quietly.
“Yeah, you have a long drive. Please drive careful,” Ava’s voice cracks. “You know I hate goodbyes, so I’m just going to go, okay?” She reaches out and pulls Jess into a tight hug. “I’ll see you guys in just a few weeks for Christmas break.” I see Jess wiping a few small tears from her eyes as she nods at Ava.
Ava walks backwards away from us. Opening the door to my truck for Jess, she climbs in.
“Drive careful. Love you guys.” Ava yells again and waves, this time turning around completely and walking down the sidewalk toward the library. I watch my little sister disappear into the sea of brick buildings. Jess leans her head back against the seat and closes her eyes, and I know that it’s going to be a quiet ride home.
It’s hard to believe that Christmas is already upon us. I finished my last class and now officially have my degree in Fire Sciences. The physical aptitude test was last week, and I passed with flying colors. I interviewed for a fire fighter position and am now just waiting to hear from Chief to see if I’m hired.
Jess finished her first semester at Santa Ruiz State University, and in true Jess style, she completed eighteen credit hours. Nothing like piling on the classes her first semester; she’s always been an overachiever. I spent the last week looking for the perfect promise ring to give Jess for Christmas. This was singlehandedly, the most stressful thing I’ve ever done. I chose a vintage style ring, with a small princess cut center diamond and smaller diamonds circling around it in the shape of a square. The band splits from all four corners and is gorgeous. It’s a smaller version of what I’d want to give Jess when I actually propose to her.
Today is Christmas Eve, and as usual it’s always busy. Mom made our traditional Mexican dinner: tamales, green chili enchiladas, rice, and beans. Jess and Ava always help mom prepare the food. After dinner, all the women baked traditional American desserts: cookies, brownies, and fudge, followed by us all going to midnight mass. Leaving the church I see Jess leaning her head against the passenger window, and I can hear her faint breaths. I run my knuckles down the side of her cheek, which wakes her, and she offers me a small smile.
“Tired?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s been a long day.” She rubs under her eyes with her fingers.
Pulling into her driveway, she starts opening the car door when I say, “I’m going to run home and grab a change of clothes. I’ll be back over in just a couple of minutes, okay?” Chief is working again tonight, so I’m staying with Jess. I hate leaving her alone.
“Okay,” she offers quietly.
“Don’t fall asleep.”
Sighing, she looks at me and says, “Not tonight. I’m too tired.”
“That’s fine, just don’t fall asleep.”
It’s almost two in the morning, and the adrenaline coursing through my veins has me wide-awake. I say a small prayer that she doesn’t fall asleep before I get back. Shoving everything in a backpack, Dad is arranging gifts under the tree that we’ll open in the morning. It doesn’t matter that we’re all adults, Santa is alive and well and delivers gifts to the Garcia household every year.
“See you in the morning, Dad,” I whisper as I open the front door to leave.
“Night, Mijo. Don’t be late tomorrow.”
“We won’t.”
I can see the light is on in Jess’ room as I jog across the street and up her front lawn. Warm air hits me as I enter the living room and I can hear the bathroom sink on, and assume Jess is getting ready for bed. Opening the bedroom door, it’s dark with the exception of a small bedside lamp that is on. I quickly take the ring out of my bag and hide it under the pillow. Climbing into Jess’ bed, I wait for her to return.
“There you are,” she says, as she enters the room, closing the door behind her. Walking to the bed, she crawls in beside me and snuggles up with her head resting on my chest.
“Yeah, you have a long drive. Please drive careful,” Ava’s voice cracks. “You know I hate goodbyes, so I’m just going to go, okay?” She reaches out and pulls Jess into a tight hug. “I’ll see you guys in just a few weeks for Christmas break.” I see Jess wiping a few small tears from her eyes as she nods at Ava.
Ava walks backwards away from us. Opening the door to my truck for Jess, she climbs in.
“Drive careful. Love you guys.” Ava yells again and waves, this time turning around completely and walking down the sidewalk toward the library. I watch my little sister disappear into the sea of brick buildings. Jess leans her head back against the seat and closes her eyes, and I know that it’s going to be a quiet ride home.
It’s hard to believe that Christmas is already upon us. I finished my last class and now officially have my degree in Fire Sciences. The physical aptitude test was last week, and I passed with flying colors. I interviewed for a fire fighter position and am now just waiting to hear from Chief to see if I’m hired.
Jess finished her first semester at Santa Ruiz State University, and in true Jess style, she completed eighteen credit hours. Nothing like piling on the classes her first semester; she’s always been an overachiever. I spent the last week looking for the perfect promise ring to give Jess for Christmas. This was singlehandedly, the most stressful thing I’ve ever done. I chose a vintage style ring, with a small princess cut center diamond and smaller diamonds circling around it in the shape of a square. The band splits from all four corners and is gorgeous. It’s a smaller version of what I’d want to give Jess when I actually propose to her.
Today is Christmas Eve, and as usual it’s always busy. Mom made our traditional Mexican dinner: tamales, green chili enchiladas, rice, and beans. Jess and Ava always help mom prepare the food. After dinner, all the women baked traditional American desserts: cookies, brownies, and fudge, followed by us all going to midnight mass. Leaving the church I see Jess leaning her head against the passenger window, and I can hear her faint breaths. I run my knuckles down the side of her cheek, which wakes her, and she offers me a small smile.
“Tired?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s been a long day.” She rubs under her eyes with her fingers.
Pulling into her driveway, she starts opening the car door when I say, “I’m going to run home and grab a change of clothes. I’ll be back over in just a couple of minutes, okay?” Chief is working again tonight, so I’m staying with Jess. I hate leaving her alone.
“Okay,” she offers quietly.
“Don’t fall asleep.”
Sighing, she looks at me and says, “Not tonight. I’m too tired.”
“That’s fine, just don’t fall asleep.”
It’s almost two in the morning, and the adrenaline coursing through my veins has me wide-awake. I say a small prayer that she doesn’t fall asleep before I get back. Shoving everything in a backpack, Dad is arranging gifts under the tree that we’ll open in the morning. It doesn’t matter that we’re all adults, Santa is alive and well and delivers gifts to the Garcia household every year.
“See you in the morning, Dad,” I whisper as I open the front door to leave.
“Night, Mijo. Don’t be late tomorrow.”
“We won’t.”
I can see the light is on in Jess’ room as I jog across the street and up her front lawn. Warm air hits me as I enter the living room and I can hear the bathroom sink on, and assume Jess is getting ready for bed. Opening the bedroom door, it’s dark with the exception of a small bedside lamp that is on. I quickly take the ring out of my bag and hide it under the pillow. Climbing into Jess’ bed, I wait for her to return.
“There you are,” she says, as she enters the room, closing the door behind her. Walking to the bed, she crawls in beside me and snuggles up with her head resting on my chest.
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