Tu Es Mon Soleil - Chapter 31

December 24. 

All members of her big family were in Eden Prairie. Her grandparent's house had been decorated majesticly to welcome the Christmas day. Chatters, jokes, and laughters could be heard in every corner of the house. The fireplace at the living room also participated in warming the cold day. At this moment, the women were busy in the kitchen, the men were chatting in the living room and some were repairing some old things they found in the garage, Portia's cousins were having a snow war in the front yard.

Porita herself was standing against her reflection in front of the closette mirror and trying to hide the black circle under her eyes with some make ups. It didn't help much, but it wasn't that bad either. Of course her entire family was aware of her condition, and Portia felt that the very last thing she needed to do was to make them worry about her even more. Especially in the supposed to be joyful Christmas. 

Actually, the test result that Dr. Schultz gave Portia before she took off to Eden Prairie wasn't really good. Dr. Schultz had started to change the type and adding up the dosage of Portia's pills, in the hope that it'd be more helpful. And that was really not indicating something possitive.

Suddenly Portia heard her cousins' voices calling her from the front yard. She walked to the window in her bedroom that she occupied with 2 of her cousins on the second floor of the house, opened it and peeked her head outside.

5 of her cousins, 2 girls and 3 boys were still busy with the snow in the front yard. Her smallest cousin trying to build a snowman without any promising result.

"Portia, what are you doing up there? We need your help to build a snowman," one of her cousins yelled and laughed.

"I'll be down there in a minute," Portia yelled back. She quickly shut the window and rubbed both of her hands, trying to get rid of the cold. She was about to exit her room when her phone beeped, indicating a new message. A smile spread on her face when she recognized who sent the text. Ellen.

What's up?

Portia quickly replied. Bout to build a snowman w my cousins. You?

Just arrived at my grandparents' for the dinner. Have you received my present?

Portia frowned. What present?

Then you haven't. They promised me that you'll receive it today.

They who?

Ppl from the delivery service.

You're sending me a present?

Yes. Christmas present, remember? I sent it to your grandparents' house.

Ah, so that's why you asked for the address.

Yep. Call me when you got it, k?

Before Portia could reply to the last text, she heard a commotion downstairs and her name being called repeatedly. She hurriedly went ouside and descended the stairs. "What? What is it?" she asked to the people that were swarming the front door.

"Portia, you got a delivery. Take a look, it's so sweet!" one of her girl cousins squealed and dragged Portia.

A second later Portia was facing the biggest, cutest, and whitest teddy bear she had ever seen in her life. The teddy bear was still wrapped in a transparant plastic and was still being embraced by the delivery man who seemed to be having a difficulty in doing his job this time.

"Portia de Rossi?" the man called out while trying to peek his head out from behind the back of the gigantic teddy bear.

"Yes," Portia finally answered when she finally gained her composure and found her voice back. Two of Portia's cousins took the teddy bear from the man so he could hand the form for Portia to sign. At the moment, almost all of her family members were already standing in the front door to see the cause of the fuss. Everybody was talking at the same time.

"Oh my god, look at that! Who is it for? Who sent it?"

"That's for Portia."

"I've literally never seen a teddy bear that big!"

"From your boyfriend, Portia?"

"Portia doesn't have a boyfriend!"

"Oh, right. Sorry. Is that from your girlfriend?"

"My boyfriend hasn't even sent me anything."

"Can I borrow the teddy bear only for tonight, P? Can I?"

"Oh, you're making me jealous, Portia!"

"Why do girls like dolls?"

"Mom, I want one like that!"

Portia was a bit light headed from the flood of words around her. She handed back the signed form to the man. After saying Merry Christmas to all of them, the man got back on his pickup truck and took off. 

"Come on, open the wrapper, P!" her cousins persuaded her.

Portia laughed staring at the teddy bear which was bigger and even taller than herself before finally unwrapping it. The fur of the white hair of the teddy bear was very delicate against her hand. 

"Portia, there's a card," her cousin handed her a small card that's hanging on the ribbon on the teddy bear's neck.

Hug this sweet teddy bear whenever you happen to miss me. 

Merry Christmas.

                                                        - Ed

Portia really couldn't handle her smile. She was smiling ear to ear.

"It's from Ellen, isn't it?"

Portia jolted and lifted her face to see her mom who was already standing beside her. She didn't answer, only smiling, sure that her mom did understand.

"I knew she's a thoughtful woman," her mother said and smiled meaningfully. "Don't forget to call her and say thank you, honey."

Portia knew that her mom had grown to be really fond of Ellen from the moment she talked to her on the phone. Ellen told Portia that she answered Portia's phone the other night so that Portia's mom wouldn't be worried about her condition and she explained to Portia's mom that her daughter was fine. But Ellen didn't tell Portia the one other thing she told to Portia's mom. Her mom was the one to spill it the day after, when they were on their way to meet Dr. Schultz.

"You know what she said to me that made me sure that she likes you?" her mom had asked her. Portia sighed exaggeratingly, but couldn't slow down the rapid beating of her heart. "What?"

"She said that I won't need to worry anymore because she'll look after you."

Portia re-read the handwriting on the card that she clutched on her hand and smiled widely, recalling what her mom said the other day.

"Go on, call her now, sweetie," her mom's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Portia looked to the teddy bear that was still being swarmed and poked by all of her family.

"Don't worry," her mom said. "I'll make sure they'll get it back to you."

After hugging her mom and said thank you, Portia jogged up the stairs and got back to her room, dialing Ellen's number. The woman picked up right on the second tone.

"You've received it?" she asked directly.

"Yes," Portia bit her lip, trying without any result to stop grinning like an idiot. "You impressed all of my family members with that gigantic teddy bear, Ed. I have to say that my mom is also very impressed. She was the one who told me to call you and say thank you. So, thank you."

