December (The Page Sisters Book 1) (8 page)

T
HE
P
RESENT

I stare at my cell. It sits flat on my stomach. I lie back in my bed in my dark room. I’ve had it off all day. I know Danny has called. Josh is right. I don’t know how to handle responsibility and I do avoid confrontation by hiding.

I don’t know why I do the things I do sometimes. My brain tells me to do the practical things in life, to not make a mess out of things. But my heart says fuck it, let’s not be practical, let’s get messy, let’s dig deep and explore this mess and pain until it starts to make sense again.

After powering on my phone, I watch the missed calls, text messages, and voicemails stack up.

Danny called three times. My sisters January and July called once and they both left messages. Gray has texted me too many times to count. And May’s name pops up.

I slide my finger across the screen and press the phone to my ear. “Hello, my sweet honey-pie.”

“Hello, my little pooh bear. I need a major favor. Are you down to babysit tonight?”

“Of course. You know I love Bliss. I’m so down.”

“Thanks. Miles wants go out tonight. Date night, I guess.”

“No problem. I should be there within the next fifteen minutes.”

“I owe you.”

“Just put it on my tab,” I tease.

It doesn’t take me long to get to my sister’s house. No matter how grown we are, we never leave this small town. July and I are the only ones still living at home. My mother doesn’t want to let go and we’re the only single ones left.

May stays with her husband Miles and their daughter in a huge stunning glass and stone house on a hill. January has a townhouse that I hope to God she’s not sharing with Luke.

Bliss runs to me when I step into the spacious white marble foyer. Her arms are flailing and windmilling with glee, her dark chocolate-colored curls bouncing in the air, and her glittering hazel eyes wide and expanding. She jumps and I catch her in my arms, holding her tightly to me.

“Auntie December,” she says, joyously wrapping her small arms around my neck.

“My snuggle muffin,” I say, showering her face with kisses. “I’ve missed you.”

“I miss you, too,” she giggles when I tickle her.

“Okay. She’s already had her bath and she already ate dinner. But there are snacks in the pantry if she gets hungry. No chocolate and nothing sweet or with sugar,” my sister warns, shrugging on her black pea coat.

“Gotcha, boss,” I reply.

“No chocolate, Bliss,” May says sternly to her daughter, who is pouting but nodding.

“Okay.”

Miles strides into the foyer, in a dark posh suit. His light brown eyes are gleaming. “How are you, December?”

“I’m great.” I stare at my sister in her ruby-red cocktail dress and sleek expensive heels, then back at Miles in his fitted suit. “You guys look like a million bucks. Where are you both headed?”

“Somewhere special,” Miles says through a smile, his doting eyes aimed at May. “I want to take my wife out. Treat her to a night out on the town.”

“He has me all dolled up as you can see,” she replies, gesturing to her expensive clothes with a little horror in her tone.

I nod, liking her dolled up. May is the loving hippie of our family. She’s always in something loose and flowy. She has a bohemian style. May isn’t a big believer in material goods. She rather enriches people’s lives with gifts from the heart, presents of soul value. She’s unbelievably stunning and it’s her natural beauty. Sometimes it feels as if the sunshine itself filters through her pores. May doesn’t wear any trace of makeup unless she’s out with Miles at some event where the rich and famous parade around. She also has the soul and knowledge of an elder three times her years. May is patient and understanding and loving. She’s nurturing. She’s our family’s rock. May is our foundation. I think that’s why May and Miles work so well together. Miles is Mr. Moneybags. He’s into luxury homes, foreign cars, and designer suits. He’s into Hollywood and the glitz and glamour of that side of the business. Miles does it well. He does it exceptionally well, with his handsome dark looks, it’s like he was born to be in a suit. But May keeps him grounded. 

“You look great,” I assure. “And please do not rush on my account. I brought my work uniform just in case you needed me to stay the night. I mean, I do have my own room over here and I think it’s about time I put it to use.”

“I owe you,” my sister says, hugging the life out of me.

