On paper, Pete and Valentina are perfect for each other. Their friends used 'soulmates' when describing them and at one point they were. As they reflect on the last five years of their relationship, they try to understand the complexity of their lov...
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The green tree sparkled with its dimly lit colored lights. Presents in all shapes and sizes, wrapped neatly sat right underneath. The house adorned with popcorn garland, stockings, nutcrackers and other little tchotchkes. Glitter can be found everywhere, much to their dismay, however, it gave the room character. The soft humming of popular holiday songs resonating from the old-timey radio that sat across the room.
The sound of sizzling bacon and a spatula scraping against the pan bounced off the kitchen walls as Valentina focuses on caramelizing the meat.
She woke up early before her family, something that has become a regular occurrence lately. Dark circles around her eyes but still managed to look glowing despite the restless nights being the cause. The past few months have been hectic with her husband shooting his new movie up in his hometown of Staten Island, while the ballerina was committed to the annual holiday production where she played the lead role of Clara.
Today is the first time that they would be able to spend time with each other.
No shows, no call times, nada.
Just them two.
And of course, the people they love.
This holiday season, Pete and Val are spending it with their families. Celebrating at Colson's house, the Davidsons are in the company of the Sanchez family, the Perez men, and the Mulaneys as well. All of them gathered under one roof, it is quite the party. A long night of playing board games, eating dinner, drinking, chatting, and sharing stories.
Everyone had hit the hay at around midnight and they will soon be up to spend Christmas day ripping apart the presents, drinking eggnog, and eating the giant feast that the dancer and her mother-in-law spent almost all day yesterday preparing.
As Valentina flipped and plated the remaining pieces of bacon, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Looking over her shoulder, she sees her husband making his way to the kitchen. His dark hair sticking out in several places, his eyes are a bit puffy from rubbing them, and lets out a yawn.
"What are you doing?"
Valentina reaches for a mug and serves him coffee, "Couldn't sleep, so I started making breakfast."
He thanks her and takes a sip of the steaming liquid. His wife begins to fill his plate up with a variety of proteins, carbs, and fiber. They hold hands while Pete eats his meal and Valentina reads the morning paper. They sat in comfortable silence with each other as they waited for the rest of the house stirs.
It wasn't long until they heard the commotion and stomping of Colson and his daughter, along with Mateo and his sons, running downstairs like a pack of wild animals.
Giggling in excitement about how Santa came, the children tore open their presents.
Mateo's sons clamored with delight at the sight of their giant lego sets that they've been wanting for a long time. After reading the tag, they run over to their godparents and jumped into their arms.
