Long Night; Part 9

Hey!

Shaping up to be a long ass night here-- my brother in law is super grumpy!

Anywho.

Also, i'm sick :( boo, and I have to go to professional development tomorrow :(

And right now all i wanna do is curl up with sookie and go to bed (and have awesome taboo sex), but what i need to do is the dishes--grumpalump! The tension in here because of my brother in law and his GF is so thick I feel like I can't even breather! I almost feel like I need to get out of here, but wait, this is my fucking home!! yikesaroni!

Work today was super fun. I like my aftercare job. i just wish I didn't have a headcold-- it makes me a bitchasaurus rex.

K, enjoy the next segment!

****************

“I thought I heard the bell!  Hello handsome, how are you?”  Velvet was always very glad to see her youngest brother-in-law.  She hurried into the foyer, removing an apron as she hastened to deliver a kiss of welcome to both his cleanly shaven cheeks.  He smelled great.  “Is that the new cologne from the boutique?”

He grinned.  “You’re a goddess, you know that?  Jonah you married a goddess.”

“Don’t I know it.”  Jonah responded adoringly while he helped her with the stubborn apron string knot.

Velvet giggled.  Everything was just about ready, and to her mind Caleb had arrived not a moment too soon because all the free time to mingle was causing unprecedented amounts of tension around the house.  Her mother was being especially prickly, which she had somewhat anticipated.  But Jonah wasn’t quite himself, Grey seemed unenthusiastic, Viola was moody, Avalon was uptight, Vienna was upstairs in a tailspin with a broken heart, and even Nolan seemed less genial than usual.  What was going on with her family this evening?!

“You’re too sweet.”  She gushed at Caleb, who she really thought of as her own younger brother and not just an in-law.  He’d been young when she’d gotten together with Jonah, so she’d been a part of his growing up.  She’d been there for so many of his formative years, and she’d dedicated herself to being present and involved in his world.  He was one of her favorite friends.  Hell, he and Gideon could gossip till the wee hours of a cocktail party and never run out of juicy bits to treat her with.  “Where’s Gideon?  You took separate cars?”  She asked, with a small frown.  Dinner was ready and Ben had yet to arrive with Grace.  Now it looked like Gideon would be late as well.

“He won’t be joining us this evening, Love.”  Jonah answered when Caleb looked stumped.

Velvet blinked.  “Oh?”  She was having trouble figuring this one out.  “Is everything all right?”  She couldn’t imagine anything mundane keeping Gideon away from one of her dinner parties.  He loved socializing and he loved the family.  And Velvet was certain there was no way he would willingly pass up the opportunity to finally meet Grey’s new bride.

“We’re not together anymore.”  Caleb leveled, sounding tired and resigned.

Velvet felt her eyebrows rise to the top of her forehead and her eyes get wide.  “Oh, no, really?  Oh no.  Oh Caleb.  What happened?  Are you ok?”  She had a million more little nothings to mutter but Jonah’s hand on her shoulder reminded her to get a hold of her tongue.

“Maybe you two can have lunch tomorrow?  I’m sure Cale doesn’t want to drag all that out tonight—this is a happy occasion.”  Jonah said gently.

“But—“  Velvet felt torn.  She wanted to know everything, be there for her brother, listen to his woes and help however she could.  But she also had a house full of guests waiting for their dinner and to meet the newest member of the family. 

“No, Jones is right Vell, Let’s do lunch and I’ll give you all the sordid details when I can get good and liquored up.”

Velvet tried to smile but failed.  She crossed to him and wrapped him in a firm hug.  He was much taller than her, almost as tall as his brothers, but part of her would always see only the young boy she used to hug when he’d come to her with all his confusion and angst and trouble with his father. 

“We love you.”  She said, speaking for the whole family.

He hugged her back.  “I know.  I love you guys.”  He said quietly.  “Thank you.”  He added meaningfully.

She pulled back from the hug and looked into his deep blue eyes.  “Did he cheat on you?”  She asked in a hushed tone.

He didn’t need to say anything.  Velvet saw it flash across his expression as clearly as if he’d painted a sign.  Poor baby.  Delaney Curse.  She hugged him again, her heart bursting with empathy.