“We owe you,” Miles adds, joining the hug. He wraps his arms around both of us, then looks at me with a question in his gaze. “Why didn’t you accept that Bentley I got you on your birthday?”

My sister and I both stare up at him like he’s lost his mind. “Why the hell would I? I’m a zookeeper, not a socialite. It’s not practical for my lifestyle. But thanks anyway.”

We all break apart and he shakes his head, smiling. “One of these days, December, you will graciously accept something I give you.”

“I doubt it,” I say, smiling not-so nicely at him.

He mutters something under his breath, fighting another smile.

“Oh,” May starts, “Danny’s going to stop by to get those healing crystals I left for him. He’s been having trouble sleeping at night.”

My brows snap together. “Danny’s coming by?”

“Uncle Dan is the best,” Bliss chimes in.

“Yeah, he’s coming by to pick up the crystals. I left them on the counter, next to the jars of herbs in the living room.”

“Does he know I’m here?”

“Um, yes,” Miles says, then he glances down at his golden wristwatch. “Baby, we have to be on the road.”

“Remember no chocolate or sugar,” May warns again while Miles pulls her out the front door.

Bliss smiles at me when they leave and asks, “Can I have a chocolate pudding cup?”

I lift me brows, already grinning. “Just one.”

“Yippy!” she shouts. “Let’s race to the kitchen and then we can eat pudding cups in my room while we watch Frozen.”

I put her down and we race to the kitchen.

She wins and I grab the entire Snack Pack, which includes four chocolate pudding cups. Bliss opens the drawer and snatches up two spoons, then she opens the fridge, stands on her tiptoes and grabs two juice boxes.

Chocolate.

Check.

Sugar.

Check.

Chocolate and sugar.

Double check.

May is going to kill me.

It doesn’t matter because my six-year-old niece totally owns me.

My death will be well worth it.

She gathers the juices in her arms, smiling massively at me. “Now we race to my room, Auntie December.”

Narrowing my eyes, I pretend to regard her seriously. “You’re on.”

On the count of three we jolt up the stairs and run to her bedroom. Her bedroom is very girly and mostly baby-blue in color with Frozen character stickers plastered on every wall, except her bed. Bliss jumps on her pink princess bed, bouncing up and down. She looks adorable in her blue (Frozen) girly gown. “I won. I won. You’re slow, Auntie,” she laughs.

“I know,” I sigh. “I blame the old kneecaps. You get the sheets warmed while I put the DVD in.”

“That’s sounds good,” Danny says.

I jerk my head back, staring at Danny in his black T-shirt, jeans, and boots. “Uncle Danny,” Bliss shouts at the top of her lungs. She hops off the bed and almost flies to him. I’m sort of jealous that Danny gets the bigger, more joyous, grander greeting. But that is to be expected. He’s been gone for four years.

He’s all gums when he smiles down at her. “Baby bird,” he greets in a soft tone that turns my insides into jelly. Danny catches her in his arms, tossing her up and down in the air.

She giggles uncontrollably, clasping his face in her tiny hands. “We’re gonna watch Frozen, eat chocolate pudding cups, and drink juice. You wanna watch it with us?”

He holds her close and they both rub their noses together tenderly like it’s their secret greeting. My belly warms and my heart sighs. I feel myself slowly smiling at them. What is it about seeing a strong man being affectionate and loving towards babies and children? It has to be me some weird mix of hormones and biology, telling women, “This man will be the perfect father and you shall bare all of his children.”

Because that’s how I feel right now.

“Are you gonna stay with us?” Bliss asks, squishing his cheeks together.

“Absolutely,” he answers. “I’m all yours.”

“Yippee!”

“All right. Let’s get this movie going,” I say, powering on the DVD player.

We all cuddle close on her bed. Bliss is between me and Danny. I avoid looking at him at all costs. I focus all my energy on eating pudding cups and sucking back fruit punch through the mini straw. Not even twenty minutes into the movie, Bliss gets up to belt out the song playing on the screen. Bliss sings every song, word for word that plays. She gives me and Danny a show, outperforming all the animated actors on screen.

