The rambling house, long since boisterous and crowded, was quiet as Celina and James sat on the worn couch in the glow of the fire, each reading, he a Mustang repair manual, she a food magazine. His arm was around her, his thumb slowly tracing her shoulder, stopping occasionally to concentrate on the text before him, only to start again.
Shadow, the gray manx cat, was curled tightly on her lap, purring, contented to get a sporadic pet under her chin or between her ears. Abandoned as a scrawny kitten with a bad case of diarrhea and fleas, she found her way to the Rescue three years ago, into the Gomez household. Her habit of following Celina everywhere, led to her name, but also earned her the best seat in the house. Molly, the calico and Oscar, the orange tabby, older housecats by a decade, simply tolerated her, eyed her suspiciously from across the room on their shared perch on the overstuffed wingback.
Celina glanced at her husband, handsome as ever. His once dark hair was now peppered with gray, his brown eyes bright, his lips sensual, his hard edge gone, mostly. He smiled without looking her, pulling her closer. She settled into his embrace, closed her eyes, traveled back in time to the night that they met.
The Catholic High School for Boys gym was decorated like a 1950 sock hop for the annual dance with the girls from Mount St. Mary's High School. She was dressed in a poodle skirt, a twin set, her mother's pearls, white bobby socks. Her jet black hair pulled in a long ponytail tied with a pink ribbon. She and her girlfriends, just sophomores, were too shy to mingle, so they held up the gym wall, nursing weak punch, watching other girls dance with their dates while chaperones separated couples that got too close. The air was hot, stuffy with a lingering funk from years of sweaty gym classes, overlaid with a hint of perfume.
She noticed him, tall, broad shouldered, handsome, the instant he entered the gym. Alone. He was dressed as a greaser, in worn jeans, cuffed at the ankle, a white t-shirt, scarred leather jacket. His dark wavy hair combed back, a single cigarette behind his ear. Costume or not, he had an edge, a hardness about him, in the way he carried himself, a slight snarl on his lips, defiance in his expression. As he walked by, he glanced at her, his brown eyes met her gray ones, for just a split second. Her heart stopped as did the music.
The principal, Monsignor Kelley, a small man, with gray hair, spectacles, lily-white hands, and a stern disposition, stepped up to the microphone on the makeshift stage. Sister Moya, principal at the Mount, was standing next to him, the entire football team surrounded them, towering over them. The Monsignor welcomed Sister Moya, the chaperones, the Catholic boys and the Mount girls. He droned on and on, for what seemed like forever to her, so she tuned him out, scanning the crowd, searching for him.
When Monsignor introduced the football captain, Ryan Ward, excited cheers and applause erupted, echoed in the gym. Celina's attention was recaptured.
Ryan stepped up confidently as though he owned the room. He shook hands with both principals, grinned, then addressed the crowd. "Hello Mount Ladies! Welcome to Catholic High!" The crowd went wild. Clearly, he was one of those people, popular, charismatic, charmed, admired by males and females alike. And he knew it, relished in that knowledge.
"So, tell me. Who.. Are...We?" He challenged the crowd.
"We are the Lions, the mighty, mighty Lions. Everywhere we go, people want to know who are and we tell them. We are the Lions, the mighty, mighty Lions!" The crowd broke into the singsong cheer as applause and shouts became fever pitched.
A good Catholic would never waste an opportunity to raise money. So, it came as no surprise when Ryan cleared his throat, held his hand up, signaling silence, then announced the latest appeal, a chance to win a football signed by the entire football team.
He then introduced the team's new linebacker, James Gomez. She gasped, her heart pounded as he stepped onto the stage. It was him.
The captain continued. "James, here is selling raffle tickets for this one of a kind treasure." He turned to him. "Say hello James!"
James raised his hand in an unceremonious wave to the crowd, clearly forced into the job, clearly disinterested, then leaned into the microphone. "Hello." He said simply, then stepped back.
Ryan chuckled good heartedly, "James, here is a man of few words." James smirked.
