Next Year: Five Resolutions That Were Never Made
By Syrinx
Disclaimer: All rights to the Thoroughbred series belong to Joanna Campbell and Harper Collins.
1. Miami, Florida
It's always hard to visit her mom's family, and every time she does manage to get back in her grandmother's house Samantha feels the tiny pin pricks of tears in her eyes. She always blinks in time to keep them from spilling; smiles and puts on a strong face as she shuffles into the foyer. There's no coat to take because it's eighty degrees outside and sunny, so her grandmother just pulls her into their arms and together they let out a collective breath.
Next year, Samantha promises herself that this will be easier.
2. Versailles, Kentucky
Melanie is a city girl. She has been since she can remember. Her parents would take her to Central Park on the weekends and they'd sit in Sheep Meadow on an old orange and yellow blanket she always thought was ugly. Of course, she wishes she knew what her father had done with it now.
Despite living in New York for all that time, she'd never been to Times Square for the New Year. It wasn't her scene, she'd always said. Now that she's in Kentucky and there's nothing but grass and trees, she watches Times Square on her television screen and vows to finally see the ball drop in person.
3. London, UK
He's a new father and a new divorcé all in one year. Since the papers were filed, he often wonders exactly how much of a screw up one has to be to accomplish both in the short course of twelve months. A phenomenal failure, he always decides.
When Lavinia dropped Ross off with him for the holidays, the only thing he could think to do is take the infant to his mother. So he arrives at the doorstep of his parents' London flat with two suitcases and a baby in tow, feeling miserable and dejected.
But then his mother opens the door. The beaming look on her face when she reaches for her grandson makes him think that perhaps he's not a fuck up after all, and that the coming year can only be better.
4. Lexington, Kentucky
Ashleigh and Mike always go out for New Year's Eve. This year they're at her favorite restaurant, but she's moody anyway. Her mind is stuck on Christina, and she knows Mike understands but that he's preparing to tell her that her approach is all wrong. When he finally launches into the discussion, she gets defensive. She almost feels tears start to well in the corner of her eyes.
He asks her why she can't just let Christina grow up. Why can't she just let her go?
She's my daughter, Ashleigh thinks. I won't let her go.
But in the deepest part of her, Ashleigh knows it's time.
5. New York, New York
There had been a time, back when Cindy first lived in New York, when she went out constantly. This was the city, after all. You went out for things like New Year's Eve, and several years ago she'd done it with reckless abandon.
Now things are different. Now she's three months pregnant, she feels like throwing up, and her four-year-old daughter has the sniffles. Nevertheless, she's curled up on the couch nibbling on peanut butter sandwiches when the clock hits midnight. Somewhere the city is going insane. She just snuggles into Jack and tells him that if they have a boy, she wants to name him Christopher John, after their fathers.