My 8 E-books written over the years by Alina Udrea - HTML preview

Chapter 6: Home again

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-I miss her so much… our only child…Christmas Eve is in two days… do you think they will come visit as they promised? Mom was asking Marcel, her husband, the man she had spent her life with and whom she loved more than anyone else in the world besides their daughter. Her love for her little angel couldn’t be described in words. There was nothing in this world she wouldn’t do for her. Anything. She would give her heart from her chest if it was needed. She loved her daughter beyond words. They had had her

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pretty late, in their early thirties. She had just turned thirty when they had their daughter and she knew they wouldn’t have other children. So she put all her love for this child, their child… who was now a young woman herself and who had promised she would come back for Christmas to visit. She could only hope that their daughter and Al would keep their promise.-I’m sure they’ll be here on Christmas Eve, just as they promised. And Marcel hugged his wife and kissed her forehead trying to push away all her doubts and worries. You know she always keeps her promises. And I am sure that just as we miss her, she must have missed us too. We are her parents. We raised her well. Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll be here. But Marcel was also wondering if she would come visit, if she was OK, if Al was good to her and so on. The only difference was that he didn’t want to express his worries not to worry his wife more than she already was. So he kept his feelings and worries for himself. He wanted this Christmas to be perfect, with a Christmas tree and gifts for everyone around it just as they used to do when she was still living with them. He hoped Delia and Al would indeed come and open their gifts…

-I will make her favorite cakes and foods. And we will buy a Christmas tree and put the presents under it. If they don’t come, it will break my heart… mom was saying almost crying at the thought.

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-You know what? Let’s make a deal: no more worries and no tears, OK? If they don’t come I’ll build a ship and go look for them myself, said Marcel to lighten up the mood and put a smile on his wife’s face. Which he managed to do. After all the years spent together he knew what to say to make her feel better and to make her smile. He loved her so much even if he didn’t always show her. And she knew it too. He wasn’t always good with words but he knew what to say when it mattered most.-OK, she muttered. I’ll hold you to your words! And she smiled at him. You are probably right. They’ll be here! She said in a more determined voice starting to believe her own words when she heard them come out of her mouth. OK, you go buy the Christmas tree and I’ll go buy the gifts. What do you think Al would like to get under the tree? This would be his first Christmas but no idea what an alien would like…

-Stop worrying! I bet he’ll like whatever you choose.-Remember, this is his first Christmas so I want it to be special, to make

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them want to come visit us every Christmas, to make him feel like he is part of our family. So you see why I worry?

-Well, Marcel answered chuckling, at least now you stopped worrying that they wouldn’t come. Just buy him a perfume or something. I trust you have good tastes and he’ll like it too. And what should we buy for our daughter?-Was thinking of buying her a perfume and a lovely white sleeveless dress for when she goes back to Valles. I saw this dress in a shop downtown. That’s what I’ll get her. And when I’m done shopping, I’ll start cooking.

-Sounds like a plan. And Marcel smiled sweetly. He was happy that his wife’s mood had improved at least. She was now talking of getting them presents and cooking for the holidays, she wasn’t thinking that they wouldn’t come. She was a lot more cheerful and more fun to be around than when she was gloomy.

-I want this Christmas to be perfect… she said then she began thinking of the wonderful white dress she saw in the window of the shop downtown. 35

Two days later everything was ready in their small household. The

Christmas tree was just perfect and there were lots of presents for everybody under it. Food was smelling delicious and Mom was busy arranging the table. Marcel got out a bottle of old wine from the larder and put it on the table too. Everything was perfect or almost perfect. Just two things were missing: Delia and Al. They still hadn’t arrived but neither Mom nor Marcel were ready to give up hope of seeing them. They didn’t even open the subject. It would have hurt too much. So they just avoided talking to each other and kept preparing things for the Christmas dinner as if there was nothing wrong and the two most expected guests should knock on their door any minute. But it was already Christmas Eve and they had finished preparing everything and still there were no signs of Delia or Al. Sadness was carved deeply on both parents’ faces especially when carols could be heard being sung outside as was the custom. Finally Mom couldn’t refrain herself anymore and without a single word she broke out crying. Marcel forgot about his own pain and tried to comfort his wife.-Hey, look at me, he said, don’t cry. And he wiped the tears that were running like a river down her cheeks. Do you believe in miracles? Because I do. Delia has always been our little miracle. I’m sure she will be here with him just as they promised. The day is not over yet.

