What a New Year's Eve

by R. E. Laurel

  “We’ll be landing soon,” the pilot’s voice came through a speaker.

  “Shit Victor. I am nervous. For some reason, your mother doesn’t care for me and I have never properly met her.”

  “That is part of the reason why we are here. For you to meet them both and find out what she is up to with those photos and how she approached you at the restaurant. It was all uncalled for. We need to get changed into cooler clothes.” He suggested, standing to escort her to the bedroom.

  He slipped on a pair of cream linen pants and short sleeved linen button up coral shirt. When Maren emerged from the bedroom he took a second look at the transformation. The above the knee length tan on the front and navy on the sides sundress enhanced her shape. The navy tie string tightened around her tiny waist. The floral design on each shoulder drifted to cover her breasts and to the sides of her waist gave the effect of a bolero. He also didn’t miss the jewelry he bought for being worn.

  “I can’t believe how beautiful you get with each item you put on.”

  “It isn’t too much?” She worried.

  “No. They should love you.”

  ***

  Victor drove the rental car up the curved pale rose-colored brick driveway between lush vegetation and tall palm trees to the elaborate family home. Maren leaned forward looking up at the opulent two-story pale pink house of cut stone with brown round tile roof. The main floor had a wraparound porch and so did the second story where each bedroom had access to the balconies offering views of the ocean, somehow she knew they would. Tall windows and the French glass doors helped with the view.

  Parking in front of a five-car garage, she mutely remained seated as Victor got out to go around and open her door for her.

  “Maren?” he asked when she hadn’t moved. She looked up at him then to his extended hand.

  “I don’t want to go in. I’ll just sit out here until we leave.”

  His chest rose and fell with the sigh. He sensed her resistance with wanting to go since the plane landed. “Let’s get it over with. I know I may have come across rather harsh on my description about them but they aren’t that bad, just suck at being a parent.”

  “Shit, Victor. Why don’t we just leave? They won’t even know that we’re here,” she hopefully suggested.

  “Shit, Maren. You’ll do wonderfully because you’re wonderful with whatever you set out to do.”

  Relenting, she placed her hand in his as she released a light nervous squeal when she stepped out of the safe confines of the Ferrari. Noticing how tightly his hand held hers, no doubt sensing the urge of running away, they went to the front door on a long porch lined with columns. She lifted her chin a trifle enjoying the warm breeze and watched him put his hand on the doorknob and looked down at her. She shot him an extra sweet smile.

  “It’s fake,” he quipped. “You’re overdoing the smile. Be yourself.”

  They entered the equally airy foyer with white curtains billowing from the ocean breeze. In fact, every wall appeared to be a neutral tone. The floor has large gold tone marble tile trimmed in darker shade brown laid in a diamond pattern. She winced and jumped at Victor’s booming voice.

  “Father! Mother! Anyone here?”

  “No, we should go,” Maren rushed at him tugging on his arm, silently cursing at the responding voices from upstairs.

  “Victor? Is it really you?”

  “Son?”

  Maren’s gaze followed the long curved stairway of cream carpet edged with a black railed banister leading to a landing where a middle-aged couple appearing on the top looking down at them. She inhaled a long breath then expelled. Her alert gaze followed as they descend the stairway to stand in front of them.

  “Yes, it’s me. I brought Maren to meet you.”

  “Oh, to meet the parents,” his mother quickly replied, giving Maren the eye.

  “Maren, meet my parents, Victor and Margaret.”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Maren answered, freezing on a sweet wide smile. She felt his arm lightly nudge her arm but the smile remained. She couldn’t get over how close father and son resembled each other.

  “She’s a looker son. Good thing I didn’t see her first.” Victor the Fifth laughed along with a teasing wink. “Come on in,” he added, leading them into an equally huge sitting room.

