Secret Blessing

Chapter 4: Trade

The week before

Winter went back home after a heated argument with his father. How could he say that? She’s still in love with Demetria for damn’s sake. He didn’t think at first before saying anything. It hurt her.

She removed her clothes to take a shower, and Demetria is all over her mind again because she was all over their house before. Will it get to be their house again? Will Demetria choose to come back to her? Will she choose Winter to be her home again? Demetria will always be her home and she feels homesick and lost without her.

She put on sweatpants and a shirt before sitting on the living room’s couch, staring into space as she thought about her again. She’s been doing that for years, wondering if she’ll ever get her back. Fortunately, she’s not losing hope.

Her phone suddenly rang, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was an unknown number, so she hesitated before answering.

“Hello? Who’s this?” she asked.

“Hey, Winter.”

Winter thought about where she heard that voice. “You sound familiar.”

“It’s Cassandra.”

Winter was enlightened. “Oh. Hi, Cassandra. Where did you get my number?”

“Ms. Victoria,” Cassandra answered.

“Hmm… No wonder,” Winter said.

Cassandra chuckled. “Uhm… Are you free tonight?” she asked.

Winter shrugged. “I guess.”

“Want to have dinner with me?” Cassandra asked.

“Oh,” Winter was a little startled. “Yeah. Sure, I guess that’s better than eating alone.”

“Was I too blunt?” Cassandra awkwardly asked.

Winter shook her head. “Oh, no, no. It’s okay. I can be blunt, too.”

Cassandra smiled. “I’ll text you the time and address,” she said.

Winter nodded. “Okay, I’ll be waiting.” Or she won’t. There’s a high probability that she’ll forget it.

“Okay.” Cassandra hung up.

Winter lay down as she felt sleepy. Her eyes slowly closed as she went into slumber.

Her eyes opened as she felt fingers running through her hair, seeing Demetria watching TV with a pack of chips in her other hand. “Wifey…?”

Demetria looked at her and smiled. “Hubby, you’re awake.”

Winter sat up properly and stared at the woman beside her. “Is that really you?”

Demetria furrowed her eyebrows. “Were you expecting someone else?”

Winter shook her head. “No, of course not. I just can’t believe you’re… here.”

Demetria cupped her cheek. “I’ll always be here, honey,” she said.

Winter held her hand and she couldn’t help but cry. She felt real.

“Why are you crying?” Demetria asked.

Winter hugged her. “Nothing, my love.”

Demetria rubbed her back. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Winter closed her eyes and hugged her tight. She doesn’t want this to end… but it did.

Her eyes opened again hearing her phone ringing. She sat up quickly, realizing it was a dream. She wiped her face, feeling the tears that came out of her eyes. She sighed, leaning her head on her hands.

Her phone didn’t stop ringing so she answered it. “Hello?”

“Hi, Winter. Did you get my text?” Cassandra asked.

Oh, yeah. Dinner. Winter thought. She checked her phone and opened her text with the time and address. She checked her wristwatch and she was five minutes late. She sighed again. “Oh, shoot,” she mumbled.

“Were you saying…?”

“I’m so sorry,” Winter apologized. “I overslept.”

“No, it’s okay,” Cassandra said. “You’re still coming, right?”

“Yeah. Of course,” Winter agreed. “I just need a few minutes and I’ll be there.”

“Okay, I’ll be here.” Cassandra hangs up.

Winter stood up and went upstairs to get a suit jacket, wore it, and went downstairs to get her car keys and wear her shoes. She went to her car and sped off. She arrived after 20 minutes with a little bit of traffic, jogging to the entrance, and scanned her eyes around to find Cassandra. When she did, she walked closer and sat across her.

“Hey,” Cassandra greeted.

Winter sighed. “Thank you for waiting.”

Cassandra stared at her. “It’s okay. Did you… cry?”

Winter looked back. “Hmm? I cried?” She remembered her dream. “Sort of.”

“Did you have a nightmare? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Winter shook her head. “It wasn’t a nightmare… It was a good dream. It’s just that the person in my dream is not in my life anymore,” she said.

“Perhaps… your ex-wife?” Cassandra asked.

Winter nodded. “Yes,” she answered. “Anyways, did you order already?”

Cassandra shook her head. “Not yet. We should order now.”

Winter nodded as she smiled. “Okay.” She called a waiter for the menu.

Cassandra ordered a steak while she ordered pasta. Then, she asked for two glasses of water. She felt thirsty. Of course, the other one is for the other girl.

“How about you? How’s your day?” Winter asked.

“Eventful,” Cassandra asked. “Lots of paperwork and my ex-boyfriend came to lunch to try and take me back.”

Winter nodded. “What did you say?”

“Of course, I refused. I don’t need him anymore,” Cassandra answered.

Winter laughed. “That’s the spirit.”

“How about… you? Do you still need her?” Cassandra hesitantly asked.

Winter thought about Demetria. “Yes,” she answered. “I told you when we met,” she reminded as she smiled at her.

“Oh, yeah,” Cassandra pretended to forget. “I don’t have a good memory,” she said as she smiled back.

