Its a brand new year

Something that hibernated for so long was now wide awake.

Of course, Ollie spent most of New Year's Day asleep. He finally came down to the kitchen for supper, which was a bowl of black-eyed peas and cornbread. It just about turned his stomach.

Naturally, it was just his dad and Betty. It felt like a sad holiday.

Ollie stuffed cornbread in his mouth, as he turned his nose up to the black-eyed peas.

"Where were you?" His father asked.

Immediately, Ollie coughed up the cornbread as it stuck in his throat. He took a couple of heaping spoons of the mushy beans, so he would have some time to think. Think of what he wanted them to know.

He had to forget he was with Valentina, in her room, in her bed. He winced, thinking there was no place quite as warm.

Ollie finally cleared his throat and looked at his father in a puffy pout.

"Candy, called me." He said hardly above a whisper.

Now his dad frowned back. He told him he'd driven by the grocery store after midnight. He knew when he left. He'd asked.

A chill came over Ollie. No way could he be happy about any of it. He wished he could, but a part of him wanted to be mad at Valentina.

"It was..nothing..really..." He caught a breath. "She..she wanted to talk."

Of course, there was no talking with Valentina. There was a lot of catching up, but not that sort of communication.

He felt so light headed. He'd gotten out of Valentina's room, right before daybreak. He knew it was risky. It might still be risky.

He kept eating at the bowl of black-eyed peas. Betty mentioned they brought luck. He almost laughed at her.

But..maybe..he'd been lucky.

He thought of Gabby, thinking Kramer would tell him he must be fighting for the other team, to put off Gabby like that. Didn't he know, any guy would have loved to have been in that situation on Christmas night at the neighborhood park.

Maybe..his heart really did belong to Valentina. He was certain now..her heart belonged to him. Some how, they'd remained true to each other.

Wasn't that a good thing?

"Look, don't worry so much." He sighed. "Everything is ..all right." Still, he felt sad. His heart ached for Valentina.

Just when he thought he was in the clear, it felt he was right where he started with her.

But it was different this time. He didn't live at her house, anymore.