He cleared his throat and sniffed twice before patting her back with some finality.  “Forget that jerk.”  He said with a forced laugh.  “I’m dying to meet this wonderful new daughter you’ve acquired.  You’ve been talking my ear off for two weeks—don’t hold out on me, direct me to the bride!” 

She giggled weakly.  “You’ll just love her.”

“So you’ve said, about a hundred times.”  He teased.

“Sweetheart, is there anything you still need me to do?”  Jonah asked, folding her apron neatly.

Velvet flashed him a smile.  He was perfect.  She reminded herself how lucky she was to have him.  She knew he could never find out about her semi-annual indiscretions.  She loved him more than life.   She would crumble into a million pieces if he left her.

“Hey—you ok?”  He asked quietly.  Her smile had faded while she was lost in thought. 

“Just thinking.”  She lied brightly.  “Could you make sure there’s enough champagne on ice?”

“Sure thing.”  He responded, then leaned down to kiss her brow before wandering off toward the kitchen.

“No, first see if you can talk to Vee—can you?”

“Let me do the champagne first.”  He decided with a sigh.

“Oh, and be an angel and text Grace—tell her to hurry the hell up!”

She heard Jonah chuckle from somewhere within the dining room.

“Next time I see that two-timing prick I’ll cut his cheating cock off.”  She said when Jonah was out of earshot.

Caleb guffawed.  “I love you sis.”  He said when he’d caught his breath.  “Now really, fetch the blushing bride already.”

Velvet tisked and shook her head, but decided not to press the issue any further tonight.  “I think they’re in the den.  I’m not sure.  Grey’s doing his best to keep her away from my mother.”

“You raised a smart boy.”  Caleb said wryly as they started toward the living room together.  “So any more word on why they up and eloped like that?”  He asked in an intrigued whisper.  “I mean it’s all so very scandalous.”

Velvet tittered.  “My mother is downright furious about it.”  She conceded.  “’It’s the talk of the town and none of it too favorable!’”  She parroted her mother, eliciting a snort of laughter from Caleb.

“Oh my God I’ve heard it all—“  Caleb agreed with a playful smile.  “The most popular story at the radio station involves a Spanish art heist and her father being the heir to the abdicated thrown of Mexico, like before they overthrew the monarchy and established democracy or whatever—so she’s got all this wealth and prestige tied up in an ancient Mayan temple somewhere, but she can’t get to it because of the Mexican army and, oh shit, I forget the bit about the Pope and the Catholic church getting involved, but long story short, Grey rescued the penniless but regal damsel while he was spending winter break in Cabo.”

Velvet’s mouth fell open in astonishment.  “What would Grey be doing involved in a Spanish art heist?  He doesn’t know the first thing about art.”  She wondered.

Caleb laughed uproariously.  “That’s the only part that seems far-fetched?!”

The doorbell rang just as they were getting to the den.  It sounded like Zahra was in there with Genny and at least one or two of Nolan’s kids. 

“I’ve gotta get that Sweetie, Just go ahead, Grey’ll make the introductions—If you can find him!”  She gave his arm a little squeeze and spun on her heel back toward the foyer.

She could hear Caleb’s falsely buoyant entrance to the den as she hurried to answer the door.  Poor Caleb.  She’d have to put her thinking cap on and come up with a better match for the guy.  He deserved to be happy.

She swung the door open with a wide smile, happy to see her best girlfriend on the front step.  But Grace Sinclair was engrossed in the little blue screen of her cell.  She held up a finger to halt her friend’s greeting before Velvet could manage a ‘hello!’

“Did you tell me to hurry the hell up and get my sweet ass over here unless I want a spanking later?”  She asked, arching a perfect golden eyebrow and cocking her head to the side quizzically.

Velvet clucked her tongue.  Jonah.  “I delegated the texting to an associate.”  She confessed.

Grace laughed.  “Damn.  Here I thought my sex dreams were finally coming true.”

Velvet stepped aside to allow her friend to sweep into the foyer, then wrapped her in a hug.  “I’ll spank that perfect ass anytime you want, you just say when, where, and how hard.”

That was the moment Ben arrived at the door, jogging up the walk with a covered tray of some kind.  Velvet giggled at the expression on his face.