Winter nodded. “You’ll find someone. It’s just a matter of time,” she told her.

Cassandra shrugged. “You think?”

“Of course! Everyone deserves someone in their life,” Winter said. “Even you.”

I hope so. Cassandra thought.

Their food was served so they started to eat as they continued to talk about all sorts of things. After, they exited the restaurant.

“I can drive you home,” Winter suggested.

“It’s okay. I’ll find a cab,” Cassandra said as she rubbed her arms and started to look for transportation.

Winter noticed. “Are you cold?”

Cassandra looked at her. “A little.”

Winter removed her suit jacket and placed it over the other girl’s shoulders. “You can have it.”

“How about you?”

“It’s fine. I don’t get cold easily,” Winter said as she placed her hands in her pockets. “It’s rush hour, I doubt you’ll find a cab.”

Cassandra sighed. “I guess so.”

“I’ll take you home. Come on,” Winter insisted as she went to her car and opened the passenger seat.

“Won’t your ex-wife get mad?” Cassandra teased as she went inside the car.

Winter laughed. “She’ll understand. Though, I wish she was still here,” she said as she closed the door and went to the driver’s seat.

She turned on the music as she started the engine, leaving the restaurant with the other girl telling her the way.

Cassandra found herself swaying to the beat of the current song. “Nice song.”

Winter smiled. “Is that a compliment?”

“That you have good taste? Sure!” Cassandra said as Winter laughed. “What’s the title?”

“Black and White,” Winter answered.

“Does that have a sentimental memory?” Cassandra asked.

“It’s basically my favorite song,” Winter said.

“Nothing else?”

Winter didn’t answer. “What’s your favorite song?”

“Mine? Hmm… Nothing, in particular, would come to my mind,” Cassandra said as she started to feel the awkwardness between them.

“Hmm…,” Winter hummed.

“Sorry…,” Cassandra apologized. “I’ve been asking too much.”

Winter shook her head. “It’s fine.”

Cassandra just looked out the window as Winter continued to drive. After a few minutes, she spoke again. “You’re too kind.”

Winter spared her a glance. “Hmm?”

“I’ve been bombarding you with questions and it didn’t frustrate you a bit.”

Winter shook her head. “I can always choose not to answer,” she said. “It only frustrates me when you force me to.” She parked the car on the side of the road. “We’re here.”

Cassandra removed her seatbelt. “Thanks for the ride,” she thanked her.

Winter nodded. “Good night, Cassandra.”

“Good night, Winter,” Cassandra said as she got out of the car.

Winter sped off.

Cassandra felt the cool breeze and realized she hadn’t returned her suit jacket. She pulled the fabric close to her nose. She smells great. She thought as she smiled and went inside her apartment.

Meanwhile, Winter got a call from Victoria. She answered it. “What now?”

“Did she call you?” Victoria asked.

“You mean, Cassandra?”

“Who else?”

Winter rolled her eyes. “Do you want to set us up?” she asked.

“Why not? You’re single, she’s single,” Victoria said.

“I told you, I’m not interested,” Winter pushed. “Demetria has my heart… even if it’s broken.”

“It’s possible that she has already thrown your heart away.”

“Maybe…,” Winter said. “I’m not losing hope.”

Victoria sighed. “Look, in life, we lose things and it’s being traded for something better. You lost Demetria, maybe Cassandra’s that someone better.”

“What if you lose Summer, and she’s traded for someone else?”

Victoria scoffed. “What a payback.”

“Look, I’ll be fine, okay? I can take care of myself,” Winter said.

“We just want you to be happy again, that includes Uncle William,” Victoria said. “He told me you had an argument and he wanted to check on you.”

Winter rolled her eyes again and didn’t answer.

“Win, he’s just worried.”

“He could have just said those words instead of hurting my feelings,” Winter said.

“I know, but let him apologize,” Victoria said.

“I will, but not now.”

“Okay… Where are you?”

“Driving home. Cassandra invited me to dinner earlier,” Winter answered.

“She did?!” Victoria exclaimed. “She’s fast…”

“I almost ditched her because I fell asleep.”

“What? You sleepyhead. Did she get mad?”

“No. She can’t get mad,” Winter laughed. “It’s the first time she invited me. I hope it will be the last.”

“Why?” Victoria asked. “Don’t you like her?”

“I do, as a friend.”

“Too bad. You’re devoted to Demetria.”

“Yep.”

“Okay, we’ll go to bed now. Good night,” Victoria said.

“Good night. Pass my ‘I love you’ to Sum,” Winter said.

“Got it.” Victoria hung up.

Winter arrived at the house while checking her phone. Her father left messages she didn’t notice, apologizing.

She went to do her evening routine; washing her face, brushing her teeth, and putting into some pajamas. She dipped into the bed on her stomach, her eyes landing on the picture frame on the nightstand. She and Demetria’s first picture from high school. It’s been a long time since they’ve been together and she’s hoping that they get to continue their love story once she finally finds her. She might have lost her but she wouldn’t trade her for anything or anyone. She loves her that much and she wishes that Demetria still felt the same.