Lifting the football over his head dramatically, Ryan continued. "For just a five spot, you have the opportunity to win a piece of history and claim it for your own. So...go see James to get your piece of the action. Thank you for your support!" He finished, waved, and left the stage as the applause died down and Elvis began to belt out "Love Me Tender" from the spinning record in the DJ's booth. Couples quickly took to the dance floor. Chaperones resumed their surveillance work.
Fanatically she searched her sweater and skirt pockets for money, only to be frustrated when she found just a stick of stale gum and a used tissue.
"Hey."
She heard a deep voice in her ear, just barely audible over the music. Startled, she gasped, looked up, wide eyed, stunned to see him.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He said, leaning into her ear again, standing close.
Too awestruck to speak, or even step back, her eyes connected with his for just a moment. Suddenly warm, she blushed, looked away to break the tension. As she touched the pearls around her neck, she stole a coy glance at him, through her long lashes, then smiled shyly.
He was struck by her sparkling gray eyes, her long eyelashes, her soft, smooth skin, her natural beauty. But, mostly her smile. Suddenly, he became hesitant in his words. "Um. My name is.. um..James..James Gomez."
"I know. But. I don't have any money." She blurted out, then felt stupid.
He wanted reassured her. "That's okay. I am not going to hit you up or anything." He softened, dropped the snarl from his lips. "Ah. I just wanted to...say hey."
"Hey." She responded, smiling again.
"Do you have a name?" Like a moth to a flame, he wanted to know more.
"Oh. Yes. Sorry. Celina." Then she added. "Celina Martinelli."
"Celina." He seemed to pause to savor her name. "Pretty Name." Then he asked. "Have we met before? I mean, before tonight?"
She shook her head No. "I don't think so. I would have remembered." Though true, she immediately regretted admitting that to him.
"Me too. I would have remembered...you." He stood within her personal space, in front of her, searching her eyes, unable to move.
The Monsignor tapped James on the shoulder, his expression stern. "Mr. Gomez. Must I remind you? You are on probation. You have one job tonight. I expect you to follow through." He drove straight to his point. "How many tickets have you sold?"
"Ah. Monsignor!" Surprised, caught off guard, he tried to recover, then changed the subject. "Um. Please meet Ms. Celina Martinelli." Then her turned to her. "Ms. Martinelli, please meet Monsignor Kelley." Trying to be one of those boys from Catholic High, like Ryan, polite to a fault.
"Mr. Gomez. I have known Ms. Martinelli and her family for many years." He retorted, dismissing James with a backhanded response. His demeanor changed, softened, like a chameleon. "Lovely to see you, Ms. Martinelli. You are looking very well. How are you, young lady?"
"Hello, Monsignor Kelly. It's wonderful to see you too. I am well. Thank you for asking. And, you Monsignor?" She responded with reverence, with deference, just as the good Catholic girl she was raised to be. He made her nervous, uncomfortable. But, he always had, ever since she was a little girl. For a man of God, she thought of him a bit mean, bordering on cruel.
"With the grace of God, I am here and well." Then he added "Please give my best to your parents."
He turned his attentions back to James, his demeanor changed, his tone hardened. "Now. Mr. Gomez, you best get a move on. You are wasting precious time." The Monsignor tapped the expensive gold watch on his wrist.
"Monsignor. Please excuse me for interrupting. But, please know Mr. Gomez was working, selling raffles when you approached. As I didn't have any money, he asked me instead to introduce him to other Mount girls, to help his sales. And, I agreed."
"Is that right Mr. Gomez?" The elderly priest quizzed him.
He nodded. "Yes. Monsignor."
"Fine. You two need to work this crowd before they spend their monies on something unnecessary, like food." With that, he turn on his heel, walked away his long, black cassock swishing behind him.
James and Celina, looked at each other, tried to suppress a giggle, without success.
"Thank you. You saved me from the wrath of Monsignor Kelly." He grinned.
"My pleasure." She grinned back. "Tell me what I need to do."
"Well. You could model the football, you know, show it off a bit. You're so...you could make anything look good."
He handed her the ball, her fingers barely grazed his. She blushed, tingling all over.
"Come on." They approached the first group of Mount girls to give them the sales pitch. With each raffle they sold, he tore a playing card in half, giving one half to the buyer and the other to Celina to put in her pocket. The two quickly established a rhythm, a cadence, playing off of each other, having fun.
