Celestial Worlds

Chapter Forty-four

I bang the gate twice.

    Before I left, I already called Stacy to cover up for me, so I’m safe for as long I want.

    “Coming,” Jonathan’s muffled voice says from inside. I clutch my purse tighter in my hands, the way I do when I get nervous. I didn’t really dress up for today. I just slipped on a cotton tee and a black skirt. My sundresses were in the wash. Jonathan opens the door wide and the moment he sees me, his whole being lights up. “Victoria!” He exclaims. He runs up to me, scrambling the gate open. When he finally opens the gate, he squeezes me in a very tight hug, almost lifting me up in the process.

    “Put me down,” I wheeze. I almost couldn’t breathe. He puts me down and places his mouth on mine before I even got the chance to react. When he breaks away, he says, “I’ve missed you.” He brushes some stray hair from my fore head and hugs me again, lighter this time.

    “Yeah, yeah,” I laugh. I make my way past him and go inside, waiting for him to lock the gate. I make my way to the living room and place my purse beside me. I lean against the couch and relax, it’s good to be here again, in this house where I first stayed and where I first learned and where I first did wrong. I feel nostalgic because if the thought. I wonder if Debby’s here.

    I hear Jonathan close the front door and he strides over me, sitting beside me and hugs me tightly, burrowing his face in my neck. I laugh because his hair tickles my ear. He pulls back and kisses me on the lips softly.

    “Victoria?” A woman’s voice calls my name. I break away from Jonathan hastily and look up. Debby’s on the staircase, paused mid-step, her face lighting up as she sees me. She rushes down and I stand up, getting ready for her approaching hug.  As soon as she envelopes me in a hug as strong as Jonathan’s, I wheeze out a breath and she pulls away abruptly. “Oh, sorry, that must be a little tight for you,” she apologizes. She gives me another smile so warm, I’ll be afraid if I melt. “Oh Victoria,” she says, like I’m a lost daughter she’s been looking for for years and she has finally found me. “Victoria, why did you leave? I was worried you ran away,” she says, looking sadly at me. “Anyways, now that you’re here and it’s pretty obvious that Jonathan knew where you were all along,” she says, glaring at Jonathan, then she looks at me and smiles. “You can stay as long as you want.”

    Then Jonathan stands up and clutches my waist. “Actually,” he starts. “Victoria and I were just going up to…work on er…something.”

    Debby smiles mischievously. “Is that what they call it these days?” Then she laughs quietly and says, “Just keep it down. You know how the neighbours are with teenagers having—”

    “Mom,” Jonathan groans as he places his palm on his face. Debby giggles and gestures us to go up. Jonathan pulls me away and I give Debby a shy smile. We’re halfway up when we hear Debby say, “Have some fun.” Then she laughs. Jonathan groans and he leads us inside his bedroom, which is surprisingly clean. He lies down on his bed and pats down a space beside him. I walk toward the bad and lie down beside him, lying on my side, my head pillowed on his chest.

    “What made you come today Tori?” He asks, pulling my side tighter against him. I crinkle my nose at the use of the nickname and prop on my elbows. “Why?” Jonathan asks, looking down at me. “You don’t like Tori? How about…Vic!” he suggest enthusiastically. I stick my tongue at him.

    “That’s a guy’s name,” I state lamely.

    He shrugs and says, “So Tori’s cool?” He looks at me with an eyebrow raised. I laugh and say, “So Johanna’s cool?”