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-What if we’ll never see her again? Who knows on what distant land they are right now… they promised they’d visit every Christmas… she kept repeating not wanting to think that anything bad might have happened to their only child.

-Hush… Marcel said as a tear came rolling down from the corner of his eye. It was too much for him too.

-I don’t feel like eating. I’m sorry, and Mom ran out of the kitchen and into the bedroom where she meant to cry herself to sleep. Marcel tried to stop her but then he figured that maybe she really needed a bit of time for herself to deal with the pain in her own way. And this way he could also cry and she wouldn’t see him… then there was a soft and shy knock on the front door. He meant to ignore it as he thought there were more carolers knocking on the door. But the knocking was heard again a bit louder. He 36

wiped the tears from his eyes and went to open the door. He meant to tell them that he wasn’t in the mood for more carols. He turned the key in the lock to open the door when he felt a sudden calmness. It was very familiar…-Daddy!! And Delia jumped and hugged him. She kissed his forehead and then let Al get in too. Marcel was standing there like a statue as he couldn’t believe his eyes. Then when he finally came back to himself he returned the kiss and then he shook hands with Al.

-I knew it! Marcel finally said. Miracles do happen! He wiped his tears one last time and then he led the way towards the kitchen and the goodies waiting for them in there.

-Pa, have you been crying? And where is Mom?-No, he lied. Have a seat, I’ll go get your Mom. I’ll be right back. And he left in a hurry.

-He’s such a terrible liar. And Delia winked at Al and added: just as Mom. She always blushes if she is lying. Not that she is a liar, but sometimes, like for instance when she wanted to surprise me with something, she always blushed when she was trying to hide it. Mmm, food is smelling so good. Oh, looks like pa bought a bottle of wine.

-Wine? Al asked as he had never tasted wine before. He had tasted beer and he didn’t like it.

-Yeah, she said and then she just thought about her opinion of wine and let

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him know it telepathically.

-Oh, I got to taste it for myself.

Meanwhile Marcel hurried to the bedroom where his wife was still crying as she hadn’t heard the commotion down stairs. He knocked on the door and then entered without waiting for her to answer. He approached her and wiped her tears. He was smiling wildly.

- What’s with the grin? She asked sobbing.

- Come, we have guests downstairs.

- Guests?? Oh my God, don’t tell me! They’re here! And she got up from the bed and ran downstairs and into the kitchen. She felt dizzy with hope and emotion. Could it be? Was their daughter and her future husband in their 37home for Christmas? Had they really come? Then she saw them seated at the table and she almost swooned with happiness. She felt her blood race through her body and she could barely find the words to greet them.- My child! Al! Welcome home for Christmas! I never doubted you’d come, she lied blushing.

- Mom, you are a terrible liar, worse than pa! Said Delia and kissed her mother’s still red cheeks. Al also kissed her cheeks as he saw Delia do and shook hands with Marcel.

- So how was your trip? How is Valles? What are the other Valentinians like? Mom started asking them so many questions that she was soon out of breath.

- Slow down, mom. The trip back here was smooth and Valles is… hot. Very hot.

- Oh, then you’ll love your gift. Come, let’s unwrap the presents. I can hardly wait to see if you like them, and saying that she took Delia’s hand and almost dragged her in the living-room where she had placed the Christmas tree with the presents under it.

Al was looking curious as it was all new to him. Delia had told him a bit about this holiday before arriving but he really didn’t know what to expect. Gifts? Wow. He read Mom’s mind to see if there was a gift for him, too. And to his surprise, she had also bought him a gift. Now he wanted to open it. These people, Delia’s parents, were now his family too. And he loved them. He was so glad that he and Delia had managed to convince the High Council of Valles to part with a few war ships to permanently survey and protect Earth, this little piece of heaven. And it was profitable too, as they took water from time to time which they sent to Valles. Large amounts of

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fresh water which Earth had plenty of. So it was good for both sides. He was glad that the Council had seen the importance of preserving this little wild paradise. Then he heard Marcel telling him:

- You know, Al, there’s a gift for you under the tree, too.- Thank you kindly, he answered and took a nicely wrapped gift with his name on it. He opened it and found a bottle of some colored liquid inside.- Thank you, he repeated, more wine? He asked as he didn’t know what was inside and hadn’t read their minds about it. He had just read mom’s mind to see if they had bought him a gift, too, but was content with knowing that 38they had not to be curious what it was until he would open it. And now that he opened it, he didn’t know what it was.

