Chapter 20

On December 22, 2017, Samantha and Trina gather their things for the ski weekend with Brenda and Bruce. Richard takes the afternoon off work to make sure that his daughters have everything necessary for the trip. He packs snacks for the road, gives them spending money and reminds them that they need to back the following week. “No matter what your mother says, you tell her that you want to be in your own home before the New Year rings in,” he stressed to his daughters. Both girls nod to acknowledge their understanding of his direction. “Daddy, what do we tell mommy if she asks about Lorelei?” Trina inquired. “You answer her questions and nothing more,” he instructed. “She only wants to know if she is prettier and thinner,” Samantha chimed in with a chuckle. Both Richard and Trina join in the laughter. They know how pretentious Brenda can be. It would be a surprise if she behaved any different. She is scheduled to pick them up at four o’clock.

Minutes to the hour, Brenda rings the doorbell with a hidden agenda masked as concern for how well the children are packed. Samantha opens the door allowing her to enter. “Hey baby,” she greets her oldest daughter. “Hi mommy. We are all ready,” Samantha answered. As Brenda walks through the door, she scans the living room from corner to corner. Trina comes to give her a hug and she hardly gives her two taps before she wants them to show her what they have packed. The two girls look at their father. He nods to give them permission to unpack allowing their mother to inspect their luggage. Brenda examines every sweater and legging to make sure that it meets her expectation. “Hey, where is the red sweater you got last Christmas? I think it would be great for a group photo that I have scheduled for us at the lodge,” Brenda insisted. Samantha sighed as she gets up, she heads to her room to retrieve it and her mother is following right behind her. Richard doesn’t object. She sees that Richard’s bedroom door is closed. The girls’ room remains the same as when she lived there. Samantha finds the sweater in a chest of drawers and the two head back to the front of the house. As Samantha and Trina repack their bags, Brenda heads for the kitchen for a glass of water. “I am so parched. Do you mind?” Brenda inquired. Richard shakes his head in a back and forth motion. She looks around the kitchen still searching for something out of place. Maybe a hint of a woman’s touch other than hers. Nothing is different.

Each of the girls grabs a backpack while their father totes their suitcase out of the house. Brenda leads the way down the driveway to her vehicle. Richard loads the truck with all of their bags. Samantha and Trina hug their father. Have a good Christmas. We will see you before the New Year, Samantha promised. They are all smiles as they get into the backseat of their mother’s car. Brenda stands on the curb waiting to get his undivided attention. “Drive safely,” he said. “Umm. Hmm. You have fun with your little girlfriend,” Brenda scoffed. Richard purses his lips as he waves one final time to his children before he turns to walk back towards his house. Brenda gets in the car with a chip on her shoulder and speeds off.

During the car ride to collect Bruce and the rest of the gear needed for the trip, the interrogation of Samantha and Trina begin. “Well. Your grandmother told me about your father’s girlfriend,” Brenda said. The girls say nothing. “Why are you two holding out on me? We’re a team. We all want what’s best for your father,” Brenda insisted. Still silence in the backseat. “Look. I just need to know if you are comfortable with her. Is she nice to you?” Brenda asked. “Yes. She treats us well,” Samantha chimed in as if to spare her mother the agony of begging for information. “Great. That puts my mind at ease,” Brenda answered. “What does she look like?” Samantha and Trina look at each other as they softly giggle. “Mommy. She looks like a woman,” Trina stated. “I know that silly. I meant is she pretty,” Brenda inquired. “She is absolutely gorgeous to hear daddy tell it. I think she is beautiful,” Trina squealed with glee. Her response infuriates Brenda but she doesn’t let it show. “Umm. Hmm. Your father always had good taste in women,” Brenda retorted. “Do you think your father is serious about her?” Brenda asked. Again, the girls look at one another as if to say, she can’t let him be happy. “Maybe.” The girls answer in unison. “What is her name again? Lindsay, Lucy, Lidia, oh I can’t think of it right now,” Brenda insisted. “Lorelei Ives is her name,” Trina stated with her arms folded as she grows frustrated with this game of false concern. Brenda looks in her rearview mirror and sees the angst on Trina’s face. She continues to drive without any further questions. When she pulls up to her apartment building, Bruce is outside waiting with all the luggage. She pops open the trunk and he begins loading everything. The girls hop out and head inside for one last bathroom break before they hit the road. The drive is about three hours and they would like to get there no later than eight o’clock in the evening.

