Queenpin Of Wales

Chapter 4

I was completely jet-lagged. I was wiped out. I got home last night. My flight was delayed in Salt Lake City for 2 hours. I was supposed to be home by 5. I got back home at 8. I didn't miss much. It rained that turned to snow, then melted into ice. Once that happens you can really tell who got their licences from cracker-jack boxes. My dad picked me up from the airport in the city 25 minutes away from home. We talked the entire drive about my trip. Excluding everything that happened with Catherine. My dad and I have the best relationship in the world. He's been my movie date since I was 5. We would always go into the city to watch a new movie we both were excited to see in theatres. Took me to hockey games, and concerts and even took me to an underground record store I fell in love with. I think we spent 2 hours in there coming out with 2 bags worth of records half of the original price. He was a bargainer. Though he never cared. The smile on his face shows every time we're together. I love my dad with all of my heart.

I woke up around 6. I had to. My bed was my home. I rolled over wanting to sink into my blankets to disappear again. Just 5 more minutes all I thought though, I knew if I allowed myself to fall back asleep I wouldn't wake back up till 11 am. Then I'd be in trouble. I'm basically the mini-manager at the bookstore. My real boss is awesome and all but she's over 60 and can't grasp the concept of technology. So I'm usually right behind her doing the book orders, promoting our store online, and fixing the computers. All of the other girls can do it but they just can't be bothered. Some of the girls are my age; even though I feel like I'm the oldest one there.

I couldn't stop touching it. Catherine's necklace she gave me. I lay in bed watching my ceiling tracing my fingers around the circles of the pendant. It made me feel all warm inside. Someone gave me a gift for no reason. Well, technically she had a reason. I just don't believe it. Someone as beautiful as Catherine wants me? Me. Really? She could have her pick of any man or woman she wants. We talked a lot that night during dinner. I found out she's bisexual, she has two brothers. One is dead and the other is in prison. Her parents are both deceased. She took over her father's business after he died. She's incredibly intelligent. We talked about our favourite books, movies and music. The usual icebreakers you know? Found out we have a lot in common. We ended our night sitting around watching to ocean crash into the boat. I found I was talking more than her though, I didn't think she mind. She just laid her head on a cushion staring at me with the biggest smile on her face. No interupptions, no phone calls. Nothing. Just her and I talking. It was a great end to my Miami trip.

Enough was enough. I had to pull myself out of bed. If I didn't I would be mopey the rest of the day. It wasn't cold enough I needed a winter jacket but it wasn't warm enough for just a long sleeve. I went into my closet picking out a white long-sleeved shirt with buttons on the chest, baggy jeans and my favourite knitted cardigan. My dad calls it my old lady sweater. It's so comfy though. My skin needed a break from makeup. As I got changed how tan I've gotten. I never thought about it, I wasn't there to get one in the first place but I got one by the grace of god. All my skin needs this morning is moisturizer and sunscreen. Maybe a little eyebrow gel but that's all. I kept on Catherine's necklace. I don't think I will ever take it off. My new hair was all over the place. I put some product in to make it stay in place. My coworkers are not going to recognize me. Miami changed me. Not a whole lot but enough to put a smile on my face at this early hour of the morning. I got my work tote bag and my purse. It was filled with books I was working on finishing and a journal. I picked up my Docs at my door looking at my luggage silently judging me in the corner of my room. I would work on that when I get off work.

I left my room not making a peep. My mom was still asleep. I passed by my younger sister's room. Her door was opened. Kelly's an early bird like my dad. She's 11, she gets herself up for school and will play games on her IPad until she has to go. Though, she does have some redeeming qualities. She loves when I bring her home books that don't sell. Especially anything astrology or space-orientated. She's big into horoscopes.