- chapter 2 -
"This is food?"
Greenlee stared down at the messy glob of mush the waitress had put down in front of her. The waitress, whose name was Flo, smirked before walking away.
"Trust me Greenlee, this stuff is the BEST." Samantha said with a re-assuring smile.
Greenlee smiled weakly, "Okay."
She was sitting in a little cafe with her old friend, Samantha. Samantha had called her up out of the blue asking her out to lunch.
Greenlee bit her lip, studying the strange platter before her, then she decided to change the subject.
"It's been so long Sammy, how have you been?"
Samantha reached across the table and grabbed a hold of Greenlee's hand.
"Okay," she said, "I can't hold it in any longer."
Greenlee felt Samantha lightly squeeze her hand.
"I'm pregnant!"
"Oh my God! Samantha!!"
Greenlee jumped up from her chair and wrapped her arms around her friend.
"I am so happy for you!"
"Thanks!"
"Is that an engagement ring?!"
Samantha held up her hand, "Yes! He proposed last weekend!"
"It's beautiful!"
"Thanks!"
"This is so exciting! When's the big day?"
Greenlee and Samantha discussed the wedding, the baby, and Sam's new fiancé deep into the evening. They ordered coffee, and sat chit-chatting for hours. Finally, around 7:00, Greenlee was able to get away. Not that she didn't enjoy talking to Sam, and not that she wasn't completely excited for her, but it was getting late, and Greenlee was ready to go home.
"Want a ride?" Samantha asked as she tossed her purse into the backseat.
"No, I'm good thanks." Greenlee smiled.
"Are you sure? It's awfully cold."
"I'm fine, really. I enjoy walking."
"Alright...well, it was great seeing you again. I'll call you, okay?"
"Okay, but don't take so long this time!"
Samantha laughed, "I won't, I promise."
Greenlee waved as her friend drove away.
When Greenlee was home again, she walked into her apartment and sighed, dropping her purse.
"Look at this place," she said annoyed, "it's such a dump."
It was mostly just dirty clothes scattered everywhere, but there was also clutters of papers all over her counter, table and computer desk.
She made her way to the kitchen, picking up clothes as she went, when she noticed there were new messages on her answering machine. She pushed the flashing button, tossed the clothes into a basket, then opened her fridge and pulled out some old Chinese take out. A voice came from the answering machine.
"Greenlee, it's James. Call me."
Greenlee smirked, James always did get right to the point.
"GREENLEE!" came another voice as the next message played, "Why haven't you called me?!"
Greenlee was so surprised to hear her mother's voice that she dropped her box of Chinese food. She quickly shut the machine off; the last thing she wanted to hear right now was her mother bitch at her.
"Old hag," she said with a glare at the answering machine. "Now where's that damn phone?"
She searched through the clothes, through the clutters of paper, and even through the trash, but she couldn't find it.
"Ah!" She said suddenly asshe ran back to the fridge and pulled open the crisper, and, sure enough, the phone was sitting beside a head of lettuce.
"I don't know how it got there, or how I knew it was there," She said, "but I found it and that's all that's important."
She kicked the refrigerator door shut as she dialed James' number.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jimmy, it's Greenlee."
"Greens! I haven't heard from you in awhile, I was just calling to see what my favorite cousin has been up to lately."
"Oh, the usual, I've been really busy with work."
"Aren't you working with the Pine Valley Times now?"
"Yep."
"Ooo, fancy," He joked.
She laughed, "Actually, I'm working on a really important article right now. It should be on the first or second page of next weeks paper."
"That is nice," he admitted, "aunt Mary should be proud."
Greenlee cringed at her mother's name.
"She doesn't know, I haven't talked to her for a couple of weeks."
"Yeah, I know," he said, "she's been bugging me like crazy about it."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, she's about ready to come down there and see you."
"You're joking?"
"Nope."
"Oh my God, I better call her. Speaking with her on the phone isn't half as bad as actually seeing her in person."
"You're coming to the family Christmas party this year, aren't you?"
"You think my mom would actually let me not go?"
"Well, no, but you weren't there last year."
"Yeah," she said in hardly a whisper, "I faked sick so I could stay here, with..." her voice trailed off.