“Hi Ben.”  She said sweetly, releasing the blushing young man’s mother and reaching for the covered tray.

Ben’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he cleared his throat and managed a weak greeting as he handed off the tray. 

Grace laughed at her son’s blushing embarrassment.  “I made a cheesecake.”  She explained about the tray. 

Velvet gushed her thanks for the dessert before turning to kiss Ben’s reddened cheeks in greeting.  “Be a doll and hang up your mother’s coat too, will you Ben?  Avalon’s in the kitchen, I think.  I’ll send her your way.”

He nodded agreeably and took his mother’s coat. 

“Grace, there’s so much to tell you I don’t even know where to begin.”  She whispered as they started toward the kitchen.  She needed to figure out a way to fit the cheesecake in the refrigerator.

“Velvet, honey, focus, and prioritize.”  Grace was less tolerant of Velvet’s stream-of-consciousness babbling than Jonah was. 

“Ok.”  Said Velvet, trying hard to prioritize.  “Gideon cheated on Caleb so they’ve split, Avalon is thinking about changing the venue again, Vienna’s in her room crying her eyes out over some folk-rock college band singer and she won’t come out no matter what I say, my mother’s insulted every single one of my guests already, I burned the shortbread--so good thing you brought a cheesecake, and Grey threatened to leave if we didn’t make his grandmother leave.”  Phew.  Velvet managed to finish all that just as they reached the door to the kitchen.

“Impressive.”  Grace said with a smile.  “Breathe.”

Velvet did as she was commanded.

“I think you may have some screwy priorities, but I think I got the gist.”  She teased.  “I can’t believe it about Gideon!”  She whispered.

“I know.”  Velvet replied, commiserating.

“So did she leave?”

“What?”

“Your mother—did she leave, or did Grey?”

“Oh!”  Velvet rolled her eyes.  “Jonah fixed it—for now, but Grey’s in one of his moods, so be an angel and help me keep the peace?”

Grace smirked and she put her hand on the kitchen door, ready to swing it open.  “Isn’t that why I was invited?”

Velvet bit her lip and smiled. “I have a feeling this is going to be a long evening.”  She confessed.

Long Night; Part 8

YAY!  

Since I was in too much of a cleaning-whirlwind yestreday to post, I've decided to make it up to you by double-dipping today!

Here's the next installment in the LONG NIGHT business.

I've been wanting to post this one for, um, months.  Not that it;s great, just... I like it and have liked it since the day I wrote it.  It was one of the first LONG NIGHT vignettes that I wrote.

Did you catch that the last one didn't end with  'long night' line?  Whoops.  A few of them don't, but I liked the common thread and tried to keep it going through most of them.

This is CALEB, who we don't see too often, but I heart him.  Of course, I also know secrets about him, shhhhh!

But he's a sweetie!

So enjoy part 8!!

***********************

Caleb hadn’t told Jonah and Velvet about Gideon yet.  The invite to this family dinner had come addressed to both of them.  As had the marriage announcement. 

When Velvet had called to gossip with Caleb about Grey’s sudden marriage he hadn’t the heart to tell her about Gideon.  Why ruin her soaring high spirits with his own tale of woe?

He’d cried his eyes out to his best friend, then he’d finally sat down with Nolan and cried on his shoulder too.  Now it was just fact.  He was single.  Again.  For the first time in years.  Alone.

And he was going to show up at Jonah and Velvet’s sans partner, and he wasn’t going to lie about it anymore.  Nolan had made him promise as much.

“But, Nole, I don’t want to be a drama queen at this party for Grey and the new bride!”  He’d argued reasonably.

Nolan had shaken his head firmly.  “There’s nothing to be ashamed of.  You did the right thing.  You’ll be among family.  No more pretending.”

Ugh.  But he really didn’t want to have to explain to another person why he and the man he’d been about to propose to were finished.  And he knew his adorable sister-in-law would be tenacious.  Wouldn’t rest until she knew everything.

The worst part of it was the family had all been crazy about Gideon.  He’d fit right in.  Like it was meant to be.  Because Caleb had dated some real jerks, guys that made both his brothers’ respective hackles rise, guys that Velvet and Zahra had slammed and roundly dismissed as ‘not good enough’ for him.  Losers.  Always losers with killer bodies, but still, not marriage material.  Hell, not always even live-together material.