The four set out on the road, this time Bruce is the driver and all is quiet. Samantha and Trina each have their headphones playing their favorite tunes. Brenda is on her smartphone googling all that can find out about Lorelei Ives. Traffic is jammed as it would be any other Friday night. She finds seventeen-hundred Facebook profiles of women named Lorelei Ives, none quite fitting what she believes Richard would have an attraction. Brenda is on a mission to complete phase one of her plan to win her ex-man back. Her daughters are not as helpful as she hoped. They arrive at the lodge minutes nine o’clock. As they unload, Trina says, “I am so hungry. When can we eat?” Bruce chimes in, “I am with you baby girl, where can we go at this hour.” It’s the first time that Trina isn't bothered by Bruce using a term of endearment with her. They check-in at the front desk. Brenda got a great deal on a two-bedroom suite. Samantha and Trina whisper wow and ah as they walk through the lobby. Samantha snap selfies every few steps. Their approval brings a smile to Brenda’s face. They get to the room and it is more than they could have imagined.

Back at Richard’s house, he and Philly are unloading a U-Haul truck with all of Lorelei’s belongings to his house. Most of her things will stay packed in the garage until after the New Year. Her lease is up in her apartment so it only makes sense that she would move in with her boyfriend. It will be their first Christmas together and they couldn’t be happier. Missy and Philly fully support Richard’s decision to try and make a life with Lorelei. She is everything that Brenda is not in terms of her character and behavior. Everyone in the family agrees that these two are meant for each other. The next morning the couple go shopping for Poinsettia plants bring in the holiday feel into the home. Richard goes into the attic to rustle up the Christmas lights. He and his lady love spend the entire weekend decorating and enjoying each other.

On Christmas morning, the phone rings and Richard’s answered, “Merry Christmas.” “Merry Christmas,” the girls answer in unison. “Hey babies. How is it going? Are you expert skiers now?” Richard asked. “No.” The girls said in unison. “We are having a good time,” Trina said. “Yeah. Mommy made a great vacation choice,” Samantha included. He hands the receiver to Lorelei. “Hey girls. We have a big surprise for you when you get home,” she squealed. “Oh. Hi Lorelei. What is it? Tell us,” begged Samantha and Trina. When Brenda hears that the girls are talking to their father’s girlfriend her mood sours. She rushes them to end the call. Bruce notices her attitude change and makes a mental note of it. They make the best of their last day of skiing before packing to return home tomorrow. Meanwhile, Richard and Lorelei go spend the day with his family and invite her father to join them. Jessica missed not having the girls with her for Christmas but look forward to the events to come where they will all be together.

The Tuesday afternoon, Richard anxiously awaits the return of his daughters and at five o’clock, Brenda pulls up with Bruce in tow. The sight of him doesn’t even bother Richard. He is happy to see his children. Brenda has an attitude during the exchange. Bruce cautiously hands the luggage to Richard. The girls are all giggly. Each hug both their mother and Bruce before heading for the house. Richard waves and nods as he too heads for the front door. Bruce and Brenda drive away. When the girls enter, they are pleasantly surprised to see Lorelei. They rush to embrace her. Richard comes in after them and says, “Surprise she is here to stay.” They all laugh out loud.

Thursday morning, Brenda gives Richard a call to bear her soul and the phone rings straight through to voicemail. “Hey. It’s me. I need to talk to you,” Brenda stated. Once Richard was dressed and ready to head out to the florist with Lorelei, he sees that Brenda left a message. As they get in the car, he listens to it. She sounds distraught and this gives him concern. Not for her sake but for the sake of their children. He calls her back. “Hey. I got your message. What’s up?” He inquired. “Oh. Can we meet somewhere?” Brenda asked. “Sure. I’ve got a few errands to run but I can meet you at the coffee house at three o’clock,” he answered. “Oh. That would be perfect. I will see you then,” she agreed. Richard and Lorelei pick out a bevy of beautiful arrangements for delivery on Sunday. He explains his need to meet with Brenda and she understands without question. They have lunch before he drops her back at the house with the girls. He arrives at the coffee house minutes to the hour and finds Brenda is already there. He walks in and she waves him over to a booth in the corner of the shop. He sits. “Would you like to order something?” Brenda asked. “No thank you,” he answered. He looks at her recognizing the softness that he once treasured. “I know this is going to sound crazy but I need you to know that I will always have a love for you,” Brenda uttered nervously. “Uh. Huh.” Richard grunted. “I believe that if we try hard, we can find the magic between us again,” Brenda quipped. She is about to continue when Richard chimed in. “Let me stop you right there. We can never be again. I gave you everything, and you trampled over it like I meant nothing so forgive me if I can’t get onboard with what you have to say,” he spouted in agitation. He gets up from the booth, she leans over grabbing his hand. “Please understand that I never meant to hurt you and I miss us,” Brenda utters through tears. He is moved by her display of emotion and somewhere deep inside him he still feels the need to comfort and protect her. He grimaces before he lashes out at her. “It’s too late,” he scoffed as he snatches his hand away and leaves the coffee house.