- No. And they all laughed, not at him, but with him.- Smell, said Delia taking off the lid. It’s perfume!- Oh, I like it! He said really meaning it. It smells so… masculine and fresh!- Exactly! Said Delia pulverizing some of it on his clothes. Now your clothes smell like that. Mmm…

- Wow! Thank you again for the nice gift!

- Now it’s your turn, Delia! Said Mom delighted at the thought of the wonderful white dress she had bought for her daughter. Open your gift!- Mom… you shouldn’t have… she said shyly but in fact she was glad that her parents had bought them gifts. No matter how small the gift, it’s the gesture that matters and it was so nice of her parents to buy them gifts even though they weren’t even sure she and Al would be home in time for Christmas. Then she opened her gift. She took out the dress which had been carefully folded inside and let it loose. It was wonderful! And useful..- Mom, dad, thank you so much! I love it, I really do! It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever had.

- Well, what are you waiting for? Put it on, try it! Said Mom with her eyes moist of happiness.

- Well, Delia started, mom, pa, this dress fits perfectly with the occasion. Al and I are going to get married before we leave again. The day after tomorrow if we can find a priest available. So this white dress is just perfect!

- Congratulations! This is wonderful! She said out loud but inside she thought: I think I’m going to faint! God help me not to! This is too much happiness for my poor heart to handle. And out loud again: OK, no worries, I’ll find a priest even if I have to drag him here myself. Now will you try the

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dress or not?

- No, I will wear it on my wedding day if you don’t mind…. And Delia was looking with pleading eyes at her parents.

- Of course, you are right, said Marcel who always took his daughter’s side. That’s perfect, darling.

- There is one more itsy bitsy thing… said Delia looking at her parents with pleading eyes again. We brought a friend from Valles with us. She is waiting 39

for us in the ship in the old mine. I didn’t want to scare you two by bringing her with us from the start but I hope you won’t mind if she comes tomorrow? She was tired now anyway but tomorrow morning…- A friend? Asked both her parents while her mom was already thinking that she meant a Valentinian but her father was just waiting to see what she meant by a friend.

- Yes, it is a Zavo creature. Its name is Pixy. Short white furred and really nice and harmless. She’s been with us for the last months and we consider Pixy a part of the family now. It’s like a dog companion but it doesn’t look like a dog… you’ll see her tomorrow.

- Yes, Al intervened in the conversation to ease their minds as it was about a creature from his world and Delia’s parents were expecting him to have the final word regarding an alien being from his planet. Pixy is totally harmless. I give you my word. And is our friend.

- Then I don’t see why not, said mom curious to see an alien creature besides Al because Al resembled humans too much and they stopped thinking of him as alien but rather as one of them. As for the Zavo creature, that was something she had to see for herself.

- Yeah, Marcel added, any friends of yours are our friends, too. Pixy is welcome in our house. Does it bark? Because I take it she doesn’t bite…- No, dad, I told you, Pixy is not a dog. Is our companion like a dog would, but it’s got nothing to do with a dog. You’ll see.

- OK, OK. And he was content with the answer. Marcel figured he’d just have to wait and see.

On the following day, on Christmas day, Delia and Al brought Pixy with them. Her parents were curiously waiting in the doorway to see the alien being. They were imagining all sorts of monsters with many legs and weird looking faces when they saw it. It was nothing like they had imagined: it was a small creature, maybe as tall as Marcel’s knee and it was standing upright on its hind legs and it had short white fluffy fur. It really

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seemed cute and harmless. Delia and Al chose not to tell her parents that this cute fur ball could be dangerous if it chose to as it wasn’t the case. Pixy would only protect them, not harm them so there was no need to scare her parents with details they didn’t need to know.

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- Oh, this is so cute, I love it! Said Delia’s mom who had always had a soft spot for animals, especially the small and fluffy ones. She had had a dog a long time ago and also when she herself had been a child she had hamsters. And Pixy somehow reminded her of both. Can I pet her?- I’m not in the mood, but if you really want… Pixy answered her telepathically.

- Who said that? Asked her mom vexed.

- That was Pixy, Al answered this time. She can read minds… and communicate with you that way. Which is pretty useful.- Oh, OK, geez, then I won’t pet her.

- She meant no offence, mom. She just doesn’t like that. She is not a dog, remember?

- Got it! She answered a bit irritated this time. So one more alien who’s going to read her mind. Just great…!