  Maren was thankful this room had some color to it. Thickly cushioned furniture of huge blue flowers with green leaves was arranged in the center of the room with obvious antique tables situated throughout the room. Maren was ever mindful of his mother looking long at her to the point that she was worried if she had something stuck in her teeth. They all sat, Maren and Victor next to each other but his parents chose to sit in single sitting chairs.

  “Vic,” she whispered, leaning close to his ear. “Do I have something stuck in my teeth?” Where she proceeded to shoot him a large smile with gritted teeth.

  “No, why.” He fought a grin.

  “Your mother is really looking at me.”

  “First, Merry Christmas,” Margaret politely said interrupting their low conversation.

  “Merry Christmas,” Victor answered.

  “Yes, Merry Christmas,” Maren echoed deciding to give it back to his mother as she returned her stare. Suddenly she realized that is what’s missing. There was a huge lack of Holiday decorations inside or outside.

  “Son, you never come around especially on a holiday,” Victor the Fifth said.

  “We’re only staying the night. I, we came because I have to ask mother something. I want to know why you sent photos of Sheila to Maren?” Victor politely demanded while casting a glare to his mother.

  “I did?”

  “You damn well know that you did. I don’t take women back to my place and that means any place I am staying. Maren is the only one I have ever taken to my home. You remember her mother she was in my place that night you wouldn’t leave me alone.”

  Maren uncomfortably shifted in her seat when Margaret shot her a glare.

  “What happened?” Victor the Fifth asked totally confused with the conversation.

  “Mother had Sheila at my apartment posing on my bed, near my bed, in the shower to name a few and I’m going to say naked in a few of the photos as she had a sheet barely around her or a towel. Then she sent them to Maren. Maren knew immediately that I wouldn’t do that so what I want to know is what would make you do such an asinine thing? Because like it or not, she is going to be a part of my life.” Victor’s gaze never wavered as his mother’s locked with his, equally steady.

  “She isn’t of a high-class caliber quality family.” Margaret finally confessed, her cold glare shifting to Maren.

  Both Victor’s eyes widened with the stupidity of the comment.

  “Are you shitting me? Because she doesn’t come from a high-class well-named family you are against her?”

  “I have seen other families go through these issues. Many of the lower class just want to get involved with one of wealth and leisure and get married, for the name.” Margaret added.

  “Surprise. Maren had no idea who I really was until after we fell in love with each other,” Vic announced, getting a slightly surprised reaction from his mother.

  Maren felt her anger rise and this hasn’t happened for a long, long time. Scowling, she silently repeated the words. So she thinks I’m low class? After the family money?

  “Excuse me,” Maren’s normal soft voice came loud. “But, I am not low class and true I am not wealthy in the aspect of money but I am wealthy with having a family who loves me for who I am, for what I do and I have many friends who also care for me. My family owns and run a fourth-generation winery and so what if it isn’t a NAPA Valley estate but we are well respected worldwide. We are plain and simple folk who still lives on the family farm and the income is more than what others assume. So if you ever call me low class again, I will show what how a batshit crazy lady can handle a snob. Pardon me while I go, somewhere.” Maren sprang up to walk out the door. She neede
d to get away from the tension in that room. Pausing in the foyer she was trying to make a decision which way she should walk when she noticed a balcony beyond the opened terrace doors and followed the beckoning breeze and gently billowing white curtains to stand and look at the ocean. “I knew it.”

  Victor pressed his lips together loving the look on his mother’s face. He never saw Maren that pissed off and loved that spunk showing. He didn’t watch Maren march away. He knew she’d be fine but now his mother’s tanned face paled in comparison. Suddenly a deep rumble of laughter filled the room as his father’s merriment roared.

  “That little lady sure told you. I think you have forgotten that you were one time considered low class but my family welcomed you with open arms. Do you know why?” He asked as Margaret remained impassive. “Because I loved you, that’s why. And, I have always loved you.”

  Margaret’s lower lip trembled. Fighting back her tears she looked at her husband and asked, “What happened to us? You have mistresses.”