But with Gideon it had been different. 

Why the fuck had he cheated?  Caleb had racked his brain up and down, over and over, and tried to figure out what in hell he’d done wrong, what he lacked that had made the love of his life turn to another man.  A younger man.  Christ, that kid was closer to Grey’s age than to his own.

Whatever.

Caleb strode purposefully up to Jonah’s door and took a deep breath before ringing the bell.  He would live through this.  He’d survive it, and endure it, and he’d put on a smile and meet the newest addition to the Delaney clan. 

He forced himself to remain calm at the fact that his 24 year old nephew had just up and married someone, who, if gossip and rumor were to be believed, he hardly knew at all, when he, Caleb, couldn’t seem to pin down a marriageable man after more than a decade of serious effort.  Whatever.  Maybe he’d up and elope with the next guy he fucked.  Maybe that was the secret.

He was being hasty.  He’d see how Grey and this girl behaved together tonight and reserve his judgment till then.

“Uncle Caleb!”  His eldest niece opened the door with a false smile, which he hoped wasn’t because of him, and gave him a perfunctory hug and kiss on the cheeks.

“Hey gorgeous—you helping play hostess this evening?”  Avalon had moved to the campus but was still home often enough to still be considered ‘in residence’ at the Delaney mansion. 

“Guess so.”  She said as he moved into the foyer.  “Where’s Gideon?”

“He’s not coming.”  Caleb answered resolutely.  It was beginning.  “Where’s that dashing fiancé of yours?”  He dodged preemptively.

Caleb heard chatter and laughter from the direction of the living room and the kitchen both.  He’d spied Zahra’s van when he pulled up because he’d parked beside it, but hadn’t taken special note of any of the other cars.  He supposed he was running a tad behind.  It was taking him forever to get dressed and ready lately.  Everything he owned felt old and frumpy and unflattering.  And his hair was just plain rebellious since the break up.  He imagined it was sulking about Gideon’s absence. 

“He’s driving Aunt Grace over, so he should be here soon.”

“Oh good.”  Caleb loved Grace like an older sister.  “Holden?”

Avalon shook her head.  Holden Sinclair was a real sonofabitch.  Caleb doubted the man had ever gone more than a month without some form of infidelity to his gorgeous, brilliant, queen of a wife.  Everyone in Cedar Falls wondered why such an intelligent, self-assured woman stayed with a husband like that. 

Caleb was beginning to empathize with her.  There had been too many nights since he’d found Gideon in their bed with that young man, too many nights when he had considered accepting the convincing apology, considered calling him, considered relenting and finding a way to ‘work through it’.  He was beginning to understand how Grace could have stayed with Holden all these years.  Love does funny things to the best of us, he supposed.

And of course people close enough to the situation knew that while Grace Sinclair’s husband wasn’t exactly unwelcome at Jonah and Velvet Delaney’s, he wasn’t precisely welcomed with open arms either.  They were her friends first, his only by default.  Hell, Jonah had been somewhat leery when Avalon and Ben had started getting close. Even though they all knew and loved Ben like their own, Jonah was terribly worried that his father’s tendencies might have rubbed off of the boy.  It had taken him a while to finally relax and trust that the kid was perfectly decent and upright and definitely worthy of his daughter.

Caleb smiled thinking about it.  Everybody else had seen immediately that the old adage about girls and their fathers had come true with Avalon; she’d gone out and chosen herself a boy that was so much like Jonah it was almost hilarious.  He might look like Grace and Holden Sinclair, but Ben may as well have been raised by Jonah Delaney, so alike was he in demeanor and temperament.  He was kind and gentle and considerate and polite, he was helpful and affable and on the quiet side, he was smart and even-tempered and mature beyond his years. 

All growing up the boy had followed ‘Uncle’ Jonah around whenever the families got together for vacations or outings, while Grey was always sneaking off and causing mischief.  Ben had stuck with boyscouts years after Grey had quit, and Jonah had stayed on as a troop leader.  Ben volunteered at the hospital, just like Jonah had done at that age, he was an after-school tutor like Jonah had been, and he was, from all accounts, a bit of a romantic sap too.  His proposal to Avalon was something right out of a romance novel, or a girl’s diary it was so damned perfect.

