Nicole came from what one would call a comfortable and lavish family upbringing, where her family was well known in the community. Her mother was a homemaker and had been for Nicole’s entire upbringing, so she was able to give Nicole all the attention she needed and then some. Coming from such a well-known family, Nicole was popular amongst her peers.
While there were other families in the state that were wealthier and more affluent, there was definitely an unspoken—though not altogether negative—novelty of the Stones being a well-to-do African American family in a state that was as white as the snow that fell on the ground more than half the year. Nicole didn’t mind, and in fact was often proud that her family and circle of friends could provide a positive image to the community.
All of this because of her father, who ironically was hardly ever seen because of his hectic and busy workaholic lifestyle. He was a prominent lawyer in the community who shied away from being in the limelight, but his firm was one of the top law practices in the city. The only chance anyone had of catching a glimpse of him for more than a few minutes or spending any quality time with him needed to be present in the courtroom with him or at the annual Christmas Eve gathering.
Unfortunately, that was the case for his family, as well.
With Nicole’s stifled lifestyle and upbringing, she was more than anxious to get out of North Dakota and begin a life of her own. She had a slight resentment of her mother being a homemaker and never fully understood how her mother could sacrifice so much to just sit at home, as Nicole saw it.
Just the same, though, Nicole felt slightly guilty for leaving because she felt she was somewhat abandoning her mother even though it was quite the opposite. Nicole’s mother was beloved in the community and very welcoming to visitors who, in their attempts to become acquainted with the famous local family, fell in love with her generous and giving spirit.
Anyone who came to Nicole’s childhood home would be welcomed with the smell of delectable baked goods and stories from her mom that people loved to hear her share about her life. Nicole’s mother also became very active in the community helping the less fortunate, something that both Nicole’s mother and father thrived on. Nicole’s father probably kept a low profile, but he was always giving back, and usually Nicole’s mother would be the representative of the family at the various local community events.
Nicole’s relationship with her father was one that went back and forth and up and down. Growing up she was daddy’s little girl, but then with his prosperity came his absence. In his absence the home was filled with assistants and help that Nicole affectionately referred to as ‘uncles’. They seemed to be very close to her father and had been present for most of her life, as far back as she could remember.
The guys she dated were usually trying to get in good with the family to move their way into one of these positions. They were constantly replacing and filling these positions every few years because the work could be stressful and keep the men away from their families, if even they had the chance to start families by the time they started working for Nicole’s father. Mr. Stone always respected their decisions to move on because he understood the challenges that came along with the job; he looked at the situation as divine intervention allowing someone new to be blessed with the opportunity.
As Nicole got older and understood the business, she admired her father for what he did and became accustomed to him being absent in her life, but she also understood the chauvinistic qualities her father encouraged.
When she got older Nicole asked her mom why she had so many “uncles” but no “aunts” that represented her father’s firm. At first Nicole regretted asking, because she thought it might have been due to her mom having jealousy issues or worries of infidelity, but then she found out the truth.
“Let’s just say that your father is a bit old fashioned, sweetheart. It’s his firm so he prefers to hire men and make them the breadwinners,” Mrs. Stone would respond to her teenage daughter’s questions.
“That doesn’t make you mad, mom?” Nicole asked out of curiosity, somewhat offended by this revelation about her father.
“Yes and no. I decided to live this lifestyle that I live, darling, but I encourage you to be better and do more than me. I can see you running your own firm or whatever business you desire to run,” Mrs. Stone would say with a supportive smile.
Nicole loved her mother for that. As for her father, Nicole loved him, but there were other times when she was at her most lonesome and blamed her father for that feeling and need for attention. She cherished the Christmas holiday and had been looking forward to the time with her family.
That was, they pulled this stunt.
On Christmas day, after having returned back to her own place after the drama, Nicole called her mom after taking a short nap. She had a restless sleep and couldn’t sleep longer if she tried.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart. Are you ok? I can’t believe you drove all the way back last night.”
“Yes I am, Mom. And I am so sorry because really I wanted to be there with you. I just can’t understand dad right now. It’s hard for me to explain the hurt I feel from all of this. It makes me feel like…”
“You don’t have to explain—I understand more than you know. And it hurts my heart that he has made you feel like this. I really wish you would have stayed here, though, because he’s not even here,” Mrs. Stone explained.
“Oh no, I didn’t mean to cause a rift between you two,” Nicole said, feeling responsible for once again leaving her mother alone.
“No, sweetheart, you know that on Christmas, after spending a few hours with us opening gifts and eating, he usually goes and does some work in his office. This time he decided to go into the firm, though. I think he wanted to get away anyway because he knew I wasn’t pleased with his behavior. But he needed to hear what I had to say. Don’t you worry about us; I just want to make sure you’re OK. By the way, Thomas was really worried sick about you.”