Saturday morning, Lorelei, Samantha, and Trina have plans to spend the day together. Jessica tags along on the shopping trip. Richard meets Philly with his son for an excursion to the mall. “Dude, I am so excited about this,” Philly shouted. “Really. Why?” Richard asked. “Man, you deserve this,” Philly insisted. “Yeah. I have to agree. This feels right,” Richard conceded. They sit and watch as the tailor measures Philly’s son. “Hey. Brenda called a few days ago. She sounded like she was on edge. I called her back and agreed to meet with her,” Richard explained. “Man, what did that bitch want”? Philly said with disgust. “Dude. She starts this monolog about us getting back together. She had me shook for a minute,” Richard confessed. “Man, put that out of your mind. Her time has passed,” Philly said convincingly. “I know but the way she poured her heart out, I saw the girl that I’ve loved my whole adult life,” Richard expressed as a shiver went down his spine. “Man. Snap out of it. That is what she wants you to see. Don’t let her pull you back in. It’s about winning for her. She is not happy unless she knows that you are waiting in the wings for her should she grow bored with her current situation,” Philly preached. Richard shrugs his shoulders. “No. Man. Let a bitch go,” Philly demanded.

Saturday evening, Brenda calls to check on her daughters. Samantha answers, “Hi mommy.” “Hey baby. How are you doing?” Brenda asked. “Fine. Do you want to talk to Trina?” Samantha inquired. “Yes. Call her to the phone for me,” Brenda insisted. Trina comes to the kitchen to chat with her mother. “Hey mommy,” she said. “Hi baby. Is everything good?” Brenda asked. “Yes. Everything is fine,” Trina answered. “How are you going to ring in the New Year?” Brenda asked. “Oh. We are going to church tomorrow,” Trina stated. Richard and Lorelei stop what they are doing to hone in on the conversation the girls are having with their mother. “Really. Church on Sunday. That’s different. What time is the service?” Brenda probed. Trina realizes that she’s said too much, she looks to her father for direction. He mouths “tell her one o’clock.” She repeats his instruction. “Okay baby, maybe, mommy will come say a prayer with you,” Brenda promised. They hang up. “Daddy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin everything,” Trina said through tears. “You didn’t ruin anything,” Richard assures her. “It’s okay. We are going to have a great New Year’s Eve no matter what happens,” Lorelei added.

Early Sunday morning, Richard leaves the house, Philly and his son are our front waiting for him. He kisses all the women in his household goodbye before he walks through the door. “When the day is over, we will all be different,” he announces. All the girls giggle as they continue gathering everything that they need. A car arrives one hour later to pick them up. There is so much excitement. They arrive at the back of the church at nine o’clock. The church parking lot is full. It’s a small Baptist church off Guy Brewer Boulevard in the Jamaica section of Queens. Lorelei and her father have worshipped there for years. Richard, Philly and his young son are all dressed sharply in white tuxedos. Richard takes several breathes before entering the chapel. Wilma, Monica, and Jessica are already present in the first row. The pews are filled from front to back. The organist begins, everyone rises and the double-doors at the back of the sanctuary are opened by ushers. First to come down the aisle is Samantha in a lilac dress with a lace overlay. She is all smiles. The happiness is beaming from every fiber of being. Next to come down the aisle is Trina and her younger cousin. She is wearing a lilac dress in the shape of a princess cut ball gown, her young cousin in his white tuxedo has a white and purple hybrid rose blossoming from his lapel. Richard exudes nothing but pride. Everyone remains standing because they see a breath-taking vision of beauty in Lorelei. She is dressed in a white chiffon dress, the dress is fitted to compliment her curvy figure. She adores a crystal tiara with a short veil attached. Richard swallows hard when he takes her beauty. Philly as his best man whispers, “she’s a knockout. Boy you are winning.” Richard nods in agreement as a smile stretches across his face. The ceremony goes on without interruption.

Minutes to an hour of one o’clock, Brenda pulls into the church parking lot and notices it is full. As she gets out of her vehicle and heads towards the front of the church, the doors fling open and people start flowing out. She sees a strikingly beautiful bride matching the same dress that she saw in her dream and the groom is Richard. Her heart races. No one notices her with all the people throwing rice and making a big commotion. She spots Missy and rushes towards her but her movement seems like slow motion because it takes for what seems like forever for her to reach her side. Richard and Lorelei get into a waiting limo with Samantha and Trina and drive off. Missy sees Brenda and gives her a side glance as if to wonder what she is doing here. She can tell that Brenda is visibly upset about what she just witnessed. She waits because she knows that Brenda needs to speak her peace. Her make-up is ruined because the tears are gushing. “I cannot believe he did this to me. I hate him,” she uttered through her tears. Philly walked up as she finishes her statement, looks at her and replies, “for all that you put my brother through, know that we hate you too.” Missy purses her lips as her husband grabs her hand and they walk off to their car with their son.