So many dreams had been started in that house, but now it was an empty shell. Oh, the realtors had been smart enough to "stage" the house with furnishings that fit the style of the wooden cupboards and chintz-hung windows, but it wasn't "theirs" anymore. When his parents died, within months of each other, it had lost its feeling of home for him and Jaime.
"Steve?"
He turned to see Jaime standing next to their car, an understanding look on her face. At once he realized how painful it must be for her to let go of the home she had known for much of her teenage years.
"Oh, honey….." he went to her side, then put his arms around her and held her tightly. Through the haze of tears in his eyes he stared down the street he had played ball on and rode bikes on and …lived his young life on.
"I don't want to leave either, darling. So many happy times……but we'll be with Chrystal, and our family." She whispered, her hand caressing the back on his neck.
"I know, sweetheart….." he returned, giving her an extra squeeze, then managing a laugh as he went to swipe his sleeve across his eyes and found a handkerchief in his hand.
"Turnabouts fair play, Steve." She smiled, as he dabbed at his eyes, then put the cloth in his pocket. Gazing around one last time, it was Jaime's turn to be caught up in remembrance of one day in particular…not that long ago….
"Mom, it's not fair, why do I have to get rid of Valentine?"
Chrystal's voice carried throughout the house, and Jaime winced at the hurt it carried.
"Honey, we went over this, the City Council re-zoned this area, so there'll be no more horse stables. And since you're going to college, it just wouldn't be fair to him to rent space somewhere so you can see him a couple of times each month." She explained, her heart torn at having to give the beloved horse away. Putting away the dishes from supper, Jaime left the kitchen and found her daughter pacing angrily in the living room.
"But I'm the only person he's ever known, he'll never let anyone else ride him, then they'll ship him off to the slaughterhouse." Chrystal raised her head, then glared at her mother. "Grandpa said he'd keep him for me, if it's okay with him….."
"Chrystal, stop it. Your Grandfather isn't well enough to care for Valentine, much less give him the exercise he needs….." she began, then stopped as Steve came into the house.
"Your mother's right…." He said, interrupting his wife, then a flicker of a smile appeared on his face as Chrystal bowed her head, realizing he wouldn't back her up.
"However…..we could have your Uncle Oscar take him back to Arizona with him, he told me he'd look after him until Christmas vacation." Steve continued.
Both women looked at him, as he added, "Oscar said he could resist you, honey, but not your mother's "please?"
"You..asked him, Mom?" Chrystal gazed at her parents, then hurled herself at them, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, Mom, Dad. I've been so mean….I love you both so much, I don't want to go away, please, can I go to college here?"
Astonished, Jaime and Steve clung to her, then Steve said, his voice cracking, "Chrissy, I thought you wanted to go away to school?"
"No, I don't want to….I thought it would be fun to try someplace new, but I don't know anyone up north, I want to go to CSO with everyone else…..please?" her muffled voice answered them, then Jaime took out a Kleenex and dried Chrystal's face.
"Of course, baby, you can stay here, we love you and just want you to be happy….."
"And maybe they'll let you keep Valentine at the Agricultural barn, I bet they have a stable there…." Steve followed his wife's words with a watery smile.
"Oh, Dad…" Chrystal sniffed, then kissed both her parents. "You two are the best, thank you!"
"Time to go, sweetheart."
Steve's voice brought her back to the present, and unconsciously she wiped her eyes.
"Okay, Steve." Jaime hurriedly took out her camera, and snapped one last picture.
Turning toward their car, she found Steve watching her, and she smiled at him as he held out his hand. "Anywhere we go is home, honey."
"Anywhere with you is home." She answered, entwining her fingers with his.
As they climbed in their car and headed toward the freeway, there was no need to look back, Jaime decided. All their memories lay before them, waiting to be made.
Fin