Chapter 6

Days became weeks became months. The month of April was getting closer and with it, the Junior Prom. Martin purchased tickets on the first day they became available. He had a discussion with Gina and they decided that since neither of them had a drivers license, and they didn’t want to have a parent chauffeur them to the event, that they would concede to having his parents drop him of to get Gina and they would take an Uber to the school.

Martins ribs had healed and at his insistence, he and Gina took a few dance classes to better enjoy themselves as the music played. But he still joked that he would try to get as many students to join him for the ‘Pee-Wee Dance’ as possible.

When Martin was brought over to the Cosgrove home, his mother had made it perfectly clear that she and his father were NOT leaving until pictures had been taken. Lots of pictures. Martin realized that resistance was futile.

“I must say son, you clean up really well,” Ivan smirked. “You must get it from your mother because God knows that I never looked good in a suit!”

Said suit was Navy Blue and the shirt was a lighter, powder blue. The tie was the same color as the jacket and slacks. Martin did his best not to be nervous and sweat. His hands trembled slightly as he held the box for the wrist corsage.

From down the hall, Ester called out; “Okay everyone! Get ready! Here she comes!”

Smiling to herself, Gina made her way out to the living room. “Ohhh! Pretty!” Jacquelyn sighed.

Martin could only agree. The dress was the same color as his shirt, with the fabric looking like someone had sprinkled confetti across it in various shades from dark blue to white. The dress had only one shoulder, and there, the strap divided into three smaller straps that went down the back to attach at the waist. The skirt went to the knee, and a pair of peekaboo sandals in silver completed the look.

Moving to stand in front of her, Martin dropped to one knee and smiled. “I am not worthy to be seen tonight with this goddess. I can only offer my devotion in the form of a small gift.” He opened the box holding the corsage and took her left hand. “May I?” Gina giggled and nodded. Phones clicked as pictures were taken.

Then more pictures. And even more pictures. After that, several more pictures. Were it not for the chime on Martins phone to alert him that his Uber ride was less than five minutes away, who knows how long they would have taken?

The couple paused for a moment at the end of the driveway, and just as Martin opened her car door, Gina turned, stood up on her toes, and gave him a kiss. “Awwww...”

Corona del Sol high school was once again decked out for celebration. In the gym, a large area was cleared as a dance floor where attendees could enjoy themselves under the festive fairy lights hanging from the rafters. Towards the back were tables with soft drinks and water, as well as snack foods that could be enjoyed before and after the traditional ‘rubber chicken’ dinner was served. (A number of people had gotten something to eat, either at home, or a restaurant prior to showing up.) Tables were set for four couples, or eight seats each. Martin and Gina sat with friends that included Karmen Marquez and Scott Brookfield, who had flown out for the long weekend from Lodi.

“So how is life as a college student?” Martin asked.

“Much different than high school. If you mess up or get in trouble, the attitude is ‘you paid to be here, so if you don’t go to class or do the work, that’s on you!’ unlike high school where your parents are contacted.”

“Oh. What college are you attending?”

“Humphreys University. It’s a smaller school close to where I live and they have a great Business Program. I commute to school and still can work.”

“Pokey Smokey!” Karmen giggled.

“My truck,” Scott grinned. “It has a reputation of being a rattle-trap jalopy, but it gets me to where I need to be.”

Sharing a laugh, the couples got up to dance.

“They love each other so much,” Gina sighed. “She has told me everything about how they met, started dating and fell in love.”

“When’s the wedding?”

“Probably right after he graduates. She will be in school out there studying.”

“She knows what her major will be?”

“Yes. It has a name that looks like someone dropped a handful of Scrabble tiles on the table, but we just call it ‘bat-ology’ because that’s easier.”

“Cool. Now give me a kiss, pretty girl, and let me hold you tight for this dance.”

As they swayed to the music, each thought silently how they wished that they could find such a deep and passionate love.

