CHAPTER 25 - CHANCE

I’d just finished up with my latest project for work and was on my way out back to get Star’s bicycle when I heard Dream retching down the hall. I went to the bathroom and found her on her knees over the toilet where the remnants of green food coloring were making their reappearance. “Are you okay?”

She waved me away. “I’m fine. You should go back to work.” She met my eyes with a dead stare, and as she prepared to heave again, I pulled the door closed to give her privacy.

“Do you think it was something you ate?”

“My green eggs didn’t seem to digest. But to be fair, I haven’t felt that great all evening. I think I’ve gotten that stomach bug going around.” She hadn’t eaten dinner, and the eggs were all that had been in her stomach all day other than some crackers.

“Do you need me to get you anything? A glass of water? A cool rag?” I didn’t know what to do and hoped that me and Star wouldn’t wake up sick with the same bug on Christmas morning.

“No, please, go.” I walked down the hallway, concern knitting my brows. Her coloring had looked awful and I was worried. Not to mention, I’d been so looking forward to us all being together for Christmas, and now it looked like Dream was going to have to quarantine herself. Star would be crushed.

I got Star’s bike and brought it to my studio to put it together, and once I had it all assembled, I took it to the living room and rolled it under the huge tree the girls had picked at the tree farm a weekend before. It had taken us two days after the incident with Nick to remember that we had a holiday coming and I couldn’t just let the event go having Star in the house. I had to make it special.

I stepped back from the tree and knew I truly had. This was the first year since my childhood that I had a tree in the house, and someone to share the holiday with since my wife and I had been together. She’d never liked Christmas trees, though. Being allergic, she’d always opted to fill the house with poinsettias and wouldn’t even allow a fake tree. She’d been a real piece of work. I should have known then to dump the scrooge.

When I passed Dream’s room, I opened the door and peeked inside. She was sleeping soundly, so I pulled the door shut and went to bed. I couldn’t wait until the day that Dream would sleep in my arms again, but I hadn’t wanted to tell Star anything until I knew for sure that Dream was going to stick around. Before, when I’d asked her about selling her place in Chicago, she had said she wasn’t sure. But earlier, when I asked about her plans for the new year, she had said that she was staying. I needed to know 100 percent what would happen with us before I could risk letting Star get that attached to having her around.

The morning came with Star standing at my door. “Uncle Chance, are you awake?” Her voice was a soft whisper, and I whispered back.

“Yes, I am now.”

“Santa came!” She walked over to the bed and picked up my leg. “Come on!”

“Okay, okay. Relax, let me get myself put together.” I took the leg, which she had cradled in both arms and strapped it on as Dream came into the room, still looking pale.

“How are you feeling?”

“I feel much better. It must have been the you-know-what after all.” The eggs or their coloring had done her in. She seemed weak though, and I couldn’t help but think she should take it easy.

“I could help Cynthia if you’re not up to it.” I didn’t want her to overdo it considering her night.

“No, I’m really okay. I want to make dinner. I used to help my mother back when I was a kid, and I’ve really missed that part of not being close to her.”

“There’s still time, you know; to be close to your mother.”

“No, I don’t think we’ll ever be that close again, but it’s nice spending time with Cynthia. She’s a neat lady. Did you know she packs a pistol when she goes shopping? It’s terrifying, actually.”

“She knows how to use it, so I wouldn’t worry. I make her target practice.”

“Well, good for her. Maybe I should take a lesson or two myself.” She gave me a warm smile and then headed to the living room, where we watched Star unwrap her presents and exchanged a few of our own. I’d gotten Dream a necklace and had second thoughts about giving it to her.

“I love it,” she said. Her eyes lingered on mine a minute and then she held it close to her heart and had Star help her put it on.

Star had gotten the wrong idea, and when she was done securing the necklace, she walked over and climbed up on my knee. “Do you love Dream?”

“Of course, don’t you? We’re supposed to love our friends.” I smiled, and Dream’s face fell a bit, but then she recovered.

