Luke's Crazy California Christmas (6 page)

“What makes you ask that?” I tried to feign ignorance as I scooted away from her.

“He just had that look about him. It's like that reality show when the guy is finally ready to pop the question.”

I stood and carried the empty popcorn bowl to the kitchen.

Charli got up and followed me. “He is, right?”

I rotated around and looked her right in the eyes. “Yeah, he is.”

She breathed out a breath and then smiled. “I'm so glad. I mean, excited!” She twirled in a circle. When she stopped, she had her hands clasped together. “I bet Mom would totally encourage the idea of me coming to live with her now that she'll have like a stable environment for me to move into.”

“You mean she doesn't have a stable environment now?”

“Well, yeah, but isn't it better to have two parents? That's what you hear all the time.”

“It is. It's been so long I almost forgot what that's like.”

“My mom and dad have been divorced since I was three. I don't think I ever knew what it was like to have two parents who lived together and actually liked each other. Anyway, I think it's great. My mom really loves your dad. Aren't you happy for them?”

I tried. I really tried to be happy, but I just couldn't muster it. I was barely getting used to the idea of my parents being divorced. Then he drops this knowledge on me that he has a girlfriend and that he's planning to ask her to marry him. I forced a smile, but by the way she grimaced at me, I figured I failed to be convincing. “I want to be happy, but it's hard when I think about everything Dad has put Mom and me through.”

Charli's enthusiasm dulled and her eyelids pulled down in a concerned expression.

“I mean, maybe it will be better with them. If my parents' marriage had been stronger, they might have made it through intact after Monica…” I broke off the sentence. There I went, revealing more than I intended with Charli. It was only because Andrea wasn't here. I should be telling these things to her, but Charli was a good listener. Right now, I needed someone to listen, but I wasn't sure if she knew about Monica or not.

“Monica, your older sister, who…who passed away.” Her voice grew soft. “I'm sorry.” She touched my shoulder.

Charli had smoothed her hair flat tonight, and she didn't have on any makeup. No jewelry either. Not even her eyebrow ring. She looked better that way. Sweeter. More approachable. She stood several inches shorter than me, possibly even a foot. Not like Andrea, who was actually tall for a girl—like Mom.

I looked down into her blue eyes. They were glistening as if they were moist. Was she actually sad about my sister? Then I thought about Andrea and how she'd always been a comfort to me. For the first time, I'd finally had someone to talk to about my sister. But lately our time together had become less and less. And even though she'd been there for me when it counted, I'd been feeling a difference in her the last couple weeks.

“Thanks.” I put the bowl in the sink. “Want to pick another movie?”

“Sure, I'll make sure to pick a girly one this time. Maybe one of those princess ones. I can run over to Mom's and get it.” She grinned, wide and animated.

I rolled my eyes. Thank goodness Andrea loved action films as much as I did. Although she did have an extreme partiality for period dramas. I have on occasion sensed a slight sigh come from her when we watched public television on Sunday nights. I mean, how can you compete with the likes of those guys like Darcy?

~*~

As soon as my eyes opened the next morning, I knew it was Christmas Eve. Why couldn't I get that exciting feeling like when I was a kid, with the smell of cookies in the air and expectation swirling in my stomach? Yeah, that sure wasn't happening.

Tonight Mom would be exchanging gifts with her sister's family, but for the first time in my life, we wouldn't be together. Andrea would be performing at her concert tonight, and I wouldn't be there to see it either.

I tried to pray. I hadn't been able to do it the entire time I'd been here. I lay there for a couple minutes, but I just wasn't feeling it. Dragging myself from bed, I ambled to the window and looked out at the concrete sidewalks leading around the complex. How different from my bedroom view at Mom's, with woods surrounding us and neighbors far enough away they couldn't hear my music in the backyard.