They sold the last ticket just as Monsignor was announcing the end of the dance. He called James and Celina up to the stage to announce the winner.
With Celina by his side, James leaned into the mic and announced with more enthusiasm than his first trip to the stage. "Thank you everyone for your generous support of Catholic High. Every raffle ticket was sold." The crowd cheered.
He continued. "I want to specially thank Ms. Celina Martinelli, my partner." He turned to her, grinned. Whoops, cheers and a few whistles emerged from the audience. She waved enthusiastically.
Then he asked her to draw a single torn card from her pocket. Their fingers touched again as she handed him the winning card. He smiled a smile she would never forget. Goosebumps tickled her, raising the tiny hairs on her forearms.
He looked at card, turned to the mic, and announced. "And, the winner is...the Ace of Spades!" He raised the torn card and she the football to the audience for inspection.
The crowd groaned as a Mount girl squealed, jumped up and down. "That's me. I won! I won!" She ran up to the stage, displayed her half of the Ace, then snatched the football from Celina's hands, raising it over her head, pumping it like a trophy.
Monsignor stepped up to the microphone, in front of James and Celina. "Thank you everyone for coming out tonight and supporting Catholic High. Please make your way to the exits in an orderly manner. And please arrive home safely. Good night."
"Goodnight Ms. Martinelli." The elderly priest said as he walked past her, grabbing James by the arm, "Let's go Mr. Gomez. We have some work to do. I expect every dollar to be accounted for." He whisked James away, before the new acquaintances could say goodbye.
Celina was left standing on the stage, alone, until her friends gathered her to meet up with their ride home. In the back seat of the station wagon, she was quiet as she reminisced about James, their magical night and anguished over whether she'd see him again.
Alone in her bedroom, as she emptied her pockets of half cards, tissue and gum, she found the 2 of Hearts card, fully intact. Written in pen was, Celina. Call me. James Gomez with his telephone number.
She still had that card, still carried it in her wallet, 43 years later. She contentedly sighed.
A sudden chill traveled up her back and neck causing her to shiver. "It's chilly in here. I am going make some tea. Want some?"
"Sounds good. Thanks hon." He kissed her cheek.
As she walked into the kitchen, Shadow followed right on her heels. James stood, stretched arms overhead, then added another log to the fire. The slow rhythmic sound of the bellow, inhaling and exhaling, stoking the fire until flames licked then curled around each log. Satisfied, he settled back into the couch, watched as his fire danced, roared, sparked.
Celina returned to the living room, handed him a steaming cup of hibiscus tea without saying a word. He looked up at her.
"What is it, honey?" He asked. "What's on your mind?" She had a faraway look in her eyes, her brow knitted, her lips pressed, the corners of mouth down turned. She was worried.
"Oh I don't know. It's probably nothing." She replied without much conviction, without much persuasion, as she settled in next to him. Shadow not far behind, leapt silently into her lap, circling to find the perfect position, kneading her thigh with prickly claws, before settling in too.
"Honey..." James turned to search her face, touch her hand. Hers automatically opened to his, their hands entwined. "Come on. Tell me." He persisted gently.
She nodded. He knew her so well, for so long. They were fortunate, that their lives crossed paths so long ago, when they were still young. Their hearts grabbed hold instantly, grew together and never let go. Through life's bumps, hardships, trials, tribulations, losses, they stuck together.
"I know he's an adult, an excellent vet, smart as a whip, responsible, kind. But I can't help but worry about him." She sighed, looked at her husband with anguish. "It's just that...He's a bit of a lost soul, trying to find his fit in this world. He's the first to fight for every victim, every lost cause, but he doesn't take care of himself. It's like he doesn't believe he deserves it, to be loved, to be cared for." She knew she was rambling, so she stopped and sighed.
"So, we are talking about Ty, right?"
She nodded. "Honey. He just reminds me so much of you. When we met. Way back then. A lost soul in need of love."
"He's lucky to have you on his side Celina. Me too." He smiled, kissed her temple.
"James. I just have this horrible feeling that he's in a really bad way."
"Because of the eagle incident?"
"No. I think it's something else, something more, I don't know,...he's hurt, in trouble, maybe." She tried explain.
