Chapter 46
The Real Celia
Celia woke up with a start. She looked around the room and Roger was lying on the other bed. He smiled and put down his phone. “You were having a bad dream, Sis. I was just about to wake you.”
“I know. It wasn’t good.”
“What were you dreaming? You were saying, ‘No, don’t do that’.”
Celia shook her head and after a few seconds laughed. “It’s coming back. I was dreaming about a fish. Mike was trying to make me clean it so he could cook it.”
“What? You’re dreaming about Mike? You’ve gotten over Martin pretty quickly.”
“It’s not like that. We made this bet about camping and doing things you don’t like. I agreed to go camping if he’d do something he didn’t want to do. Now, I’m regretting it. I can’t think of anything that will be as bad as camping. You know, for him to do.”
“You’ll think of something, but be careful. You might find out that you like playing with worms and fish, or that you like Mike . . . more than you think.”
“Oh, shut up. I’m not ready for that, and by the way, you have to come, too.”
“Me? How did I get roped into this? Not that I would care to go fishing or camping. I bet there are some great places out here.” Roger rose from the bed and looked at her.
“I don’t know. Mike just tossed you in there, I guess, so we wouldn’t be alone. I’m going to try to get out of it if I can. I’m hoping I can find something terrible for him to do so he’ll be the one who ends the bet.”
“You’re not one to give up so easily. What happened to the girl who used to fight me over every little thing? When did you lose all that fire?”
Celia sat up and Roger helped her arrange the pillows behind her back. “I don’t know. I didn’t realize I’d changed that much.”
“I see it’s gone, and that you’ve changed, so why don’t you try to find it again? The old Celia was a lot more fun,” Roger said, setting down on the edge of the bed.
“Well, being grown up isn’t all about having fun. It’s about working and making your way in life. Fun is something that you have when you’re young and don’t have any obligations or bills to pay.”
“No. That’s where you’re wrong. You need a combination of both. I think that’s what happened to you and Martin. You never had any fun. You never talked about going anywhere or doing anything. With all of that money, you should have been doing something every weekend.”
“We went out all the time.”
“And did what? Eat? That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about doing things, fun things. You used to do all kinds of things. You danced, you ran, you were on the volleyball team, you were into auctions and antiques. You tried new things. You were always doing something crazy with your hair or buying new clothes.”
“Yes, you’re right. I did a lot of stupid things with my hair. But I’m an adult now.”
“That doesn’t mean you stop living. You need to get some of that old girl back and try her on for size. You can’t go through life being sad all the time or thinking too much.”
“You think I’m like that?”
“Yes, I do. The ‘Celia’ who was at the Christmas party, that wasn’t the real you. That was some rich snob I’d never met before. I don’t mean to beat on you while you’re down, but to be honest, it’s the only time I’ll have the nerve to do it.” He looked at her sheepishly and flashed her a big smile. She looked thoughtful and gave him a pouting look.
He stood up and leaned over as if he was peeking inside her mind. “Come on out of there, Sis. I know you’re in there. Don’t go down that road again. Quit fooling around with these men who don’t love you and find one you can grow old with.”
“You sound like Mom.”
“Maybe I do, but I’m sure we have different reasons. I lost a really good friend a few months ago and it taught me a lot. One of the things was to stop wasting time. I know we have to work. I know I need to settle down, find a job or learn a trade. But we do not need to forget how to live.”
“So you think I’ve forgotten what life’s all about?” Celia asked.
“Not completely. You were always about family, but I think you’ve forgotten about - you.”
“I don’t know,” she said, with a slight shrug of her shoulders. She didn’t want to look at him. A part of her knew he was right, but how could she admit that she’d been so wrong to her younger brother?
She felt Roger’s hand raising her chin so she would have to look at him. There was a compassionate smile on his lips. “Sis, can I be really honest?”
“I suppose so. You’re doing a pretty good job so far.”
“I know and I don’t mean to sound cruel, but I can see you wasting time. I think you’re worried about the physical side of you. Who can take care of you? Who will give you the biggest or best home? You need to start thinking about who’s going to take care of you when you’re old and wrinkled and your hair turns gray.”
“And, trust me, this is hard for me to say. I mean, look at this place. What do you need with a house this big? Think about it, Sis. How would you pay the electric bill let alone the taxes and cost of maintenance?”
Celia knew he was trying to soften the blow, so she nodded. “I understand and you might be right, but I don’t have to admit it. I’m the older one. I’m supposed to be the smarter sibling.”
Roger turned and started to go. “I don’t care if you admit it or not. I just hope you listen and do a little work on taking care of my sister, the real Celia.”