  “After the birth of our children, you didn’t want me to touch you any longer but instead always went off on lady’s vacations. I have heard the stories of what went on.”

  “Thirty-two years, dad?” Victor wondered.

  “I love your mother, through good or bad I remained but I’m not dead. A man has needs and your mother never said about it. So then we had an open marriage. She had her share of lovers over the years. You know, we should talk about this in the privacy of our bedroom we will begin sharing again this evening but right now I want to talk with Maren.”

  Maren stood near the railing, slightly leaning with her arms braced across the top as she gazed at the deep blue ocean. Calming down, she shut her eyes listening to the haunting calls of the seagulls. The breeze lifted the ends of her hair.

  “Maren.”

  She gasped, taken by surprise by the male voice speaking her name. Opening her eyes, she turned to look into Victor’s amused face. He approached, taking the same stance as she had.

  “I am totally amazed by you. You struck me as a woman who would be a quiet, docile yes sir, yes ma’am type.”

  “You were wrong, Mr. Neal.”

  “I certainly see that.”

  “I worked for the Buffalo store that you own. You, sir, fired me without even knowing who I am.”

  “I figured out who you were when Victor mentioned your name. I’m sorry it had to happen.”

  She shrugged, her gaze never wavering from his.

  “But, somehow because of you, my son is here. Because of you, I believe I notice a new maturity in him. You don’t know how many times I sat up worrying about what the hell kind of trouble he was getting himself into. Him and Stan. Even up to last month I worried. His calls were few and far between.”

  “Sir,”

  “Mr. Victor or five is fine. Keeps from getting us mixed up.”

  “Mr. Victor, it’s because he never felt loved by you both. You were traveling all the time, working or sending him away to school.” She ended, giving him a no-nonsense look.

  “I told her it wasn’t good to send them both to school.” He sighed, adding. “I would like to give you a position in the job. Office position.”

  “Something else good that came out of my firing is I started my own boutique in town where I live. So, thank you but no.”

  “You impress the hell out of me, Maren. I like you. I really like you and I’m happy you and Victor met. You’re good for him, I can tell. I can see it in him. Yep, you’re not the whiny, clingy, fake interest in his kind of girl he was always surrounded by.” He grasped one of her hands in his and pressed a kiss on the back. “Keep up the good work.”

  She grinned then was startled when she felt encased in his arms in a brief hug and a pat on her back. He stepped back, keeping his hands on her upper arms.

  “Any room for me out here?” Victor approached the doorway in time to see his father embrace Maren and then pull away with a smile. An honest to goodness smile. Not the tense face pasted on kind.

  “Most assuredly, son.”

  Victor stopped when his dad extended his arm, reaching out for a handshake. Slowly, he took his dad’s hand in his then just as fast found himself in an embrace and a pat on the back. Stepping back, he nodded. “She’s perfect for you. Now I have to talk to your mother.”

  “Yes, she is. Mom is upstairs I think to sulk.”

  CHAPTER 29

  “What happened?” Victor asked, standing next to Maren on the deck. She turned to face him.

  “I don’t know. I guess I blew up. I didn’t care for what she was implying and I wasn’t going to let her say those things about me.”

  “I was ready to let her have it then bam, you spoke up.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Want to go for a walk on the grounds?”

  “Of course. It’s beautiful here. When did you stop coming home?” She wondered as he grasped her hand in his to lead her through the house and out a back door into a beautiful floral garden filled with a variety of colors of the large blooms of the hibiscus.

  “It’s been so long that I can’t remember,” he sadly confessed. “But let me tell you. Today I think my parents will be returning to their old ways. It may take a while but it’s a start. I never knew what my father told me.”

  Margaret and Victor stood on their balcony watching the pair as they strolled among the blooms. Victor stopped to pick a bright red bloom to place in Maren’s hair behind her ear and then gave her a long kiss. He turned her to stand behind, wrapping his arms around her waist as they looked out to the vast blue ocean.

