Page 29 of Just A Dash of Holiday Magic
Chapter 5
NIKKI
“Sweetheart,” Mom says, holding me in her arms. “I can’t understand you when you are crying like this.”
“Did that boy hurt you?” Dad paces the length of the living room back and forth in front of us. “I knew I didn’t like that kid. I’m going to go—”
“Don’t you dare go anywhere, Stanley!” Mom calls after him.
He stops and turns back to us.
“He didn’t do anything wrong.” I sob. “He was going to ask me to marry him.”
“Today?” Both my parents ask in unison.
I shake my head. "No, when we were younger. But he never did. Instead, he let me leave for California when he found out I got into Stanford.”
When neither of my parents react, I stop crying and stare at one and then the other.
“So, he gave up what he wanted to let you pursue your dream?” Dad asks.
I nod.
“I knew I liked that boy.”
“Dad!”
“What? It takes a lot for someone to step back and let the one they love go.”
“I guess there is only one thing you can ask yourself, sweetheart.”
“What’s that?”
"What do you want now? It's clear that the torch he carried for you back then has never gone out. I think if you admitted to yourself what you truly want, I think you both would be happy.”
Do I love him?
My heart screamsyesto my brain the moment I ask myself the question. I’ve had an idea of what my life would be for so long that it never occurred to me that I could change the plans. I’d already been considering to change the direction my career was going when Diane made me the job offer yesterday. So why was I letting myself get caught up in not changing my plans when it came to being with Gabe?
A part of me thought that what I was feeling was all just nostalgic memories of what I felt back then, and not the same feeling resurfacing after I had tucked them away in a box so many years ago.
“I want Gabe,” I answer Mom.
“Good.” She wipes the tears from my cheeks. “Then go get him.”
The drive to Gabe’s house seems like an eternity until I finally pull up the long driveway. The lights are on in the house, but I don’t see any shadows.
“What if he refuses to open the door?” I ask out loud to myself. “No, don’t think that way.”
I get out of the car and walk up the path to his front door. I knock and wait, but he doesn’t answer. I lift my hand to knock again when the door swings open. Gabe doesn’t look happy to see me, and his eyes look as red as I’m sure mine do.
"What are you doing here?" he asks, his tone icier than the wind outside.
“I have to tell you something. Can I come in?”
Gabe sighs like he doesn’t want to but eventually steps aside to let me in. I don’t take off my coat. I don’t know how he is going to respond to what I’m about to say. He may just ask me to leave.
“I came over here because I thought a lot about what you said.” I pace nervously as Gabe just stands there without saying a word. “There is a lot I didn’t know about what went down between us, and I know that I broke your heart when I left. But I need you to know that my heart broke too. You were my first and only love, Gabe. And it wasn't until you saved me from that ditch that I realized that everything I felt for you back then is just as strong as what I feel for you today."
