Snow in California

Back home

California, December 13:

Maya helped Carina to place Adriana on her wheelchair. Afterwards Carina drove Adriana with her car home and Andy and Maya drove with Maya's car there. Two corners left until they arrive home. Carina's heart started beating faster with every mile that she got closer to Adriana's home and also her old street because her house was next to Adriana's. When they arrived, Carina's whole charisma and posture changed, which Adriana noticed, of course, because there was no difference between this Carina and the then 8-year-old Carina.

„Hey are you alright? I am here. Okay? You can do this!" Adriana said putting one hand on Carina's. She looked at a face with teary eyes but still smiling, trying not to show the pain inside. The moment Carina's feet touched the ground she relived everything that happened 22 years ago and afterwards. She felt all those emotions she couldn't live at that time. She would let herself fall down crying out all the pain and emotions she kept inside 22 years but she needed to stay strong for Adriana. The only thing that made her smile were the memories on good old days with Adriana and her best friend.

She noticed Andy and Maya parking the car and then she walked over to the trunk and got the wheelchair out of it. Maya arrived just at time helping her with Adriana. When they sat down at the living room Maya got a call from Vic. „Hi yeah we're at Adriana's house. Dinner here. See you!" since Adriana and Andy knew exactly who the person on the phone was they didn't ask.

Maya walked over to the kitchen to start cooking dinner and of course as a Italian woman growing up alone Carina loved cooking for her life so she joined her in the kitchen. It had something of the Italian and something of the American kitchen in it.

Carina was very impressed because in her eyes Maya didn't look like someone who cooked her meals by herself. She glanced at Maya over her shoulder and saw her fully in her element. She liked what she saw.. the blonde looked pretty cute cooking.

While they complemented each other setting the table, the next guests came. As the door bell Carina walked over to open the door and as soon as she opened the doors she couldn't hold back her tears and Vic standing in Front of her couldn't believe her eyes.

„What are you doing here? God I missed you so much." Maya walked over to the door being surprised at Vic knowing Carina. „You know each other?" she asked. Vic started crying too and both answered „Best friends." they hugged each other and Vic and Travis walked in. „Well best friends before I moved to Seattle many years ago." Carina said with an I-am-sorry look.

„22- years ago if we're being precise about this but that doesn't matter right now. Let's eat something and enjoy the time together because Travis and I are hungry."

"Actually I never thought of seeing you here again Carina. I still remember the day you left california with your mother." Vic said.

"Uhm yes I never saw me coming back here again too. It's just the moment I received the call, hearing what happened to Ri I didn't even spent a second thinking about this place I just took my stuff and clothes and came here as fast as I could." Carina answered looking over to Adriana.

Maya couldn't hold it back. She Was just to curious to find out more about the beautiful italian woman sitting on the other side of the table.

"Sorry for interrupting you two but you were best friends right?"

Carina and Vic nodded. And then Maya kept going on. "And haven't you two stayed in contact when you left. I mean you're still talking to Adriana as I understood."

Carina stayed quite for a minute and then she started explaining how that happened.

"The day we left I was mad. Mad at anybody and anything even if there was no reason to. So I left and we didn't had like our own phones so everything was a little bit harder. One day my mom bought me a phone and that was with like 15, almost 16.. I got Adriana's phone number and I asked her for Vic's and I got it but I was scared. I had so many thoughts like what if she is mad at me or what if she doesn't want to talk to me" she looked at Vic while she Was talking.

Maya wanted to say something but then she just gave Carina and Vic a moment. Maybe one of them would want to talk.

"So that's basically just how it went and I kinda learned living with the situation." Carina smiled after she finished.

Vic took a sip of her wine, looked down at the table and took a deep breath. While nobody understood her silence she was realizing that they spent so many years without each other because they both were scared.

She stood up and walked over to Carina who also stood up when she saw Vic coming closer. They hugged each other and Vic said "I asked Adriana a few times about how you're doing and that kinda stuff and I was just as scared as you to ask you instead of Adriana."

They spent some more time talking about the present and what they're all up to and of course how Maya and the others met Adriana.