Going Home for Christmas Read online

  GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

  BY

  E.A. STRIPLING

  Copyright 2019 © E.A. Stripling

  Editor: L. Austen Johnson

  Cover art from Shutterstock

  Cover design by L. Austen Johnson

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations and other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at [email protected].

  GenZPublishing.org

  Aberdeen, NJ

  TO MY THREE SONS

  WHO REMIND ME OF THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

  <3

  MOMMY LOVES YOU

  Going Home for Christmas

  Rolling my eyes, I logged into my computer and braced myself for the hate mail awaiting me in my email inbox. It was time to face the music. I had hidden for most of the month; it was only a matter of time until my family found me. As I scrolled through all the junk mail, I stopped at the email I was anticipating—an invitation to the annual family Christmas party. Of course, it was more of a party for them and then it was for me. No matter what I did, my mother and sister would find some way to make me feel beneath them. It was probably because I actually worked for a living and enjoyed it instead of marrying for money. Even though I told myself every year that I wouldn’t let them get to me, they always did. For once I would’ve just liked to enjoy the holidays.

  As sad as it might sound, not only have I been avoiding emails, but I’ve been dodging my mailbox and screening my phone calls too, avoiding any form of communication that could remind me of the dreaded event. Sometimes I would look up getaway cabins in the mountains or even a singles’ cruise with the bright idea that maybe just maybe this year I could miss the family festivities and go somewhere alone. I already planned my speech for later when they asked me where I was. I could say I never got the invitation and figured we weren’t having the party this year. Stupid, I know, since they had been hosting this party since before my birth, but I was trying.

  But now here I was sitting staring at the invitation in my email. I had known it was going to be there, so why did I even log on? I could log off and pretend I never saw it. Technically, I didn’t. I just saw an email from my sister. It could be about anything.

  I logged out of my computer entirely and slowly backed away from it. I need a drink. Letting out a sigh, I turned to head to the kitchen. I just about jumped out of my skin when I saw my sister standing at the doorway of my apartment. Her hazel eyes boar into me as she walked into the foyer.

  “Hey, little sister.” She frowned walking towards me.

  Or at least I think she was frowning. Who knew anymore? When she wasn’t harassing me, my sister got plastic surgery so often it was like part of her daily morning routine. I have lost count of how many times my sister has made little comments about me aging trying to get me to join her for a nip/tuck. But I personally prefer not looking like a feline.

  “Hello, Cecilia, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I rolled my eyes already knowing why she was here.

  I could ignore the email, but my mom has sent her henchman after me. All five foot two of her thin body puffed up.

  “Came to see how you were. Good to see you alive,” she huffed, looking around my apartment in disgust.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked

  “Well it is very unlike you to not answer or return moms calls, and as you know, the invitations for the Christmas party have been sent out, and we have yet to get your RSVP.”

  “Why is it again that I need to RSVP to my own family’s party? I mean we do it every year with all the same people, same location, same everything,” I questioned, rolling my eyes again.

  “Just to make sure you are coming and if you are…bringing anyone” She smirked almost as if to say yeah, right.

  “For your information” I started to say.

  She put her hands up, “Save it. Don’t even try to pull this, ‘oh, as a matter of fact I am bringing someone,’ bull with me. We don’t need another one of your gay best friends that you are trying to pass off as your boyfriend like you did a few years ago.”

  Bitch, I thought to myself, looking at her like I could smack the fake lashes right off of her face.

  After a pause, I said, “I would have you know I have been seeing someone.”

  We broke up months ago, but she didn’t need to know that. I was still trying to lick the wounds of that failed relationship. I actually let him move in and watching him move right back out was a pain I never experienced before. I eventually had to move because every time I found one of the items he had left behind or remembered a memory we shared in that apartment it felt like the day he left all over again.

  “Oh yes, Travis?” My sister smirked.

  “Yeah?” Travis said as he walked in the apartment from behind my sister. I never thought I would see him again. It took me a moment to register that he was actually real.

  “What are you doing here?” I gasped trying not sound to pathetic in front of my sister.

  Travis looked at me in shock and then back at my sister. He seemed just as confused as I was. He walked to her side standing next to her. The familiarity between them making me feel uneasy.

  “Babe?” Travis looked at my sister questioningly.

  “Are you dating my sister?” I blurted it out no matter how hard I tried to keep it in.

  “Your sister?” He asked in shock looking back and forth between the two of us.

  “Do you guys know each other” She lied trying to look just as confused, but I could see her smile on the side of her overly injected lips.

  “Um, we dated earlier this year. Is that going to be a problem?” He questioned becoming nervous

  She looked at me and gave me a quick wink.

  “Why would it matter? It wasn’t like we were in love.” I huffed waving them off and walking into my kitchen.

