Page 23 of Loving the Legend
“Yeah, and it has headlights and emits smoke. Come look up close,” Tommy replies, leading the way.
We weave through two cast iron metal frame armchairs with cream cushions and matching ottomans. He presses a button on the remote control to pause the train’s motion so that I can get a closer look. A large textured area rug cushions my knees as I squat in front of Gladys. The“Jingle Bells” melody comes on after he presses another button, making my eyes go wide.
“Cool, man! I got to cop one of these.”
“This set has over 50 pieces. Here, play around with it.” He passes me the remote and I go to town, trying out all the settings. There’s a button to reverse the train and another to light up each car with different colors.
I turn to wave goodbye to Leslie as he wishes us a Merry Christmas.
“Hold on,” Sid says. He swipes a thick envelope from off of the Nordic-style wooden coffee table adorned with a pine spruce garland, pinecones, and lit cream pillar candles. “Something for the family.” He extends the envelope to Leslie.
Leslie holds up his hands in refusal. “You already gave me a gift for the family.”
“Something more for the family then,” Sid counters.
Leslie shakes his head. “Sir, you’ve given me more than enough.”
“C’mon, Leslie, you know how stubborn Sid is. This will go on for hours. Take the gift,” Kieran pleads with a light-hearted voice from one of the two cream-colored L-shape couches, where he’s sitting cross-legged.
“Alright, then. Thank you. It’s an honor to have been under your employment another year,” Leslie says, voice earnest.
Sid shakes his hand. “The honor is all mine! Have a safe trip home, and give Taryn, Bernard, and Latoya my regards.”
“Will do! Call if you need anything. You’d be saving me from my in-laws,” Leslie replies, chuckling as he heads toward the door.
“Ty, I thought you were hungry. Wanna eat?” Sid asks.
I sigh and look at the train set that’s now blowing red smoke. “Eat food or keep playing with the train set? Decisions, decisions," I whisper, causing laughter around the room.
“How about you make a plate and eat it in front of the train set?” Kieran offers.
“Genius!” I exclaim, climbing to my feet. “Word on the street is there’s another one of those sweaters around here for me.” I’m ready to become immersed in Christmas cheer.
“C’mon. Sweater, food, then train set,” Sid lists.
I follow his muscular frame and ridiculously delicious scent up the stairs and to a second bedroom on the left.
“This is your room,” he says.
I thought I’d be stuck out in the guest house. It’s cool that Sid has me hunkered inside with his family. I recognize my bags on the dresser and a holiday sweater on the bed with a gift-wrapped box. I tour the room. There’s a massive bed, a marble ensuite bathroom, and a fireplace.
I whistle. “Man, fancy digs…a family of four could fit comfortably.” I nod to the bed.
“It’s an Alaskan king.”
I nod. I’ve never heard of it.
“This is dope.” I gesture to a large painting hanging next to the bed. “I want to build an art collection one day, but I honestly wouldn’t know where to start.”
He moves to stand next to me. “Wanna know my secret? I only purchase art that makes me feel good. I skip all pretenses. I stand before a piece of art and observe it. I pay attention to what comes up for me, and if it’s a feeling that I want to hold on to, I’ll buy it. Take this piece. What do you feel looking at it?”
Hmm. I take in the indigo-colored night sky and feel relaxed in the way nightfall brings. I peer at the golden stained-glass windows, and I imagine that if I could press my forehead against the glass, I’d see a lavish ball underway in a grand marble hall. There’d be brandy and champagne flowing, uninhibited dancing, tuxedos, cigar smoke, and evening gowns. Words like opulence, joy, and celebration come to mind. It reminds me of something…it’s on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t reach it.
“It makes me feel fancy but kinda loose and free too,” I say.
“That’s good.” He grins. “When I saw it for the first time, I thought of James Bond in a tuxedo, jacket off, sleeves rolled up, and tie loosened, sitting in a swanky bar sipping his martini, unwinding after some badass adventure. He’s surrounded by gorgeous company.”
“Vivid." I imagine Sid as James Bond. He’d sell out theaters.
