Wildflowers

Chapter 31

Chapter: 31

The next day we all head back home after checking out of the hotel and we part ways with a brief kiss. I spend Christmas Eve with my family and we have dinner and exchange gifts. My parents tell me they will take me shopping as part of my Christmas gift. They also give me a Louis Vuitton purse and some records I have been wanting. I got my mom a pair of earrings and my dad a new radio for the office. I ask them if it was okay if I go over to Patrick's house the next morning and they think that was a cute idea.

The next day, I arrive at Patrick's house I am wearing a pair of black velvet shorts, a red turtle neck tank top and a pair of black wedges. I put my hair back in a high pony pail with a velvet ribbon. We have a nice lunch with Robert, Julia, Patrick and Dave. Then we exchange gifts. They told me not to get anything for them but I didn't listen.

I got Julia a big book on modern art of the 50's and 60's and a bottle of her favorite wine and I got Robert a bottle of whiskey and few Cuban cigars. Dave was a hard person to shop for but I got him a new bible and some movie passes. They were very impressed with the gifts even Dave said thank you and that made me happy. Dave didn't me anything and I was totally fine with that but Patrick's parents got me a beautiful Gucci scarf and a certificate of El Coyote, so Patrick and I could go to dinner because they knew that's where we had our first date. It was such a sweet and thoughtful gift.

I got Patrick a new surf board because his broke about a week ago. It was black and had a lightning bolt on it like his old one cause I knew how much he liked that detail, I also got him a small gold chain with a small 'J' on it. He hugged me and gave me a kiss when he saw it and put it right on. Then he gave my gift, a sliver frame with a picture of us before homecoming with an engraving on it that said "you make everything around me bloom" and I teared up a little. Later that day, we I was leaving he gave me my actual present. It was a gold band that had small diamonds on the top of it. It was a promise, that will always love me and that he work his hardest to bring back the wildflowers. I cried for the second time that day. It was beautiful. He said he wanted it to be a special moment and he didn't want them to think it was an engagement ring but he assured me that would come one day. We kissed for about ten minutes before I left. It was the best Christmas ever.

The next few days were pretty dull because Patrick is helping Julia move into their large home and will be traveling back and forth from San Diego all week but will be ready for the disco on Saturday night. I spend time with my dad at the office and help him with some cases.

It's is Friday afternoon and my mom is in New York for work and my dad and I are coming home from the office. I am driving my car and Dad is the front seat, as we pull into the driveway I stop suddenly and the tires squeal. On our garage door in big red letters is 'HELTER SKELTER' and 'PIG' smeared.

Holy shit. My dad and I get out of the car and look at it and my dad tells me to stay here and he goes inside and call the police and then Willy. I stay put and lean against my car. He comes back out in about 5 minutes with his camera and hands it to me. My dad looks at the writing and I take some photos so we have copies of what happened.

A cop car pulls up and parks at the curb and a police officer walks up the drive way.

'Hi there, can I ask what happened here?' He asks my dad and I.

My dad shakes his hand 'My daughter and I were coming back from my office and we saw this on the garage door.' He tells him 'I sent her inside to call you and my business partner. We're detectives and we used to work for the LAPD' he tells the cop.

'Miller, Mark Miller? I remember you, yeah sorry to see you again under these conditions' he says 'I'm going to get a detective down here and make an official report. Have you checked the house?' He asks.