And his rigid sense of decency, of gentlemanly conduct and honor, seemed to be taken right from the Jonah Delaney handbook.  There was no way that young man would ever fool around behind Ava’s back.   And Jonah was gaining one hell of a great son-in-law.

“You pick your colors yet?”  Caleb asked, slipping out of his winter coat and moving to the hall closet.  “At poker night Ben said something about lavender and lilac?”

Avalon made a ferocious growl and Caleb jumped a bit at the vehemence of it.  “Hey, straight boys don’t know colors, I assumed he was talking out of his ass.”  He soothed.

“Lavender and lilac are Mum’s fantasy.  Because of my eyes. If I hear her utter those colors again I’m going to lose it.” 

Caleb chuckled at her truculent tone of voice.  “Next time she tries to force purple on you—“  He lowered his voice conspiratorially as he hung his coat, “You just ask her how she felt about her mother always forcing her to wear velvet all the time.”

His niece’s eyes got wide.  “Whaaaat?”

Caleb laughed.  “Oh god yes.  That crazy old bat insisted that girl wear velvet at every event and special occasion—haven’t you noticed that your mother doesn’t own a single piece of velvet clothing?  Or drapes?  Or anything?”

Avalon’s face broke out into a wide grin.  “You’re kidding.”

“Swear to God.  She told me all about it one time when my dad was trying to get me to try out for football.”

“Leave it to Mum to talk about clothes when you’re having an identity crisis.”  Avalon commented wryly.

“Honey, there is almost never an inappropriate time to make fashion analogies with me.”

She laughed appreciatively.  “The old bat is here, by the way, so watch your tongue.” Avalon cautioned and began to move toward the living room.  “And she’s in rare form tonight too.”

Aw shit.  Velvet’s mother was a frigid old c-bag, and she made her distaste for his open lifestyle known every single time he was in her presence.  Caleb tried not to take her animosity personally.  Rumor was her husband had died in the arms of a whore, but the seedier truth of it, he’d learned from this ancient fag who ran the hair salon downtown, was that he’d died in the arms of a male lover—and he’d been deep into some pretty kinky shit too, from what he’d heard.

Caleb was about to comment on the delightful news of her wretched grandmother’s presence, when his youngest niece hopped into the foyer, looking mischievous and adorable.  “Uncle Caleb!”  She shrieked on sight, and ran full force into him with her arms spread wide. 

Caleb laughed with delight and lifted her high above his head.  She was light as a feather.  She’d be a peanut like Viola, he predicted.  “Princess Lola the all-magical!”  He declared with grandeur, spinning her as he lowered her back to her feet.

She bounced with delight, her exotic little face stretched in an over-wide grin, her eyes scrunched and giddy.  Nolan’s kids were absolutely gorgeous.  With that buttery-chocolaty skin, the rich, jet-black hair and the striking Indian aesthetic?  His girls were going to be knock-outs like their mother, only more mainstream friendly because of their white father, and Ajay was going to absolutely break hearts.  He’d probably be as handsome as his father, only he’d be more mysterious and alluring because he was bi-racial.  The younger two had Zahra’s hypnotizing midnight-black eyes, but Keer had somehow managed to get her dad’s blue-gray stormclouds, which stood out in her face in such a captivating way the girl almost took your breath away.

“Guess what?  I’m getting a baby unicorn for my birthday!”  Lola asked and answered before he’d so much as drawn a breath to respond.

“Oh my goodness, for real?”

The little munchkin nodded regally.  “Because I’m a princess and princesses need unicorns.”  She explained reasonably.

Caleb caught Avalon’s eyes and they shared a smile.  Lola was the cutest little thing alive.  “Well, yeah, obviously.  I figured it was only a matter of time.”  He responded seriously.

“Show Uncle Caleb your shoes.”  Prompted Avalon with an indulgent smile.

