Chapter 60 : San Jose

Holidays were almost over for all of them and this morning, they all felt a little melancholic. These two weeks together had passed so fast. But as it was often said, time was running out when you were surrounded by people you loved.

"I see your faces and I refuse to be sad! Guys, we have spent two great weeks. We just need to plan the next ones!"

Claire was overjoyed since this morning. She woke up early to bake some cookies and muffins Greta learned her to prepare. Anyway, the weather was too hot for her to stay in bed. Better be active in the morning so she could rest in the afternoon, gossiping with Morgan and Vera or simply reading a book next to Gabbie.

"Woke up early!"

"Yes... I was too hot... The heat wave is killing my sleep schedule."

Neil came closer and tried to steal some cookies. She tapped his hand. " No way you steal this, it's for breakfast. Wait for the others."

"Even if I do this…"

He kissed her in the neck, she shivered. Then he grazed her earlobe. She turned and gave him a kiss. "Nicely done, Mr. Melendez but you still have to wait for the others to eat the cookies and the muffins."

She dropped another kiss on his warm lips before going to Gabbie's bedroom. She was calling for her.

"Hey Gabbie, did you sleep well?"

She nodded. She was excited, Claire could see it as the way she had to fix the window.

"Is it today, the fireworks?"

"So this is why you're overexcited, sweetie?" She made her big eyes. Claire let out a little laugh. "Yes it's tonight! But it's very late so you'll have to rest this afternoon a little! OK?"

"Ok."

"Now get dressed and if you need help, I'm in the room close by so you call me."

She let Gabbie some privacy and took some time to prepare while she went to the bathroom to prepare her own stuff. She needed a long, cool shower. She went back to Gabbie's room a few minutes later. She was ready. She helped her to climb off the stairs.

"And here she is!"

"Hey Gabbie! Ready for the last full day here?"

She was more than excited and hugged her brother, maybe a little too brusquely but who cared. Claire let them alone and went to take a shower. Alex and Morgan woke up a little later and joined Neil and Gabbie around the table for breakfast. She explained to them the fireworks were tonight.

"A firework?" It was Shaun coming from the kitchen. "I don't like fireworks. It is too much noisy for me. And it stinks."

Gabbie let out a laugh.

"In that case, you will stay in the house and I have ear defenders from the works we did in the house if you are interested. I can lend it to you…" Neil answered.

"I will appreciate that."

"They are all yours then!"

"Yours, what?"

Claire joined them at the table with the muffins and the cookies.

"Shaun doesn't like fireworks. I proposed him to take my ear defenders. Do you know where they are?"

"Yes. In the cupboard in the office."

Day was very busy. Claire, Alex, Morgan and Vera went to downtown to buy some food. They wanted to bring some specialties in San José. Shaun asked them to drop him at the natural sciences museum. He wanted to visit it once again.

"We'll be back in three hours, Shaun. Is it OK for you?" Claire asked him stopping the car in front of the large building.

"No, it's perfect."

"It's OK if you go there alone?" Vera added.

"No, it's OK. I like being alone sometimes. It helps me to clear my mind. See you soon."

He closed the car door and walked up to the entrance. They all shrugged. Shaun was already in his own world. Claire drove them to different shops in the city where they could buy all they wanted to bring back at home. She bought some spices, corn and soup for the next few days. She will be alone at home at nights and back at work at days, so she didn't want to lose time making big meals.

As planned, she parked in front of the museum three hours later. Shaun was waiting for them, seated on a bench. He came closer to the car as he saw it and entered it. "You are three minutes late."

"Sorry, Shaun but we can't handle the traffic. The most important is that we're here! You had the time to see what you wanted?"

"Yes. Thanks."

She knew she won't know more about his visit to the museum. Vera smiled at her. Claire could see her in the inside rear-mirror. They knew Shaun was the secret kind. Maybe one day they will learn what he did. Or they will never know. She drove all of them till home. Scooter, Neil and Gabbie were in the garden, enjoying the end of this summer day.

Shaun got off the car and went to see Gabbie. He gave her a bag. "It's for you."

Neil was puzzled by Shaun's gesture and remained silent for a moment. Gabbie tried to open the box inside the bag. It was hard. Her fingers were suffering from osteoarthritis since a few years and she had troubles to manipulate the big volumes. He bent to help get out of the box a dinosaur plush toy. Gabbie screamed of joy.

"Thanks Shaun, that's very kind of you! You shouldn't have."

"You're welcome. Gabbie is nice and she didn't have any dinosaur and dinosaurs are cool."

"Right, Shaun! Thanks for fixing this mistake! This really means a lot to me."

