What the Heart Desires

by Jaime Derelle

A Christmas Romance Story

  Aura Hurley

  Chapter 1

  The early morning smelled fresh, a dozen people packing each street’s lane of the big city as they pursued their lifetime wishes. Getting their own house, getting out of hospital debts and loans, shopping without having to look at the price tag, proposing to your girlfriend, or even moving out from the city.

  Theresa Walton emptily stared out from the window, tentatively clicking the pen she had been holding all morning. The random click-clacking of the keyboards and the beeping of the phones calls could be heard from beyond the door of the office she was sitting in.

  She sat there, lost in her thoughts. The time ticked slower when you were not doing anything in particular.

  There was a knock at the door.

  “Come in,” Theresa said.

  The door swung open smoothly, followed by a woman who was in her late 20s, tied-up brown hair, spectacles, and multiple writing tools in one hand and a stack of papers in the other. She walked toward the desk and put the stack of papers in front of Theresa.

  “Good morning, Carissa. How are you?” Theresa asked casually.

  “Not much editing is necessary for the content so far. When can I be expecting the next chapter?” Carissa said. She took off her spectacles.

  Theresa Walton was a successful writer and author for her publishing company. Her company had helped her publish several books that she wrote and had made them bestsellers. Carissa was an editor and content evaluator who was assigned to evaluate Theresa’s incoming manuscripts.

  Theresa chuckled.

  “You’ll have it when it’s done, Carissa,” Theresa said as she stood up.

  Carissa nodded.

  Theresa searched through her bag and took out her wallet as Carissa walked out slowly.

  “Going somewhere?” Carissa asked in her usual inquisitive tone as she put her spectacles back on.

  “I’m going out for coffee. You want to join me?” Theresa answered as she shut her office door.

  “I can’t. I still have some work to finish before lunch, unlike someone I know.” She grinned and walked back to her desk across the cubicles.

  Theresa put her hand over her mouth in mock surprise.

  After getting her coffee, Theresa went back to her office. Her pen hovered over the blank sheets as she contemplated what to write.

  She stayed in that position for a few seconds as she tried to figure out what she was going to pour onto the paper.

  The time showed 4:52 PM and most of the employees had left, while Theresa was still sitting in her office, looking down at the streets and the traffic that coursed through it.

  The door opened, and someone came in.

  “Plan on staying overnight?” She said.

  Theresa involuntarily tensed up and turned around.

  “Gwen.” Theresa eased her shoulders as she found that it was only Gwen.

  “I was just finishing up.” Theresa continued as she grabbed her file holder.

  Gwen was the director of the publishing company Theresa is working at, and a close friend of Theresa’s. They had been friends ever since they were in high school. She had been the one because of whom she had joined this company.

  “Heading straight home?” Gwen asked.

  Theresa nodded to her. They both took the elevator down to the ground floor. Gwen accompanied Theresa to where her car was parked.

  “Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow, ‘Kay?” Gwen said.

  “Okay, bye,” Theresa replied as Gwen shut her door.

  Upon Theresa’s arrival to her house, she saw Robert’s car, parked in front.

  ‘How long has he been there? He didn’t call.’ Theresa thought to herself. She honked, and Robert honked back.

  She drove her car into the parking spot next to her front garden. She turned the car off and took her things as she got out of her car and locked it.

  Robert came out of his car the same time as she did. She walked slowly to her front door as Robert walked toward her.

  She walked into the house, followed by Robert. Theresa put her keys on the table next to the front door and took all of her stuff from Robert so that he can close the door. Robert was tried in vain to grasp her waist but she shimmied out of his hold and walked straight to the living room. She had better things to do than romance.

  Theresa sat on the sofa and put all of her stuff on the desk.

  “How was work?” Roberts asked as he closed the door.

  Robert Williams was Theresa’s boyfriend. They had been seeing each other for two years. Rob was younger than Theresa. It was typically against Theresa’s principle to date someone younger, but after they had started seeing each other, Rob appeared very promising and was a cause for some of the stability in her life.

  “Hectic. I need to finish this one as soon as possible so that I can start a new one.” Theresa replied sorely.

  Robert sat next to her and leaned closer, but Theresa was occupied with her own matters. She planned on continuing her work. He patted her shoulder.

  “Yes?” Theresa responded, but her attention was fixed on the stack of papers in her hand.

  Robert tried to angle her face away from the stack of sheets and kiss her but she resisted.

  “Not now, Rob. I’m busy.” Theresa shook her head away from Robert.

  Robert’s mood deflated. He stood up and walked to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and took out a can of grape juice and a slice of leftover pie.

  “So are we going tonight?” Robert asked while he was still munching the food in his mouth.

  Theresa didn’t recall anything about going out tonight, but then she refrained from giving him proof of her forgetfulness by contradicting him.

  Robert sat back on the couch next to Theresa.

  “I’m going home.” Robert taunted her.

  Theresa only mumbled to herself and scribbled on the paper. Robert snatched away the paper Theresa was writing on, astonishing her.

  “Robert! It’s not the time for games. I’m busy.” Theresa strongly explained.

