Not Today...Not Ever
1381 Words
KELVIN Marshall stepped out of the sleek black SUV and took a deep breath of the crisp Aspen air. The snowy landscape stretched endlessly, the familiar sight of his family home bringing a warmth to his chest that even the biting cold couldn’t dispel. He was finally home for the holidays.
Pulling his coat tighter around him, he grabbed his luggage from the trunk and made his way up the porch steps. Before he could knock, the front door swung open, revealing Salma, her grin wide and infectious.
“Kelvin!” she squealed, launching herself into his arms.
“Hey, kiddo!” he said, laughing as he hugged her.
They stepped inside, the scent of pine and cinnamon filling the air from the massive Christmas tree in the corner of the living room. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, were seated on the plush sofa, sipping hot chocolate.
“There is our boy!” Mr. Marshall said, standing to greet him.
“Welcome home, son,” Mrs. Marshall added, pulling him into a warm embrace.
“It is good to be back,” Kelvin said, his voice soft with sincerity.
Just then, a maid came out and genuflected, greeting Kelvin warmly, then she took his luggages into his room.
As they all settled into the cozy living room, Kelvin turned to Salma.
“So, how is school? Keeping up with all those projects?”
Salma rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Barely. Finals drained my soul, but I’m surviving. Anyway, enough about school, have you heard about the new resort opening in town? It is amazing! The pictures online look incredible.”
Kelvin smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
“Yeah, I have heard. Actually, it is Jared’s project.”
The room fell silent for a moment, Salma’s jaw dropping.
“Wait, Jared? Our very own Jared?”
Kelvin nodded.
“You mean Jared is the one behind *Aspen Luxe*?” Salma practically squealed. “That is insane!”
Mrs. Marshall’s eyebrows shot up.
“He must be doing very well for himself.”
“He is,” Kelvin confirmed. “And speaking of Jared, he will be arriving tomorrow and staying here at the house.”
“Here?” Mr. Marshall asked, his tone laced with surprise.
“Of course,” Kelvin replied casually. “You know Jared is like family.”
Mrs. Marshall smiled warmly.
“He is always welcome here.”
Kelvin leaned back into the couch, relaxed but attentive. His mother’s expression shifted slightly, a touch of something unreadable crossing her face before she said, “Oh, and did I mention? Jasmine is in town as well.”
At the mention of her name, Kelvin’s posture stiffened ever so slightly.
“Oh?”
“She is upstairs in her room,” Mrs. Marshall added.
Kelvin nodded, his face neutral.
“Guess I will go say hi.” He stood, patting his father on the shoulder as he passed.
“Don’t take too long up there,” Mr. Marshall teased, his voice gruff but affectionate. “We have got a lot to catch up on.”
Kelvin chuckled.
“I won’t.”
He climbed the familiar staircase, his father’s presence lingering like an anchor of stability in his life. The muffled hum of holiday music drifted from somewhere upstairs, mingling with the soft crunch of snow underfoot from outside.
Kelvin reached Jasmine’s door and hesitated briefly before knocking. It had been a while since he had seen her, and though they had parted on decent terms, there was always an unspoken tension between them.
“Come in,” her voice called, light and melodic.
Pushing the door open, Kelvin stepped inside and froze for a moment, taking in the scene. Jasmine was seated at her desk, focused on her laptop, her brows furrowed in concentration. At the far end of the room, Karissa, her little girl, was playing with a stuffed reindeer, her giggles filling the space.
The moment Karissa looked up and spotted him, her face lit up.
“Uncle Kelvin!” she squealed, dropping the toy and running toward him.
“Karissa!” Kelvin beamed, kneeling just in time to catch her in his arms. He lifted her high in the air, spinning her around as she giggled uncontrollably.
Jasmine glanced up, her expression shifting from mild distraction to surprise.
“Kelvin?”
“Long time no see,” Kelvin said, giving her a small smile as he set Karissa back on the floor.
“Uncle Kelvin, I missed you!” Karissa said, tugging at his coat.
“I missed you too, kiddo,” Kelvin said warmly. “Have you been good for your mom?”
Karissa nodded vigorously.
“Yes! I have been helping her with everything!”
Kelvin chuckled.
“I bet you have.” He ruffled her hair and gently nudged her toward her toys. “Go on, keep playing. I need to talk to your mom for a bit.”
As Karissa returned to her reindeer, Kelvin turned his attention to Jasmine. She looked different, tired, maybe, but still poised, her natural beauty undiminished.
“Didn’t think I would see you here,” he said, leaning casually against the desk.
“I could say the same,” Jasmine replied, closing her laptop. “How long has it been?”
“Too long,” Kelvin said. “Life keeps getting in the way, doesn’t it?”
She nodded, offering a small smile.
“It does.”
Their conversation drifted from polite catch-ups to lighter banter, reminiscing briefly about past holidays. Just as Kelvin was about to excuse himself, he paused.
“By the way,” he said, his tone casual but curious, “how is Collins doing?”
Jasmine stiffened ever so slightly, but she covered it well, her expression turning neutral.
“We are… not together anymore,” she said, her voice steady but laced with an edge of finality.
Kelvin studied her for a moment, catching the subtle weight behind her words. He nodded, understanding that there was more to the story but choosing not to press.
“I see,” he said quietly. “Well… if you need anything, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks, Kelvin,” she said softly.
He gave her a reassuring nod and left the room, closing the door gently behind him.
Jasmine stared at the door for a moment before leaning back in her chair. Her eyes drifted to the laptop screen, but the motivation to work was gone. She rubbed her temples, her thoughts spiraling.
“Mommy?”
Karissa’s tiny voice pulled her from her daze. Jasmine turned to find her daughter standing nearby, her big eyes clouded with worry.
“What is it, sweetheart?” Jasmine asked, her voice softening.
Karissa fidgeted with her hands.
“Mommy, where is Daddy? Isn’t he coming to see us? We have been here for days, and I haven’t seen him or heard from him.”
Jasmine’s heart sank, but she kept her expression calm. She exhaled slowly and crouched down to Karissa’s level.
“Karissa… your daddy isn’t coming back. Not today, not ever.”
Karissa’s face fell, her small shoulders slumping.
“But why?”
Jasmine hesitated, searching for the right words.
“Sometimes… grown-ups make decisions that mean they can’t be together anymore. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about you, but he won’t be a part of our lives from now on.”
Tears welled up in Karissa’s eyes, and she shook her head.
“That is not fair! I want Daddy!”
Jasmine reached out to hug her, but Karissa pulled away, running to the bed and burying herself under the covers. Jasmine sat on the floor for a moment, staring at the tiny lump beneath the blanket.
“Karissa…” she began, but the only response was a muffled sniffle.
Sighing, Jasmine stood and turned off the lights, leaving the room dim except for the glow of the bedside lamp. As she sat back at her desk, she glanced at her laptop but couldn’t focus. Her eyes drifted to Karissa, her chest tightening.
This wasn’t how Jasmine had imagined their Christmas would be, but life had a way of rewriting expectations, whether you were ready or not.
- Writer