Before he could finish his sentence, he was walking back to the house to tidy the souvenirs he had bought at the museum. For hours, they all packed their stuff for the great departure tomorrow morning. Claire took care of Gabbie's luggage while she was playing next to her. She will miss listening to her unicorns and princesses stories.

As she was done, she found Neil and Alex next to the barbecue, preparing the Frogmore stew. Vera was helping, peeling corn. Shaun was seated alone in the garden. Claire went and sat in front of him.

"Everything's alright, Shaun?"

"Yes. Thank you for asking."

"You don't want to go and stay with the others."

"No."

"Ok. You don't mind if I remain a little with you."

"No."

They remained seated there for minutes, not saying a word. Just looking at the skyline. The day was slowly fading away.

"The colors of the sky are beautiful. You know it's because of the results of the sun light decomposing on the clouds and creating new colors."

She did know this but she pretended she did not. She let him talk to her about the natural phenomenon. He was happy to do it. She didn't want to restrain his enthusiasm.

The friends met around the table some time later. Their last meal together before long months without seeing each other in person. Shaun left the table some minutes to escape from the laughter and noise he couldn't handle. It was OK. He will come back when he will feel better. Gabbie ate and asked to go back to her room to play waiting for the fireworks. Midnight was almost there when Neil came back from the inside of the house with the ear defenders and handled them to Shaun.

Shaun nodded and put them on his ears. He was cut from this world. All he needed now was to enjoy the show. They sat in their chairs and waited for the beginning of the festivity. Claire was the last one to arrive holding Gabbie by the hand. She sat on Neil's lap and nestled against him. He cuddled her tighter.

Cameron was right. Fireworks for the end of the harvests were amazing. All these colors in the sky. Even Shaun seemed to enjoy it next to Vera who held his hand. Gabbie was all eyes on the sky. Morgan and Alex hugged looking at the show.

"Happy 2 years of marriage to my better half" Neil told her in the ear. She raised from her warming place and kissed him on the lips. A simple way to thank him. "Happy anniversary to my soulmate and best friend. Thanks for making my life better."

He kissed her back. "Anytime."

She nestled once again against his body, listening to this heartbeat she fought like hell to keep alive. As the fireworks ended, Neil proposed everyone to drink a last glass of champagne to end the holidays on the best way possible. All agreed. Except Shaun he didn't like alcohol. "Thought of you and buy some apple juice this afternoon. " Claire announced proudly.

He smiled to his friend and announced that he decided to live with Vera from next month. "We have chosen a big apartment before coming here. And the bus stop is just in front of the building."

"One more reason to drink champagne then!" Morgan told out loud, raising her glass. The night was perfect to end their holidays. From the corner of her eyes, Claire checked on Gabbie who was seated in the garden next to Scooter.

[…]

Each night before going to bed Claire let Gabbie did her hair. It was pleasant to share a moment with only her, talk about the day, about her needs. She was a nice girl. Each moment, she spent with her and she loved her more. She couldn't prevent herself from thinking about how awful he must have been for Neil to see his parents pushing his sister away because of her disability. When she was nothing else than an endearing and sweet person. Tonight was their last night to do so. She felt sadness taking over her mind but she remained strong not to show anything to Gabbie. She needed to enjoy every moment here.

"I'd love to have curly hair like you…"

"I'd love to have straight like yours! Because you know curly hair can be a mess to comb in the morning!"

Gabbie laughed. "But I like curly anyway."

She smiled at her and handed her the bamboo comb she was hiding in one of her pocket.

"Ohhh"

She liked to see the sparkles in her eyes, even if each night she did the same thing before she went to bed. Gabbie took the comb and grabbed her hair. She was so happy, she was talking about princesses, otters, seals; her new dinosaur and her other plush toys. She even told her about Scooter latest blunders. She smiled. Soon these days will be over and routine will be back. Sadness again.

She chased these dark ideas form her mind and focused on Gabbie. She asked her about what she had preferred here, if she had enjoyed her holidays, what she was about to do when she will be back with Mrs. Kay.

Gabbie struggled talking. She needed to focus to manage to gather her ideas, but Claire didn't care she was not in a rush. "Take your time sweetie, there's no rush."

Neil looked at them by the tiny opening of the door. He looked at Claire with Gabbie, how she let her sister do her hair and then put her to bed. He left before she could see him.

"Time to sleep, sweetie. Tomorrow, you have to wake up early to take the plane with your brother."

"Good night, Claire." And before Claire could say a single word Gabbie was already sleeping, pressing Beebee against her chest.

She joined Neil in bed, he was already lying there with a book in his hands. "Is she sleeping?" He asked innocently, already knowing the answer.