  I leaned against my sink and let out a breath. Yeah it wasn’t like we were in love. I was in love and he was…I don’t know what he was doing. All I know is one day he looked at me and said that this…us…wasn’t working for him anymore. He felt that I was getting too attached and wanted more than he was willing to give. And then he moved out.

  But now here he was. Only a few months later. Calling my sister babe. The thought made me sick to my stomach.

  I took a glass out of the cabinet behind me and filled it with water, then downed it quickly. My sister walked into the kitchen. I couldn’t look up at her. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing she got to me. Instead I started pulling out pots and pans, acting as if I were going to start dinner.

  “Are you guys staying for food?” I questioned trying hard to keep my voice from crackling.

  “I am really sorry about Travis. I thought he was just your roommate.” She explained

  I inhaled, standing up and finally facing her. “Sure, you did, but it really doesn’t bother me. Old news.”

  “If you want me to stop seeing him I will.”

  “Cecilia,” her name almost burning my tongue just saying it, “I really don’t care. Like I just said, it was months ago. We have both moved on. And you’re right, it was more of a roommate thing than anything else,” I lied.

  “Ok good because I really like him,” she squealed.

  No, she liked his money. Travis and his family were loaded. That was one of the things we fought about the most. His want to buy everything, to buy me. Well he wouldn’t have that problem with my sister. She would suck him dry until she found someone richer to sink her fangs into. Hope he enjoyed it while he
could.

  “So, what are you guys doing here again?” I asked.

  “Like I said, we came to check on you and bring you back home for the Christmas party.”

  “I can find my own way, I promise.”

  “It is already taken care of; our flight leaves in the morning. We will be staying near the airport. Just meet us there around nine tomorrow morning,” she said.

  “What, you’re not taking his private jet?” I teased

  “Does he have one?” She got excited and ran out of the kitchen.

  She reappeared moments later jumping up and down in excitement.

  “You were right! We are taking his jet,” she giggled.

  “I’m not.”

  “Of course, you’re not. Here these are the tickets mom and dad bought us to come back.” She threw two airline tickets at me. “Bring the guy you’re seeing. I know everyone will be excited to meet him. I am so glad you will not be alone again in a group full of couples. “

  I took the tickets as she gave me a half assed hug and an air kiss on each cheek before leaving the kitchen. Moments later, I heard the front door close. I needed to get my key back from her when I got back home tomorrow. Even thinking those words made my heart sink. I looked down at the two round-tip, first-class tickets in my hand. Why did I have to say I was seeing someone? What am I going to do now? So many questions flooded my head but there was one thing clear…I was going home for Christmas.

  I mean who was I really kidding? I knew I was going. At least I didn’t have to buy my ticket. I looked at the pots and pans on the stove, contemplating whether or not I should actually make dinner. Yeah, no. I had lost my appetite completely. Putting everything away, I went back to my room and started to pack.

  Dread filled my body with every article of clothing I placed in my bag. I was getting more and more upset thinking about how the weekend was going to go. I needed to stop. I picked up my phone and started to text my best friend Ivy. Better yet, I needed to see her. I quickly sent her a text that I was coming over. She lived just below me, so I didn’t have to go far, and I left without caring how I looked. Once I was on the elevator, I immediately regretted it. There stood a group of guys I had never seen before. They looked at me, but I couldn’t make out if the expression on their face was disgust or worry. Wrapping my arms around myself I remember that I wasn’t wearing bra. Great, I could feel my face get flushed as I squeezed myself harder.

  “Excuse me,” one of the men said, extending his arm in front of me and pushing a button on the elevator panel.

  I didn’t even notice that we weren’t moving. He pushed the button again, and the elevator made a strange sound but still did not go up, down, or even open its doors. Great! I put in a complaint about this elevator weeks ago, and it looked like they still had not gotten around to fixing it. We were stuck. Luckily in the past it hasn’t been longer than a few minutes for the elevator to get its shit together.

  “Are we stuck?” One of the men asked.

  “Fucking great,” another huffed.

  “Well, we wouldn’t be in this mess if you got the directions right for once,” the third growled.

  They continued to argue as I rolled my eyes, looking up at the ceiling praying that it would all be over soon. The elevator made another noise. Finally, here we go. However, it didn’t start moving. Shaking my head, I picked up the elevator phone and started calling downstairs to the front desk. They were already used to the elevator breaking down, so they apologized and promise to page the maintenance man.

  “What did they say?” One of the men asked from behind me.

  “Maintenance will be here soon to let us out.”

  “Okay great, thank you,” I heard another one says behind me.

  I nodded not turning around.

  “Does this happen a lot?”

  Again, I nodded.

  “Does it usually take long?” They continued to ask.

  I didn’t answer. It was like being stuck with impatience children asking if we were there yet.

  “Hello?” One said tapping my shoulder.

  “Yo, leave her alone. Maybe she isn’t all that there. I mean look how she is dressed. Ma’am do you need help?”

  I looked down at my sweatpants and beat up college shirt. Okay I didn’t look like I could walk the runaway, but my outfit also didn’t scream hospital escapee. I ignored them.

