Page 23 of Under the Mistletoe

“Oh my god, Noelle, give your head a shake!” my father shouted as he paced back and forth.

“Dad, I know how I feel about him. I know how I feel when I’m with him, and I know how I feel when I’m not. I’d rather be with him.”

“Noelle, you are so impressionable. You don’t even know what love is.”

“I do! Mom, please, tell him,” I said, looking at her.

She sat looking away from me. Was she going to side with my father? What was all her talk about knowing what it was like when parents didn’t approve?

“Noelle, you’ve never been in love, so there is no way you can know what it is!” my father yelled.

“Whatever, Dad. If you can’t accept us as being together, then I am sorry, but there is no way I am going to be without the man I love.”

I walked over to my closet and pulled out my suitcase, rolling it over to the bed.

“What do you think you are doing?” my father questioned, watching me with curiosity.

“I’m packing my stuff. I’m leaving.”

“Jenelle, talk some sense into your daughter. I’ve had enough of this.”

My father left the room, leaving my mother and me alone. I looked at her, but all she did was stare back, shrugging her shoulders, not knowing what to do.

I walked over to my closet and grabbed a couple shirts, bringing them back over and folding them, placing them into my suitcase before going back over for more.

“If you have nothing to say, then you can go too, Mom,” I said, keeping my back straight and my head high, even though I felt like crumbling at the fact that they would not support me and my decisions. I’d guessed they’d both be disappointed. I never guessed they’d walk away from me.

My mother nodded, turned, and left the room, leaving me alone. What a Christmas this turned out to be I thought as I glanced at the pile of things I’d already placed in my suitcase and continued packing up, trying to remember everything I needed before I left the house in the morning.

Fourteen

Bentley

Christmas Day

I walked down the stairs and into the bar. It had been a long night. I’d come back here, buried myself in my apartment with a bottle of whiskey, drank until I passed out to quell the loneliness I felt. It worked, temporarily, because when I woke up this morning, I still felt empty inside.

I knew without a doubt that I’d never be able to have Noelle. I never should have even taken a taste of that sweet girl. Yet, somewhere inside of me, I’d thought that maybe, just maybe, Bruce would have heard me out. Listened to how I felt about Noelle, but my worst fear had come true. He cast me out instead.

I walked over to the only tree I had and switched the lights on, lighting up the corner of the bar. I looked down at the base of the tree where three presents lay. The only gifts I’d purchased were for the family who’d just cast me out. I should have worked harder to explain myself. I should have fought harder, perhaps even begged them, but that wasn’t my style.

I glanced out the window to see it was still snowing. The streets were quiet. No doubt everyone was spending time with their families.

I turned, feeling defeated, knowing she was gone and hadn’t spent the night in my arms and never would again, and made my way over to the bar.

I grabbed some bottles of booze from under the counter, changing out the empty ones for the new ones. Irritation and anger filled me. I should have fought for her. I should just go over there now, demand she come out to speak with me, and then whisk her away from her parents, back here. Instead, I shook the silly thought from my mind.

I flipped the radio on. Christmas music filled the bar. I wasn’t in the mood to listen to anything but needed and welcomed the distraction. Once I’d changed out the empty bottles, I grabbed the glasses and ran them through the dishwasher again. I didn’t open the bar tonight, but tomorrow the place would be in full swing, and I’d hoped doing some cleaning would take my mind off my troubles.

The next song that came on the radio had played that first night Noelle was in here, and memories flooded my mind. I’d had to have her; I’d wanted her in a way I’d wanted no one, and after it was all over, even now, I knew I’d never felt that way about anyone before. The more I thought about her and that night and all the other times we’d been together, the more I knew I couldn’t leave her there. I had to get her.

Twenty minutes later, keys in hand, I walked down the stairs and was about to shut the lights off when I looked up to see Noelle standing at the door. I rushed over, unsure how long she’d been out there, and unlocked the door. I grabbed her and pulled her inside, pulling her in for a hug. She was cold.

“What the hell? How long have you been out there?”

She shivered as she pulled away and slipped out of her coat. I glanced down at her feet to see her suitcase beside her.

“I’d have been fine. I walked here.” She shivered.

---