"Like a baby! She was exhausted. But you know her, she tried to stay awake the most possible."

She entered the bed and nestled again him, her head on his chest. He dropped a kiss on her forehead. He kept reading for a while. She remained there, lost in her mind. He knew she was anxious about tomorrow, about the holidays ending and not seeing her friends and Gabbie for a long time again. He put the book on the bedside table. He cleared his throat.

"I was wondering… What about keeping Gabbie here…"

He stopped here, waiting for her answer. A little scared of what will come next. Last time, the conversation ended abruptly.

"Like here living with us? Like we talked a few days ago?" She remained silent for a while. "It'll be a huge change for both of us… But why not? I kind of really like her…"

"You will agree to this?" He was quite puzzled and blessed.

"Yeah… Why not? But only if it suits her… We can't force her to come with us…"

"You're…"

"Your wife and Gabbie's sister in law. Family always sticks together."

He pressed her tightly for only answer. She was his blessing. Tomorrow, they will talk with Gabbie to ask her what she thought about this idea. At least, to know if she would like to live here, with them. It would be a major change. But maybe for the best. Before he stopped thinking about the way to ask Gabbie about this idea, Claire was already sleeping. She snored a little as usual. He smiled, kissed her on the forehead and stoked her hair. Sleep was calling him too.

Neil woke up first. Claire was still deeply asleep, her head on the pillow, her mouth half open. She was smiling, she was probably having a nice dream. He let her sleep, dropping a kiss on her cheek before leaving the room. He went to see Gabbie that was already awake.

"Hey pequenos! Time to get dressed, we're leaving in only 2 hours for the airport."

Her sister took the clothes Claire had prepared for her on the chair and got dressed by herself. Neil went back a few minutes later to help her finish prepare.

"Gabbie… Do you like here?"

She let out a "mmmmm". She was too interested into making her puzzle. "Gabbi, look at me please." She turned to him. "Yes." And she continued to play.

"And you like being with Claire and me, right?"

"Mmmm" Still dived into her little world.

"Would you like to live here with us, here?"

She remained silent for a while. She was processing the info. She finally opened her mouth a few minutes later. "But if I come here I can't see my friends, Lina and Mrs. Kay anymore?"

Neil's voice broke. "No… But you'll be with me. I was just asking. And you know you can spend here as many holidays as you want."

She nodded her head before grabbing Beebee and put it in her backpack. He wiped the tears rolling down his cheeks. It will be her choice, he will never force her to do anything she didn't want. And anyway, an eight-hour flight was waiting for them. They will have plenty of time to talk about this.

Claire joined a little later. Everyone was already eating breakfast on the terrace. She told good morning to everyone before embracing Neil and asking him in the ear if he had asked to Gabbie about living with them. He nodded. "You'll tell me then."

"Enough secrets, lovers." Morgan called them out. "Share with the others!"

This time, Morgan managed to make Shaun laugh. Claire smiled. It was good to see him so blooming.

"Just telling my husband, one week without him is gonna be too long. And that I'm already missing him." She dropped a kiss in Neil's neck before sitting and enjoying their last holiday breakfast together.

Shaun and Vera left first. A taxi was waiting for them. As when they arrived, they had to catch several flights to get to San José. "Only two, this time!" Vera announced proudly. "But first we have to go to Indianapolis by car! A rental car is waiting for us at the train station. Tonight we sleep on Indianapolis. And tomorrow we have two flights: one in the early morning to get to Denver and a second one in the late afternoon to finally get to San José!"

Vera and Shaun got in the car and watched their friends disappeared in the far away. One hour later, Alex and Morgan pout their suitcases in the car's trunk.

"You'll be back soon, right?" Claire asked them before hugging them hard.

"Promised!" Alex answered. "And you can come too!"

"And don't forget about our Zoom appetizers!" It was Morgan trying to joke when she was about to cry.

"Time to leave…" Neil announced. "The keys of our car is in the drawer as you like."

She laughed. "See you soon, Gabbie sweetheart. Don't forget that Claire loves you a lot."

Gabbie hugged her. Claire hugged her stronger. She finally let go of her to get in the rental car with Morgan.

"Guess, this is the time when we say goodbye…"

"I'm gonna miss you a lot… This is the first time we separate since…" Her voice broke.

"Since we got together… I know." He embraced her, she pressed him tighter. Each other wanted to remember all parts of their bodies for the week to come. They kissed. They didn't want it to end. But they had to split up. Time was running out. They let go of each other. He sat behind the wheel. The car disappeared in the horizon. And the house suddenly felt so empty…