Backdated Log: It's been a long time since I've seen your face
Who: Lola and Ariel
Where: On the phone
When: Wednesday, 2 February 2019
What: Care packages and phone calls
Status: Complete
Ariel sat on the living room floor of her apartment staring at the battered cardboard box in front of her. She traced the letters on the side that were written in a childish scrawl and read them out loud, “L-O-L-A”. Her daughter had just called to let her know that she wouldn’t be coming home due to the huge snowstorm hammering Ohio. It was more than a little disappointing because they were going to discuss wedding plans and hopefully reserve the venue Lola had chosen. After a few minutes of indecision she ripped the tape off and began to pull out photos, childhood art, as well as other momentos she had saved over the years. A Polaroid picture fell to the floor that she hadn’t seen in well over a decade; a picture of Lola and her half-siblings.
They sat on a couch covered in pillows to help prop them up. They all looked so little, especially Phil’s sweet little girl. He had suggested they take a picture to remember the day all three of his kids met. She had just rolled her eyes and exhaled loudly when he said it as if it should be a big deal because they all lived in Lima. Well, close to Lima with no plans to move away from familiar surroundings.
The spring day they spent at the park playing before they had a leisurely picnic lunch was one of her favorite memories of Lola’s childhood. Her daughter had been so happy to play with other children that the little girl was practically vibrating with excitement. After a few hours they had started to get tired so they had brought them back to their little apartment above the bakery to lay down for a nap. Phil had snapped the picture quickly before the baby fell onto her daughter’s lap in a fit of giggles.
She smiled as she lay the picture down to paw through the box again. A finger-painted picture of a cat, a junior high report card, a snowglobe of the Golden Gate Bridge and...a soft, well-loved blanket. The blanket had been so important to Lola when she was younger there had been a yelling match on the first day of kindergarten as to whether or not it was going to school with the girl. It had stayed in her backpack all through school and even pinned in her mortar board when she had graduated college. Ariel thought she should pack some of the keepsakes for Lola along with some treats in a care package; that would make both of them feel much better.
Ariel quickly found a shipping box she should reuse and started to fill it with some treats she had picked up for her daughter’s visit. She carefully packed the vegan chocolates, the dried pineapple and a homemade loaf of bread. After putting the blanket and picture in some wrapping paper she added a sketchbook and some mechanical pencils that Lola loved then taped up the box. She’d bring it to the post office tomorrow and her daughter could have it by the weekend. Ariel smiled as she gently patted the box.
“I miss you baby girl,” she said quietly.
~~~~~
Lola juggled a few wedding samples in her arms while fumbling to get her keys out of her pocket. She somehow managed to get the door unlocked and opened and just as she was walking in, she tripped over something. She jumped back and looked down, surprised to find a box sitting there. She toed the box over the threshold and kicked the door shut. Moving into the kitchen,she set the samples onto the counter and grabbed a box cutter. She walked back into the living and picked up the box. She smiled when she saw that it was from her mother. The older woman had been just as disappointed as Lola had been when the blonde hadn’t been able to fly home due to snow. She remembered her mother’s care packages from her college years and wondered what was in this one.
Ariel logged onto her computer to check the package’s route and it’s hopeful delivery. She clicked a few buttons to see that the presents had reached their destination earlier that day. With a smile she walked into her kitchen and flicked on her electric kettle. If her daughter was anything like she was in college there would soon be a phonecall followed by a long conversation with at least a little crying.
Bringing along her cup of chai and loudly protesting Strawberry, Lola settled on the couch before opening the box. A bright smile graced her delicate features as she spotted the familiar things. She pulled each item out of the box carefully as if she were holding actual memories in her hand. Her fingers traced the her own childish scrawl and tears pricked her eyes. She hated feeling so homesick. It was kind of ridiculous. She was an adult and she’d have to leave her mother’s side at some point. Sometimes she thought about the old Golden Girls episodes that she used to watch as a child. She’d always wondered if she’d want to end up like Dorothy, living with her mother even in old age. Most days, she thought that wouldn’t be so bad, but then she’d wonder what that said about her as a person and also if maybe that was just a sign that she should start to cut the apron strings.
