Taz had a strong feeling that she was going to like Del Paso the moment she was awake enough to look out of the cab window and take a glimpse of her new "home". It wasn't like an extravagant big-estates and lush gardens type of scene but it had that homey feeling to it that she couldn't help but gravitate to. Most of the houses were determinedly small, actually, like they were made that way for a reason, but they looked picture perfect from where she was watching. The wooden mini terraces, the white picket fences, the little but full lily gardens reminded her of what she had been missing out on while living in busy, busy New York. She felt a contented flutter in her heart as she leaned back in her seat, struck with this pleasant, pivotal realization that yes, she did make the right decision to move here. The car's engine continued to hum along in a soft, hypnotic sound that kept Taz's eyes half-closed. The flight took a lot of her energy (like other flights normally do! UGH!) and now, she just wanted to get to wherever it was she need to get to and drop her body on a bed already. Surprisingly, her answers were answered immediately afterwards as the cab came to a halt in front a medium-sized, garden-seamed house. She gasped and rushed to wipe the sleep from eye, gazing at the breath-taking scenery in front of her. Yes, she was the melodramatic type who would cry over sappy TV soaps and romance pocket books, and this wonderful painting-like house definitely wasn't an exception. It was just so… pretty. There was an uncomfortable twist in the pit of her stomach as she paid the cab driver and got out of the car. Her hands were sweating, too. Geez. Right now was the last time she should be feeling the butterflies. She was meeting, for the very first time, her brother's semi-friend, semi-girlfriend who was generous enough to offer her a place to stay as soon as she decided to move and openly broadcasted such a decision; it sort of hurt her pride and the "self-dependence" route that she was going for, but in the end, she had to swallow all of that 'cuz really who, in their right mind would refuse to a free rent? WHO? A free rent to a paradise home like this, no less. 'Cause she had to admit, too, she was damn broke. Pull yourself together, bitch she told herself over and over and over again while pulling at the strap of her heavy luggage bag and walked along the cemented pathway (with pink-and-yellow flowers margining around it, whoa!) with unsteady legs. You can't mess this up. She rang the doorbell once, twice and then thrice, until she sensed a small commotion inside. Crap, this is it. And it was it. The door opened and a wide-eyed woman in her late-twenties appeared before her eyes. She was beautiful… and so smiling that Taz couldn't help but smile back.
"Tazeana?" She asked with so much excitement that Taz forgot what proper ethics was all of a sudden. The beautiful stranger (stranger, because technically this was their first meeting) opened her long arms and pulled Taz into them. She hugged back, a little bit surprised but one hundred per cent happy.
"Gracie?" was all Taz could say when they pulled apart. Stupid. Of course she's Gracie, twerp.
"Yes, that's me. I'm so glad you're finally here." She said, gesturing to take the heavy bag from Taz's arms.
"Oh, no, I'm okay." Taz said in the most respectful way she could, immediately liking this woman.
Gracie gave out that all-knowing smile, like she understood how proud and stubborn 18-year-olds could get and wrapped an arm around her. "Come inside. I'm sure it was a long flight. You must be drained."
Drained is the word, all right. "Yeah, I'm sorta tired." Sorta? She could collapse any moment now, and if it weren't for Gracie's gentle but strong arm keeping her upright, she would.
As they got inside, there was no way Taz could stop the amazement from escaping her lips. It was just perfect: the child-friendly wooden floor, the squeaky clean carpet leading to the living room, the comfortable-looking couches to the right, and the delicious smell of kitchen to the left. She seriously wanted to do a happy dance at that moment. She felt so home. It was nothing like her pathetic, puny, messy New York apartment. This was 3rd grade mode when she would get off the school bus, run carelessly to the porch in her Girls Scout uniform, open the door and see something like this. Exactly like this. It was nostalgic, more than anything else.
"Let me show you your room." Gracie offered, breaking Taz from her reverie.
Taz's room was the room any girl with a normal psyche would love and wish for. It had a queen-sized bed and this gi-normous closet, which got Taz to thinking if she even had enough clothes to fit in there. The best part of all was the wall-length window, covered in lilac curtains that she could pull back any time she wanted, that overlooked the whole neighborhood. This was good life right here. She thought and returned Gracie's do-you-like-it look with a look that said so much more. She loved it.
"Thank you, Gracie. I can't wait to get settled." Taz said, dropping her luggage on the floor and sitting on the bed. HER bed, she corrected herself. "The room's more than I can ask for." She looked around, as if proving her point.
"Oh, don't mention it. While you're here, feel as free as you want."
"Thanks." Really, that was all that was there to be said.
"Now, I'll leave you to do your business and if there's anything you need, I'll be right down." Gracie said kindly. "And um, as soon as you're ready to come down, I'll be preparing pancakes, maybe you'd like some to fill your stomach."
Oh, yeah. "Thanks, Grace. Will do." Taz mentally smiled, absentmindedly placing her hand on her growling tummy. The dragon was angry.
As soon as Gracie left, Taz took a moment to revel in the grateful warmth in her heart, laying half of her body on the bed, thanking God for guiding her to the light, her brother for caring, Gracie for being perfectly nice, and herself… well, for coming up with the idea of moving out in the first place. And then that was it for her. She got up, unpacked her clothes – clean and unwashed alike – and rushed to the bathroom to get a lukewarm shower. Even the bathroom was nice! Yee. Purrr-fect.
Gracie was preparing Spaghetti in the kitchen when Taz got down for some food. She could smell the rich smell of tomato sauce being boiled in a pot and boy, did her stomach really have to do a frenzied kick in there?
