On My Way To Mr. Right

Chapter 59

Christmas Eve arrived with a bang. I woke up late in the afternoon after staying up all night watching movies virtually with James. I think I sort of broke my phone. It was too heated to function this morning.

I left my room greeted by the aroma of freshly scented lilac candles in the living room. But it was nothing compared to the smell of chicken wafting in the kitchen. A few steps down the stairs, and like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to the kitchen.

I wasn’t very hungry. The junk food I ate all night was making my stomach hurt. But the smell was amazing. I could taste the garlic parmesan chicken in the air.

I found my parents cooking wholesomely in the kitchen. My mother was dicing up garlic. Dad was stirring a pot of pasta, crazily sneaking in a kiss or two to his wife beside him. As their daughter, it was a signature ick. But as a teenager in a relationship, it was very cute.

That’s what I want to look like when I get married for 25 years. George and Lizzy Smith, ladies and gentlemen. The softest and sweetest couple on the surface of the Earth.

Here they were, showing off their loving affection. Of course, today was extra special. Their wedding anniversary was tomorrow. Yep, they were married on Christmas Day. It almost didn’t happen because of a snowstorm on the same day, 25 years ago.

“Why don’t you grab an apron, Charlotte?” Dad suggested.

I look up and down at my appearance and back at him. My hair was in a tangled mess. My face looked like it had been beaten up from all the all-nighters I’ve been pulling. My clothes weren’t even a question of filthiness. I had a Cheeto on my pants pocket.

“Right,” he nods. “You should go get changed. Get dressed and ready to impress.”

“Why? It’s not even ten in the morning, dad. What’s the rush?” I asked, opening the fridge and pouring myself something to drink.

“Your cousins are coming earlier,” he mentions, which makes me almost spit the glass of milk in my hand. “They’re coming for lunch instead of dinner because of some important school project they have to do later. They’re actually heading out to the next town. They’re shooting a school film there, Lilly said.”

“Which cousins?” I dread family gatherings. Only a select few relatives were actually pleasant to be around. Others, not so much.

Typical family drama.

“Lilly and Kendrick,” mom answered, letting go of the pot she was stirring. “You know I never thought they’d have the same interest in things, most especially in college courses. Journalism, who knew?”

I nodded and headed off to my room. Lilly was my second favorite cousin. She was warm and affectionate like mom, and she was rarely ever mean. So mature at such a young age. She was a junior in college, taking up the same degree as my other cousin, Kendrick. They went to the same school. They were around the same age and lived in the same town. I guess they were really close. Kendrick, to me, was neutral. He wasn’t dramatic, but he wasn’t exactly excited about forming a bond with me. The age gap does its thing. He’d talk about the latest videogame released or some social issue on the other side of the world that I knew nothing about. But with Lilly, it wasn’t an issue.

But my favorite cousin remained unparalleled.

Lilly’s older sister, Violet, was a godsent for me during these family gatherings. She had finished a degree in Psychology and decided to pursue Medicine. She was self-made, strong, independent, loved by all the children, and respected by adults. She was who I aspired to be.

However, some classes are making it harder for me to achieve those dreams.

I step into the shower to freshen up before my cousins arrive. Lilly was a neat freak, who hated, and I mean with great passion, filthy things. She’d constantly complain about her younger brother’s dirty den. I’d hate to be the subject of her complaints today.

It wasn’t long before her beloved cousins arrived. Kendrick looked tired. Though that was his usual aesthetic. They had driven all the way from Creston, California. But they attended UC Berkeley.

“Hi, aunt Lizzy, uncle George,” Lilly greets her with a hug.

“Hey, kids,” mom greets them back, hugging each other.

“Charlotte,” they nodded, acknowledging my presence.

“Hey, Lills!”

“So, how was the trip going here?” Dad attempted at small talk.

“It was fine, a little too long. The car does get hot. But it wasn’t too much of a problem. Kendrick here is the usual talker,” she smiles.

No, he wasn’t. Kendrick almost utters not a single word whenever we were in the presence of family.

“Well, let’s hope you talked with the right words. After all, you are going to be journalists. Going here and there, changing the world’s views.”

Really, mom?

I sigh. I can’t tell if it was from embarrassment or disappointment. A little bit of both, maybe.

“Well, let’s hope so,” Lilly awkwardly chuckles.

“So, that’s all your things? If there’s more, we can help you fetch it,” dad offers, noticing one gym bag each.

“Uh, don’t bother, uncle George. We have motel rooms booked in Fairview. We need to shoot some scenes during sunset, so we don’t have much time to stay for long. I’m sorry we’d have to miss your anniversary dinner, though.”

“Oh, that’s all right, dear. You’re here now, and all that matters is your presence, no matter the time. We’re thankful you were kind enough to drive by. I know you college kids have such busy schedules. Alex, however, is still pretty wrapped up in his winter break.”

“I had imagined having such a grand time during winter break, too. Before this project was assigned to as, that was.”

“How about you, Kendrick? How’s college?” Mom redirects the conversation to the casual introverted kid seated on the couch with his phone on his hand. Mom’s head was basically a bubble head, nodding and smiling, talking to her niece and nephew.

“It’s going well, I guess. A little tough,” he answers nonchalantly.

“It is junior year, and we expected to have countless hurdles,” Lilly adds.