Lola was wearing a long peasant-style skirt in Bollywood colors, probably because it made her feel like a princess to have long skirts on.  He doubted very much that Zahra had had any say in the choosing of this crazy outfit.  The girl’s top was some kid-show graphic tee with sparkly stylized cartoon horses on it, with a long sleeved shirt underneath that had stars and hearts and rainbows all over it.  In her thick raven hair she wore a headband with rhinestones, which, he imagined, was close enough to a tiara to pass.  The peasant skirt looked like a pride parade had gotten hold of a band of gypsies—it was richly colored in Bollywood yellows and magentas and fuchsias and lime greens and turquoise and was threaded through with silver and even had little bells and reflective thingies sewn onto it.  Who the hell had bought her this skirt?  ‘Loud’ was putting it mildly.

She did her best elegant twirl as she spun, and Caleb saw Jonah arrive in the archway just in time to witness her display.  His older brother paused, an amused little smile on his lips, politely waiting for Lola to do her thing before he’d come greet his little brother.

Lola lifted her skirt to her knees and held one foot out to Caleb, saying ‘ta-da!’ as she revealed a pair of glittering ruby-red slippers.

Caleb made an exaggerated gasp and put his hand to his heart.  “Those are spectacular!” he enthused.  “Every princess needs a pair of those.” 

“Wonderful.”  Said a dry, sarcastic voice from the other side of the Foyer.  “Rainbows and ruby slippers.  I guess she’s well on her way to joining your community.”

Caleb clenched his teeth and stretched his lips into the best smile he could manage.  In the center of the foyer little Lola put her foot back down, and though she didn’t understand the comment she reacted to the obviously disparaging tone of it by frowning and furrowing her precious little brow.

“Oh hello again Celia, It’s been far too long.”  Caleb said pleasantly, turning toward his brother’s frosty mother in law.

She laughed shortly.  “I heard from Adele Ward that your roommate left you for a younger model.  I guess men are all the same, no matter which side their bread is buttered on.”

Caleb’s false smile became one of open-mouthed astonishment.  Wow.  There was so much offensive about that greeting that he couldn’t even begin to process it just then. 

There was a moment of awkward silence in the foyer.  Even Lola was quiet for once in her little life.  Then several voices overlapped one another.  Jonah began to say something curt to his mother in law while Lola wondered aloud about why it mattered which side of the bread butter had to go on, and Avalon moved quickly and with an easy grace that comes from years of practice, to steer her grandmother back toward the kitchen.

“Lola, sweetie, can you run and tell mummy Uncle Caleb needs to know where she bought you that skirt?”

Lola nodded, though she still looked puzzled and maybe a little unhappy—who could blame her when there was a scary old crone in the house?

Lola wandered off with a lot less bounce in her step and Caleb turned to Jonah.

“Yeah.”  He said to the question in his brother’s face.  He put his hands in his pockets to keep from fidgeting.

“No.”

Caleb nodded.  “Yup.  Few weeks ago.  Just before New Year’s.  Walked in on him in bed with someone else.”

Jonah took a sharp breath in and looked miserable.  “I’m so sorry.”  He said quietly, folding one arm across his chest and reaching up with the other to adjust his glasses.  “God.”

Caleb swallowed and looked at the beautiful stone floor between them.  “Kicked him out of the townhouse.”

“Good for you.”

“Yeah.”

“God.”

“Mm.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

Caleb shrugged.  How do you explain to your big brother that everytime a relationship doesn’t work out it feels like a failure next to Jonah’s incredible marriage to Velvet, or Nolan and Zahra’s?  How do you call your family and explain that the life you thought you were living, the life you believed you were building, was nothing more than a lie?  A mistake?  A waste of years of your life.

“I’m glad you ended it—if he was doing that, then you know he doesn’t deserve you—“  Jonah seemed to choke up.

Caleb nodded and pulled his mouth to the side.  He loved his brothers more than anything in the world.  “Still hurts like a bitch.”

Jonah grunted and finally moved forward to embrace him.  They clasped in a firm hug, Jonah patted him solidly on the back, and then kissed his cheek almost forcefully.  “You’ll find the right one.  I promise.”

Caleb had told Jonah that he wanted to settle down with Gideon, get married, start a family.  He felt like he’d lost more than a lover.  He felt like he’d been robbed of an entire future.  And he could tell Jonah guessed as much.

“Sorry about Celia.”  Jonah added sourly as they pulled apart.

