All That and a Bag of Chips (44 page)

Back at home, Venice saw that she had messages on her answering machine. She was totally exhausted but knew they must be from Craig. As she played them back, she had message after message from him. She picked up the phone and told him what had happened to Joshua. He asked Venice if she was all right and she explained to him that she was fine, except that she was exhausted from being up all night.

“Do you want me to come up?”

“No, Craig. There's six inches of snow on the ground. I'll be okay. Thanks anyway and I'll keep you posted.”

“Okay, Venice. You call me the minute there's any change. I know it's going to be hard to enjoy Christmas.”

You don't know the half of it.

Craig wasn't satisfied with Venice's answer and decided to try and get a flight out anyway. It was Christmas Day and he knew it was going to be hard, but she was worth it.

Venice took a shower and crawled under her covers. Little did she know, Craig was flying up to see her. Before she went to bed, she cut the ringer on her phone off so she wouldn't be disturbed. She knew if there were anything wrong, her parents would get the call on their phone line.

I
t was about five o'clock in the afternoon when Venice's mother knocked on the bathroom door. Venice had finally woken up from her nap and was taking a shower.

“Venice, are you expecting any company today?”

Venice pulled the shower curtain back and curiously asked, “No. Why?”

“Well, Craig's downstairs.”

“What? Craig's downstairs?”

“Yes, ma'am. He said he flew in to be with you through this crisis with Joshua.” “Tell him I'll be down in a minute.”

“Have you told him about the ring yet?”

Venice looked at the ring on her finger and said, “No, Momma. I wasn't concerned about anything but Joshua.”

As Venice exited the bathroom, her mother said, “Well you'd better get ready to tell him something, baby. I'll let him know you'll be down in a second.”

Venice toweled off and put on her robe. She had no idea what she was going to do since Craig had surprised her. She sat inside her room and felt her heart pounding in her chest. She took off her engagement ring, put it in the pocket of her robe, and went downstairs.

Craig was sitting in the den watching TV with her dad. When Venice walked in, Craig stood up to gave her a hug and kiss.

Venice said, “Merry Christmas, stranger. What a surprise! Why'd you come all the way up here in this weather?”

“I thought you might need some company. I know you and Joshua are close.” Venice was feeling guilty. “I'm glad you came, but you shouldn't have wasted your Christmas traveling.”

“Getting to see you is not a wasted day. Plus, I need to talk to you.”

Venice stood up and said, “Well, come on upstairs so we can talk.”

Craig told Mr. Taylor he would see him shortly to finish watching the football game.

Venice's dad was half asleep in his recliner, but he was able to say, “All right.”

Craig followed Venice upstairs to her room. Her mother watched them go upstairs and had no idea what Venice was going to tell him. Whatever she decided was going to make someone very unhappy that day. They entered the room and Venice closed the door behind them. Craig laid back on the bed as Venice crawled back under the covers.

He grinned and asked, “How's Joshua doing?”

“He's showing signs of improvement, but he's not out of the woods yet. I know you want to see him.”

“That's great news, Taylor. I knew he'd make it.”

There was a pause, then he asked, “Venice, are you naked under that robe?” Venice smiled, pulled the covers up to her, and replied, “None of your business.”

He tried to pull the covers back and said, “Let me see.”

Venice laughed and tried to stop him, but she couldn't. She was trying not to be loud so her parents wouldn't come upstairs to investigate. He sat on top of her, pinning her arms down.

Venice giggled. “Stop, Craig. My mom and dad are downstairs.”

“They're not coming up here.”

Venice struggled to get loose. “How do you know?”

He leaned down to kiss her and whispered, “I just know.” Craig kissed his way down to Venice's neck and added, “You smell good. What are you wearing?”

Venice couldn't answer him. She just closed her eyes as he ran his hand under her robe.

Venice was breathless as she moaned, “Craig…”

He smiled and said, “Sh-h-h-h.”