James just nodded, patiently waiting to hear more.
"In the kitchen. Just now. I had one of those spells. You know. Where everything goes dark. That horrid feeling creeps into my chest, my heart. It hurts to breath. Then I saw Ty's face. Clear as day. Just like last time."
He had experience with these feelings, these premonitions, these visions of hers. Strange and unexpected as they were, she always seemed to sense when someone was in need of help, was in danger, sick, lost. "Celina. Why don't you just call him? See if he's okay?"
She nodded, breathed in deeply, then sighed. Picking up her phone, she found him in her contacts, pressed Call. After the four rings, he picked up.
"Hey...Momma." His voice sounded strange, in slow motion, just barely audible over bar noise, people talking, music playing, glasses clinking.
"Hey Ty. Just checking on you and that hand of yours. Everything okay?"
Sweating and flushed, he looked at the bandage. "Yeah. Doc said I'm good to go. Got another stitch and an antibiotic."
"Well good. I was worried. Where are you?" She asked, though she already knew the answer. "I hear music."
"Roscoe's." He said.
"Naturally. Driving the chicks wild, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Of course you are." She laughed, trying to keep it light. "Anything good on tap?"
"Beer." He said.
"You okay to drive?"
"Amy is taking me home...oh. Wait." Ty's voice drifted away. Celina could hear a female voice in the background.
"Oh. Sorry...um...I mean Kerry. I am going home with Kerry."
"Oh good. Well, I guess I should let you go. You sound real busy." Before he could say good bye, she added. "Hey. Is Rick bartending tonight?"
"Yeah..."
"Oh good. Let me say hi to him." Rick's mom and Celina were friends, going back to elementary school, Our Lady of Victory. And, she had known Rick since he was a baby, even babysat him a time, or two.
"Rick?" Ty said, as he handed the phone across the bar. Trying to whisper, but not succeeding, he added, "Think I'm in trouble. It's Momma C."
"Well. Hey Ms. Celina." Rick said.
"Hey Rick. How are you?"
"Good. Everything okay?"
"Maybe. How is Ty?"
"He's off, not himself."
"That's what I figured. Can you keep him there? We are on our way."
"Will do." Rick hung up the phone, but did not return it to Ty. He knew something wrong, something was bothering his friend, something beyond being drunk.
Ty groaned. "I don't feel so good."
Within 15 minutes, Celine and James were wading through the crowded, smoke filled joint, headed toward the bar. Seeing them, Rick waved, pointed to the bathrooms. James entered the men's room, found Ty sitting on the floor, back against the wall near a well used urinal. His head was in his hands, elbows on his knees.
"Ty?" James grouched down in front of the him. "It's James. Are you okay?"
Ty barely looked up, his eyes bloodshot, his cheeks red, his hair damp with sweat. He just shook his head, letting out a groan.
"Come on. Let's get you out of here." James helped Ty to his feet, supported him as they slowly walked out of the men's room. Celina, who was waiting anxiously outside the door, rushed to them.
"Oh Ty. Are you okay?" Celina hugged him.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled.
"You have nothing to be sorry about." She said reassuringly. Then, she touched his flushed face. "Ty. Did you take the antibiotics?"
He nodded, then pulled out the medicine bottle from his pocket, handed it to her. She looked at the label.
"Ty. I think you are having a reaction to this." She didn't mention the reaction was likely induced by alcohol consumption, but it wasn't necessary. She checked his pulse. "James. His heart is racing a bit."
"Do we need to take him to the emergency room?"
"Maybe." She responded, clearly concerned.
"No. I wanna go home." Ty grumbled.
"Tell you what. Let's go get some fresh air." James suggested. "I think we'll all feel better for it."
As they headed toward the door, the dark-headed girl approached them, "Hey. Where are you taking him?"
"Home. We are taking him home. He's not feeling well."
"Don't worry. Um. Ah." Ty said, struggling once again to remember her name.
"Kerry. It is Kerry." She said, clearly frustrated.
"Sorry." He said, as she turned, walked away.
"Okay. Let me make a call to Dr. Cody. She will decide our next step." Celina stepped away, making the call. After a few minutes, she returned.