“Yeah.  Wonderful.”  Caleb responded sardonically.  “This is going to a long goddamn night, huh?”

Caleb Didn't Call

Ok!  I decided to switch things up and pick up another dangling story thread for you!  Today we're going to delve a little further into CALEB DELANEY, whom I want to hug and go shopping with.  

He's the younger brother of Jonah and Nolan and you might remember him from POKER NIGHT!  

& more poker night...

This little bit is the beginning of the worst night of his life.  Or one of the worst nights, because there was this big fire years ago that was pretty awful, but maybe we'll look into that mystery some other time!

Sidenote:

If Emmy is reading she might appreciate that so far my favorite deaths include fire and drowning, which are DIRECT hold overs from the sims, where if you wanted someone dead you had to either starve them (enormously time consuming and very labor-intensive for the player), Burn them (quick and painless unless someone saves them, in which case you are left with a very filthy and unhappy singed sim), 

or put them in the pool and (cheat) remove the pool ladders so that they could not get out.  They would proceed to decline in health and starve and become exhausted and drown.  The most satisfying of the deaths I think.  

She Gonna Die!

But if you read Poker Night you might have an idea what's coming for Caleb on this night, (which is another staple of playing the sims experience.)  Poor Caleb.  Well, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger I suppose.  But this vignette is light and fluffy and it makes me smiley to re-read it.

AND I like it because we begin to get something of a better picture of Down Town Cedar Falls, but don't fret my co-writers, there's plenty o'room in there for whatever the fuck you want!  It's a sandbox and a flexible one at that!  If you need a specialty store for your mass murdering butcher then by all means, be my guest!  Plop it wherever you will.

Enjoy!

******************** 

Caleb didn’t call Gideon when he managed to get off work a few hours early.  He wanted to surprise him.  He left the radio station buoyant, decided to head over to the centre street shops and pick up some wine, some artisanal bread and some fresh fruit and aged cheese.  He had something on his mind that he wanted to talk to Gideon about and, well, he wanted the evening to be special.

Centre Street in Cedar Falls was part of the very heart of the most adorable, the most tourist friendly historic downtowns in the entire state.  Centre Street, with its small shops, upscale boutiques and artisan storefronts was one of Caleb’s favorite places in the world.  It stretched all the way up to the Main street, where City Hall sat gracefully on the hill, presiding over the whole of downtown, to the waterfront at river street, so the view up and down Centre was always charming and lovely.  A street over, to the north, was Cedar parkway, where various town offices could be found, such as the school department, the housing authority, and it was also a popular location for dentists and private practices, and at the top of Cedar Parkway lay Cedarwood Park with the Pavilion and the gazebo and benches and trees and flowers and bikepaths.  A street over to the south stretched Maple, which hooked up with Elm and those were the streets you went to for all the best food, the best shoe shopping and that’s where you’d find the haberdasher, the barber, and the Hibernian hall. 

Various diminutive forms of cedar trees lined Centre Street and it was picturesque, clean, and it honestly had a little something for just about everyone.  A bakery and chocolate shop, a sandwich shop, a miniature little grocery; a smoke shop, a paint your own pottery center, several cafes, jewelry stores and bookshops; An art gallery, a music store, several posh restaurants, a mom&pop pizza parlor, a few clothing boutiques, a hair salon, a day spa, an Italian deli, a cheese shop, a new-age shop, a specialty candle and soap shop; an apothecary, a travel agent, antiques, collectibles, an ice cream parlor and a pet store.  And Caleb’s favorite place, perhaps because he was biased, was his brother’s Wine Shoppe, a perfect little store that was welcoming, classic--but modern enough to feel selective-- and chic.

He parked in the handicap spot.  He’d only be a minute.  He’d already picked up some fruit at the little grocery, some cheese from the imported cheese shop and grabbed a baguette and a ciabatta just as the Artisan bread place was trying to close for the night.  He just needed the wine and he’d be on his way home.  To Gideon.  He smiled.

It was a wine tasting night.  No wonder there hadn’t been any other spots available at the storefront.  Caleb hated that he had the car at all.  Downtown Cedar Falls was best enjoyed on foot.  Cars only cluttered it up.