"That's right," James said, but before he could say anything more, Greenlee changed the subject.
"Do you remember my friend Samantha?"
"Of course! I went out with her our Senior year of high school."
"Yeah, that's the girl. Well, she's engaged!"
"Really? That's great news!"
"Isn't it?"
"Well hey, it was great to hear your voice Greens, but the kids are waiting for their dinner and I promised Susie I'd have them in bed before she got home, so I'd better go."
Greenlee laughed, "Alright Jimmy, I'll see you in just a couple of days."
"Bye Greens, take care."
Greenlee hung up the phone with a smile on her face. Jimmy always made her feel better. Greenlee couldn't imagine what she would have done without him. He was always there for her, especially when she was having a rough time with her parents, and he encouraged her in ways Greenlee couldn't explain. She was very grateful that they had gone to high school and college together. Part of her was jealous though, he was able to find that one special girl, get married, and have four of the most beautiful kids.
With a sigh, she turned the phone back on, dialing her parents number slowly. She bit her lip as she waited for someone to pick up.
"This is the Smyth residence, how may I help you?"
"Hey Patty, this is Greenlee. May I please speak with my mother?"
"Right away, Miss Smyth."
A moment later she heard her mother's voice.
"Greenlee! I'm so glad you called, darling."
"Hello mother, how are you?"
"I'm fine dear, thank you." She said.
"You called earlier?"
"Yes, I wanted to make sure you were coming to the Christmas party?"
"I'm planning on it." Greenlee said.
"Wonderful. Should we expect you on the 19th?"
"The 19th? That's six days before Christmas, mom."
"Darling, the festivities start on the 19th."
Greenlee sighed. Christmas was always a big deal at the Smyth Mansion. The entire family would gather, along with friends, and they'd all spend ten days together. On Christmas Eve night there would be a masquerade dance in the palace hall that lasts until midnight. Then the next morning the gift exchanging takes place, which goes on deep into evening, followed by a big dinner with more food then two hundred guests can eat. This was what Greenlee did for Christmas all twenty-one years of her life (minus last year) and she always hated it. She loved Jimmy and a few other cousins, they always had a blast together, but her mother was so fixed on Greenlee settling down and getting married that she went well out of her way to set her up with some rich young man, and Greenlee ended up spending the entire six days with this man, who was usually the most boring and stuck-up creature she'd ever had the displeasure to meet.
"You know, the Crandlemire's are coming this year," Greenlee's mother said, trying to act casual.
"Oh, are they?"
"Yes, and they're son is just your age, did you know that?"
"I had no idea."
"He went to a very nice private high school, followed by six years at Oxford Law."
"Wow. Good for him." Greenlee sighed. So, she gets to spend six days with some stuck-up, boring Crandlemire. How exciting.
"Another family will be joining us for the first time this year, too."
"Who's that?" Greenlee asked, completely uninterested.
"The Du`Pres."
"Let me guess, they have a son too?"
"As a matter of fact, they do."
"And he went to.. what? Harvard?"
"No, actually, I'm not sure what college he went to, but I'm terribly fond of his mother and I can't imagine he isn't just as darling as her."
"Well mom, I guess I'll see you on the 19th, hmm?" Greenlee was very eager to end this conversation.
"Yes, yes. I've already booked the flight and everything, your ticket and flight information should arrive in the mail within the next couple of days."
Greenlee rolled her eyes, "Great. Thanks mom." She hung up the phone with a frustrated sort of sigh and glanced at her calendar.
"THE 16TH?" She screamed. "Three days!"
Getting time off work would be no problem, oh no, she just was hoping she wouldn't have to see her mother for another few weeks. But three days? Greenlee quickly set to work. She put on an old pair of jeans, an old blouse, and put a bandana on her head. She cleaned all evening and all night long; clearing away the clutter, washing and folding and putting away the clothes, dusting, vacuuming, she did the whole works. Around 3:00 in the morning she looked around with a satisfied smile.
The next day she received her plane ticket in the mail, told her boss she would be gone for the holidays starting tomorrow (which he didn't exactly take very well), and finished packing up her things. She was ready to go.