Deciding now was not the time to dwell, she shifted through a few more things before her eyes fell upon a picture. She hadn’t ever seen the picture before, but she recognized herself as a child. It was weird, but she almost resembled Quinn’s daughter, Abby, in some ways. Beside her were two children she didn’t recognize, but they looked familiar as well. The boy almost looked like her...father. These were her siblings. There was a picture of them. They’d all been together in a picture and she was a little upset with herself for not remembering them. She stared down at the picture for a long time, just looking at how different they all were. She wondered if they looked more alike now. She wondered if they had anything in common now. Did they like books or the same kinds of movies? Were they vegan too? Was she really the only one with blond hair? There were so many questions that she wanted to know, but wasn’t sure she was ready to hear.
Lola set Strawberry aside and took a sip of tea before grabbing her phone. Her mother was probably waiting for her to call. She told her phone to call Ariel and waited for the older woman to pick up.
Ariel jumped a little when she heard her phone ring. She had been waiting for her tea kettle to boil so the unexpected sound coming from her living room startled her. After turning off the burner on her stovetop she quickly walked across the kitchen to answer her phone.
“Princhek residence. This is Ariel speaking.” she said.
“Mom! I loved the box of memories,” Lola said, launching right into a conversation. “I’m going crazy here. I mean, I’ve made a lot friends and everything, but it’s not home. I miss my apartment and my things and you. Mom, I miss you so much.” She finished with a large gulp of air. “I hate the snow,” she grumbled.
“Slow down baby girl!” Ariel soothed. “I miss you too and having your clothes all over the couch and seeing you stand in front of the refrigerator for too long trying to decide what to eat. I think I miss our talks most of all. You’re going to have to try breathing again and we can do that.”
“I hate the snow,” Lola said again, her tone slightly whiny. She pouted and grabbed Strawberry before she could dart off of the couch. “I want to come home.”
“You’ll be home soon, right? You just need to plan your wedding then you and Santana can be back in Boston and away from that nasty Ohio snow. It will be just a short flight and you’ll be back to the snow you love in Massachusetts.” Ariel tried.
Lola sighed and blew a stray strand of hair from her face. “Not true. Santana wants to stay with her godchildren for at least a few months,” she said. She wasn’t bothered by it, not even a little. She liked Lima and Santana’s friends but everything here felt like Santana’s. Nothing here felt like it belonged to her. Well...except Finn.
“Really? A few months?” Ariel sighed. That particular newflash was definitely not what she wanted to hear. She knew that one of them had been sick at birth but thought that was over now. It was disappointing that Lola wouldn’t be home as soon as she wanted but this was something she’d have to get used to once her daughter was married.
“I hope a few means two, three at the most, but you should see Santana here, Mom. She’s like a whole new person. She’s just so...happy,” Lola said, trying not to sound sad about that. “I’m sure she’ll be ready to go soonish. I mean this is the first time she’d been home in about five years. I’m sure it’s all still new-familiar.”
“While I’m immensely glad to hear that she’s happy and that it’s because she’s back home after such a long absence it doesn’t sound like you’re quite so happy.” Ariel said quietly. “What’s on your mind, pixie?”
Lola didn’t want to complain. She didn’t. She was just feeling a little blue. “I feel a little left out. I’m trying my best not to crowd her. It’s really important for her growth as a person for her to reconnect on her own terms, but I find myself alone a lot. I guess I’m not used to that. Even Strawberry prefers Brittany’s cat, Kitty. The only friend I’ve made here that’s more mine than Santana’s is Finn. And I don’t know if that counts because he’s one of Santana’s friends from high school.”
“A friend is a friend no matter how they’re acquired, sweetie.” Ariel started. “I think Strawberry is just excited to be with another cat which is understandable. You know, if you wanted to do some searching of your own I could give you the names of a few people we knew in Lima?”
