Santa's Secret

In the background, I hear her co-workers asking her what’s going on. I swear Ramona Falls is worse than TMZ. “When do you start filming your next project?”

“Um…” I pause to think. “Mid-January or so.”

“Come home, Delaney. It’s been years, and we miss you. Everyone would be so excited to see you, and you can be here for the tree lighting ceremony. I would love to wake-up with you on Christmas morning and—”

As soon as my mom says the words ‘Christmas’ and ‘home’ I know deep in my mind that’s where I need to be. “Mom, you don’t need to convince me. I’ll catch the next flight out. I think coming home will do me some good.”

“She’s coming home!” she yells to everyone at the bank. The cheers I hear bring a huge smile to my face. It’s nice to feel wanted. “Do you want Dad to pick you up?”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll rent a car. I’ll see you for dinner.”

“I can’t wait,” she says before hanging up.

Traveling today is a mistake. I should’ve known better than to fly out of a major airport, but they had the quickest flight to Vermont, and I didn’t want to wait. With that said, I was completely unprepared for the onslaught of photographers shoving their cameras in my face as I walked into the airport. The last thing I wanted was to be reminded of what I read this morning, and to do so with a smile on my face.

Of course by the time I reach the terminal, the alerts are flooding my phone with images and posts about my dilemma. The vultures wasted no time broadcasting my apparent heartbreak with articles about me being despondent and hiding behind oversized sunglasses.

An airport security guard stands near me to keep people at bay. Typically, I wait in the lounge but didn’t want to be bothered in there either. For now, I stand in the corner, watching planes coming in and out of the terminal, thinking back to a time when I used to do this when I was younger, and how life was simple.

Growing up in a small town where everyone knows everyone, people aren’t like this. Or maybe they are, and I’m too naïve to think this type of drama happens in Ramona Falls. I can’t imagine hearing about one of my friends being cheated on, not like this.

Before arriving at LAX, I sent a text to my friend Mindy. She’s the one person who has always been by my side and never asked for anything from me. To her, I’m just Delaney.

Mindy: I’m so glad you’re coming home.

Me too.

Mindy: We’ll hang. Look for hotties. Hit the mall with disguises. Be girls.

The idea of needing a disguise makes my stomach roll. I could go without one, put on a brave face and show everyone Trey Baker doesn’t mean anything to me. Yeah, that’s what I’m going to do because why not? Why should I hide when he’s clearly not?

No disguise needed. Unless you don’t want to be regulated to my picture taker?

Mindy: I’ll happily snap away for you.

I’ll text you as soon as I get home.

Mindy: Can’t wait. And don’t let that man dampen your holidays. We’re going to take your mind off of him.

Thank you!

Going home is the right thing to do, even if it only means spending time with my family and Mindy. It’ll be enjoyable to sit by the fire with my holiday leggings, big bulky sweaters, and oversized socks. That also means I’ll have to hit the mall to do some serious shopping because I’m not prepared for the snow or the cold.

As soon as my flight is called, the security guard walks me to the gate. He wishes me a happy holiday before leaving me there, in line. A few people behind me murmur my name, and thankfully it’s about my last movie, which did relatively well in theaters.

“Welcome, Ms. Du Luca,” the ticket taker says as I hand her my boarding pass.

“Thank you.” I’m the first one down the jetway, except for the people who need a bit more time to get to their seats. The flight attendant smiles as I step onto the plane. As soon as I sit down, she’s offering me a drink. “Mimosa or screwdriver. I’m not picky,” I request. I’m trying to be numb and get my vitamins in one fell swoop.

One of the nice things about a long flight is the ability to shut my phone off. And because the news about my current

relationship status is fresh, I’m not being blasted all over any magazines. On a day that is possibly one of the worst of my life so far, it’s the small things that are making me happy.

Unlucky for me, the woman sitting next to me is a fan. Generally, it doesn’t bother me if someone makes contact or asks me a few questions, but the non-stop talking about everything I’ve done in my career is a bit much, especially when I’m not engaging. Right now, I’d love to continue drinking, but I told my mother that I’d rent a car. Otherwise, I’d be working on getting drunk right about now.

Yet, I continue to appease her, even when I have earplugs in and I’m trying to watch television. Each tap on my arm is met with a smile. Each question answered unless it’s intrusive. Each joke laughed at. I ooh’d and ahh’d at her family photos and asked a few questions of my own.

And by the time the pilot comes over the loudspeaker to tell us we’re landing, my flight has gone by quickly. When the plane pulls into our gate, we both stand and she holds her hand out.