  “Do you think this is a game for me?” Robert raised his voice, and he looked very upset. His earlier mood had given rise to anger.

  “What happened to you?” Theresa asked in confusion seeing her boyfriend act so unusually.

  “Tell me the last time we went out for dinner,” He asked.

  Theresa was stammered by the question Robert threw at her. She admitted to herself that she had been busier lately. Even so, being busy paid the bills. Theresa was confused to the point where she really has no idea what he was mad about.

  “You can’t, can you? Because all you know is writing and writing!” Robert started to shout.

  “What are you talking about?” Theresa was startled.

  “All you care about is your writing!” Robert continued.

  Theresa was stunned into silence but then her own anger built up.

  “Where does this come from? You know what, Robert? I think you need some air.” Theresa indicated for him to leave.

  "Yeah, definitely, I need some air." He stood up and grabbed the papers filled with Theresa's ideas and writings.

  "Rob, what are you doing?" Theresa was unable to contemplate what he was trying to do.

  Theresa stood up next to him and reached out her hand, telling Robert to return her papers.

  Robert looked at Theresa with resentment and scattered the papers all over the living room.

  "There, your papers," He said.

  With no remorse, he turned around and walked out of the house. He paused at the door.

  ‘’You know you just rid me of a very bad feeling I’ve been having for the past couple of days, now I don’t feel guilty about cheating on you.’’

  With that, he walked out.

  Chapter 2

  Theresa was gravely shocked and hurt at the same time.

  Theresa, not knowing what to think or do or say, blankly squatted down and picked up all the papers that Robert had thrown
all over the place. She spent the night thinking about everything then finally mentally exhausted she fell asleep.

  The sun shined bright to start a lively morning, way too bright for Theresa’s mood. She got up and went upstairs to take her bath.

  Theresa arrived at the office and went straight to her office. Theresa threw her body into her chair and leaned back.

  She groaned.

  "My head hurts.”

  While she closed her eyes and tried to cope with herself, there was a knock on the door.

  "Come in," She said weakly.

  Gwen entered.

  Seeing her friend she could no longer maintain her composure and she fell apart. She told her everything that had conspired last night and her decision regarding it.

  “I’m thinking of resigning and moving out of the city,” Theresa said softly.

  For six seconds, Gwen didn’t say anything. She just stood there.

  Gwen nodded. She held Theresa’s hand.

  Sure, Gwen felt sad that her best-selling author and dear friend had to leave. But then, she knew, she had to let her go.

  Chapter 3

  Two days passed since Theresa had said she was going to leave town. Theresa packed up her belongings that she would need—some clothes, pencil, pen, paper, a few books and other necessities. Gwen called her earlier to ask whether she needed anything. Theresa told her that she needed someone who could help her sell her house. Gwen asked if she was sure. This was such a big decision. But Theresa told her that she wouldn’t be coming back, it wouldn’t be necessary to keep the house since the tax and maintenance would be a liability. Theresa was sure of the decision she needed to make.

  Gwen agreed to help and apparently she had found some people from her circle who would be interested in taking the house off Theresa’s hands for a good price. Theresa asked for a favor from Gwen to negotiate the price of the house so it would be reasonable to both her and whoever it was that would buy it.

  While Theresa loaded her boxes into her car, she had already thought of a destination. After she had loaded the fourth box, she took the phone from the table in the living room and dialed up a number. She bit her nails as the phone rang away.

  “Hello.” A gruff voice of a middle-aged man was heard from the other end.

  “Hello, Uncle George?” Theresa said.

  Uncle George lived in a small town far to the east from the big city she was in now. She gave him a call to let him know that she would be going there, and she would love it if there would be anyone who could help her settle in.

  “Oh, of course, my dear!” he said.

  Theresa smiled before she hung up the phone. It looked like Uncle George would be able to help her. Theresa went back outside to load her car with her belongings.

  Later that afternoon, Gwen called to let her know that someone would like to take the house at a very suitable price. Without delay, Theresa told Gwen that whoever that person was, they had themselves a deal. By that, Theresa’s house was officially sold, and the payment was sent to her account in full.

  Theresa was all set for her long drive. She stopped by Gwen's house in the morning and handed over the key to her just-sold house. Gwen told her to be careful on her way. After they both hugged and bid farewell, Theresa got back on her way. She had a long drive ahead of her.

  On her journey to the small town where she would begin a new life, surprisingly to Theresa there were no nostalgic feelings about her home and no memory flashes of her life in the city. She really was moving on in every sense possible.

  As the day turned into night, she remembered what Gwen told her that she had better pull into the nearest motel, and it was unsafe to drive in the dark the whole night. And besides, she had to rest. She stopped at a motel for the night then resumed her journey.

  As she drove, she came across a sign that had the name of the desired town on it; indicating she had arrived. She had just driven a quarter mile away from where she saw the sign, and she was aware of the stark comparison between the cities and here when she took in the grass fields and the barns that could be seen from a long way off.

  As she drove along the dusty road, she started coming across houses whose residents stared at her as she went by.