Craig was getting a little bolder as he kissed her from head to toe causing Venice to moan even louder. She pulled a pillow to her face to muffle her moans. He stopped at certain areas, which made her arch her back to the touch of his lips.

Venice whispered, “Craig, stop.”

He gazed into her eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, you're so nasty.”

He laughed and said, “Girl, let me get off you before I take advantage of you.”

He helped her close her robe and the ring fell out onto the bed. She didn't see it, but he did.

Craig picked up the ring and asked, “What's this?”

Venice looked down at the ring. “Damn! I was planning on talking to you about that.” Craig held the ring and leered at her. Venice went on to say, “Baby, Jarvis gave the ring to me last night and asked me to marry him.”

Craig placed the ring in the palm of her hand and got off the bed. He walked over to the window in silence.

Venice stood next to him and said, “Craig, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were coming up and I'm not emotionally prepared to deal with this right now. I can't handle this and what's going on with Joshua at the same time. I don't want to lose you and I don't want to lose Jarvis.”

Craig walked away from her and paced the room.

“Craig, please say something.”

Craig shook his head, closed his eyes for a moment, and asked, “Venice, do you love me?”

“Yes, I do.”

Venice sat on the bed and stared at the floor.

Craig sat down next to her. “Venice, I've always felt that you loved me. I just didn't know you were this serious about getting back with him.”

Venice laid her head on Craig's shoulder and held his hand.

Craig hesitated, then asked, “Do you want to marry him, Venice?”

She had tears running down her face as she replied, “I don't know what I want. I told Jarvis that I needed more time.”

Craig said, “You know, I can make this easy for you and it's really ironic. I flew up here to be with you through this crisis and to tell you some news. I had no idea I was going to be played this kind of hand.”

Venice asked, “What's news?”

“I was given the option to go to Japan for two months. I leave the second week in January.”

Venice clearly looked hurt as she asked, “For what?”

“My company always sends a student over to their parent company each year. The person who was scheduled to go had to drop out. They asked me if I wanted to go. I told them I would get back with them. I was worried about breaking the news to you. That's the other reason I came to see you. I don't want to leave you. But, I guess I have no reason to stay now. Huh?”

Venice was stunned. “Japan? Two months?”

“I'll be out of your way by tonight, if I can get a flight out.”

Venice grabbed Craig's arm. “You're not going anywhere tonight and you don't have to leave. I want you to stay because we still need to talk. Nothing has been decided and I don't want to make a hasty decision. I don't want you to make a hasty decision either.”

“So what are you saying?”

She stood up in front of him with tears flowing. “I'm not sure, but I know we need to talk some more.

Craig stood up and gave Venice a hug. “Venice, I want you to know that I sincerely love you.”

Venice looked into Craig's distraught eyes and said, “I know. I love you, too.”

He wiped her tears with his hands and sadly replied, “Let me get out of here so you can get dressed. We'll talk later. I want to go see Joshua.”

“I'll be right down.”

Craig closed the door behind him and stood there for a moment before heading downstairs.

When Craig came down the steps, Mrs. Taylor asked, “Is everything okay?”

Craig smiled at her and said, “Venice told me about the ring.”

“Craig, let me talk to you for a moment.”

They walked into the kitchen and sat at the table where she'd made him a sandwich.

“Craig, Venice is my baby and I love her very much. I want you to understand that what she's going through is very stressful. She's been confused about her relationship with you and Jarvis for a while now. You need to understand, she doesn't mean to hurt either
one of you. I do know she loves you and I believe you know it. If she didn't, this would've come easy to her. I also know she loves Jarvis. Venice does have a breaking point, just like everyone else, so I hope you and Jarvis go easy on her. Jarvis and Venice may make it to the altar and they may not. I don't want you to be upset with her if she decides to marry him. Whatever the outcome, please remain close to her and look out for her. She's going to still need you in her life. She will be depressed for a while because she's never been able to hurt anyone's feelings. Do you know what I'm saying, Craig?”

