CHRISTMAS IN A NEW TOWN

chapter one

It was a cool afternoon in Texas, the last few days in November only few days before it enters into December but you could actually feel the Christmas breeze in the air as the season approaches
It was only Thursday that Thanksgiving was celebrated two days ago since its Saturday,
Toni Cameron stood looking around her unfamiliar surroundings she had come to Houston Texas in a town by the name of Stafford where she stays on forth streets up town, it was her second day here she came since Friday and already she was trying to let herself feel at home, the old place was a gift from her God mother but she had only visited a few times when she was young, she love the place it is such a beautiful place she marvel at the sight she wasn't sure if it's because she don't do a lot of traveling why Texas city amazes her so much, but she could tell that the time she plans to stay for are going to be some well spent days, two weeks to be exact, for the time she would love to do some fixing of the place while she's here, she is hoping to enjoy her stay also, now that she's an adult she wants to find some fun things to keep her occupied much as she wants to sit an mope about the fact she is unable to give her husband babies and she can't and he's angry about it it was just last week they went to their doctor and he still sees it as hopeless she didn't think he has to be this angry and the blame it was all on her as if she made herself, she's sure God didn't make her unable to because she wasn't to give her husband children she's more than sure he would want her to have that privilege of being happy with her family she don't want to think about it too much planned not to.
Walking around she examined the place she wasn't going to be here long but she wondered if it was wise to start a small flowers garden the yard was great for that it would give the place a nice look with some paint for the outside, and probably pave the driveway to let it look nice,
It was still early she made plans to go into town to see what she could gather as she fix breakfast she put together her list, to stop at a flowers shop was the first thing on her list then paint she wants brooms and mops and she needs to see the electrician for there's some switches in the house that don't work in the meantime she will look for someone to do the plumbing and the painting,
After breakfast she got herself together to go into town she wasn't sure of where she'll find the places but she took her time to drive notice each signs on every building, as she said she wanted she found the flowers shop first and purchased some pretty ones, she got all the things she plans for,she decided to shop for groceries she founded a store that said grocery lounge right there they served coffee and breakfast if you needed Toni walks in and take a look around, the sweat scent of Texas coffee brew as she inhale it make her want a whole pot,
Eddie Baldwin stood behind the counter of his grandmother's grocery store he stood next to his grandmother Dorothy McGregor who was cashing a man buying coffee and a egg sandwich to go, his daughter stood behind them facing the other side dusting the shelfs, Eddie saw when the woman walked in and paused to admire her, he watch as she looked around, he bounced his grandmother's shoulder as they were standing so close, "Who's that?" He whispered
Hariel Baldwin turn to see who it was his dad didn't know for he seems to know everyone in this town since she came home two years ago with him everytime he went by someone he knew their name so there was no stranger to him here just like her great grandmother who seems to be the town's record, she was seeing the woman for the first time she look to her great grandmother thinking she might know her,
Dorothy observed the younger woman she was seeing her for the first time and she didn't resemble any one she knew, "she got to be from out of town I've not seen her before" she said
Eddie was thinking to himself, "Ah if grandmother doesn't know her she got to be truly from out of town,
"That's a surprise Nana" Hariel said "You know everyone"
Eddie nod at his grandmother to agree with his daughter he smile and ruffled her hair,
Dorothy smile "That maybe true but I'm afraid not this time"
"She's very pretty" Hariel said
"You're pretty" Eddie said kissing her head
"Well I better go see to her" Dorothy said going around the counter
"Well hello" she greeted
Toni turned to see the older woman she smile at her "hello hi I'm looking around"
"Anything specific?" Dorothy asked
"Not really" Toni answer
She wasn't really looking for anything specific as the older woman asked but she need things for the house so she can fix dinner and do other things,
"Then I'll leave you to it" Dorothy said
Toni smile and nod