*****
Thursday morning when Randi woke up, she was tired. She’d not slept much. She'd done more packing then sleeping. She got up, dressed and took the pups out for their morning walk. When she came back in, she sent Martin a quick text telling him that she was checking into a hotel for a few days to think things over. She hoped he didn’t get angry, but she didn’t want to move in with him.
Well, a part of her did, but she knew it would be taking a step that could lead them to the bedroom before they should be there. That was not what she wanted. And, more than anything, she wanted to prove her mother wrong. She wanted to show her that she could make it on her own and that Martin was worth fighting for.
It looked like rain so she put on a jacket and walked downstairs, the dogs at her heels. She had everything she would need for a few days, and as she was pulling out her phone to call a cab, her dad walked out, keys in his hands.
“You’re just in time to give me a ride.”
When he looked at her, the look on his face said it all and she shrugged. “Can you give me a ride? I need to get a car but right now I can’t afford the down payment.”
“I know, and I wish I could help you.”
“I wasn’t hinting at all.”
“I know you weren’t, and I’ll give you a ride, though I wish I didn’t have to. Your mother will be down soon. Do you want me to try to talk some sense into her?”
“No. I think this is best for now. She needs to know I’m serious. I understand her position but I think she’s wrong. I’m not willing to do as she wants, and this is her house.”
“It’s my house, too.”
“I know, but I’m not about to put the two of you at odds. This will all work out in time. We just both need some space.”
“She was pretty sure last night you were moving in with Martin.”
They walked to the car. Her dad opened the trunk, and when he looked up, Randi shook her head. “That’s what I told her, and it might happen, but for now I’m going to a motel. I don’t have a lot of cash, so I will move in with him before I come back home and live by her rules.”
He only nodded and Randi opened the back door so the dogs could jump in. They changed the subject once on the road. “Where are you off to this morning?”
“I’m going to put in a few applications for some part time work. I finally got my final notice. No more work at the plant. I’m going to try part-time work. Your mom wants to get a job. She wants to sell cosmetics. I don’t mind. She needs something to do. Do you have a motel in mind?”
“I’m sorry to hear that. You’ll find something. You’ve got a great work record, and, yes, the motel on Pine Street and 34th. They take dogs and even have an outside kennel though I hope I don’t have to use it.”
“That’s close to your aunt’s house.”
“It is. That’s one reason I chose it. I can drop the dogs off with Julie in the morning when it’s time for work.”
“You’ve put some thought into this. I assume you’re pretty serious about Mr. Taylor?”
“I am. I could see him being ‘the one’.” Not that we’re talking marriage, but we are both at that point in our life. We want the same things. It’s kind of scary the way we connected. It’s one of the things I can’t get Mother to see. All she can think about is that he was still dating someone else when we met.”
“That’s not good, but I know she told me he wasn’t getting along with the other woman.”
“Her name is Celia, and, no, he was not in love with her anymore, if he ever had been. Look, I know it sounds terrible, but it’s not. He tried to tell me a few times. I can recall the serious moments when he was about to say something and we would get interrupted.”
Her dad parked the car. She felt he had more to say and she gave him time. The dogs were jumping about looking out one window and then the other.
“I won’t try to push you one way or the other but . . .”
“I’m listening.”
“Don’t let someone you’ve known for only a few weeks come between you and your mother for long.”
This time it was Randi who waited before she spoke. She wanted to make sure her words sounded kind and not rude. She nodded and turned in the seat to face her dad. He, in turn, looked at her.
“I understand what you’re saying. I don’t refer to the Bible very often; I don’t feel worthy to do so but there is one verse though I can’t quote it word for word. It says that a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. It may not say anything about the woman, but I assume she’s also supposed to leave her family for the man she loves.”
Her dad didn’t say anything he just nodded. Randi let out a sigh and looked at the flashing sign. “I don’t want to do this. I didn’t want to fight. I was willing to see Martin less, but nothing would satisfy her but to stop me from seeing him.”
“I know your mother does have a temper, but she wants what’s best for you.”
“True, but she can’t know that.”
“She thinks she does.”
Randi nodded. This wasn’t getting her anywhere. She wanted to stay on good speaking terms with her dad. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I love you, Dad, and I love Mom. Tell her that for me. I’ll call her in a few days to check in.”
“Do that. I’ll make sure she answers.”
“Thanks. I don’t want this rift to last. I hope and pray she’ll see that Martin is a good man and that he’s the right one for me.”
“I’m not sure. She’s lived here too long and watched too many Star shows, she thinks she knows best.”
Randi didn’t like the sad look on her dad’s face. She didn’t know how to answer. She reached for the handle on the door and forced a smile. “It will all work out in the end. It has to.”