His Hidden Little Secrets

December 24th Before Death of Carter

"Alright, St. Georges," said my grandfather, as we all sat around his big dining room table, which was decorated with a red table cloth, candles surrounded by holly, and our Christmas Eve dinner. "Let's have a toast to this wonderful meal, family, and to baby Jesus. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," my family and I cheered with joy as we clanged our glasses together.

"These mashed potatoes are spectacular, Andrea!" exclaimed Aunt Tess to my mother. I didn't really understand what was so "spectacular" about mashed potatoes, but I kept my big mouth shut.

"Not as spectacular as the chef herself," my father said, with a mouth full of food. He kissed my mother on the cheek, still with a mouth full of food. I mentally barfed after seeing that image.

"Hey, Saige," my Uncle Jeffery nudged, who was sitting right next to me. "How's that boy of yours?"

"Who, Carter?" I sputtered, startled by the question. "Oh, he's fine."

"That sure is a pretty necklace you're wearing," he said, pointing to the heart-shaped sapphire around my neck. "I wonder who could have given that to you?"

"Oh, um..." I always got so nervous speaking about Carter in front of my family. I knew that they never approved of him. They never would approve of any guy I dated because I am the only "child" in the entire family. They don't want me to grow up just yet.

Just then, my phone that was sitting on my lap started buzzing.

"Speak of the devil," my uncle pointed out as Carter's face and name lit up the screen. My grandfather gave him a look saying Jeffery-don't-even-say-the-devil's-name-because-it's-Christmas-Eve-God-d*mn-it.

I glanced down at my phone and then faced my mom. "May I be excused for a minute? I'll tell Carter that we're in the middle of dinner and that I'll talk to him later."

"You have one minute, Saige," my mom said. "It's Christmas Eve." I nodded and ran up to my room.

I pressed that answer button on my phone. "Hello?"

"Saige?" Carter's voice sounded hoarse and he was practically panting on the other line. Was he hyperventilating?

"Hey Carter, is something wrong?"

"I know it's Christmas Eve and all and you're probably busy, but I just need to say three things that I've been needing to tell you and I need to tell you now."

He was definitely hyperventilating.

"Okay, Babe, calm down. Take a few deep breaths."

I could hear him trying to control himself and he staggered into his words. "Okay um, promise to hang up after I tell you?"

I nodded, but then said "Okay" after I realized that he couldn't see me right then.

"Okay. Here it goes," he took a deep breath one last time. "I've done some very bad things. Shitty things. That necklace that I gave you a few days ago... I didn't buy it. And there are so many people... Girls... That want me right now. Now hang up. Please."

"Wait, Carter, please explain this all to me," I said loudly into the phone.

"I love you."

"Wait, Carter! Don't hang up yet! Just talk to me for just a second!"

The line went dead.

"CARTER!" I screamed and threw my phone at my pillow.

What bad things did he do? How did he get the necklace? And I knew that a lot of girls were swooned by his good looks, but what did he mean by people wanting him? Did he cheat on me or something? Thoughts overflowed my mind and I thought I was going to burst out of confusion. Though he did tell me almost everything, there was so much mystery to him.

I was so in love with him that I knew that I couldn't get mad at him for anything that he did, and for that, I almost hated him.

I managed to keep my emotions inside and put a smile on my face as I walked downstairs back to the dinner table.

"Is everything okay, Saige?" My mother asked as my entire family eyeballed me with concerned looks. They all probably heard me yell at him.

"Yeah, everything's fine!" I said, dimpling a big grin. "Why wouldn't it be? It's Christmas Eve!"

"Of course, the night before Our Saviour was born," exclaimed Grandpa. "All is and will be well."

I tried to believe that sentence, that all will be well, but something in my gut that night told me differently.