This town

Chapter 13

In the weeks leading up to Christmus and New Year's Eve were hard for Val. He was trying to show Sharna as much affection as possible, but he also knew he had to keep his distance. It was particularly difficult when Pierson had come to visit the show. He had never met the guy in person, but the moment he did, he didn't like him. And the only reason for that was that he had clear interest in Sharna. And Val had to control every fiber in his body not to become jealous and to show it to Sharna. 

He had managed to do so and he was relieved by it. But the real challenge came at Christmas.

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Maks had invited him and Sharna to come over to their place for Christmas. Sharna's mother would come also, as many of their friends. Val hadn't talked to Peta since the incident, but he knew she would still be angry at him. 

Sharna and Val were sitting next to each other in the airplane and Val was quite, he was thinking about Peta. Apparently Sharna noticed something was wrong.

"Penny for your thoughts?" She asked.

Val looked up and all of a sudden realized this was the only time they had talked in private since he had comforted her before the first show. 

"Peta," Val answered.

"Why would you be thinking about her?"  But before Val had thought of an answer, Sharna answered her own question. "Or is she still mad at you?"

Val looked into Sharna's beautiful blue eyes and knew she knew why Peta was mad. 

Val nodded his head. "Yes, she is still mad at me."

"Have you guys talked once, on the phone?"

"Well, she yelled at me once, if that counts." Val said, a smile on his lips. 

That made Sharna laugh as well. "Well that doesn't really count. But about her being mad, promise me you won't let her get too mad, because of little Shai." Sharna looked serious about it. So Val answered: "I'll try to calm her as soon as possible. But if Peta is angry, I don't think she will even hear my apologies."

"You are right about that."

The rest of the journey they talked and laughed and Val hadn't felt this good in a long time. It felt as if they were back to old times. Sharna and him laughing, talking about everything. And it was something he really liked. 

But he knew it was over soon, because the plane touched down in NYC. Maks was waiting for them by the car and drove them to their place. Sharna was sitting in the front seat and talking to Maks about Peta, the pregnancy, Christmas and the little baby. Meanwhile Val was getting more and more quite as they got closer to the house. 

Maks and Sharna got out of the car still talking and Val followed slowly behind. When he entered the hall was already empty and for a second Val thought he could go upstairs without getting noticed. But the moment he thought it, Peta appeared in the doorway. And she was looking mad.

"Hey P," Val tried, but it was useless. She pointed upstairs and Val knew he had to follow.

The moment they reached the silence of the first floor it started.
"What the hell Val?! What were you thinking?!"

"I'm sorry P. I never meant to hurt her. And I know I made a mistake. I'm trying to make it better."

"But then you became that jealous guy."

"I know. And I made that mistake, but not longer. I know I hurt Sharna and I'll never do that again. I love yer."

"Good, because if you do. I'll honestly kill you!"

And before he could respond, Peta left the room, leaving Val alone. Val slowly followed Peta downstairs and joined the rest of the group. During the day the rest of the guests arrived and dinner was prepared. Val had not been able to talk to Sharna during the day, but he did keep an eye on her. And he could see how much she enjoyed being with her friends and family. 

It was late at night when the last guest left. Val was in the kitchen cleaning some dishes, while Peta and Maks already went to bed. Peta, being in her last trimester, was really tired. He put on music and started dancing along. When one of his favorite songs came on, he started singing along. When the song was finished he heard someone clap behind him and he turned around. Sharna was standing against the wall and laughing. 

Val realized his face was turning red, when he saw her. 

"That wasn't too bad, you know." Sharna said, but the way she laughed, he knew she was joking.

"Hey, let me sing. I thought everyone had gone to bed." 

"Well, if you sing like that you'll wake up everybody," Sharna couldn't stop laughing. 

"Did I wake you?" Val asked worried.

"No, I was cleaning up some stuff in the living room when I heard the music and thought I would check it out. And when I came in the kitchen, you started singing. I just had to listen to it."

"You are evil sometimes."

"Yes, I am." And Sharna started laughing again. 

Val couldn't help himself, whenever Sharna laughed, he would smile as well. So he started to laugh along with her. When she was finally finished she walked towards him. "Here, let me help you." 

"You don't have to. Just go to bed and I'll do the rest."

"No way. I just laughed at you, so I'll help you know."

Val tried to protest to that, but Sharna wouldn't have it and so the two of them did the dishes.

"And how mad was P at you? I know she talked to you after we got back."

"Well, talking... it was more like screaming at me. But as you can see she didn't kill me, so I guess that is a good thing."

"That is a good thing, but what did she say."

"Well, the most important thing I took from it was that if I had the guts ever to hurt you again, she would not hesitate to kill me. So I told her that I would never do that, ever again."

Val was nervous when he said it, but he mastered the courage to look at Sharna. And the two of them looked each other in the eyes. He could see she didn't know what to say, but in her eyes he read a 'thank you'. 

After doing the dishes, they also decided to quickly clean the kitchen and the living room. It was two am when they were finally finished. 

"I'm exhausted," Sharna said. "I feel like I could sleep for days."

"That's why I told you to go to bed. Tomorrow is going to be another long day."

"Well, I'll listen to you right now. Goodnight Val."

"Goodnight Shar." 

He watched her walk away to the room she shared with her mother.  After he heard her close the door, he went to his own bed. And the moment his head hit the pillow, he fell asleep.