"You're right honey" Eddie said when he and his daughter stood watching the woman talking with their grand and great grandmother
Hariel left her father and went out to join her great grandmother with the woman, she got close and Toni smile at her,
"Hi" Hariel said
"Hi" Toni smile at the girl, "You're pretty" she said
"You are too" Hariel said
"Well thank you" Toni said with a smile and touch the little girl's cheek
"This is my great grand daughter that's her father over there" Dorothy said
Toni look to see the guy at the counter she wave Eddie lift his hand at her,
Dorothy smile, "we should leave the lady to get on with her business" she told her great granddaughter
Hariel look at her great grandmother
"You know I could use some help, I'm new to this town there's some things I might not be able to fine, think you can help me?" Toni asked directing her question to the girl,
Hariel grin "me?" She asked
"No the little girl beside you" Toni said
Hariel look to her side both Dorothy and Toni smile,
"Alright I'll help you" Hariel said
"Great" Toni said walking to go down the aisle
"You say you're a stranger?" Dorothy asked
"Yes mam" Toni answer walking back to her, "I came in yesterday, it's not really my first time but I was a kid then so I don't know the place well, there's a electrician here in town right?" Toni asked
Hariel look but she didn't point out her dad she was told not to get into any adult conversation unless told and she's not told now,
"Oh no  we don't have that service here the company is five hours into Alvin it's right next to us" Dorothy said
"That's not in town, I'm sure it can wait I'm not in darkness" Toni said
Dorothy smile
Toni turn with the girl next to her as they went down the aisle, Dorothy went back to her grandson he was cashing someone who came in for one item, "well?" He asked his grandmother,
"She's new into town" Dorothy said
Eddie nod he said nothing more as his grandmother didn't say anything the same,
Toni and the girl were going through the aisle picking up things even things Toni wouldn't buy, like the six pack beer she took from the shelf, she didn't care for beers she did a little drinking some time but she drank mostly red wine, but since she put them in her cart she didn't stop her, when Toni put the bottle of red wine in Hariel look at her with a smile, one Toni return she picked up a large pack of cheetos to put in the cart
"You want that for yourself?" Toni asked
"No it's ok my great grand mother owns the place so she wouldn't let me buy things I need" Hariel said
Toni smile, "I understand" she said
"I'm sure you'll enjoy it" Hariel said
"Cheetos? I know Cheetos are pretty good" Toni said
Hariel smile she nod to say yes they are,
"I can tell they are your favorite" Toni said
Hariel grin, she nodded
"Mine too" Toni said not that she really ate it out of the ordinary but she did like them she has an half pack at home she had started it on the way here yesterday,
They picked up a few more things, before Toni stop she was only going to be here for two weeks she figure she won't be needing so much but she went to cash
"What's your name?" Hariel asked from behind Toni as they were walking out the aisle,
"Toni" Toni said
"Isn't that a boy name, I know a man name Toni he live right here in town and a boy in my class by the name of Toni" Hariel said
Toni stop to look at her She smile but didn't add to what she said "What's your name?" Toni asked
"Hariel" Hariel answered
"Under the sea Hariel?" Toni asked
Hariel grinned
Toni smile "Hariel is a pretty name just like the girl who has it"
Hariel smile,
They got to the cashier
"Bye" Hariel said she was about to go around the counter,
"Bye see you, thanks for your help" Toni said
Hariel giggle
Eddie look at the woman standing before her he thought she to be so much prettier up close, She smile "Hi" she said as she load the things on the counter admiring the handsome guy who is a stranger to her,  all her things she has bought came to seventy-five dollars and eighty cents she paid from a hundred dollar,
"Your change is seventy-five and eighty cents" Eddie said
Dorothy look at him
Toni smile touched the screen of the computer
"I'm sorry it's twenty four dollars and two cents" Eddie said
Hariel grinned silently as her dad got nervous
Toni nod as he put the change in her hand "Thank you" she said as she took her bag
"Thank you" Dorothy said from the other side
Toni turned to leave "later Hariel" she said
Hariel wave
"How much for a coffee?" Toni asked
"Two dollars" Dorothy said
"Coffee is on the house for you, for today" Eddie said
Dorothy look at her grandson,
"I'll fix you a coffee don't worry as my grand son says it is on the house" Dorothy said going off to fix her the coffee,