On the desk, I'd stacked Andrea's journal with my Bible. Together they seemed to be taunting me, but I just didn't have any desire to crack them open. I picked them both up and stashed them on the top shelf of the closet beside the extra blankets, hiding them out of sight.

My phone beeped.

Hey, you coming tonight? Everyone wants to see you.

It was from my friend Jake, who attended my old church in the OC. He'd already texted me twice since I'd been back in California.

Not sure. Got to see if I can talk Dad into it.

Hope to see you.

I wanted to see my friends, but at the same I didn't. Honestly, the way I was feeling, I was about to call Mom and see if she could convince Dad to let me come home. This trip was a complete and utter bust. It's not like Dad was even spending that much time with me or anything. When he had free time, he was off spending it with Heather.

I slouched into the kitchen for breakfast. Dad had already left on some errands. Guess that meant cereal for one. Taking my bowl into the living room, I reclined on the couch and turned on the TV.

The home phone rang a few minutes later.

“Luke, you've got to take me shopping.”

I coughed as some of the milk from my breakfast dribbled down my throat. “Good morning to you too.”

“Good morning. So, can you?”

“Take you shopping? Can't you go with your mom? Isn't that what mothers and daughters do? Shop.”

“Mom's at work, but she left her car today.”

Oh boy!
Something told me that getting into a car with her would be risking my life. She couldn't be old enough to drive yet anyway, right?

“Are you sure you're ready for LA traffic?”

“I'm only fourteen! I don't even have my permit yet. Mom said if you agree, you could drive me downtown to the mall. I need to get some Christmas shopping done. Actually, I just need a present for Mom, but I really have to get out of this place. I'm bored out of my mind.”

I had to agree. I was bored too. But shopping in downtown LA on Christmas Eve sounded like suicide.

“I'll buy you lunch,” she offered.

“Fine. Give me half an hour and meet me at the parking garage.”

~*~

After shopping, we made it back to the condo complex and ended up sitting around the pool. There were a couple other residents sunning themselves too. No one was brave enough to get into the murky waters. I probably caught dysentery or typhoid or something after that swim. I lowered sunglasses over my eyes and rested back on my arms in the pool chair.

The sky was bright blue without a cloud in sight. Warm and temperate. Just as I remembered many a Christmas.

“Are you sure this is December?” Charli asked.

I kept my eyes closed, but I could hear the smile in her voice.

“I mean, it seems like we were transported to spring or summer or something. It's almost eighty degrees today. Eighty! Can you believe it?”

“They're definitely having a warm December, but don't forget the drought last summer.”

“Still, I'd be wrapped up inside if I was back home. Snow on the ground, winter sports galore, ya know.”

“Yeah, I know, but don't you think you'll miss the snow, especially this time of year?”

“I'll risk it.”

I glanced at her and smiled.

She'd toned down the makeup and styled her short blonde hair in a neat side part. Although she had most of her earrings back in place and the eyebrow ring was there. Still, you almost wouldn't know her from her extreme goth look a few days ago.

“But then there's all the LA traffic…” I joked.

“Yeah, but…”

“And the crowds at the mall…killer.”

“I don't care. I talked with Mom about moving in with her and Jim after they get married this summer. She said I could come in August after they get settled.”

“Oh, yeah, that's cool.” I scooted up taller on the chaise-lounge chair. “Did you live with your mom before she moved?”

“I swapped between Mom and Dad every week. They only lived like five minutes apart.”

“Hmm…”

“Why, what's on your mind, Luke? You've been almost pleasant today.”

“I don't know. I guess I'm ruminating.”

“Reuma-what?”

“I'm thinking something over.”

“What? Is it about your girlfriend? Because I've noticed you don't talk to her much. If I was separated by three thousand miles from the person I loved…”

“Who says I love her?”

6

“So I guess that means I have a chance with you then?” Charli clasped her hands together and smirked. Then she rested back into her chair. “I just assumed, that's all. You seem pretty in love with her. So what's going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on, tell me. I'm going to be your sister soon.”