Ariel bit her lip as she waited for her daughter’s reply. She had never really talked about their time in Ohio mostly because of the hurt feelings and betrayal she had felt back then. Maybe it was time for Lola to know more about her siblings? It wasn’t going to be easy but it might ease the loneliness she was feeling at the moment.
“Is that why you sent that picture?” Lola asked, changing the subject. She hadn’t been sure how she would approach, but that was her opening. So she took it.
Ariel stuttered, “O-oh the picture of you and... You said that you wanted to know them so I thought that was a good start. First, a picture so that you might remember more of your time with them. Are you mad?”
Lola smiled, looking down at the picture again. “No, I’m not mad. It was sweet. It was a step...” she said hesitantly. “I don’t think I’m ready for more than this right now. I’d rather wait until all of the wedding stuff dies down.”
“It’s a lot to take in, I know” Ariel agreed. “It’s a time in our life that’s difficult for me to remember so taking baby steps in dealing with it is more than okay in my opinion. Speaking of wedding stuff... you need to tell me everything and also how can I help?”
“Well, Santana’s mom has helped a lot. I’m really grateful to her. I took a lot of pictures to show you. So you can help me pick out flowers and I’ll need help finalizing a vegan-friendly menu and I found a dress, but I wasn’t going to bring that with me. I couldn’t risk it getting lost or something,” Lola explained. “I feel like I’m forgetting so many things, but I have it all in a wedding planner that I’m bringing with me.”
“I’ll have to thank Mrs. Lopez when we see each other again. I’m so glad you have someone there to stand in for me,” her mother agreed. “I was thinking that calla lilies might be a good choice for you. They’re in season in May and would look beautiful as a bouquet with just a simple ribbon. When are you going to be home again? It keeps changing every time we talk and I want to be able to focus on your plans when you’re here.”
Lola pulled her legs up on the couch and crossed them. “In two weeks, I think. There’s going to be more snow next week.” Strawberry decided to let out a yowl of protest. “I know. I’m upset by it too.”
“It’s so quiet here Lo when you and Santana aren’t in town to liven up my days.” Ariel said quietly. “I feel rather odd being the only one here. I don’t do alone as well as I suppose I should at my age. I have friends in my book club as well as my cooking class but that’s different, they’re not family of any sort.”
She paused for a minute as she fussed with the hem of her shirt, “Okay so two more weeks until you’re home? It sounds like I need to find something to focus on for the next fourteen days. I’ll start working on the menu to keep myself entertained. Are you and Santana having a strictly vegan meal after the ceremony or did you want some non-vegan options?”
“Well, though I know Santana hasn’t been keeping strictly vegan while we’ve been here, I think she still puts in an effort to be at least somewhat good about it. Plus, it’s her wedding day as well and I want her to enjoy it as much as possible. So, meat and dairy can be present. I just want it to be explicitly clear which options are which. I don’t want anyone accidentally eating non-vegan food.” Lola shuddered at the thought. She had had non-vegan food once in her life and it hadn’t ended well.
Ariel grabbed her mini notebook and began to scribble down notes to remind herself. “I know how much you love any kind of ethnic food so would you like to have an international buffet of sorts? One side vegan and one side non? That might work. Maybe two grills set up to barbecue for people as well? I’m just trying to figure out what might be the simplest thing to do to make everyone in attendance happy with their meal.”
Lola smiled. She might have been the one that went to Harvard, my her mother was one of the smartest people she knew. “That’s a great idea. This way, Ana can help plan some things from their side and everyone can feel included.”
“Marriage is more than just two people coming together to make a family.” Ariel grinned. “It’s really about all their families coming together. Food is an excellent way to do that as well, Pixie. I suppose I’ll have to give Ana a call to see what ideas she has just in case she isn’t familiar with what a vegan diet entails. Have I told you I love you yet today baby girl? I really do. I’m so excited I’m practically humming with anticipation!”