She had it to her ten minutes later Toni took it and Dorothy noticed her wedding band they smile at each other Dorothy didn't say anything, they watch her leave she was out the door when she uttered "she's married" Dorothy said
"Married?" Eddie asked
His grandmother nodded
"Oh Just bite me" he said though his teeth in a whisper away from his daughter's hearing
Dorothy smile,
"She's looking for an electrician" Dorothy said
"She is?" Eddie asked
Dorothy nod,
"You should have said something Nana" Eddie said
"You don't seems intrested in doing that around this town, anyway she's still there" Dorothy pointed out,
Eddie left his grandmother and daughter at the counter and went outside Toni was about to get in her van,
"Excuse me" Eddie said
Toni turned to see him coming over to her and she developed a nervousness in side her stomach flip ove De"Oh what's the matter did I get too much change or was it I who paid less?" Toni tease
Eddie smile, "I heard you're looking for an electrician"
"I am I'm having some switch problems a long with other things I want to have someone look int o it for me, but your grandmother said the company is five hours out"
"I.... I, I could look into it for you" Eddie said
"You could?" Toni asked
"I'm an electrician" Eddie said he hand her his license card from where he used to work in Las Vegas
Toni look it over his name was Eddie Baldwin and wasn't he good looking, he was six feet two inches talk brown hair and light skin tone and he has sea blue eyes, a thirty eight years old guy, she was a few months older than he was, for he was born on August the fifth she on the tenth of February both born in the same year, he didn't look like a man who does hard work he was fresh and looking good she didn't think him to be that active, she look at the card then at him, she wonder why the lady didn't say but she didn't care to question it now, "Ok alright not a problem, I'll be so thankful" Toni said "So when can you come out and look for the problem, problems?" Toni asked
"Im free for tomorrow" he was speaking
"Tomorrow isn't it sunday, dont you go to church?" Toni asked jokingly
Eddie smile, "That was why I  was going to say tomorrow afternoon" Eddie said with a smile
Toni smile "I'm sorry" she said
Eddie nodded
"So tomorrow afternoon right?" She asked making sure,
Eddie nodded
Toni gave him the address said goodbye got in her van and drove away,
Eddie look at the address he knew the address the house and everything but since he had been away so long he cant remember who live at that house, he went back inside he got back around the counter Dorothy look at him, she didn't asked any questions
"What did she say dad?" Hariel asked
"She asked that I come take a look on things tomorrow" he said
"Oh I see, where does she live?" Dorothy asked
Eddie showed her the address Dorothy look at it, the house was on six street right here in the up town region almost a hour from here, "The lady died a long time a go and the house haven't been use since, Dorothy didn't know her that much for she didn't really resided in Texas he was mainly a  traveler, "I didn't know someone moved there" Dorothy said
Eddie nod he  put the paper in his pocket and said nothing for he was away so he didn't know much of it, he has only returned in twenty ninteen rightbat the last of it he came homebhe and his daughter on christmas day,
"Is she a lone?" Dorothy asked
"She haven't said wether she's alone or not, You said she's married maybe her husband is with her" Eddie shrugged it
"She did buy a bottle of wine, red wine, daddy you say red wine are special wine" Hariel said
Her dad and her great grandmother look at her,
"I'm sorry" she said turning away
Eddie smile when she wasn't looking, Dorothy shook her head she touch his upper arm then left him as she went to serve on the other side,
Toni kept picturing the guy face she can't help to think he's handsome clean shaved and sweet smelling, it was unlike her to just see a man and admire him so much she's a married woman she is in love with her husband she hope that when she got back they can work it out so they won't fight and settle the matters better, she often times felt as if she has betrayed him for they got married and she couldn't give him what he needed but she was healthy she haven't been sick in anyway but doctor said it is not possible for her, she can't forget the way he look at her the last time they went to the doctor and the doctor said that he's very sorry but he didn't see her with a fertile whome, the doctor asked if she had loose any baby in the past such as miscarriage  or even had an abortion but she haven't she would know if she had gotten pregnant before her first man was in high school she was seventeen when she started and wondered sometimes if she started too young, but for her to take an abortion that was no where on her mind.