“That’s right. We all love one another. Your uncle is a special friend. And you are a special friend too.” She met my eyes and seemed to be waiting for what I had to add to that.

“Are you his girlfriend?” Dream’s eyes darted to me and her brow’s rose.

“She’s a girl, and she’s my friend.” I shrugged, not wanting to give Star any false hope. “I care about her a whole lot.”

“Are you going to stay with us, Dream?”

“I’ll stay as long as your uncle lets me.”

“You’ll let her stay, won’t you Uncle Chance? You can be my new mommy and daddy.” Not only had I sworn not to ever let Star call me daddy, but I didn’t like the fact that she was already getting unhealthy ideas about us and what our relationship meant.

“Why don’t we go out and I’ll teach you to ride your bike.” I stood up, and her eyes widened as she turned and ran to get her bike from where it was parked by the front door.”

“I’m sorry, Chance, I didn’t know she felt that way.”

“Me either. I guess we shouldn’t give her any false hope or expectations until we figure this out.” I wanted to grab her and kiss her and tell her she had no choice but to stay.

She held her stomach and turned a little pale. “I think I should go put something on my stomach.” She stepped away in a hurry to go to the kitchen, and I grabbed Star’s new helmet and headed outside.

Cynthia showed up about the time Star had her first crash, and after we bandaged and kissed all her booboos, we got her right back on the bike. I worked with her a few more hours and then we went inside once she felt she had it down enough to try again later. By then, the ladies had gotten dinner nearly ready, and most of that was because Cynthia had cooked the turkey all night.

“Liza and Brady are stopping by after dinner,” said Dream, as I passed by the kitchen on the way to clean up.

“That’s great, maybe Star and Brady can play with some of her new toys.” I knew my niece needed to meet as many kids as possible, and with her being a little older than the boy, maybe she’d have better confidence.

We ate dinner an hour later, and then after, Liza and Brady came to play. “You’re looking a bit green,” said Liza as she and Dream walked into the living room.

“I did this yesterday. After I ate, I got really queasy.” She took a seat next to her friend on the couch, and the two sat talking to Cynthia in a conversation that I felt completely left out of. It never failed when women got together they started to compare things only women could understand, like their bodies and their cycles. I busied myself with Star and Brady who was much younger and only knew a few words. Star thought she’d be his tutor and teach him more, so we’d gotten some of her new storybooks, and she read him a story. When she finished, I clapped for her.

“Well, done, kiddo. Do you know that you read that whole book without any problems?” I had a feeling her poor reading was more about her confidence in front of the other kids instead of her inability to read well.

“Brady doesn’t laugh at me. He’s just a little baby.” I glanced over to Dream who had missed it all. She was talking about her breasts and how tender they’d been with her cycles. I tuned it out and laughed when Star told Brady I was part robot.

Liza and Brady eventually left, and after walking them out, Dream returned and ran for the bathroom.

“She’s been queasy all day,” Cynthia whispered so Star couldn’t hear. “I was listening to the things she was saying, and it’s very curious.” She got up and moved closer.

“What’s very curious?”

“Her illness.” She waved her hand as if to shrug it off. “Never you mind. I’m just a rambling old woman.” She sat there a bit then continued. “So you know someone in this room really likes the living arrangement. I think she feels like she’s got a family again.”

“I know, and I’m just not sure about that. I mean, I’m not sure she wants to stick around.”

“Well, that’s just nonsense. She talked about you all day, and the only time she didn’t look green was when your name was on her lips. She’s head over heels for you. Maybe there’s a misunderstanding.” Cynthia was like a mother to me, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk about my relationships with her. She made too much sense, and I was much too frustrated to listen to reason.

“You feel the same about her, don’t you? I can tell. I have a feeling that things will work themselves out very soon. And if you get the chance, Chance, you better grab hold of the opportunity and never let her go.”

“I just don’t know if you’re right.” I wished I had the confidence to say she was, but I’d been hurt before and I wouldn’t be blindsided again.