad’s life, but I couldn’t see myself swapping stories with him over his new girlfriend like I did with college buddies. The idea of my father dating was foreign, and frankly a bit uncomfortable. I understood why it was necessary, but had no desire to be a part of it. Now that they’d been together for a few months, it was getting harder and harder to avoid as a topic of conversation.
Sarah wasn’t trying to be a maternal figure to me, nor had she encroached on Dad’s life like some dictator trying to take over. She was just a woman. Maybe that was what made it worse: having to see my father as a person with romantic pursuits, instead of just a dad opposite a mom. It felt like an assault on the foundation of my self-worth, and I didn’t have the time or interest to digest it and become a new, more holistic human being.
“So, Max and I went to Bowling Green for the Men’s Club celebration,” I offered, hoping to change the conversation. I figured he would love to hear that I’m meeting people and socializing.
“That’s great, Son. I hope you boys had a nice time.”
I pulled up to the Butlers’ house along whole row of cars parked along the side. It was almost a block away from the house itself, but there didn’t appear to be any place else to park.
Dad shrugged and picked up the Christmas package from the seat behind me. “I guess we walk.”
I grunted an affirmation and opened the car door, stepping out into the snow. He and I walked the shoveled sidewalk silently, edging closer toward the Butlers’ home. It was lit up with white Christmas lights along the roof and colorful holiday wreaths hung on every window.
As we got closer, we could see the lights inside and the partygoers laughing in the foyer. Eventually, we made it to the steps, and I knocked on the wooden door. Max answered it with a smile and urged us both inside out of the weather.
“Adam!” Max greeted cheerfully. “Get in here. Glad you could make it. Please help yourself to some refreshments, make yourself at home. Mi casa es su casa.”
Dad shook Max’s hand and thanked him for the invitation before wandering off to find Max’s parents. I watched him over the heads of other gu
ests until he connected with Mr. and Mrs. Butler in the parlor. Mrs. Butler and her husband each hugged him with an enthusiastic greeting.
He seemed totally at ease, wandering around and mingling with the other guests. I immediately wished the skill to lay on the charm like that had been passed down. It was not that I was socially awkward, I just didn’t go out of my way to engage with people the way he did.
Max knocked me in the shoulder and said, “Hey, man. Are you zoning out on me again?”
“Yeah, sorry.” I apologized,
He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Oh, before I forget. Dad and I brought you something.”
I handed him the package I was holding, and he took it graciously. “Aw, thanks. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but that’s what the holidays are for. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you, too, bud,” Max repeated.
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it,” I replied, glancing around the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of his sister before she found me instead. “The place looks great.”
He just nodded. “Thanks.”
The open living space had been decorated with a giant Christmas tree, complete with lights and ribbons, and an elegant bough of green holly wrapped along the banister of the stairwell. Even the archways had been decked with mistletoe. It smelled like cinnamon, vanilla, and cranberries, sating my palate for some hors-d'oeuvres. I’m not sure where the Butlers picked it up from, but they sure knew how to throw one hell of a party.
“Whatcha looking for?” he asked me curiously. “Or should I say, who are you looking for?”
I whipped my head around and looked at him surprised. “What?”
Max grinned, tilting his head in a meaningful way toward the patio. “She’s outside, dimwit.”
I followed his gaze to where a blonde woman was standing by herself. Her back was to me, so I couldn’t make out her face, but if the back was anything to go by, I had hit the jackpot. The woman was gorgeous. She was wearing a shimmering, jewel-toned dress that hugged her figure perfectly. The curve of her waist was the perfect hourglass, and a cascade of long blonde hair tumbled down in shiny loose curls.