"This is food?"
Greenlee stared down at the messy glob of mush the waitress had put down in front of her. The waitress, whose name was Flo, smirked before walking away.
"Trust me Greenlee, this stuff is the BEST." Samantha said with a re-assuring smile.
Greenlee smiled weakly, "Okay."
She was sitting in a little cafe with her old friend, Samantha. Samantha had called her up out of the blue asking her out to lunch.
Greenlee bit her lip, studying the strange platter before her, then she decided to change the subject.
"It's been so long Sammy, how have you been?"
Samantha reached across the table and grabbed a hold of Greenlee's hand.
"Okay," she said, "I can't hold it in any longer."
Greenlee felt Samantha lightly squeeze her hand.
"I'm pregnant!"
"Oh my God! Samantha!!"
Greenlee jumped up from her chair and wrapped her arms around her friend.
"I am so happy for you!"
"Thanks!"
"Is that an engagement ring?!"
Samantha held up her hand, "Yes! He proposed last weekend!"
"It's beautiful!"
"Thanks!"
"This is so exciting! When's the big day?"
Greenlee and Samantha discussed the wedding, the baby, and Sam's new fiancé deep into the evening. They ordered coffee, and sat chit-chatting for hours. Finally, around 7:00, Greenlee was able to get away. Not that she didn't enjoy talking to Sam, and not that she wasn't completely excited for her, but it was getting late, and Greenlee was ready to go home.
"Want a ride?" Samantha asked as she tossed her purse into the backseat.
"No, I'm good thanks." Greenlee smiled.
"Are you sure? It's awfully cold."
"I'm fine, really. I enjoy walking."
"Alright...well, it was great seeing you again. I'll call you, okay?"
"Okay, but don't take so long this time!"
Samantha laughed, "I won't, I promise."
Greenlee waved as her friend drove away.
When Greenlee was home again, she walked into her apartment and sighed, dropping her purse.
"Look at this place," she said annoyed, "it's such a dump."
It was mostly just dirty clothes scattered everywhere, but there was also clutters of papers all over her counter, table and computer desk.
She made her way to the kitchen, picking up clothes as she went, when she noticed there were new messages on her answering machine. She pushed the flashing button, tossed the clothes into a basket, then opened her fridge and pulled out some old Chinese take out. A voice came from the answering machine.
"Greenlee, it's James. Call me."
Greenlee smirked, James always did get right to the point.
"GREENLEE!" came another voice as the next message played, "Why haven't you called me?!"
Greenlee was so surprised to hear her mother's voice that she dropped her box of Chinese food. She quickly shut the machine off; the last thing she wanted to hear right now was her mother bitch at her.
"Old hag," she said with a glare at the answering machine. "Now where's that damn phone?"
She searched through the clothes, through the clutters of paper, and even through the trash, but she couldn't find it.
"Ah!" She said suddenly asshe ran back to the fridge and pulled open the crisper, and, sure enough, the phone was sitting beside a head of lettuce.
"I don't know how it got there, or how I knew it was there," She said, "but I found it and that's all that's important."
She kicked the refrigerator door shut as she dialed James' number.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jimmy, it's Greenlee."
"Greens! I haven't heard from you in awhile, I was just calling to see what my favorite cousin has been up to lately."
"Oh, the usual, I've been really busy with work."
"Aren't you working with the Pine Valley Times now?"
"Yep."
"Ooo, fancy," He joked.
She laughed, "Actually, I'm working on a really important article right now. It should be on the first or second page of next weeks paper."
"That is nice," he admitted, "aunt Mary should be proud."
Greenlee cringed at her mother's name.
"She doesn't know, I haven't talked to her for a couple of weeks."
"Yeah, I know," he said, "she's been bugging me like crazy about it."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, she's about ready to come down there and see you."
"You're joking?"
"Nope."
"Oh my God, I better call her. Speaking with her on the phone isn't half as bad as actually seeing her in person."
"You're coming to the family Christmas party this year, aren't you?"
"You think my mom would actually let me not go?"
"Well, no, but you weren't there last year."
"Yeah," she said in hardly a whisper, "I faked sick so I could stay here, with..." her voice trailed off.