  “Oh, man, it would be our luck to be trapped in an elevator with some crazy chick,” one of the men whined.

  “Have you ever thought that maybe you’re just annoying her, and she doesn’t want to talk to you?” A deep voice I had not heard yet said.

  This time I did turn around and saw there were four men. Four men, three of them were looking around seemingly panicked as the fourth rested on the wall of the elevator with his arms folded across his chest. I looked him up and down not remembering the last time I saw someone who looked so dangerously sexy. He wore faded jeans with rips in them, black boots, and a black tank top that displayed muscular and overly-tattooed arms. The more I studied him, I saw it wasn’t only his arms that were decorated but also his neck, and I could see another tat peaking from the top of the tank covering his chest.

  I needed to stop staring. I went to turn around when the elevator jolted and sent me flying back toward him. I didn’t want to have that awkward closeness, so I moved my body a little to the side and ended up smacking right into the side wall of the elevator. Yeah that was much better, I thought to myself as I fell to the ground feeling the whole elevator spinning.

  “Hey are you okay?” I heard the tattooed god ask me.

  I went to speak but instead everything went black.

  “Hey, are you okay?” I heard a deep voice ask again as I slowly came back too. Everything around me was still blurry, but I could tell that we were outside of the elevator still on my floor.

  “Should I call the ambulance?” I could hear Ivy ask in the background.

  “No, I am okay,” I finally managed to say

  “Let’s get you up,” The deep voice spoke again and then I felt my body lifted.

  I looked up, and we locked eyes. Lost in his blue eyes for a moment, I forgot to speak.

  “Well maybe we might want to get them here to check her out, it looks like she is having a hard time focusing,” he said scanning my face.

  “No, no, I am fine,” I quickly said, getting a grip and moving to get out of his arms.

  He placed me down slowly. Ivy hurried to my side.

  “Thank you for your help,” I said not looking up at him.

  “No problem.”

  Ivy and I walked quietly to my apartment and waited until the door was close.

  “Who the hell was that?!”

  “I have no idea!” I laughed.

  “You should have let him come in and play doctor.” She giggled.

  “Oh, yeah, whatever.” I smiled shyly.

  I went into my kitchen and poured myself some water to take some migraine medicine. I could feel a massive headache coming. Ivy walked into the kitchen and leaned on the counter in front of me.

  “So, what happened? I was surprised to hear from you. I figured you would be packing for the trip to the motherland,” she teased.

  “I honestly do not think you are ready for this” I shook my head taking the pills.

  ####

  After Ivy peeled her jaw off the floor and promised me not to go after my sister, she left. Again, I was left with my own thoughts and the task of finishing packing for a trip I didn’t want to take. Every time I went toward my room, I felt a panic in my heart. Finally, I decided to just take whatever I had packed, and if I needed anything extra, I knew my mother would provide clothing, because she always hated what I brought anyway.

  I slowly dragged my bag to the front door for the morning. I was about to turn around and head to the shower when I heard someone knocking on my door. I tiptoed to the door and looked through the peephole. It was the tattooed Hercules from earlier.
r />   “I already know you’re there—just came by to see how you were,” he said on the other side.

  I opened the door.

  “Hey, I’m fine. Thanks for stopping by and checking on me.” I faked smiled to hide my embarrassment.

  He smiled back. “Glad to hear it. I am new to the building and wanted to introduce myself properly.”

  “Oh, well, welcome to the building. I just moved in myself a few months ago. You are really going to like it here.”

  “Yeah, I think I will. I’m Ray by the way.” He extended his hand to me.

  I placed my hand in his, “Alexia. People just call me Alex.”

  There was an electricity between us that left me speechless. There I stood with my hand in his. Not shaking it or taking it back, literally just my hand in his. He looked down at my hand, and I followed his eyes before quickly taking it back with a shy smile.

  “I’m having a small party at my apartment if you and your friend would like to come by,” he offered.

  “I have an early morning flight, and I am forcing her to drive me, so maybe next time. Thank you for the invite though.” I blushed. I really needed to snap out of it

  “I am headed to the airport myself in the morning if you would like a ride. What time do you have to be there?” He asked.

  Okay, is this dude really that friendly or is he trying to kidnap me? I quickly pushed that thought away. I needed to stop watching so many human trafficking documentaries.

  “My flight leaves around nine,” I answered slowly

  “I have to be there at ten so if you want the ride…” He leaned against my door frame scanning my body up and down.

  I nervously tucked my hair behind my ear.

  He shrugged. “I promise I am just a nice guy trying to help a neighbor out. It was how I was raised.”

  “That’s sweet, but I already harassed my friend into taking me, so I don’t want to all of the sudden say ‘never mind.’ But when I get back, maybe we can get coffee or something.” I shocked myself by my words at the end. Did I just ask him out so nonchalantly?