“Yeah, he called and left a message. I did text him back to let him know I was OK. Mom, I really care for him, I’m just a little ashamed by how Dad painted me out to look, like I’m desperate and can’t find a man on my own. I know Thomas said he has been sincere, but at the same time I still feel like a bit of a charity case, you know? I just need a little time to get myself together. I will call him soon enough.”
“He really is a sweet young man, and he cares about you very much. He even told me last night when he was leaving with his parents that he was going to resign,” Mrs. Stone said.
“Really?” Nicole responded.
“Of course, are you really surprised?
“Well, not really.” Nicole smiled for the first time that day with the thought of Thomas willing to give up such a professional opportunity for her sake. “Maybe I will give him a call later. Mom, by the way, I’m a little embarrassed by what you must think of me.”
“What do you mean, darling?” Mrs. Stone asked.
“Dad airing out my dirty laundry like that. Putting it out there, not only to you but even Thomas, like I’m just out there sleeping around. You know, what he said about my coworker. It’s not like that.”
Actually, it was ‘like that’, but Nicole didn’t want to ruin her good girl reputation with her mom and it felt like it was the pink elephant in the room that no one wanted to bring up since her sex life had been revealed.
“Sweetheart, you are a grown-ass woman and you are single. That’s none of our business. When your father mentioned it to me about a month ago I told him then that it was none of his business, either.”
“Mom, I love you!” Nicole said as they both laughed. “You always have my back and you understand me more than anyone ever could. I was just so taken aback at him saying that to me, though. And then for Cynthia to tell me that she told him about John—that’s his name—I couldn’t believe her.”
“Cynthia?”
“Yeah, she was the one who told Dad. She told me last night that Dad had been worried about me since we weren’t really speaking much, so he contacted her and tried to fish information out of her.”
“Oh, I see…well you know your father. When he wants to know something, he will find a way to get it. Anyway sweetheart, tell me how your Christmas Day has been so far. By the way, I loved the gift you got me.”
Nicole and her mom continued their conversation for another hour, before she got an incoming call from her father. Mrs. Stone encouraged her to go ahead and take the call, which she did.
“Merry Christmas, Dad.”
“Umm, Merry Christmas, honey. At first I thought I was getting your voicemail. How are you today?”
“I’ve been better,” Nicole said.
“You know you didn’t have to take off like you did last night. You had your mother worried sick,” Mr. Stone responded, starting to fuss at her.
“But what about you, Dad—were you worried? You know, it was you who started all of this in the first place to get me worked up like I did.”
“I didn’t call to argue with you, Nicole. I just wanted to say Merry Christmas.”
“Well thank you, Dad. I’ll let you go now.” Nicole hung up without allowing her father to say another word.
She honestly could have done without his phone call at all if he was going to not take any responsibility for what he did and still make her feel as if her reaction to all of this was uncalled for.
Nicole started to call Thomas, but was a bit nervous and not yet ready to speak to him. Instead, she called Cynthia to wish her a Merry Christmas and chat with her before her on-and-off-again boyfriend Eric arrived to spend the rest of the holiday evening with Cynthia. When she called, it immediately went to voicemail, so she left her a message.
“Cynthia, Merry Christmas. I just wanted to let you know I’m OK. I tried to get some rest when I got home, and I have since spoken with my mom and dad. I have nothing good to say about him still, but everything will be fine. I think I’m going to call Thomas shortly just to let him know I’m ok and see where things stand with us. Anyway, I’m guessing Eric must have gotten there a little earlier so enjoy the rest of your holiday, girl. Talk to you soon!”
Nicole decided to go ahead and call Thomas. After speaking with her mom, she had gotten eager to talk with him.
After one ring he answered. “Nicole, hey baby. Merry Christmas.”
Nicole smiled, seeing that she wasn’t the only one eager to have a conversation. “Merry Christmas, Thomas. How has your day been?”
“Much better now that I hear your beautiful voice on the other end. Thank you for texting me last night. Did you really drive back home last night in that snow?”
“I did. How did you know that?” Nicole asked, knowing she had not shared that with him.
“ I stopped by your family’s house this afternoon. Your mom had just gotten off the phone with you, she said. She told me you said you would call me later so I’ve literally been waiting for you to call me since she told me that.”
Nicole had to laugh, which caused Thomas to chuckle, too.
He continued, “Look Nicole, I need to see you face-to-face. Since you aren’t here in town anymore, can I come to you? What are you doing for New Year’s Eve?”
“You want to come see me for New Year’s Eve?”
“I’ll come now if you want me to, but I figured New Year’s Eve would be a perfect time. We could start over and bring in the New Year together. Can we do that?” Thomas asked.
