Page 23 of Once Upon A Christmas Kiss
There are moments that I only want to cuss him out.
Then other moments, my heart and soul tell me that he will be back.
A few hours later.
I look into the mirror, and I can’t fucking stop feeling so damn fat. I’m still holding onto a few extra pounds from the pregnancy, and it’s no fun. I adjust my dress and turn to grab my purse from the bed, sliding my cell inside. I toss my long hair, walking out of Bria’s room, down the hall where Sofa and Bria are waiting for me. Yeah, it took me longer to get ready since I had to make sure Nicoletta was bathed, changed, fed, and everything prepared for Mamma to take care of her.
“Mamma, let me hold Nicoletta for a few. Sofia, Bria, I’m ready,” I say, walking over to take Nicoletta from Mamma’s arms.
“You girls have fun,” Zia Elena says, turning to turn off the stove.
“Mamma, please call me if Nicoletta gets fussy because she has a little sniffle,” I say, hugging my Bella Bambina close to my heart.
I kiss her little face, then I stroke her dark curls back from her face. Nicoletta stares at me with her beautiful emerald green eyes, framed by long black eyelashes.
God, those eyes are identical to Nicola. I see so much of Nicola in her. My heart skips a beat; smiling, I kiss her chubby little pink face.
I can’t believe that my little Nicoletta is five months old, and she’s mine.
Nicola never returned, but it’s his loss. I’m not going to worry about him; we don’t need him. I have a great job working with the hospital.
“I love you, Bambina,” I say, kissing her cheeks.
“Ella, no worries. Go and have some fun with the girls; la Bambina Nicoletta will be okay,” Mamma says, taking Nicoletta from my arms.
“Come on,” Sofia says, waiting at the door for me, tapping her foot.
Bria smiles, opening the door and walking out.
“You girls take care,” Zia Elena says, walking over to the door.
“We will, Zia,” I say, nodding.
Sofia drives down Hwy 99 and onto J Street, downtown Sacramento. She moves down the street, looking for the parking space.
Yeah, downtown is decorated with Christmas ornaments and those huge red bows. I look across the street at the long line; it appears like they’re going to the ice-skating rink. It looks so festive, and the children look so damn excited.
I look out the window at the dark clouds. The Sacramento winter is always cold. Sofia parks the car in the parking garage, and we walk down to the street. The wind swirls around us, sending a chill down my back. I pull my coat closer, looking around the dark road in downtown Sacramento, walking with my cousins.
I’m so happy that my cousins Sofia and Bria talked me into coming. We walk down the street; Sofia and Bria stop in front of a pub. I look at the large green flashing name above the door, the Storybook Pub.
Well, that’s an odd name for a pub, right?
I walk inside with the girls, looking around the dark pub. This pub is cute, it has a magical feel, and it totally has a sweet Christmas ambiance. I’m surprised that this bar isn’t such a dive like I thought it would be. I look around the darkroom; the Christmas decorations are bright and merry, sort of an old-time feel, like the past.
I take a pull of the beer, listening to Sofia and Bria's banter at the pool table. Then, finally, I sit on the barstool peeling the label on my beer bottle.
I’m having so much fun.
“I’m going to play the winner,” I say, laughing, throwing back my head.
“Yeah, she thinks that she’s going to beat me but not,” Sofia says, giggling.
“I don’t care who wins,” I say, taking a drink of my beer looking around the room. I glance at the bar; turn away, but that man at the bar grabs my attention; I glance again.
I swear that man is Nicola, something about how he’s sitting on the stool, holding the glass. It looks like that man is drinking whiskey, and he’s handling the glass the same way that Nicola does.
The movements are totally Nicola.