"That's right," James said, but before he could say anything more, Greenlee changed the subject.
"Do you remember my friend Samantha?"
"Of course! I went out with her our Senior year of high school."
"Yeah, that's the girl. Well, she's engaged!"
"Really? That's great news!"
"Isn't it?"
"Well hey, it was great to hear your voice Greens, but the kids are waiting for their dinner and I promised Susie I'd have them in bed before she got home, so I'd better go."
Greenlee laughed, "Alright Jimmy, I'll see you in just a couple of days."
"Bye Greens, take care."
Greenlee hung up the phone with a smile on her face. Jimmy always made her feel better. Greenlee couldn't imagine what she would have done without him. He was always there for her, especially when she was having a rough time with her parents, and he encouraged her in ways Greenlee couldn't explain. She was very grateful that they had gone to high school and college together. Part of her was jealous though, he was able to find that one special girl, get married, and have four of the most beautiful kids.
With a sigh, she turned the phone back on, dialing her parents number slowly. She bit her lip as she waited for someone to pick up.
"This is the Smyth residence, how may I help you?"
"Hey Patty, this is Greenlee. May I please speak with my mother?"
"Right away, Miss Smyth."
A moment later she heard her mother's voice.
"Greenlee! I'm so glad you called, darling."
"Hello mother, how are you?"
"I'm fine dear, thank you." She said.
"You called earlier?"
"Yes, I wanted to make sure you were coming to the Christmas party?"
"I'm planning on it." Greenlee said.
"Wonderful. Should we expect you on the 19th?"
"The 19th? That's six days before Christmas, mom."
"Darling, the festivities start on the 19th."
Greenlee sighed. Christmas was always a big deal at the Smyth Mansion. The entire family would gather, along with friends, and they'd all spend ten days together. On Christmas Eve night there would be a masquerade dance in the palace hall that lasts until midnight. Then the next morning the gift exchanging takes place, which goes on deep into evening, followed by a big dinner with more food then two hundred guests can eat. This was what Greenlee did for Christmas all twenty-one years of her life (minus last year) and she always hated it. She loved Jimmy and a few other cousins, they always had a blast together, but her mother was so fixed on Greenlee settling down and getting married that she went well out of her way to set her up with some rich young man, and Greenlee ended up spending the entire six days with this man, who was usually the most boring and stuck-up creature she'd ever had the displeasure to meet.
"You know, the Crandlemire's are coming this year," Greenlee's mother said, trying to act casual.
"Oh, are they?"
"Yes, and they're son is just your age, did you know that?"
"I had no idea."
"He went to a very nice private high school, followed by six years at Oxford Law."
"Wow. Good for him." Greenlee sighed. So, she gets to spend six days with some stuck-up, boring Crandlemire. How exciting.
"Another family will be joining us for the first time this year, too."
"Who's that?" Greenlee asked, completely uninterested.
"The Du`Pres."
"Let me guess, they have a son too?"
"As a matter of fact, they do."
"And he went to.. what? Harvard?"
"No, actually, I'm not sure what college he went to, but I'm terribly fond of his mother and I can't imagine he isn't just as darling as her."
"Well mom, I guess I'll see you on the 19th, hmm?" Greenlee was very eager to end this conversation.
"Yes, yes. I've already booked the flight and everything, your ticket and flight information should arrive in the mail within the next couple of days."
Greenlee rolled her eyes, "Great. Thanks mom." She hung up the phone with a frustrated sort of sigh and glanced at her calendar.
"THE 16TH?" She screamed. "Three days!"
Getting time off work would be no problem, oh no, she just was hoping she wouldn't have to see her mother for another few weeks. But three days? Greenlee quickly set to work. She put on an old pair of jeans, an old blouse, and put a bandana on her head. She cleaned all evening and all night long; clearing away the clutter, washing and folding and putting away the clothes, dusting, vacuuming, she did the whole works. Around 3:00 in the morning she looked around with a satisfied smile.
The next day she received her plane ticket in the mail, told her boss she would be gone for the holidays starting tomorrow (which he didn't exactly take very well), and finished packing up her things. She was ready to go.