It was two weeks later that Gina called Martin, sobbing uncontrollably. “Please, I need you! Come over right away!” When he asked what was wrong, the answer was just more sobs and a wail of “They can’t do this! It’s just not fair!”

A short time later, Martin had just parked his bike on the side of the porch when Gina came running out of her house and wrapped him in a hug, her face swollen and blotchy from crying.

“Hold me,” she whimpered. “Just, hold me.”

Eventually, Martin was able to get the details. Gina explained that her maternal grandmother was sick and she lived in Winnemucca, Nevada. “She’s like seventy and lives alone. My parents want us to relocate there so we can live with her and take care of her. My parents both have remote work jobs, so Mom is going up there now, and at the end of the school year, me and Dad will follow.”

Sorrow filled his heart. “No way they would let you stay down here? Maybe with someone? Or in the house? It’s not like you’re a child.”

“No. Whatever we don’t take with us will go into storage. They decided not to sell the house. A property management company will rent it for us.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Just ... hold me.”

The school year ended with a cloud over it. Martins parents tried to be sympathetic and understanding, but the reality of it was that there was little they could do but offer empty words of comfort.

On the morning of departure, Martin rode to her house to spend a few last minutes with Gina.

“I love you,” they whispered to each other as they embraced. Those words had been shared before, but today, they carried a deeper meaning.

“You’re my best friend,” Martin sighed. “There’s no way I could have managed without you.”

“And you’re mine. Thank you.” She looked over at her father who was waiting patiently in the car. Looking back into his eyes, she did her best to smile as she kissed him. “We’ll always have Paris.”

Martin stood in the driveway and watched the car pull away. He didn’t even try to stem the flow of his tears. “Yes,” he sighed. “We’ll always have Paris.”

Six Years Later.

Martin sat alone in the corner table, several notebooks and his tablet in front of him. Work had been busy and grabbing an early dinner at Denny’s was a good alternative than dealing with the chaos at home. Here, he could sit, undisturbed, and focus on what was before him.

“Is this seat taken?”

Looking up, Martin blinked for a moment and then smiled. “Hello stranger. Please,” he stood, “have a seat. Are you in town for long? How are you?”

Gina sat in the chair across from him and smiled. She was as beautiful as Martin remembered. Still slightly full figured and her smile was, as always, brilliant.

After they had parted, the two managed to keep in touch by phone, text and email. However, over time, those communications dwindled to just random “Thinking of you,” messages.

“I’m doing pretty good. Just graduated from UNR with my pharmacology degree and licenses. Moved back to the old house and looking for a job.”

“UNR?”

“University of Nevada, Reno.”

“And your parents?”

“After grandma died, they decided to stay there. Both houses are paid off, so all I need to do is maintain the utilities and help with the taxes and insurance. Oh, and feed myself!”

Martin chuckled and waived for a waitress to come over.

Gina placed her order and looked across the table. “So many years gone. I feel like while I know you, I no longer know you. Please, fill me in.”

“I graduated from Grand Canyon University last year with a Bachelors in Education. You’re sitting with a freshly minted History Teacher who gets to deal with teen drama on a daily basis at Connolly Middle School. Even with the occasional problem child, it’s a really great job and I enjoy it. I do what I can to follow the lesson plan outlines and somehow manage to teach the kids to not only pass the state mandated knowledge tests where they regurgitate answers, but help them to actually LEARN the material. Challenging, but rewarding.”

“I can see it. Where do you live? Are you seeing anyone? Married?”

A scowl flickered across his face. “I still live at home. After I graduated, I had to establish myself and find work. Trust me, it’s not what I prefer. Lots of stress and zero privacy. Jax...”

“Jax?”

“My sister. Around the time she turned sixteen, she decided that ‘Jacquelyn’ was too fussy so she wanted to amend her name to something more ‘fun’. She’s still a feral creature and thinks that a two year degree at community college is a major accomplishment, even if it took four years to get it.”