  “I don’t know how I ever got to the point where I assumed she would be after him just for his money especially after you reminded me where I came from,” Margaret sadly stated as Victor hugged her nearer to him.

  “It happens but I’m glad they came today. It made our eyes open to the problems we have and needed to begin to heal us.”

  He looked into his wife’s eyes and saw a new glimmer in them as she smiled. “I love you,” she said, accepting his kiss.

  ***

  After their dinner, Victor and Maren spent the evening sitting on the balcony of their room enjoying the view and a few sangrias. Victor’s parents retired an hour earlier leaving them alone in the huge house.

  “I hope things work for them,” Maren stated, watching the sun setting over the ocean, the rays bursting upwards through the clouds and mirroring on the ocean.

  “Me too.”

  “The situation made me fill unease.”

  “I apologize for putting you through the mess but I didn’t know it either.”

  “Did you notice the lack of any decorations? That’s just awful sad too. It’s a shame we’re leaving tomorrow. I’d go out and buy some. You know there would be clearance sales going on,” she insinuated.

  “Or some in the basement in boxes,” Victor added with a grin.

  “Shall we?”

  On quiet feet, they went to the basement locating one dark room with boxes upon boxes of different holiday decorations.

  “Looks like we hit the mother lode,” Victor announced, reading on the sides what would be inside.

  Maren went into the kitchen. After falling in love with the huge room with fifteen-foot ceilings and windows everywhere she scoured through the cupboards and found ingredients for her homemade fudge.

  “I can make fudge!” she excitedly said.

  “Sounds good, gorgeous,” Victor said, giving her ass a slap before he returned to the task of hanging old silver garland from the banister, draping it in scallops.

  Maren grinned while rubbing the area still slightly stinging, believing he watched her father do that to her mother. The fudge got made, a few bites got eaten, you know for quality control. They were both exhausted with putting up the old fake tree to decorating it and putting other items throughout the house. The nativity set was placed beneath the tree and wreaths hung here and there. After both were satisfied, they went to bed, instantly fall
ing asleep.

  ***

  Margaret rose first, giving her husband a look of adoration. They should have talked things out a long time ago instead of assuming. Last night felt wonderful. After a long talk and more to come, he made love to her just like before and she enjoyed his touch. To add to her happiness her son returned with a beautiful woman and they talked. After changing into shorts and a short-sleeved blouse she left to make some coffee. Pausing on the landing she looked down at the sudden appearance of a decorated tree, the fireplace had sparkling reindeer across it. Garland hung throughout the room.

  She quietly returned to her bedroom. Smiling, she gave Victor a good shake, instantly stopping his loud snoring.

  “Huh! What!” He grunted.

  “Santa’s elves were here last night,” she giggled with joy.

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  She grasped him by the hand, tugging him up. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

  Together they returned to the landing to peer to the living room below to see a different world consisting of Christmas decorations, everywhere.

  “I’ll be damn. That elf had to have been named Maren,” Victor laughed.

  “With the help of our son. Who would have thought he would have been so thoughtful?” Margaret laughed.

  ***

  Victor lay on his stomach, his arms crossed beneath his chin as he watched Maren sleep. She slept on her side, one arm beneath the pillow the other beneath her chin. Her lips pursed as now and then a soft snore slipped out. He grinned.

  Slowly he moved away to go outside to enjoy the warmth of the sun. The sky was a beautiful blue, cotton ball clouds hung in the air slowly moving, shifting their looks. He had a lot on his mind. Maren was the main ingredient on his mind. It was a fast feeling. An all encompass feeling but damn it he couldn’t help it. His friends would say he’s nuts but he never felt so much alive in his life. Instead of working, partying, meeting a lot of airhead women and immature women. She had it all.

  Sighing, he punched his pilot’s number.