Chris Turrello got up and left the room like a mad man he was furious before but since lately it becomes worse they hadn't have a night of love in awhile, the day  they see the doctor it  was on the the twentieth of October he became more distant last week they went back for a check, this year they didn't share Thanksgiving as they normally would, he have it with his parents and she with her best friend and her family, Toni got to the house to find him on the sofa, "Hey honey" she greeted him sitting next to him,
"hey" he took his head out the phone to say,
"How was your day?" She asked
"Good" he said this time he didn't look at her, she tried to kiss him but he pulled his head back, she got up to go to their bedroom find herself crying she thought them that maybe they needed some space or some time his attitude was so unpredictable, she was going through her bag for her cellphone she was about to call Angela her friend Angela Bassett was her friend for ages but she was living in Colorado since she got married that's where she lives they visited each other quite a lot share with each other,
Angela had two beautiful girls and things are good between her and her husband some of the time she envy her knowing she can't give her husband children,
they had all come home for Thanksgiving for her family still lives in new york, while going through her bag she found an envelope that she didn't remember she got it until she looked in and found the single key to the house her God mother left her, a picture of the house inside as well, it was a nice upstairs and downstairs with a good yard space she turn the envelope around to see the address it was in Texas but she had gone to Texas a very long time she wondered if she could just go out and spend a week to see how it's like there, without  giving it any thought she took down a small suitcase and was packing it when chris walked in to see her packing, "What you doing?" He asked
Toni turn with tears she wipe her eyes, "I think I need some time away to settle myself" Toni said
"You think leaving is going to fix things?" Chris asked
"I'm not leaving Chris"
"Then explain this" he point to the small suit case,
"Chris things aren't what it are to be" Toni said
"Yeah Toni we got problems I'm not going to pretend there isn't any but packing up won't change any of it"
"I'll just go for two weeks I promise"
"What ever" Chris shrugged
Toni walked to him seeking his arms around her but just then his phone rings  he look at it then at her,
"I love you Chris" she said tearfully,
Chris shook his head and sighed, "I have to take this" he said leaving her there
It was Emma who called Chris wanting him to come over something about their daughter not feeling well, he had gotten mad at his wife one night after a doctor's appointment and they didn't get any good results and ended up in Emma's bed a month later she told him she was pregnant since he wanted children he was excited to have her have the child although he love his wife she couldn't give him what he wants so he find himself spending more time around Emma he haven't told his wife anything and Toni didn't have it on her mind, she was finished putting the few things in the suitcase as she was on the stairs going down he was going up he was running up, he went by her she was standing in the living room when he came back he was on his way out,
"Is something wrong?" Toni asked
"No I just need a few drinks" Chris said
Toni knew he went out for drinks at times some of what times he didn't come back during the nights but because of what was happening she didn't fight or questioned it, she didn't say anything about him going to get his drink if it helps him to keep his mind off things, he wasn't back in the morning when she was ready to leave she called him before leaving got no answer so she call him on the road "Honey I will miss you" she said when he picks up
"Yeah" he said
"We'll talk when I'm back" she said
"Mmmh" he responded
"Why don't you take a few days and just come let's spend some time away" Toni suggested
""I don't see that doing us any good" he grumble
"Baby you can never tell" Toni tried to convince him,
"I'll come one day and we'll talk then" he let himself promise, he said that he will call for the address Toni hang up from him and finally she got to Angela to tell her she's going to be in Texas for sometime,
"Girl you need the break I'm glad you finally got to take one" Angela said
"Yes" Toni  admit she do need the break,
She wish she didn't have to leave her husband but maybe this is a good thing for her already she's on the way and she won't turn back now she only hope she find a little peace where she's going.
She had got there late Friday evening to a old dusty and fouled smelling place where the water barely runs and some off the light fixtures don't work but she had found the cleanest room and with a little freshen up she was able to spend the night she had gotten things she needed at the store and know that little by little when she cleans it will be as if she had live there all her life.