“I love you too, Mom,” Lola said, her voice cracking with emotion. She wasn’t going to cry. She was too old for all of this. “I’m excited too. I’m also completely overwhelmed. Santana’s really trying to be helpful, but she’s kind of useless when it comes to this stuff.”
Her mother’s chin started to shake as she spoke, “It’s okay baby girl. You have your blankie there to snuggle with for reassurance. I know you think that sort of thing is just for kids but it’s definitely not. When you come home we’ll get it all sorted out and you’ll feel so much better. I just wish I could be there to hold you close and make you feel better. Ugh. I really hate you being so far away from me!”
Lola sniffled. “We’re not going to do this, Mom. We’re two adults and we can handle this separation. It’s a good thing. It means growth and change,” Lola reasoned. She needed to be strong.
“I know, I know.” Ariel agreed. “It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt any less during the process or make it any easier to deal with. We both know I don’t do ‘alone’ well Lola. My entire life I’ve always been a part of something so I won’t apologize for the pain I’m choosing to talk about. I suppose I’m feeling left out as well. I don’t know...”
“You’re my only family, Mom. I’d never leave you out. When Daddy left, do you remember what you said to me? We were Princheks before him and we’re still the Princheks now. There’s no me without you. I just don’t want you to be upset,” Lola said with a sigh. “I don’t want to be the reason you’re in pain either.”
“I’ll work it out. I know it will, but it’s just such an emotional process for me.” She sighed. “It’s rational for me to expect to be apart from you when you were at school but being apart from you when you plan your wedding just feels...wrong. I apologize for being so melodramatic at precisely the wrong time as usual.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. When people ask me where my flare for being dramatic comes from. I tell them I came by it honestly,” Lola was a little more laid back than her mother, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have her moments as well. “You’re my muse,” she teased. “Now this was going to wait until I saw you, but I guess I could tell you now. You know, just so the distance doesn’t seem as grand.” She settled down and set Strawberry on her stomach, scratching behind the cat’s ears in that spot that always made her purr. “I went on a fire truck...” she began with childish glee.
Where: On the phone
When: Wednesday, 2 February 2019
What: Care packages and phone calls
Status: Complete
Ariel sat on the living room floor of her apartment staring at the battered cardboard box in front of her. She traced the letters on the side that were written in a childish scrawl and read them out loud, “L-O-L-A”. Her daughter had just called to let her know that she wouldn’t be coming home due to the huge snowstorm hammering Ohio. It was more than a little disappointing because they were going to discuss wedding plans and hopefully reserve the venue Lola had chosen. After a few minutes of indecision she ripped the tape off and began to pull out photos, childhood art, as well as other momentos she had saved over the years. A Polaroid picture fell to the floor that she hadn’t seen in well over a decade; a picture of Lola and her half-siblings.
They sat on a couch covered in pillows to help prop them up. They all looked so little, especially Phil’s sweet little girl. He had suggested they take a picture to remember the day all three of his kids met. She had just rolled her eyes and exhaled loudly when he said it as if it should be a big deal because they all lived in Lima. Well, close to Lima with no plans to move away from familiar surroundings.
The spring day they spent at the park playing before they had a leisurely picnic lunch was one of her favorite memories of Lola’s childhood. Her daughter had been so happy to play with other children that the little girl was practically vibrating with excitement. After a few hours they had started to get tired so they had brought them back to their little apartment above the bakery to lay down for a nap. Phil had snapped the picture quickly before the baby fell onto her daughter’s lap in a fit of giggles.
She smiled as she lay the picture down to paw through the box again. A finger-painted picture of a cat, a junior high report card, a snowglobe of the Golden Gate Bridge and...a soft, well-loved blanket. The blanket had been so important to Lola when she was younger there had been a yelling match on the first day of kindergarten as to whether or not it was going to school with the girl. It had stayed in her backpack all through school and even pinned in her mortar board when she had graduated college. Ariel thought she should pack some of the keepsakes for Lola along with some treats in a care package; that would make both of them feel much better.