“I would love for you to come here,” Nicole responded.
“Great! Look baby, I’m pulling up to my parents’ house. I’m about to go in here and get some time in with them and all of these people that are here. I think I see Cynthia’s car parked here—she has a blue car with her sorority plate on it, right?”
“Yep, that’s her. That explains why I couldn’t reach her earlier—she and Eric are busy mingling with the Wilsons!”
”I guess so. You know my parents have a nice spread for Christmas. People celebrate with the Stones on Christmas Eve and then they stop by the Wilson’s throughout the day on Christmas. I wish you were here, but next time I will make sure you are,” Thomas said.
“That reminds me, Thomas, what are you going to tell people when they ask about our so-called engagement? I had forgotten about that,” Nicole asked, starting to feel herself get emotional from all that had occurred the night before.
“Yeah, I’ve already had to deal with those questions, but I’m just telling them no plans have been made yet and we’re still in the early stages, which is true.”
“Very early stages.”
“I don’t know about you, but I can see us getting married. So that’s what I’m working toward. I know all of this was handled wrong but I already told you, woman. You’re going to be mine,” Thomas had a confidence that was turning Nicole on.
“Well, we’ll see how good you do with winning me over when you get here in six days,” Nicole said with a grin on her face. “But for now, you go and enjoy your family and guests. I will talk to you later, OK?”
“OK. Talk to you later, love.”
As they hung up, Thomas’s last words made her think back on the fact that he said that he loved her in the voicemail from the night before. She would wait until she saw him in a few days to bring that up, unless it came up in their conversations between now and then.
Nicole got excited about her first New Year’s Eve with someone of the opposite sex. It had only happened once in her lifetime, because she was usually single during this time of the year.
Things were looking up for the New Year already, she thought.
~ ~ ~
When Thomas never called her that night, Nicole didn’t think much of it because of it being a holiday and such an eventful, draining couple of days. She figured he probably was getting some rest and would just call her the next day.
Then a couple more days passed and there was no word from him. She decided to call him, but after a few rings it went to voicemail. She hung up without leaving a message. She started getting just a bit concerned, so she decided to call Cynthia since she had not heard back from her either.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Cynth! Merry Christmas, belated.”
“Hey girl, I meant to call you back, too. It’s been so busy, and unlike you I had to go back to work the day after Christmas. I am glad you are doing OK—
you sound good, too,” Cynthia said.
“Yeah, I’m doing much better. I’m a little worried, though,” Nicole sad.
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“Well, Thomas and I spoke on Christmas Day and made plans for him to come here for New Year’s, and he was supposed to call me back that night. But I haven’t heard from him. It’s only been a few days now, but I would have expected to hear from him. I called him today and just got his voicemail. I remembered he was pulling up to his parents’ house when he got off the phone last time, and he mentioned he saw your car there on Christmas. I was wondering, did you get to speak to him and if he sounded weird or anything to you.”
There was a pause on the phone, which got Nicole more concerned. “Cynth, you there?”
“Yeah, Nicole, I am and I don’t know how to tell you this but you might not be hearing from Thomas.”
“What do you mean—is he OK?” Nicole said with panic in her voice.
“Yea, he’s physically ok—nothing like that. But you shouldn’t get your hopes up about him and trust him. I saw him on Christmas, but he wasn’t paying too many people any mind. He was all up on his ex-girlfriend. The girl that he had been seeing when you had went away to college,” Cynthia explained.
“Wait…what? Who is this girl—she lives there now?”
“No, that’s the thing. She doesn’t, so she must have been invited or something—I’m not sure. But it was obvious that something was up with them, and his parents were introducing her to everyone as if she was part of the family. It was weird because everyone was still talking about you two and the engagement announcement from last night. Nicole, you still there?”
Nicole had fallen silent, reeling over what she had just heard from her friend. What kind of game was this asshole playing? But it explained why she had not heard from him if he was busy entertaining company.
“Yea, Cynth, I’m here—just a little surprised, I guess. If you would have heard the way he was talking, making plans even, it’d throw you off a little, too.”
“Honey, I’m sorry. It’s taken me by surprise, too, because you know I was cheering you two on. He had me fooled thinking he really wanted to get with you and do you right,” Cynthia said.
“Well, that’s OK. Fuck him—he’s always played this hot-and-cold game; I don’t know why I expected anything different from him.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I would just leave his sorry-ass alone and delete his number. And it’s not like you don’t have a backup plan. Call up your boy, John, and have him bring the New Year in with you.”
It had been a minute since she and John had gotten intimate, but she was strongly considering Cynthia’s suggestion. After Thomas reawakened those senses in the guesthouse a few nights earlier, she was ready to have them tended to completely.
“I just might do that—why should I be alone for New Year’s?