  The further she drove the more houses she came across. Then she saw someone she used to know very well, standing on the side of his local police car holding a cup of coffee, Uncle George.

  He had been expecting Theresa to arrive around this time.

  Theresa pulled over, and Uncle George walked toward her car. Theresa greeted her uncle with relief.

  “Hello, Theresa. You’ve grown so much since you last paid a visit to this town.” Uncle George smiled wider than his mustache.

  Theresa told him that she was here to remedy just that.

  “Well, yeah, Uncle. But this time, it’s not for a visit.” Theresa said.

  “Hmm?” he asked.

  “I’m here to stay,” she said.

  Theresa took a glance at Uncle George’s outfit. There was a ‘Sheriff’ badge on his left chest. Apparently, Uncle George was still the sheriff of the town.

  “You must be tired driving all the way here. Come, let’s get you settled down.” Uncle George walked away from Theresa’s car and got into his.

  As she followed Uncle George’s car, she could see that the locals were out and about like there was some kind of event going on. She drove past the stores, the mayor’s house, and the park where children were playing until she arrived at Uncle George’s house.

  She remembered this house well. This was the house in which she had stayed every summer till her graduation. The photos hung above the mantelpiece, the cream-colored walls, and the cold wood floors.

  “This house is lovely as ever,” Theresa said to herself.

  The house was dark. The only light was coming from the windows. Uncle George clicked on the switch, and the lights came on.

  Theresa walked into the living room and looked around from where she is standing. Nothing much has changed ever since the last time she came here. It felt like she never left. The only difference she can feel so significant was that Aunt Jenna was no longer around.

  “Are there anything else you brought with you?” Uncle George asked as he took off his hat and put it on the table near the door to his room.

  “Oh, yeah, there are a few boxes in the car.” Theresa pointed at her 2012 Chevrolet Impala outside.

  As she went back outside along with Uncle George to get her stuff in her car, she saw the neighboring locals were decorating their houses with Christmas themed accessories.

  “Everyone is getting ready for Christmas.” Uncle George told Theresa as he saw she was wondering about what she was seeing.

  “But it’s mid-November.” Theresa found it rather odd. “It’s too early for Christmas decorating!”

  ‘’It’s a local custom,” he answered.

  After Theresa had finished unpacking some of her boxes, she went downstairs as Uncle George called her for tea.

  “I can only offer you tea since I can’t bake cookies like how your Aunt used to.” Uncle George gave her a sad smile.

  Theresa didn’t know how she was supposed to react to that, so she just sat down on the couch and drank her tea.

  They had a little chat given they hadn’t seen each other for years. The place really did feel lonelier without Aunt Jenna, who would usually make the atmosphere a lot livelier.

  “Why don’t you take a stroll around the town hall so you’d get familiar with the town better?”

  Theresa thought, why not. She just got here, might as well say hi to the locals.

  “But be back before it gets dark. It’s cold at night.” Uncle George reminded Theresa before she left.

  Theresa walked through the town, and everyone was sweet and warmly welcoming. She then went to the grocery store to get some snacks and toiletries. The cashier was an old lady, and she talked to Theresa.

  “You don’t look familiar,” she said with a c
urious smile.

  “I just got here. And I’m planning to stay,” Theresa said.

  The old lady was very friendly and gave Theresa a couple of useful pointers if she’s going to go around the town. The cashier lady, who appeared to be the owner of the grocery store, told Theresa that her shopping is in the house as a welcome gift.

  Her heart, nervous with making a new beginning, warmed over.

  Theresa took another walk to the nearby park where kids were laughing and playing. She stood there and watched those children having a good time with each other. At their insistence, Theresa also played with them.

  By the time Theresa arrived in front of Uncle George’s house, which was now her house too, a guy was standing right in front of the house next to theirs.

  He was standing there casually, with a mug of hot cocoa. Theresa could clearly see the fumes steamed out of the mug.

  He saw an unfamiliar face, so he said hi to Theresa and introduced himself. He had a broad open face with a strong jaw line and a tough lean build. Not surprisingly he had rough, calloused hands from working in the field.

  “Jonathan.” He reached out his hands to Theresa and introduced himself.

  “Theresa,” She replied.

  “You’re here for a visit, or. .?”

  “I plan on staying,” Theresa said with a defiant face as if daring anyone to contradict her.

  “Don’t worry we don’t plan on kicking you out anytime. Would probably torture you maybe but we won’t kick you out. Besides who would want to lose such a sight as you,” Jonathan said with a grin. She blushed while he smiled at her. Hoping to avoid another awkward moment she moved past him.

  When she got inside, Uncle George wasn’t home yet, so she went upstairs and took her fresh clothes and went to take a bath. By the time she got out of the shower, Uncle George was home called her out to dinner.

  “I bought something warm for you. I thought you might be cold.” Uncle George served the food from the takeaway boxes to plates. He bought freshly cooked chicken, potato wedges, cream corn soup, and sandwiches.

  As they were having dinner, they talked about all those years behind them. Theresa did the dishes afterward and went to her room upstairs.