"I hope you like pasta." Gracie said fondly, stirring, "The kids are in love with it. And it's Spaghetti week so that's what we'll be having for the next 3 days."
Right, the kids. Taz's brother did mention that Gracie had twins. Mmm.. she suddenly had a fleeting question whether they would take it easy on her or be pain in the asses like normal children would and give her a hard time? But she loved kids, so this shouldn't be problem. Huh. But why was she worried? "No, of course not, we're practically raised in pasta our whole lives." She answered as soon as she could remember the question.
"Good, then."
Taz helped a little bit with table-setting, worrying at the same time if she was placing the plates and the spoons and forks the right way. Gracie seemed the total expert when it came to table manners (actually just manners, in general) and Taz was scared if she was doing it all wrong in front of the expert. Gracie wasn't commenting on anything, so that was a good sign. There were four placemats, meaning four people were about to eat, meaning Taz had to pray to God nothing would fall apart. She wanted to get along with everyone in this house, be they kids or adults. She just wanted this to work.
Taz and Gracie moved around the kitchen between small talks about school, work, Taz's brother, political views and even some of Taz's personal business (i.e., lovelife, insights about the future, and all that kinda drama.) Normally, Taz wouldn't feel comfortable sharing all this with a stranger but maybe that was it, Gracie didn't seem like a stranger at all. Talking to her was a piece of cake. They were on the same page.
"Hey, Grace, I don't think I've ever told you how thankful I am for this." Taz, finally feeling the courage to go all mellow, decided to mention, when she was pulling soup bowls from the cupboard, hoping she could balance on her tiptoes.
Gracie looked at her as if she was crazy. "Oh, dear."
"Really, I am. I don't know how I'm gonna be able to pay you for this someday – but.."
"Hey, hey, hey, young lady. I'm doing this because your brother and I are practically family, so that automatically you are, too. I did this because I want to help."
"But why? If you don't mind my asking?" It was a stupid and risky question to ask, but she had to know.
Gracie sighed and gave her a tired look that meant this wasn't the first time she had been asked about this. This was borderline adoption and of course, it would seem questionable why a young, successful (divorced, but still) woman like her would agree to this kind of deal. She already had two kids of her own as it was, why would she want to add another knick-knack to the bunch? "Because I want to have a new face around. Having you here is a pleasure, Taz."
"Mmm." Taz nodded her head, somewhat convinced, somewhat still confused.
Gracie looked like she was about to add something when tiny footsteps could be heard from the door. "The tiny devils are here." She smiled cheerfully and rushed to the living room.
Tiny devils turned out to be identical 6-year-olds. Cute, identical 6-year-olds. Gracie hugged each of them and tiny, cute arms clung around her. It was warming to witness it, made her miss her mom a little bit.
"Kids, I want you meet your Auntie Taz, the one I was telling you about."
Two pairs of blue, wide eyes blinked scrutinizingly at her, free of any emotion – just plain, raw curiosity. They would have been so cute if they smiled a little bit. Oh, boy.
"As in the Devil?" One asked, and the replica turned to her mother for confirmation.
Great. The Tazmanian Devil joke again. When would she ever hear the end of it?
"No, honey. She's Aunt Tazeana, not Tazmania." Gracie explained dotingly. "And she'll be staying with us from now on."
The girl with the unpony-tailed hair looked at her with unimpressed, bored eyes. "We want Santa."
"Well, Aunt Taz can be Santa, too."
What? As if?
"Really?" All of a sudden they looked at their mother, amazed by the seemingly wondrous information. "Is she like Trevor the Frog who could turn into a frog and a bird, too?" Now the one in a pony tail asked.
Gracie nodded her head enthusiastically. Oh, boy. One more time. Oh, boy.
"Wow!" They both said to each other in unison. "Cooooool."
That was so much better. They were adorable. "Now, may I know your names?" Taz asked.
Girl in ponytail proudly presented herself and said "My name is Abby. I'm 6 years old and when I grow up I wanna be a princess."
"Mmm… well, who doesn't, honey?" Taz asked her, loving the cuteness. "And what about you, little miss?"
"My name is Carly. I'm 6 years old, and I wanna be an explorer of the wild someday." The other one said.
"Well, you go follow that dream of yours." Taz said, brushing the little girl's silky wavy hair. "It's a pleasure meeting you, girls."
Gracie stooped down and gave her daughters a telling look. "And what do you say?" She asked, sounding all maternal all of a sudden.
There were a few minutes of silence as Taz held her breath and waited for the girls to say something. Two pairs of big, blue eyes met and then landed on Taz. And tiny voices spoke, "Will you have dinner with us, Santa?"
For the first time that day, Taz burst out laughing, scooping the one in the ponytail, Abby, from the floor to her arms. "Why, I would love to."
Gracie smiled in obvious relief and took the Carly's hand in hers, leading all four of them to the kitchen. Abby squirmed inside Taz's arms and ordered to be put down, running expertly to her designated seat, right across Taz's. The girls crowed in delight as soon as Gracie laid the platter down on the table. "BIGSHETTI!" their identical, loud voices echoed around the room. Carly was about to reach over when Gracie stopped her with an authorative look "uh-uh. Wash your hands first." The girls pouted like puppies as the two of them slid out of their seats, racing to the sink in a frenzied rush, theirs skirts flying with the wind. Taz watched them fondly as they played with the water, sharing a giggle and singing the theme song from that Barney movie. All Taz's worries evaporated like they didn't even exist in the first place. She couldn't believe she had been somewhat nervous to meet these cute little creatures. Right then she decided that she loved EVERYTHING about this house, no more but's and what-if's whatsoever.