“Stepsister.”

“Uh, don't ever call me that again. It makes me sound like some awful character from an animated fairy tale. I'm nice, right? You like me.”

I laughed. “Yeah, sure, you're nice.”

“So, come on, spill.”

“I don't know. I guess it's just that Dad wants me to move back to California. He thinks I'll have a better shot at a baseball scholarship if I do.”

“So, do it. It would be totally awesome! We'd all be living together like one big, happy family. I don't even know what that's like.”

“I can't do it. For one thing, my mom would be all alone.”

“Maybe she'll move back if you do. Then you can split your time between the two of them.”

“I doubt it. She's done with California, and she enjoys being close to her sister again. Forget I said anything. I'm not moving in with you guys.”

“Well, I think you should at least consider it, especially if it will help your odds of getting into the college you want.”

Except I didn't want to get into UCLA. Six months to graduation, and I still didn't know where I'd end up. I always figured God would open the right door, and I'd walk on through to my future. But UCLA is a top school when it comes to baseball. Was I just avoiding it because it's what Dad wanted? Should I be more open to the possibility of a California school?

Ever since Andrea and I got together, I'd become more and more convinced that I wanted to be on the East Coast because I knew that's where she'd be, but with the way things were going, would it even matter? She hadn't contacted me since last night's text. No phone call as she'd promised. And I'd texted her twice today and still no call—nothing.

“So what are your plans for Christmas Eve?”

I shrugged. “I don't know. My dad hasn't said anything. What about your mom?”

“Nothing much. Usually we stay home and bake cookies and watch Christmas movies.” She paused for a minute, and I could tell the wheels in her head were turning. Dangerous! Maybe I should put up signs like around a demolition site.

“So, don't Christians go to church on Christmas Eve?”

“Yeah, I guess some of them do.” I knew Mom and my aunt and uncle and cousins would all be in church tonight. I would have been too if I'd been back there with them.

“So are you going?”

I huffed. “Why are you asking? Did you want to go to church or something?”

She raised one shoulder with a half smile on her face. “Yeah, I guess. You said you'd take me. Isn't this whole holiday supposed to be about the birth of Jesus and all that?”

I never thought it would happen, but Charli, of all people, had convicted me. Here I was, the only Christian influence in her life at the time, and I'd been like the worst Christian example in the world. It was as if I'd been in rebellion and allowed Satan to take over.

“Yeah, you're right, I did. Come to think of it, a couple of my youth-group friends have been asking me if I'd come tonight. I'll see if my dad will take us. But I wouldn't be averse to some Christmas cookie making too.”

“Do you bake?”

“Cakes, not cookies, but I'm great at the decorating.”

“Are you sure you want cookies made by me? I might give you E. coli.”

“On second thought, maybe I'll ask your mom.”

“Good choice.”

~*~

At six o'clock, we drove down to Huntington Beach and arrived for the candlelight service. We slipped into the back of the church sanctuary. Several of my friends were sitting together at the opposite side of the building.

Toward the end of the service, we lit candles and prayed. Charli smiled as she lit hers. I worried for a second. Charli and fire just didn't seem to be a good match. We sang Christmas songs and prayed again. After we were dismissed, I took Charli to meet some of my California friends.

“Jake,” I called out with Charli just behind me.

“Hey, man.” He shook my hand. “Good to see you. I'd hoped you'd show up tonight.” He eyed Charli. “The new girlfriend.”

Charli grinned at him. “As if I'd ever date this guy.” She elbowed me in the side. “He's like my brother.”

I gave a playful push back with my shoulder. “She's not kidding. Most annoying sister ever. And now her mom is marrying my dad, so she'll really be my sister.” I thought about saying
stepsister
, but Charli hated it, so I held back.

“You're kidding!”

“Nope.”

Other kids from youth group surrounded us and introduced themselves to Charli. She seemed to be loving the attention. No surprise there.