Finding you: A Christmas special

News Travels

Elena POV:

I was pushing a cart with my pram, trying to get a few things for dinner. I was already feeling exhausted, "Elena," called a woman's voice, I turned around to see my beautiful sister-in-law, her dark hair tied into a beautiful, her lips painted red to match her red body hugging dress. "It is you!" She smiled, she handed a list to the smaller woman behind her, who wore glasses and a semi formal outfit. "Make sure to not make any mistakes or you'll suffer for it," she said behind gritted teeth, her eyes trailing to the side. The girl nodded nervously and scurried off, Amanda walked towards me in long strides, her hips moving up and down. I started to feel self conscious of how I was dressed. I hadn't brushed my hair in a few days and just pulled it into a messy bun to try and conceal the rats nest. I was in grey sweats and a baggy shirt because I was not wearing a bra. My shirt had spit up stains on it.

"Why didn't you tell anyone that you were coming for the holidays?" She beamed, but I knew that smile all too well. Amanda was no saint. "Well, I wasn't sure," I managed to say, I was feeling frazzled, "is this your baby?" Asked Amanda looking down into the pram at my sleeping Mason, "yes," I said. An odd look passed over her face but then it was gone almost immediately. "He's a cute baby," she said looking back at me, her fake smile plastered on like her foundation, "I thought you and Caleb would be hosting Christmas this year," she said and that's when I knew, she already knew that I was divorced and when has Amanda ever done grocery shopping with her assistant. I wanted to hit my head against the wall for being so naive.

"Caleb and I aren't together anymore..." I said, trying to appear nonchalant but my voice cracked at the last moment. "Oh," she said, "that's such a shame," she said with pity in her voice, I nodded and looked down at my son. She eyed me up and down, a look of disgust on her face, "your brother and I will be hosting this year's christmas party at our lake house, you should come," she said with that fake smile still on her face, I straightened my back and forced a smile, "I might." Her smile faltered, "it was nice seeing you Elena." She smiled and then turned and walked away just as her assistant scurried over, she flicked her finger and her assistant dropped the basket to the side.

I scoffed, so she knew. Did my mother tell the entire family? I rolled my eyes and continued to push the cart and pram. I was deciding on which chicken breast pack to choose when I heard some whispers behind me.

"Yeah, the golden girl, apparently her husband divorced her!"

"Ha! She should have seen it coming, honestly everyone did."

"She deserved it," said another voice, "remember how she acted like she was better than us, look at her now." I heard them giggle, I spun around to look at them and they quickly dispersed.

Why did I even come back here!? The cheap accommodation does not seem worth it!

I chose a pack of frozen chicken breasts and went to the other aisle for a cook in sauce. Maybe a hearty pasta dish would make things better. I stood in the aisle, looking at the different sauces, feeling kind of intimidated. I hadn't cooked a meal for most of my life because there were always personal chefs. Things were different now, and I needed to make the most of what I had...

"I would recommend the Chicken ala king," said Ryan from behind me, I turned around to face him, my face reddening in embarrassment, yet again. "Ryan," I greeted. I imagined how I must look, one hand the shopping cart, the other hand the pram, dressed in all sweats, matted hair... He must think I look disgusting too. I quickly grabbed the chicken ala king, "thank you," I gave him a quick smile and started down the aisle before he could say anything to me or me to him.

I pushed myself into the veg aisle and grabbed a punnet of mushrooms, single green pepper and onion before rushing to the till. I hastily unloaded my cart, "cash or card?" Asked the teenager working the till, "cash." I glanced up to make sure Ryan couldn't see me, but he was nowhere to be seen. I let out a deep breath, and handed the money to the cashier to pay when a deep voice spoke behind me, "it almost seems like you're avoiding me."