Ariel quickly found a shipping box she should reuse and started to fill it with some treats she had picked up for her daughter’s visit. She carefully packed the vegan chocolates, the dried pineapple and a homemade loaf of bread. After putting the blanket and picture in some wrapping paper she added a sketchbook and some mechanical pencils that Lola loved then taped up the box. She’d bring it to the post office tomorrow and her daughter could have it by the weekend. Ariel smiled as she gently patted the box.
“I miss you baby girl,” she said quietly.
~~~~~
Lola juggled a few wedding samples in her arms while fumbling to get her keys out of her pocket. She somehow managed to get the door unlocked and opened and just as she was walking in, she tripped over something. She jumped back and looked down, surprised to find a box sitting there. She toed the box over the threshold and kicked the door shut. Moving into the kitchen,she set the samples onto the counter and grabbed a box cutter. She walked back into the living and picked up the box. She smiled when she saw that it was from her mother. The older woman had been just as disappointed as Lola had been when the blonde hadn’t been able to fly home due to snow. She remembered her mother’s care packages from her college years and wondered what was in this one.
Ariel logged onto her computer to check the package’s route and it’s hopeful delivery. She clicked a few buttons to see that the presents had reached their destination earlier that day. With a smile she walked into her kitchen and flicked on her electric kettle. If her daughter was anything like she was in college there would soon be a phonecall followed by a long conversation with at least a little crying.
Bringing along her cup of chai and loudly protesting Strawberry, Lola settled on the couch before opening the box. A bright smile graced her delicate features as she spotted the familiar things. She pulled each item out of the box carefully as if she were holding actual memories in her hand. Her fingers traced the her own childish scrawl and tears pricked her eyes. She hated feeling so homesick. It was kind of ridiculous. She was an adult and she’d have to leave her mother’s side at some point. Sometimes she thought about the old Golden Girls episodes that she used to watch as a child. She’d always wondered if she’d want to end up like Dorothy, living with her mother even in old age. Most days, she thought that wouldn’t be so bad, but then she’d wonder what that said about her as a person and also if maybe that was just a sign that she should start to cut the apron strings.
Deciding now was not the time to dwell, she shifted through a few more things before her eyes fell upon a picture. She hadn’t ever seen the picture before, but she recognized herself as a child. It was weird, but she almost resembled Quinn’s daughter, Abby, in some ways. Beside her were two children she didn’t recognize, but they looked familiar as well. The boy almost looked like her...father. These were her siblings. There was a picture of them. They’d all been together in a picture and she was a little upset with herself for not remembering them. She stared down at the picture for a long time, just looking at how different they all were. She wondered if they looked more alike now. She wondered if they had anything in common now. Did they like books or the same kinds of movies? Were they vegan too? Was she really the only one with blond hair? There were so many questions that she wanted to know, but wasn’t sure she was ready to hear.
Lola set Strawberry aside and took a sip of tea before grabbing her phone. Her mother was probably waiting for her to call. She told her phone to call Ariel and waited for the older woman to pick up.
Ariel jumped a little when she heard her phone ring. She had been waiting for her tea kettle to boil so the unexpected sound coming from her living room startled her. After turning off the burner on her stovetop she quickly walked across the kitchen to answer her phone.
“Princhek residence. This is Ariel speaking.” she said.
“Mom! I loved the box of memories,” Lola said, launching right into a conversation. “I’m going crazy here. I mean, I’ve made a lot friends and everything, but it’s not home. I miss my apartment and my things and you. Mom, I miss you so much.” She finished with a large gulp of air. “I hate the snow,” she grumbled.
“Slow down baby girl!” Ariel soothed. “I miss you too and having your clothes all over the couch and seeing you stand in front of the refrigerator for too long trying to decide what to eat. I think I miss our talks most of all. You’re going to have to try breathing again and we can do that.”
“I hate the snow,” Lola said again, her tone slightly whiny. She pouted and grabbed Strawberry before she could dart off of the couch. “I want to come home.”