"Ty. We're going take you home. Okay?"
He nodded.
"To our home...okay?"
He nodded, surprising James and Celina that he didn't object.
Tucked into boyhood bed of their eldest son, James Junior, Ty passed out into a motionless, hard sleep. Celina settled the leather chair, propping her feet on the foot stool. James covered her a warm blanket. Soon after, Shadow made herself comfortable on Celina's lap.
"I wish you'd let me stay with him. You need your sleep, sweetheart." James said for the third time, knowing that he couldn't convince her otherwise.
"I won't be able to sleep knowing he is in a bad way. I'll do better here." She reasoned. She had always been this way, insistent to spend the night with their children, their extended family, their animals, anyone who was sick or hurt, keeping watch, being a mother hen.
"Call if you need me." He said. "Promise."
"I will. Promise."
"Okay. You know. I love you. Always have. Always will."
"I love you too. Always have. Always will." She said as she touched the left side of her chest, over her heart.
He smiled, bent down, kissed her lips tenderly. Then he kissed on top of her head. He left the room, dimly lit by the millions of scattered stars and a crescent moon.
In his alcohol and drug fueled sleep, subconsciously Ty heard James and Celina's quiet words. Their conversation morphed into something else, somewhere else, somebody else intertwining with his memories. He was transported into that same dream, that reoccurring nightmare, that had become his life.
The dream always started the same. He was behind the wheel in his truck, but not Old Blue, his new one. Amy was standing by the driver's window, her blonde hair blowing in the wind, as was her white sheer gown. She looked like an angel.
"Ty. I am so proud of you." She said sincerely, lovingly, touching his forearm through the open window.
"Amy. I couldn't have done it without you."
"It was all you, Dr. Ty Borden. You worked so hard. Now you are a full fledged vet, moving to Vancouver with a great job with an international wildlife rescue. Soon you'll be going to Mongolia to save Gobi Bears. You are following your dreams."
"Come with me. Please." He asks again.
"You know I can't. This is your dream. My life is here."
"We'll keep in touch. It will be like I never left." He said, trying to convince, reassure himself as much as her. Knowing full well that given their track record, that they will lose touch. It was just a matter of time.
She nodded, smiled best that she could, but said nothing as her eyes filled with tears.
"Call me if you need me." He said, hopeful. "Any time. Day or night. And I will be there for you."
She nodded. "Okay." She said, just barely above a whisper.
"I love you." He said for the hundredth millionth time. He knew that wasn't enough, that life in Hudson, at Heartland wasn't enough for him.
"I know. I love you too. I always have. I always will." She said quietly.
He nodded, put the truck to gear, drove away, looking at her through his side mirror. She was standing there waving, then she just simply disappeared.
His dream morphs again, he is lying in bed, splayed on top of rumbled sheets, hot, sweaty, naked. He is drifting into sleep. His phone rings, he gets up to answer it.
"Ty?" He hears Amy's voice, the love of his life. He is elated, but worried.
"Amy? Is everything okay?"
"No. Ty I miss you so much. I don't want to live without you any more. I love you."
"I love you too Amy. I don't want to do it by myself any longer, I want to do it with you. Okay?"
A naked woman, long since forgotten, is suddenly standing next to him. She whispers loudly in his ear. "Ty. Come back to bed. I need you." Her words carry.
The phone in Ty's hand goes dead. Amy has hung up. His heart breaks again.
Anguished, he cries out, calling her name over and over. He desperately redials again and again. But, even in his sleep, he knows she will never forgive him.
Celina comes to his side, gently tries to wake him. "Ty. Wake up honey, you are having a nightmare."
As Ty emerges slowly from unconsciousness, groggy, tears wetting his cheeks, he continues to wail. "Amy. Don't leave me. Please forgive me."
"Ty. Ty honey. Hush. You're okay now. Nothing's gonna hurt you." Celina tries to reassure him, rubbing his arm.
James enters the room, comes to their side. "Celina. Ty. What can I do to help?"
"Nothing can help. I fucked up. I love her so much, but I lost her. I screwed everything up." Ty begins to weep.
Hello Everyone.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know your thoughts.
SBR
Be safe, stay healthy.