We're all quiet and I can see what happens next before anyone else as I quietly slip back to my room and change as fast as I can into warm outdoor clothing and boots. Sure enough there is a commotion and I can hear the panic and questions racing around as I head back and see Mark still on one knee but Vicki is nowhere.
"Girls where," I ask as Rachael points where Vicki darted off to," Take care of him and let him know it'll be okay."
I'm out the door fast and sure enough I can see Vicki marching up the hill away from the cabin. I take my time and keep my distance when I see her stop at a snowdrift and start to break down. I am calm and quiet as I simply walk up and place a hand on her shoulder. She sees me through her tears and starts crying hard. I'm holding her and she's still holding the box as I let her get it all out of her system.
"No need to talk Vicki," I tell her, letting her be the one to initiate the conversation.
I move us off the road and while sitting in the snow isn't the best thing it's all we got for now. She's looking at the ring and it's a damn pretty one.
"I don't know what to think now. We've been good and stable for months now. He wants to throw everything we've done into the blender and see if it still works," Vicki says quietly.
"I'm not going to ask the stupid questions because I know the answers. Are you scared of losing him or of him seeing something you don't want him to," I ask and she looks at me shocked.
"He's a good guy, hell of a lot better than most and he's stuck around after all the shit we've done and even after what happened last summer and now he wants to marry me. ME? I'm the poster child for unwed parenting. My mother gave birth and when Dad was looking at me in the nursery she was packed and gone. What the fuck do I know about being a wife or mother," Vicki blasts me with giving up more insight into her problem.
"I'm guessing you know more than most considering how you and Jackie are doing with the baby coming in a few months. And being a wife is something you learn, you know how to listen and you know how to tell him to shut up before he does something stupid," I tell her as her resolve weakens.
"But why me? Why of all the women he dated and fucked why me," She asks about to cry.
"Why not you? Why would he want someone who is weak and will probably fuck around with him when you actually want to be there for him? I'm not going to say marry the man but honestly consider what this took for him? And consider what it'll do for the two of you in the long run because as I see it marriage is a long game to play," I tell her trying to impart my two cents.
We sit and discuss how she feels and what she should do. I let her settle on a plan for how she wants to handle things when we get back. I walk her back and hold onto the box with the ring at her request as we slowly march back to the villa. Dad sees us coming and the doors are opened for us and I give Dad a head shake which he spreads around telling everyone else to keep quiet before I nod for Rachael to go get Mark who is apparently hiding in his room. I motion for people to back up and give them some room as Vicki takes off her gloves and jacket. She's holding a small sized body pillow to her chest as Mark slowly enters the room. We watch him make his way over covering the distance between them and when he attempts to speak that's when shit gets interesting. The pillow goes from to Vicki's chest to an uppercut to Mark's chin in a half a second and while he's reeling she is beating him unmercifully to the shock of everyone. I grab Loretta's arm and shake my head as Vicki has Mark on the ground and is beating his arms and back with the pillow as he covers up protecting himself.
"You fucking asshole, we talk about everything but you can't bother to tell me before now that you're thinking about jumping all the other steps and going straight to marriage," Vicki howls as Mark huddles up.
"Honey I was just…," is as far as he gets before the pillow smashes into his face and forearms.
"You listen to me Mark because this is the last time you make some bonehead decision without speaking with me about it first, and I want a white fucking dress god dammit," Vicki howls turning to me as I toss her the ring box," Now get your ass up and put this ring on my hand before I kick you in the balls you jerk."
If Mark ever needed an invitation to do something this was it and while everyone save for Loretta, Mr. Delauter and his daughters are confused this makes perfect sense to me. The ring goes on and she warms up with a big hug and kiss which helps the room breathe a sigh of relief. The conversations in the room turn to an explanation of how Vicki really hates not being a part of the relationship discussion and that the whole thing caught her so off guard she didn't know what to do but run. I saw the look on her face and so did Dad but I knew if someone didn't go get her we'd be doing the whole search party thing with dogs in a few hours. My girls are happy that I went after her as the whole family finally settles down again to relax before Dad cracks a joke.
"Anyone else have any major surprises that they want to spring on someone now before we try to settle down," my Father asks as we all settle down.
Nobody says a thing and we're all relaxing and talking as the day dwindles on and into evening. The whole family is eating and talking and while it would normally be a man's job to take care of the trash Mrs. Ortega is taking it upon herself to handle it with Mr. Amdahl. I watch him take a few bags out when Imelda's mother enters the room carrying a small box in her hand. Nobody is really paying attention till she steps in front of the whole group and starts staring at us younger folks with a stern expression.
"I don't know who it is but your ass is grass now girls," She states as the room quiets down.
"Mom what are you talking about," Imelda asks as we're all confused.
"I go to take out bathroom trash and at the bottom of the bag I find a used pregnancy test. Now someone here has decided to play with fire and they are gonna get burned by hiding this," She says and now most of the parents are standing.
The accusations are flying about now, I got one of the girls pregnant. Kyle got Liz pregnant or Carlos got Abigail pregnant. Nobody says shit to Vicki and Mark Jr. for some reason. I however am looking at all my girls who are shaking each other off and when I look at my sisters they are doing the same while the parents hurl down ultimatums and accusations. A lot of eyes are on me and I'm looking in between my girls and my parents when Mrs. Ortega starts laughing.
"Mom," Imelda asks, checking if she's okay.
I don't speak Spanish, I should learn, but it's Imelda's mother telling her something between giggles when Imelda's face goes into shock.
"You're playinga fucking joke," Imelda bursts out.
The adults are laughing but us younger folk are quietly plotting our revenge. I got some prods from my Dad with a couple, did you see your faces from the other fathers in the group. To say we celebrate all the holiday splendor is an understatement and it's only when things are dark and cold that I'm sitting by the fire as Mr. Delauter addresses me.
"A new sibling is a good thing," he tells me quietly.
"I'm really happy right now but I want my sister. I don't even know if she'll want me but I want her back with us just the same," I tell him not looking anywhere but the fire.
"Well I suggest when you find her you take some official documents with you and go alone," Mr. D tells me as I finally look at him confused," Your parents would blindside her hard and probably bring as much law enforcement to a situation as they could. You can walk in however and instead of blunt force slip in and show her the truth. You're good at showing people the truth."
I nod at his words and even plan a little for the meet up and hopefully reunion with my parents as I continue to watch the fire. I'm feeling that darkness again, things are good, really good. Now I wait and see who wants to fuck with it, I don't know who is pulling strings but I'm ready. This year is my year, this life is mine and I won't let my good life go now.