Chapter 7: A Christmas Carol
Chapter 7:
Luis saw the golden light and turned to watch the final ghost materialize
into the room. While the first two had been clad in white, this one was
dressed totally in black. When it moved closer he saw that this spirit
resembled Theresa. "Come Luis." The voice was Theresa's too. "We don't have
much time and there's lots I want to show you." Luis didn't argue.
They faded into the Harmony mall, right in the center of the Christmas Eve
rush. People hurried everywhere, not noticing Luis and his oddly dressed
companion. Luis wondered why they were there, then he spotted his future
self.
Future Luis was standing by a table where some young kids were wrapping
presents for charity donations. Real Luis followed his counterparts gaze into
the store directly behind the wrapping kiosk, and his breath caught. Sheridan
was in the men's clothing store, looking through a rack of sweater vests.
As he and the spirit moved closer they could see one of the gifts that was
about to be wrapped. It was a jewelers box, and future Luis picked it up and
opened it. Inside was a beautiful pair of earrings, each with a small perfect
diamond. He handed the box to the girl wrapping his things and she gave him a
tag to address for it.
Real Luis grinned. "So, I get with Sheridan, huh? The future might not be so
bad after all."
"Keep watching." The spirit said softly. As they watched, the other Luis
signed the tag. 'To Beth. Love Luis.'
"Beth? I get with Beth?" Not that he didn't like Beth. She was a great friend
and his first love, but not once in the past five years had it ever crossed
his mind that they could be more. He looked at his future hand... a wedding
band graced the third finger. "I married her? But what about..." Luis' gaze
travelled to the store, where the gorgeous blonde was not perusing the ties.
The spirit looked at him, her big eyes just as luminous and compassionate as
her look alike's. "She's already married too Luis. To a man named William
that her father arranged for."
The thought of Sheridan married to somebody else was like a sucker punch to
Luis' gut. He looked at his future self and sighed. But if he'd married Beth
he must love her... right?
The spirit was ready to move on and Luis took one look at Sheridan as the
light took over...
They were in Beth's apartment over the Book Cafe. Actually now it was Beth
and Luis' apartment. Beth was on the sofa, crying, and future Luis looked
upset as well.
"I'm sorry Luis... it just happened." Beth sobbed. "I didn't plan it..." Her
distraught, tear stained face seemed out of place in the glow of the
Christmas tree beside her.
"Something like this doesn't just happen Beth! A kiss just happens...
sleeping with someone does NOT just happen!" Luis said angrily, his voice low
and ominous.
"Okay, you're right. I didn't plan it, but I could've stopped it. Maybe I
didn't want to stop it! Maybe just for once I wanted to feel special!" Beth
was practically hysterical now.
"What the Hell is that supposed to mean?"
Beth turned pain filled eyes to him. "Give me some credit Luis. I know that
when you're with me you're thinking of her. I've always been nothing better
than a consolation prize!"
"That's not true." Luis said, but his voice lacked conviction.
"Yes it is," Beth said sadly. "And I've always known it, even before we were
married. I though you would get over her... I thought having most of you
would be enough Luis, but that was my mistake. It's not enough anymore... I
just can't live like this anymore Luis."
"What are you saying Beth?"
"I want a divorce."
Real Luis couldn't believe what he was seeing. He'd used Beth as a substitute
for Sheridan... and that knowledge didn't sit well in his stomach. He felt
deep sympathy for the woman before him and nothing but contempt for himself,
present and future.
"Do we get divorced?" He asked the spirit. "How could I hurt her like that?"
The spirit replied, "Yes, you get divorced. And I don't know how you could do
that either. You changed when you decided you couldn't have Sheridan. All
this started in motion after your present Christmas Luis. Come on, we have
one more stop."
They were in a cemetery. It was cold and the mourners were all bundled up
warmly. Luis didn't recognize the mourners at first, but when he looked
closely at the front row, where the deceased's family was he knew who they
were. He saw Theresa, now about 50, and a man that looked a lot like Ethan
Crane... and he saw Miguel and Hank and Beth.
With a start, Luis realized something and his heart pounded. "This... this is
my funeral... isn't it?"
The spirit nodded. "Yes. You weren't very old, only 59."
Beth and Hank had their heads together and Beth wiped a tear from her cheek
as she said, "Poor Luis. To be so sad and alone when you die..."
Hank soothed her. "Shhh... it's not your fault Beth. He didn't love you the
way you deserved to be loved. He always loved Sheridan, we all knew it."
"But still Hank... he spent the next 25 years alone."
Real Luis shook his head in disbelief. After his divorce he'd been alone...
for the rest of his life. "Was I ... miserable my whole life?"
The spirit thought about that a moment. "Miserable... no. You had your
family, your career, the youth center. But were you happy? Probably not."
Luis nodded, and then he saw her... she was now in her late 50's too, but she
didn't look a day past 40. She was still drop dead gorgeous and Luis moved
closer to her. She was standing apart from the rest of the mourners and the
spirit followed Luis to her.
Silent tears slipped down Sheridan's face as she stared across the graveyard
at Luis' coffin. "Oh Luis," She whispered, "Why did it have to be this way?
Nearly thirty years have passed and neither of us has found happiness. And
now it's too late... If only you had loved me just a little all those years
ago maybe things would be different. I don't like what I've become over the
years... the cold woman the servants talk about when I'm not around. We
could've been so happy together Luis... if only..."
Luis blinked as the light faded and they were back in his bedroom. "So,
that's it... that's what I have to look forward to, huh?" He asked bitterly.
The spirit stared at him a moment before speaking. "That is your fate, should
you continue on the path you are taking now."
"You mean I have a choice?"
"There's always a choice Luis... always..." The spirit faded away leaving
Luis to think about what he'd seen and contemplate the path he was on.
To Be Continued...