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[29 Nov 2009|02:25pm] |
Not in the least bit a fan of Black Friday shopping, there was Gentry in the longest line she had ever seen holding onto six items she practically waited all night for. Benji had endured the cold weather with her, sitting out front of the nearest Target with her soon after stuffing their bellies with a year’s worth of deep fried turkey. As usual he provided laughter that distracted her mind from the cold weather she had yet to adjust to. Having relocated from California recently, the soothing sun that tanned her bare shoulders during trips to the beach practically felt non existent on the east coast. And the wind? The wind was something else. Even after spending some time in Chicago with her father had she never felt such bone chilling breezes that rocked her core. Tonight of nights being the coldest, the multitude of layers worn under her coat, the lukewarm coffee that was once scalding and the hand heat packs she had picked up some days before did little to no good. Occasionally glancing over to her boyfriend that also sat bundled up to her left, she could only frown upon noticing the way the tip of his nose was tomato red or the stream of snot that appeared to be frozen. Still he kept on making comments about those that sat along with them that late night. Pulling his gloved hands from his mouth to say anything that’d make her smile upon noticing the shivers or trembles, his shoulder was her pillow when it became harder than she thought to keep her eyes open. Counting down the hours until the doors cracked open, for a moment she quietly soaked in the moment. Here they were together—in New York. It didn’t sound like completely an unfeasible thought but given their past and current history, it was certainly something to put all into perspective.
Their story had started in California when they were both young. There were conflicting stories of how their time was long ago was spent with one another. Well maybe not so much conflicted but Benji always remembered her wearing less clothing than what she had recalled whenever they were together. But what remained a constant and never altered memory had been of the day Gentry Suddano had met Benji Rush. The days of bad fashion, Gentry had worn a pair of daisy duke, LA gears and the tightest white tank top she could find in her cousin’s dresser drawer. Practically a bean pole at the time, she hadn’t much to show off but this was the summer she could fill out a tank top so it was for that reason she went out in the least amount of clothing. Well after her father went off to work of course. With a cluster of girls that she went to school with, there in the In and out had the ladies milled about with cups of soda and eyes for guys that strolled along the waterfront. Not finding much luck in that department, the empty cup she held onto for the duration of their afternoon was tossed. Unlike those other girls, Gentry knew how to put a dent in some food so while her friends chatted along about the coming school year, Gentry made her way back in for something to eat. It was a life changing moment so to speak. In wait for a double bacon cheeseburger he approached her in a way that now when she thought of it was comical. He tried to be smooth, he tried be suave even, he tried to be the man and she feel for it hook, line and sinker. His name was Benjamin but he told her to call him Benji….like the dog. Even then he had her in stitches. Conversation ensued and numbers were exchanged. She had went in for a burger, never ordered it. Instead she returned to the front of the building waving the napkin with his number scrawled across.
Not so much a teenage love or at least she hadn’t thought so at the time, Gentry and Benji were practically attached at the hip. Always part of some harebrained scheme that either got them in trouble or potentially in trouble, most of her summer days and nights were spent with him. It was a good break from her irksome brother and rambunctious father. It was also a good break away from the thoughts of her mother that had recently left the family. Where she had spent one too many instances wondering why, if she had been a bad daughter or not even worthy of her mother’s love, at least she had Benji there to sway her from the hidden depression she often endured when sat around the house too much. Hanging out at parties with his sister, dropping by for dinner with his parent, she felt like part of the family. Sometimes even more a part of their family than her own. Never having titles for one another, they were comfortable with the roles in one another’s life. A good time that last longer than she imaged, in time the good times came to an end. There weren’t any arguments or reasons as to why, Benji merely went his way and Gentry went hers. Mr. Suddano had packed up to Chicago to help take the reigns of a family business her grandfather had for decades. Her brother followed suit leaving Gentry there behind. With no money for college and not other family members that she was entirely close to, she too made the move to the Windy city some months after the two relocated. It wasn’t a move she was too fond of but she didn’t want to be alone. So writing a lengthy letter she left with Benji’s mother, Gentry packed up the few things she had accumulated over the years and headed east to start a new life. And what a new life of sorts it had became. Now a resident of the south side, the trouble that seemed to surround them had became encouragement of sorts to look into law enforcement. Tired of hearing about the robberies of the older ladies in the neighborhood and youth violence of kids simply walking to school, Gentry got the idea of joining the force. Couldn’t be a bad idea right? She wasn’t exactly the most angelic type teenager growing up so what better way to do a 180? It wasn’t as if she could afford college anyway and being a cop in spite of the danger paid much more than working at Burger King so she went for it. Not an easy task, not easy in the least bit, Gentry somehow, someway made it through police academy while pregnant.