“You’ll be home soon, right? You just need to plan your wedding then you and Santana can be back in Boston and away from that nasty Ohio snow. It will be just a short flight and you’ll be back to the snow you love in Massachusetts.” Ariel tried.
Lola sighed and blew a stray strand of hair from her face. “Not true. Santana wants to stay with her godchildren for at least a few months,” she said. She wasn’t bothered by it, not even a little. She liked Lima and Santana’s friends but everything here felt like Santana’s. Nothing here felt like it belonged to her. Well...except Finn.
“Really? A few months?” Ariel sighed. That particular newflash was definitely not what she wanted to hear. She knew that one of them had been sick at birth but thought that was over now. It was disappointing that Lola wouldn’t be home as soon as she wanted but this was something she’d have to get used to once her daughter was married.
“I hope a few means two, three at the most, but you should see Santana here, Mom. She’s like a whole new person. She’s just so...happy,” Lola said, trying not to sound sad about that. “I’m sure she’ll be ready to go soonish. I mean this is the first time she’d been home in about five years. I’m sure it’s all still new-familiar.”
“While I’m immensely glad to hear that she’s happy and that it’s because she’s back home after such a long absence it doesn’t sound like you’re quite so happy.” Ariel said quietly. “What’s on your mind, pixie?”
Lola didn’t want to complain. She didn’t. She was just feeling a little blue. “I feel a little left out. I’m trying my best not to crowd her. It’s really important for her growth as a person for her to reconnect on her own terms, but I find myself alone a lot. I guess I’m not used to that. Even Strawberry prefers Brittany’s cat, Kitty. The only friend I’ve made here that’s more mine than Santana’s is Finn. And I don’t know if that counts because he’s one of Santana’s friends from high school.”
“A friend is a friend no matter how they’re acquired, sweetie.” Ariel started. “I think Strawberry is just excited to be with another cat which is understandable. You know, if you wanted to do some searching of your own I could give you the names of a few people we knew in Lima?”
Ariel bit her lip as she waited for her daughter’s reply. She had never really talked about their time in Ohio mostly because of the hurt feelings and betrayal she had felt back then. Maybe it was time for Lola to know more about her siblings? It wasn’t going to be easy but it might ease the loneliness she was feeling at the moment.
“Is that why you sent that picture?” Lola asked, changing the subject. She hadn’t been sure how she would approach, but that was her opening. So she took it.
Ariel stuttered, “O-oh the picture of you and... You said that you wanted to know them so I thought that was a good start. First, a picture so that you might remember more of your time with them. Are you mad?”
Lola smiled, looking down at the picture again. “No, I’m not mad. It was sweet. It was a step...” she said hesitantly. “I don’t think I’m ready for more than this right now. I’d rather wait until all of the wedding stuff dies down.”
“It’s a lot to take in, I know” Ariel agreed. “It’s a time in our life that’s difficult for me to remember so taking baby steps in dealing with it is more than okay in my opinion. Speaking of wedding stuff... you need to tell me everything and also how can I help?”
“Well, Santana’s mom has helped a lot. I’m really grateful to her. I took a lot of pictures to show you. So you can help me pick out flowers and I’ll need help finalizing a vegan-friendly menu and I found a dress, but I wasn’t going to bring that with me. I couldn’t risk it getting lost or something,” Lola explained. “I feel like I’m forgetting so many things, but I have it all in a wedding planner that I’m bringing with me.”
“I’ll have to thank Mrs. Lopez when we see each other again. I’m so glad you have someone there to stand in for me,” her mother agreed. “I was thinking that calla lilies might be a good choice for you. They’re in season in May and would look beautiful as a bouquet with just a simple ribbon. When are you going to be home again? It keeps changing every time we talk and I want to be able to focus on your plans when you’re here.”
Lola pulled her legs up on the couch and crossed them. “In two weeks, I think. There’s going to be more snow next week.” Strawberry decided to let out a yowl of protest. “I know. I’m upset by it too.”