"No problem," Ellen replied lightly. "And the present for me?"

"Your present is in your apartment," Portia said. "Call me when you're home. I'll let you know where you can find it."

Still with the wide smile, Portia hung up and threw herself to the bed. She hugged her pillow and thinking about the present she had chosen to give to Ellen. She really couldn't figure out what to buy for her, because Ellen seemed to have everything already. She didn't want to buy her any ordinary presents like she did for her other friends. She felt like she had to give something special to Ellen. And at last, a pretty good idea had popped up in her head and now she really hoped that it was the right gift. I hope she doesn't think it's too childish, Portia prayed in her heart. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ellen chuckled and hung up. The girl said that the present was already in her apartment?

"From Portia?"

Ellen lifted her face and looked to Regina who was standing on the threshold of the big living room. Regina stepped in and sat on the armchair next to the couch Ellen was sitting on.

"Have you seen my mom?" Ellen asked, ignoring Regina's question.

"Betty is in the kitchen with granny. Vance is playing chess with gramps."

Ellen nid-nodded her head and stared at the fireplace next to Regina.

"Ellen, do you like Portia?" Regina asked out of the blue, breaking the silence. Her voice sounded deep and serious.

Ellen was surprised to hear that question, but maintaining her feature to stay flat and calm. "What do you mean?"

"I saw you both walking to a store, holding hands," Regina replied without looking at Ellen. "That was the moment when I realized what I should've realized long ago. I've no idea why I haven't thought about this earlier. But, I guess I was just in a denial state of accepting it."

Acknowledging that Regina didn't see Portia blacking out in the store, Ellen didn't give out any comments and letting her friends to continue whatever she's saying.

"You like Portia, don't you, El?" Regina repeated her question. This time she looked up to see Ellen, expecting an answer.

Ellen took a deep breath hesitantly, then nodded, "Yes."

Regina looked a bit surprised to hear her confession, but she quickly gained her composure back and nodded. "I thought so," she mumbled. "Have you told her?"

"No." Ellen said. Well, she technically haven't told Portia.

Regina nodded once more and smiled bitterly. "I never thought that I'll be competing with you, of all people, for a woman."

Ellen raised her eyebrows.

"I just want to let you know that I liked Portia so much, too," Regina stated.

"I know," Ellen responded.

"And I still like her," Regina corrected and tilted her head to one side. "And even though Portia had told me that she only considers me as a friend, I'm still hoping that one day, she might change her mind. Because all this time, I don't think I've ever seen her indicating anything that she likes someone in particular."

"Mm," Ellen only mumbled without any intention.

"I just want you to know," Regina said and raised her shoulders, "that as long as Portia haven't decided, I'll keep trying to get her heart, even though you like her, too."

Ellen stared at her friend and smiled. "Fair enough."

Regina returned the smile. And then she patted the armchair and said, "Alright, what about joining the mighty chess game with your brother and your gramps?"

"Good idea," Ellen said and stood up.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You just got home?" Portia asked on the other side. "Isn't it like 1 am there in New York?"

Ellen switched her phone from her left ear to her right and took off her coat. She walked up to the living room and turned on the lamp. The Christmas tree at the corner of the room, which was decorated by Portia, welcomed her home. "Yeah, I stopped by to my colleague's place first," she explained. "What about you? It's almost midnight in Minnesota. Is it possible that you're waiting for my call?"

"No," Portia denied quickly. Too quick, Ellen thought and smiled. "Everybody is still up here. They're chatting downstairs. By the way, how was the dinner? Nice?"

"Uneventful," Ellen replied and leaned her back on the couch. "Yours?"

"Very eventful," Portia laughed. "Reuniting with your big family is so much fun, you know."

Ellen smiled hearing Portia's happy voice. "You like big family?"

"Well, duh. Don't you?"

"I don't have one, so I don't really know. But I'm glad to hear you're having fun there," Ellen replied. "By the way, where exactly are you hiding my present?"

Portia sounded hesitant when she said, "Actually I'm not sure what to give you. So this is the only thing I came up with. Please don't laugh at me."

"What are you talking about, de Rossi? I'm not gonna laugh at you," Ellen assured Portia.

Moment of silence, then, "Alright. Look for a book titled The Piano: An Encyclopedia among your books on the shelf. I'm sure you know where it is."

Ellen rose from the couch and approached her bookshelf. She took the book that Portia mentioned and said, "I've got it. And then?"

"Your present is on the first page."

Ellen clamped her phone inbetween her ear and her shoulder while opening the first page of the book. Her eyebrows raised up in surprise when she found 3 pieces of blue paper flew out from the book to the floor. 

"What's this?" she asked while squating and picking it up, reading the handwriting on the paper. "Wishing Voucher to Portia de Rossi?"

"You haven't read the terms at the bottom of the paper. In the parentheses."

"Reasonable and legal," Ellen cited.

"What does it mean?"

"It means that you can propose 3 wishes to me -- anything, as long as it's something reasonable and doesn't violate the law -- and I will grant it."

Ellen laughed, "Only three wishes?"

"Yes."

"So if I ask you to marry me next week, you'll say yes?"

"Something reasonable, Ed."

"Who says that marrying me is something unreasonable?"

"Will you be happy if I marry you because I'm forced to do so?"

"God, of course not."

"See? I know that you'll be reasonable. I trust you."

Ellen laughed again. "Okay, then. I'll think about what I'm gonna ask you very, very carefully, and I'll give you a very reasonable reason that you won't be able to deny it. In fact, I think I already have something in mind."

"Really? What's that?"

"I'll tell you when you're back here."

"Okay."

Ellen glanced at her watch and softly said, "It's past midnight already in Minnesota, de Rossi. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Ed."