His brother looked up automatically from where he was showing an attractive older couple some stylish looking bottle and smiled broadly at Caleb, giving a half a wave and a ‘one minute’ finger.  Caleb nodded, returning the smile, and headed toward the refrigerated section.  He wanted some champagne maybe.  Or maybe not something so, well, so expected or expectant.  Maybe just a nice Asti or a pleasant little white something-or-other.  No need to go counting chickens with the champagne.  He smiled. 

Some jazz was playing softly over the speakers and the lights were warm, inviting.  These wine tastings were really quite charming.  Caleb scanned the crowd quickly as he made his way to the large glass doors of the walk-in.  It was a decent turn-out and it was only eightish.  On tasting nights Nolan kept the shoppe open till ten in order to draw a young, sophisticated crowd, but the event always started at about five so the older folks could come and enjoy it as well, and the people who’d just got out of work around the downtown area.

Standing at the refrigerator he looked over the selection distractedly.  He saw a few that looked nice, one or two he’d had before, but really he was just waiting for his brother to come help him choose a good one.  Of course his brother would argue that all the wines he stocked in his shop were good.  It was likely the truth.  Caleb didn’t really know, he left that business to the expert.

“You’re going to get a ticket.”  Warned Nolan, walking toward him with a smile.

Caleb grinned.  “I’m just popping in and out.”

Nolan hugged his brother.  “Out of work early?”

Caleb nodded.  “I’d like something light and fun.  I’m surprising Gideon.”

Nolan smiled even wider.  “It’s a good night for it I think.”  He said, his eyes sliding to something beyond Caleb, behind his back.  Caleb turned over his shoulder to see his beautiful sister-in-law chatting animatedly with several customers by the table of horsd’ouvres.  So that was why Nolan looked especially relaxed and contented this evening.

Caleb turned back to his brother and felt like his face might split from smiling so widely.  “Who’s watching the kids?”

Nolan laughed.  He was as chipper as a school-boy.  It was sweet.  “The twins went over.”  He said, meaning their teenaged nieces.  So it was kind of like a date-night for Nolan.  He may have had to work, but Caleb had the feeling that tasting nights weren’t really quite the same as regular work, and now that Zahra was here with him, well, his brother looked over-the-moon.  He felt glad for his brother.  He and Zee hardly ever got time to themselves.  He sincerely hoped they’d stay late after the guests had gone, after they locked up, cleaned up, and turned down the lights, and just take the time to slow dance and finish a bottle of some wonderful wine together.

“Alright, is it a celebration?”  Nolan asked, unable to keep from grinning as he looked toward the shelves of chilling wines.

Hmmm.  Caleb hoped so.  “Not specifically.”  He dodged.  “Just a nice night for a surprise.  Maybe a little indoor picnic.”  He hoped it gave his brother some ideas for later.

Judging by the way his eyes got far away for a moment and the glance he stole over to his wife, Caleb was pretty sure he had, indeed, planted a fertile little seed in Nolan’s imagination. 

“Cheese and fruit and bread?”

“You got it.”  Caleb chuckled.

Nolan opened the refrigerator and pulled out a sexy little number.  “Crisp, light, and some bubbles.”  He said “You’ll love it.”

He hoped it had a cork that might pop off with a flourish.  “Will Gideon?”  Caleb could feel his excitement mounting.

Nolan looked thoughtful.  “I’ve told you a hundred times that Gideon likes red.”  He said, but his voice was light, easy.

“Then by all means, grab me a red one too.”

Nolan shook his head, laughing quietly, and moved easily toward a section of racks.  He scanned the rows and after a moment pulled an attractive label from below.  “This is excellent.”  He said affectionately, handing it over as if it were precious.  “I think he’ll really enjoy it.”  His eyes met Caleb’s and crinkled at the corners.  “You might even find it to your tastes too, little brother.  Have it with some gruyere.”

Caleb rolled his eyes.  He really did not like red wines, but his brother had yet to give up.

“Thank you.”  He said a little flippantly, and then again more genuinely “Thank you a lot.”

Nolan’s smile softened and his eyes were warm.  “Not a problem.”  He said quietly.  “Now get the hell outta that parking spot you asshole.”