“It’s so quiet here Lo when you and Santana aren’t in town to liven up my days.” Ariel said quietly. “I feel rather odd being the only one here. I don’t do alone as well as I suppose I should at my age. I have friends in my book club as well as my cooking class but that’s different, they’re not family of any sort.”
She paused for a minute as she fussed with the hem of her shirt, “Okay so two more weeks until you’re home? It sounds like I need to find something to focus on for the next fourteen days. I’ll start working on the menu to keep myself entertained. Are you and Santana having a strictly vegan meal after the ceremony or did you want some non-vegan options?”
“Well, though I know Santana hasn’t been keeping strictly vegan while we’ve been here, I think she still puts in an effort to be at least somewhat good about it. Plus, it’s her wedding day as well and I want her to enjoy it as much as possible. So, meat and dairy can be present. I just want it to be explicitly clear which options are which. I don’t want anyone accidentally eating non-vegan food.” Lola shuddered at the thought. She had had non-vegan food once in her life and it hadn’t ended well.
Ariel grabbed her mini notebook and began to scribble down notes to remind herself. “I know how much you love any kind of ethnic food so would you like to have an international buffet of sorts? One side vegan and one side non? That might work. Maybe two grills set up to barbecue for people as well? I’m just trying to figure out what might be the simplest thing to do to make everyone in attendance happy with their meal.”
Lola smiled. She might have been the one that went to Harvard, my her mother was one of the smartest people she knew. “That’s a great idea. This way, Ana can help plan some things from their side and everyone can feel included.”
“Marriage is more than just two people coming together to make a family.” Ariel grinned. “It’s really about all their families coming together. Food is an excellent way to do that as well, Pixie. I suppose I’ll have to give Ana a call to see what ideas she has just in case she isn’t familiar with what a vegan diet entails. Have I told you I love you yet today baby girl? I really do. I’m so excited I’m practically humming with anticipation!”
“I love you too, Mom,” Lola said, her voice cracking with emotion. She wasn’t going to cry. She was too old for all of this. “I’m excited too. I’m also completely overwhelmed. Santana’s really trying to be helpful, but she’s kind of useless when it comes to this stuff.”
Her mother’s chin started to shake as she spoke, “It’s okay baby girl. You have your blankie there to snuggle with for reassurance. I know you think that sort of thing is just for kids but it’s definitely not. When you come home we’ll get it all sorted out and you’ll feel so much better. I just wish I could be there to hold you close and make you feel better. Ugh. I really hate you being so far away from me!”
Lola sniffled. “We’re not going to do this, Mom. We’re two adults and we can handle this separation. It’s a good thing. It means growth and change,” Lola reasoned. She needed to be strong.
“I know, I know.” Ariel agreed. “It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt any less during the process or make it any easier to deal with. We both know I don’t do ‘alone’ well Lola. My entire life I’ve always been a part of something so I won’t apologize for the pain I’m choosing to talk about. I suppose I’m feeling left out as well. I don’t know...”
“You’re my only family, Mom. I’d never leave you out. When Daddy left, do you remember what you said to me? We were Princheks before him and we’re still the Princheks now. There’s no me without you. I just don’t want you to be upset,” Lola said with a sigh. “I don’t want to be the reason you’re in pain either.”
“I’ll work it out. I know it will, but it’s just such an emotional process for me.” She sighed. “It’s rational for me to expect to be apart from you when you were at school but being apart from you when you plan your wedding just feels...wrong. I apologize for being so melodramatic at precisely the wrong time as usual.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. When people ask me where my flare for being dramatic comes from. I tell them I came by it honestly,” Lola was a little more laid back than her mother, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have her moments as well. “You’re my muse,” she teased. “Now this was going to wait until I saw you, but I guess I could tell you now. You know, just so the distance doesn’t seem as grand.” She settled down and set Strawberry on her stomach, scratching behind the cat’s ears in that spot that always made her purr. “I went on a fire truck...” she began with childish glee.