Home for the Holidays

5: She’s Gone

The only reason Nevaeh and Amir kept in contact all these years was because of Frank McNair. Ten years ago, while Nevaeh adjusted to her new living arrangements at the hotel, Frank left to visit the Uzzells. He wanted to see if he could talk man to man, father to father to Maximilian.

However, Max and Gwen were out, but Amir was home reading one of his books. While shopping for clothes, Frank also bought Nevaeh a new phone and gave the number to Amir, enabling the siblings to keep in touch. Though they never sent pictures, they often texted, but seldom spoke on the phone.

“Hello, Nevaeh,” Amir’s deep, solemn voice spoke once Nevaeh answered.

“Hey, Amir. What’s up?”

“Nevaeh.” His voice cracked. “She’s gone.”

The quiver in his voice immediately caught Nevaeh’s attention. “Huh? Who’s gone?”

“Mom,” Amir paused. “She died earlier this morning. I’m a mess.”

“What?! Wait. How did da-,” she started. “I mean, Maximilian outlive Mom?”

“Brain cancer. She kept it from us and hid it very well. She finally told us a month ago. We had no clue. All this time… she pretended like she was okay. Her designing gigs were really chemo treatments. She wore wigs and- and fake teeth to maintain her appearance,” he stuttered. “Her funeral is in two days. I thought maybe you’d like to come.”

“I don’t know about that, Amir,” Nevaeh sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Trust me, she’d want you here. I want you here. It would be good to see you. Please, Nevaeh.”

Nevaeh didn’t answer. She never planned to return to Aurora Creek, and she certainly never planned on seeing her parents again. She only kept in touch with Amir, and as much as she adored her little brother, she didn’t plan on returning just for his sake.

Although she thought making things right never mattered to her, now that Gwendolyn was gone, she realized she did want to make things right with her parents. If she didn’t make things right with Maximilian, she had a little hope in her heart that she could reconcile with Gwendolyn. Now, that will never happen.

She thought about her last words to her mother. You’re such a passive b***h! I hate you! You two are the WORST parents ever! I hope you eat s**t and die! She was so disrespectful and guilt riddled her body. Although she said it in anger, she didn’t really think her mom was a b***h. She didn’t want her parents to die either. Well, not her mother, at least.

At that moment, she was angry, but she truly didn’t mean what she said. She always thought Maximillian would’ve been the first to go. He was already old as dirt, anyway. And when he died, maybe Nevaeh would return home and reconnect with her brother and mother. At least a teeny tiny piece of her heart hoped so.

Pulling her away from her thoughts, Amir called, “Nevaeh? Are you still there?”

“Yes, I’m still here. Um.” She paused and cleared her throat. “I just can’t believe she’s gone.”

“I can’t either. So will you come? Please come.”

“Fine,” she sighed again. “I’m probably making a huge mistake, but I’ll come.

“You promise,” Amir asked and it reminded Nevaeh of his seven year old self.

“I promise. I need to make peace. We’ll be there tomorrow morning.”

“Great,” Amir cheered, his voice no longer sounding melancholic. “I’ll text you later where we’ll meet.”

The siblings hung up and Nevaeh returned to the kitchen, where Zion was eating a donut. “Zion, you know no sweets before dinner! Anyway, we’re done with our discussion. Go to your room.”

Zion regarded his mother’s face. “Mom, are you okay? Who was that on the phone?”

Nevaeh tried to hide her emotions, but she was on the brink of losing it. She paused for a few moments to gather her composure. “No, I’m not okay. I… I just found out that my mom, your grandma, died this morning. Your uncle wants me to come home to the funeral.”

Zion never heard Nevaeh talk about her mother or brother before. “My grandma died? I have an uncle?”

“Yeah,” she sniffled and wiped her nose.

“My grandma died and I never even met her. That’s so sad. Mom,” Zion gasped, “I just realized I’ve never even seen you as a baby.”

Nevaeh had no pictures or anything from her past. None of herself or her family. Zion didn’t even know who his father was or what he looked like. All the pictures of her and Zion in her upscale apartment, she took after she moved to Fieldcrest.

“Well, there’s a reason you never met her… or your other grandparents, or seen me as a baby.” Zion opened his mouth to ask why, but Nevaeh cut him off. “Do me a favor and go upstairs and pack a week’s worth of clothes. Make sure you pack extra undies. We’re going to my hometown and we’re leaving early in the morning.” She smiled weakly at her son while she fought back tears. “You’re gonna meet your uncle and grandpa.”

“Yes ma’am!”

Zion hurried upstairs. Nevaeh was the only family he’d ever known, so he was excited about meeting more of his family. It was already after six. Nevaeh checked the fridge to see what to cook for dinner. Her sugar high was gone, and she needed actual food and Zion needed to eat too. She grabbed some chicken strips and french fries from the freezer and threw them in the air fryer. Twenty minutes later, after making sure Zion had his bag packed, she served dinner, and the two ate their meal in silence before Nevaeh retreated to her home office.

Seemed like now was the best time to call the Robles. Nevaeh always kept two copies of her clients’ contact information. One for the office and another for her home office. Nevaeh sat in the chair of her home office and grabbed the phone to dial their number, but she broke down in tears instead. She realized she’d never get a chance to apologize to her mother nor make peace with her. She sat in silence for ten minutes before finally picking up the phone to call the Robles couple.

“Hey, Liam. I’m so sorry about today. I hoped we could reschedule for tomorrow since something came up with my son. However, I just found out my mom died, so I have to return to my hometown for the next few days.” Her voice broke and she choked on her tears. “I expect to be back in a week.”

“Oh dear. I’m terribly sorry for your loss,” Liam replied remorsefully. “Rebecca and I have no problem waiting. Take all the time you need and we can schedule some time after you return home.”

“Thank you. So sorry about this again. I’ll be in touch.”

Nevaeh hung up the phone and sat in silence again. It was only when Zion called for her to kiss him good night that she snapped back to reality. After making sure he completed his nightly bedtime routine, which included his bath and brushing his teeth, she kissed her son good night and retreated to her room to pack her bag. Afterward, she cried herself to sleep for the first time in ten years.