“Mrs. Taylor, I don't think we have to worry about that. It looks like I'll be one less problem for Venice. I'll be spending the next two months in Japan on a co-op program, if I take them up on their offer. I just found out the other day, but I didn't want to leave her. I love your daughter very much and I hoped that I was going to get a chance to show her just how much. Thanks for talking to me about it.”

Mrs. Taylor held his hand and said, “Craig, don't you make any rash decisions right now. If Japan is something you really want to do, then I think you should do it. But, if you're having second thoughts, then you might need to reconsider it. It sounds like an opportunity for you, but I'm sure there will be other offers. Don't let Venice be your reason not to go. I don't want you to have any regrets if things don't work out for you two. Okay?”

Craig agreed and Mrs. Taylor gave him a hug and kiss and told him that he was welcomed in their home anytime and could stay as long as he wished. He told her that Venice had also extended the invitation to stay. Mrs. Taylor was pleased her daughter handled the situation like a real woman. Craig finished his sandwich, then told Mrs. Taylor that Venice was taking him to see Joshua. She told them to please be careful because the roads were still icy. He assured her that they would and waited for Venice in the den.

In the meantime, Venice was upstairs getting dressed. She had no idea her mom had just had a heart-to-heart talk with Craig. All she knew was that someone would probably end up hurt before it was all over. It was turning into the worst Christmas she could imagine. Venice gathered her purse and coat, hesitated for a moment, then slipped the ring back onto her finger. She didn't want to offend Craig
by wearing it and she didn't want to offend Jarvis by not wearing it. She'd accepted it and she was going to wear it until she decided what to do.

Craig went inside for his visit with Joshua while Venice stayed outside and chatted with the family. Craig prayed over Joshua and talked to him about his feelings for Venice. He wasn't sure if Joshua could hear him, but it was a comfort to be able to talk to someone. As Craig talked, he noticed an occasional twitch of Joshua's finger. After talking to him a few more minutes, he decided to let him rest.

When he came out of the room, Venice asked, “Are you okay?”

He told her that he was fine. Venice went in to check on Joshua, and she also talked to him about the situation going on between the threesome. She stroked his arm for a few minutes and then leaned over as usual and gave him a kiss.

Before she left the room, she whispered into his ear, “I love you, Joshua. Hurry up and get well.”

Venice had become a little stronger since the initial shock of the accident. She was able to visit Joshua without breaking down with emotion.

After Joshua's family decided to go home and get some sleep, Venice said, “Let's go back inside with Joshua.”

Craig agreed and followed Venice into the room.

Only about thirty minutes had passed when the door opened and in walked Jarvis. Craig stood up and greeted him as friendly as possible, considering the circumstances. Venice was caressing Joshua's arm when Jarvis walked in, but she didn't skip a beat. She looked up and softly said, “Hello, Jarvis.”

He walked over and kissed her on the cheek and asked, “How's he doing?”

“About the same.”

Craig asked Jarvis if he wanted his seat, but he declined saying, “Thanks, but I'll stand.”

Venice asked, “Did Portia have a good Christmas?”

“Yeah, she's got stuff everywhere.”

Venice explained to Craig that Portia was Jarvis' eight-year-old sister. She also asked Jarvis if he'd had dinner yet. He told her that he wasn't hungry and that he'd probably get something later.

Venice said, “You're welcome to have dinner with us later, if you want to.”

“We'll see.”

About that time, Jarvis turned and asked Craig, “What brings you back to town?”

Meeting his gaze, Craig answered, “Venice called and told me about the accident, so I thought I'd come up to be with her.”

Jarvis looked over at Venice and said, “That's cool.”

As Craig and Jarvis continued to talk, Venice occasionally cut her eyes over at them to check their facial expressions.

There was silence in the room for a moment, then Jarvis asked, “Craig, do you want to go down to the cafe for a drink?”

Venice froze, looking at Craig and waiting for his response.