The Tie

Week 5: Day 5

"I am so happy to see you." Monica said letting her friend Silvia into the house.

"Anything celebratory, I am down for it." Silvia replied, grabbing the glass of champagne Monica offered her.

"You have no idea how happy I am. The shop is back to stability. All I have been doing these past few days is overlooking the new designs and new appliances. I feel like a kid in a candy store."

Silvia giggled a bit, inspecting her friend's appearance. "I see! You are even glowing! I didn't know that not having the shop would have you all moody."

Monica smacked her friend lightly on the hand.

"Ouch!"

"Rude!" Monica said. "I wasn't moody."

Silvia scoffed. "You were like the walking dead. 'Oh Silvia, I don't know what I am going to do, I feel so lost lost. Blah, blah, blah. My dear friend, your attitude was horrible, busy mopping around."

Monica rolled her eyes as Silvia brought her arms up and starting walking around like a zombie and making zombie sounds.

"Can we just go to the living room, some of the guests are waiting." Monica grabbed Silvia's arm and dragged her into the dining room as the other woman laughed.

"How many people have you invited?" Silvia asked as her laughs quietened down.

"Just my mom and Donna. I think Alex is coming, plus James's parents are going to be here." Monica said.

"A little something small, nice." Silvia went into the dining to greet Monica's mother and sister just as James came in carrying a few bottles of alcohol and some cake.

"I also bought a few muffins, just in case." James said and Monica smiled up at him while helping him but some of the things away.

"My favourite!" Monica gushed. "When are your parents coming in?"

"On their way." James replied. "But my mom won't be able to make it. Something about a girls night out she couldn't pass up on?"

Monica nodded, impressed that James mom still had girls night out at her old age.

"It's fine. Your dad will be in good hands while he's here." Monica said just as a knock came from the door. She quickly rushed to it and opened it to see that it was Alex.

"Stranger!" Alex said as he pulled Monica in for a hug.

"Hi. How are you?" Monica nervously asked. She couldn't find it in her to look at him in the eyes, because she knew that James must have said something to him about her cheating and being around him now put her on edge as embarrassment washed all over her body.

"Fine. I bought you a box of chocolates. Enjoy them." Alex said as Monica led her into the dining room area where everyone was sitting and talking.

"I will. Let me go call James." Monica hurriedly went into the kitchen as her hands started to shake a bit as she began feeling a bit faint. She took a deep breath to calm her nervousness.

"Are you okay?" James asked worriedly. He poured a glass of water and then handed it to the younger woman so that she could drink.

Monica quickly nodded. "Alex is waiting in there. If you don't go in there quickly, all those women in there will scare him away."

James gave her a small smile and went to go welcome his best friend.

Monica gulped down the glass of water and deeply sighed, feeling herself calm down. She didn't think that seeing Alex would affect her so much, bringing up emotions of guilt and embarrassment that she tried so hard to keep bottled.