The Firefly

32°

The rest of the journey was, in a way, lighter.

From the driver's seat, Liam handed us each a packet of crisps, as one does with children when they argue.

-I wanted to get some sandwiches, but they were finished.- he explained, scratching his bald head in embarrassment.
-That's okay, thanks Liam.- I said forcefully opening the package.

-Thanks.- Jake, at my side, raised an eyebrow as he put one in his mouth. Liam treated him just like he was his own son, talking to him formally, but never ceasing to be kind and considerate to him. With me it was the same.

Only later did a question arise, a stupid one, which I still hadn't thought of.
-Will you spend Christmas with us, Liam? - Jake laughed at my question and I couldn't help but glare at him. Mr Berardi shook his head, smiling.

-No, Miss Hooper. Once we arrive I will drop you off at the Hale mansion and then head to the airport.- He said and then whistled to the beat of the music.

-It only takes an hour or so by plane to get back anyway.- He added as he continued to look ahead.

-It would have only taken us an hour too, why didn't we go by plane?- Jake asked crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow, Liam gave me a look as if to say, "Why didn't you tell him?"

I sighed, lowering my gaze. -I was the one who insisted.- I said in a low voice. -I've never been on a plane before and I was scared.- I finally confessed embarrassed and Jake's face seemed to soften a little.

-So you did the right thing...-
He said as he cleared his throat and turned his face to the window again, my heart ached.

We arrived when the sun had long since set.
As soon as I saw the villa in front of us I let out a strangled groan and Jake gasped.

-What happened?- He asked alarmed.
-It's... huge.- I said, mesmerised by what lay before me.

It was twice the size of the villa in San Francisco, which was already big in itself, white and blue it stood out even in the dark sky of that evening.

The garden surrounding it was narrower, but much greener. There was a large swimming pool right next to the private car park where Liam stopped the car, and it was all lit by spotlights embedded in the ground.

I admired in amazement all the Christmas decorations that coloured the house in a thousand colours.

I felt inadequate in front of it.

We finally got out of the car breathing in the fresh air, I approached the boot. Liam signalled to me to let him carry my bags and in the meantime I walked to the entrance with the boy.

We climbed the stairs slowly, I was starting to feel really nervous about meeting his parents. I rang the doorbell and felt Jake's fingers squeeze my arm. -I apologise for them.- He said softly and soon after the door opened without giving me a chance to answer the boy.

A short, thin lady with Asian features and hair as dark as pitch and straight as spaghetti was standing in front of us.

She flashed a haughty smile at me and then shifted it to her own son. -Welcome home.- She greeted us coldly, stepping aside to let us in.
-Hi Mom.-

The hall was quite large, with a large grey carpet on the shiny floor and the light-coloured walls adorned with Christmas lights and decorations.

The woman bowed in a small bow and I immediately did the same. -It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Amber Hooper.- I said, extending my hand, which the woman shook without much enthusiasm.

-Kim So-min, likewise.- She said. She was dressed very elegantly in a beautiful little black dress and two hairpins full of pearls that kept a few strands from falling in front of her eyes.

-Come, dinner is ready.- she said, squaring her son once again. There, motionless at my side, he seemed to be trying hard to breathe normally.

Liam started talking to some maids, entrusting them with our suitcases while the woman led us to a large room with a huge glass table in the middle, everything was set in a very precise and elegant way.

A large Christmas tree full of lights in the living room could be glimpsed through the large door at the side of the room.

At the head of the table sat an imposing and well-dressed man, at first he looked like Jake to me, but he looked nothing like him except for the large pink lips they shared.

Dressed in a suit and tie he waited earnestly for us without even turning around when we entered the room.

When we were in front of him he stood up and came towards me without a real expression, offering me his hand.

-Nice to meet you, I am Isaac Hale.- He said when I shook it firmly.
-Amber Hooper. The pleasure is mine, sir.- I said, trying not to look nervous.

Isaac didn't even greet his son, passing him to pull back my chair, he invited me to sit down.