She demands we watch it again once it goes off. I replay it, but Bliss doesn’t pay any attention to the movie. She pulls out her little girl makeup kit and begins painting my face in wild and bright colors.

“Uncle Danny, I’m getting her ready for you,” she says, applying glittering blue lipstick to my lips. I make a sour face. The chalky blue lipstick tastes of plastic artificial blueberries.   

“Really? What is she getting ready for?”

“It’s your wedding day. Duh. You guys are getting married and I’m gonna be the flower girl.”

His buttery eyes shift to me. Danny bares his molars triumphantly and I roll my eyes. “Of course. How could I forget that tonight is our wedding night?”

“Oh yeah,” Bliss says, putting the tube of lipstick down. She takes Danny’s hand and tugs him out the room. “C’mon. I have to get you dressed in one of Daddy’s suits and you can’t see the bride get ready. It’s bad luck.”

“This is a little much, Bliss,” I caution. “He doesn’t have to get all dressed up. We can just get married like this.”

Her eyes widen and she looks at me like I’m crazy. “No. He has to wear a suit and you have to wear a white dress. Mommy has the perfect white dress for you. Just stay where you are and I’ll bring it back to you after I get Danny dressed.”

“Yes ma’am.”

His eyes lock on mine and surge of longing shoots through me. “See you soon, wifey.”

It’s cute that he’s playing along with Bliss’s little game. I’ll give him that. “See you soon, hubby.”

He winks as she drags him out the door.

I stare blankly at the wall, knowing I’m going to regret our fake wedding sometime later. My phone vibrates, pulling me from my thoughts. I answer it. It’s Josh. “Hey.”

“Hey,” he says softly. “I was worried. I told you to call me when you got home.”

“Oh. Sorry. I had my phone off all day. I’m fine, though.”

“Are you home?”

“No. I was. I’m at my sister’s house. May needed me to babysit.”

“How’s Bliss doing?”

“She’s good. In fact, she’s planning our fake wedding right now.”

“Whose fake wedding?” he questions, his voice low and aggravated. “Is Danny with you?”

“Yes,” I whisper into the phone.

“Strange I didn’t get an invite,” he says cruelly. “How I would have loved to be there.”

“Josh, don’t even start. This is just an innocent game. We’re indulging a six-year-old.”

“Tell me something, December. If he were to ask you, would you say no?”

I laugh humorlessly. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“That’s all I need to know,” he snaps, his words clipped. “Goodnight, December. Give the groom a kiss for me.”

“Josh—”

He disconnects.

My mouth hangs open as I stare down at my phone. “What the fuck?”

“Don’t say the F-word, Auntie December,” Bliss chides, laying a white flowy dress beside me on the bed. “It’s a bad word. Now put this on while I put my yellow dress on. I already have a basket full of roses. Their fake roses, but it should work as good as real ones.”

Pushing down my thoughts about Josh, I forge a smile and get dressed. Bliss adds more makeup and white butterfly barrettes in my hair. After, I stare at myself in the mirror. The Avatar-colored blue lipstick sticks out sorely, I have colorful glitter spread from temple to chin, and the butterfly clips are placed erratically all over my head like they’ve nested there for ages. I look a mess, but I love it.

“Are you ready?” Bliss asks, gathering her wooden basket that’s overstuffed with purple, pink, red, and blue fake rose petals. “Danny’s waiting for us downstairs.”

“Ready,” I say, shifting to facing her.

She smiles so broadly it’s a wonder her cheeks don’t ache. “You’re so beautiful, Auntie December. You look like a princess.”

“It has to be this gown,” I say, looking down at myself and gripping a handful of the tulle skirt. She has me in a white tulle and lace ball gown creation. This gown is the epitome of femininity and innocence. I look like I’m fresh off a Disney movie. I don’t know where my sister wore this to, if she ever wore it at all.