Pregnant? That too had been a surprise that she hadn’t expected. After all the years of ridiculing the women on those shows that were in the dark about carrying a child, here she was now one of them. Had there been signs, sure but all were ignored for assuming it had been more of her body adapting to a new climate, a new daily regimen than a new life growing inside of her. It was completely crazy now that she came to think of it. She had gained weight, though she had thought it had been because of all the delicious restaurant and family members in the area that were handy around the stove. She had been queasy at times, thinking then it was only because of the academy kicking her butt. Other signs too, all in which were ignored until she went in for a check up. Lost with no idea on what to do, she contemplated whether or not she could actually keep this child. Her father promised he would support her no matter what, however it was her brother Greg that cemented what she would do. “Gentry, this could be the one person in the world that cures cancer, aids, anything that now is this world’s plight. How do you know you’re not getting rid of someone who can make an impact?” It was for that reason he was the first person to hold Valentina Suddano once she came into the world.
As much as she had tried to get in contact with Benji to at least tell him she was pregnant or that they had a child, she hadn’t been quite successful. In time she gave up, finding only enough time to focus on being a single mother and working all at the same time. Though she had help for her father and brother, the load of doing it on her own was hard, harder than what she could ever explain. That tacked on with the stress of being a cop left the woman exhausted. Yet she still made due for years, well until Val was of age to help take care of herself. She had been a gifted child, which only reminded her everyday of being thankful that she hadn’t made any moves that she would’ve regretted. Somewhat of a brainiac, at age 6 Valentina was two grades ahead and progressing so much that it was considered to bump her up another. Her mother didn’t want her to feel any pressure in doing so much so the idea was pushed aside. Life for Gentry and her daughter was interesting, it now being even more interesting one summer afternoon during a walk down the pier. To her surprise a familiar face came into her sights. After all the years of being apart, there were Benji feet away from her. Unsure of what to say or do, he had caught her standing in the distance. With little choice, the two happily reunited. Nervous deep down inside when he asked of her life, she omitted the part of his offspring being home with a baby sitter. In fact she had omitted such a thing for some time. He had now lived in the city so the two began to see one another more frequently. One thing Gentry couldn’t do for long was hold back the truth. When she felt he was ready to hear it, she sucked in a deep breath, then proceeded to tell him of his daughter. Accompanied with pictures she kept in her wallet, there before his very eyes Benji indirectly met his daughter. The actual in person meeting didn't happen for some time. She had to be sure he was fine with this new addition in his life. Once she was reassured that he would be, there at Baskin Robbins some weeks after bumping into one another, Thing one and thing two met. Noticing how much the little girl looked like her father, Val was none the wiser. She was having too much of a good time with her new found friend to even associate how important he was in her life. Meetings like this continued on for some time until the two felt it was fine to tell her the truth. Surprised and ecstatic he was the man she at times asked her mother about, an instant bond between Benji and his daughter grew tighter.
California became the new home for the family but a temporary home replaced with New York. Gentry had since left the force after what was clearly a stressful and dangerous incident. Initially wondering how Val would accept this big move again, the little girl was gunho. With that all three headed east to Sleepy Hollow. Now settled in a new town and standing in the longest Target line ever, Gentry glanced down to the Christmas gifts she accumlated for her daughter and her man. A good hour later, with her items in tow, she headed to the car where Benji was warming up.
"Alright, got the Barbie dream house that Val wanted."
"Dream house? Val wanted the Barbie dream car."
Oh. Doh.
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