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Not long after that ride on It’s A Small World, Dom had decided to take our prank war to the next level. While I was distracted buying a turkey leg, Dom recruited Winnie the Pooh, convincing the poor character that I was a mega fan, and I would love nothing more than to be snuck up on by the bear.
Dom greatly underestimated my fear of animal costumes, as well as my defense skills. Sure enough, when Pooh tapped on my shoulder, I went into full-blown survival mode, jumping around and kicking him directly in the stomach before throwing my turkey leg at him.
The bear fell backward onto the ground, his head popping off on impact.
Dom’s face was horrified, he grabbed my hand and tried pulling me away from the scene of the crime before a crowd could gather, but we didn’t get far. He offered to buy me a new turkey leg. I called him an idiot. He claimed that if I had offered to buy him a new churro when his food went flying into the dirt, then none of this would’ve happened to begin with.
Before we could continue arguing, Disney security was hauling us down Main Street USA.
That was a half hour ago, and we now sat in the holding room at the front of the park, waiting to find out if we’re trespassed for the rest of today, or if we’ll receive a lifetime ban. I explained to the security officers the situation, and the fact that it was Dom’s birthday, and Christmas, and his favorite place on earth (which may have been an exaggeration). In a moment of true martyrdom for me, I offered to take the lifetime ban in place of Dom because he liked Disneyland a lot more than I did.
We were only led into the room and told to wait.
“This is your fault,” I said.
He turned to me and pouted, slowly pointing at his shirt.
“You are Dumbo,” I muttered.
“First of all, I didn’t realize it was that intense of a phobia.” He chuckled. “But I probably should’ve realized after that day you threw those apples at me that you’re a scrapper.”
I dropped my face into my hands, stifling a laugh.
“It’s kind of hot, honestly.”
I looked up at him, and his smoldering eyes complimented the crooked smile he was giving me. I shoved at him, but he only laughed again.
The security officer returned and let us know we’d be asked to leave for the remainder of the day, but would be permitted to return to Disney again. Though, he said it in a way that definitely sounded like if we so much as littered next time, we’d be banned for good.
Dom hastily grabbed my hand and dragged us out of there.
We didn’t talk much as we made our way back to my car, but it was more of the comfortable silence I wasn’t yet used to. As we reached our parking spot, Dom busted up with laughter.
“What?”
“I just can’t get the image of you round-housing Winnie the Pooh in the gut with a turkey leg in your hand.” He doubled over against the door handle. “I swear to God, Macie, it was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. This is the best day I’ve had in a while.”
Emotion pricked my eyes when he said that, and I didn’t care that he was laughing at me.
I didn’t respond to him as we got into the car and navigated our way out of the parking lot. I was afraid if I tried to speak, the roughness in my tone would give away just how much his words affected me, so I remained uncharacteristically quiet.
“You never even asked why I have a hard time at Christmas,” he said after we’d hit post Christmas morning gridlock traffic. “Did Carter tell you?”
I shook my head. “He only said you lost someone.” My hands tensed on the steering wheel. “You don’t have to tell me anything. Knowing the details doesn’t make me any more or any less motivated to make you feel better.”
I was looking at the road, but I felt his gaze. “Do you remember my cousin, Allie, with the curls I told you about?”
My breath caught on a rapid inhale as I turned to look at him before nodding.
“She passed away three years ago. On Christmas.”
I opened my mouth, but realized I had no idea what to say. By the sounds of it, Dom and his cousin were close in age. I couldn’t imagine losing someone so young in their life, and on arguably the worst day of the year. Regardless of the belief system one followed, Christmas was undoubtedly the grandest holiday in America. For months we’re subjected to advertisements, music, movies, and events for the season; the vast majority of which dedicated to the importance of spending our time with those we love most.
Even if you don’t necessarily follow the religious aspects of the holidays, there is an entire season dedicated to it, made up of rituals for and from many cultures. To lose someone on that day, and then be subjected to the pressure of being festive and thankful and cheerful during that time of year for the rest of your life– it sounded like a punishment.
“We grew up together. Like I mentioned, Allie and her mom lived with us for a few years when we were young. They moved down to Arizona when my aunt met my uncle, Allie’s step-dad.” He cleared his throat, as if shaking out his emotion before it could build. “But we spent holidays and the summers together every year. We were both our parent’s only children, so she was the closest thing I had to a sibling…” His voice was growing rough, and as he paused I could tell he was having trouble getting the words out.
I wanted to tell him he didn’t have to talk about it, but another part of me felt like he may need to. For whatever reason, he’d finally decided—after years—that I was the person he could share these feelings with. I didn’t want to do or say anything that may make him change his mind. So, I let one hand fall off the steering wheel, and reached out to grasp one of his. I squeezed lightly, and I felt him look at me. I couldn’t look back because I was afraid if I read his features, I’d begin to break down myself.
