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The Immigrant

A Story of Love, Betrayal, Redemption, and Finding Yourself... Can you get more cliché? First Installment Found Here.

By Nicole ZapataPublished 6 years ago 17 min read
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Chapter 1

“Name.”

“Aly-Annette.”

“Please wait.”

As I stood waiting for the man to process my information, I could barely believe where I was or even who I was, an immigrant on Ellis Island. A shard of hope sliced through my mind so fiercely that all I could do was muster a smile and look at the man attending me. I was 22; the man seemed in his late 40s.

I was standing in front of that man for one reason: I had to leave home. Things were beginning to get tough. I had been sent out of my own home because economically my parents could not afford to help me any longer. Economically speaking, I could not afford to help myself, so I came here. Fortunately, a friend provided for the trip here. She wished me good luck and a good future.

“Move forward, you have to go pass an examination,” the man said quite plainly. I smiled and strode confidently toward the large hall that was filled with many, many people. Many times back home in England my parents had constantly told me that confidence is what makes a woman. “Confidence is Key.” I wanted to be that woman and I believed that the best time to be confident was now. As I was walking down the large hallway, I descended up a stairway that seemed to lead to another large hallway. As I entered I was shoved into the examination room. At that very moment fear gripped me. The immigration officer seemed to have noticed because his somewhat nice smile faded and he turned to his paper seemingly. “Please proceed,” the man said with a brilliant smile. What a relief. I stared at him for a second taking in his face and his smile. I walked on, with the man deep in my thoughts because I knew that not many people were going to treat me with that sort of kindness. I took a literacy test, which I thought was highly unnecessary because I already knew English. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought it was unnecessary.

As soon as I had finished the literacy test, I entered a large room where it seemed like people were happy to see other people and it soon dawned on me that this is where you are sent to find who you will go home with. A friend of mine that I had kept in contact with the past two years had told me about this moment in letters and how she had found the love of her life. Anticipation and excitement grew within me as I looked around to see if I could spot my best friend who had encouraged me to come.

After searching for little while, it seemed like it was impossible to spot her, so I decided to sit and wait for her to find me. There were so many people it seemed like no use. All I could do was sit and think for a while. I drew out my journal and began to write about the trip. When suddenly, I heard the long-awaited and familiar voice that I hadn’t heard in such a long time. I looked up and there she was, Chrissie Abbott… or, I mean, Chrissie Chapman, since she’s been recently married to John. As soon as I recognized her face I ran to her and embraced her with a hug. My childhood best friend, finally reunited!

“I didn’t receive the letter with your itinerary until this morning! The mailing system has been very slow lately, I didn’t know at what time you were coming, but I came as early as I knew this place opened. How are you? How are things back in England? Not so great I assume, seeing as you’re here.” She spoke a mile a minute. Her excitement was clearly evident. She hugged me again and when she stopped she looked at me and smiled softly. I had missed her tender smile that always comforted me when I was having a rough day. Her eyes gave a twinkle, something that happens every time she has exciting news. I looked at her questioningly and she chuckled, noticing my confusion. “I mentioned in the letter I sent, didn’t I? I have a job for you. And it pays quite well.”

Chapter 2

We walked through the crowd trying not to trample anyone. It felt as if we weren’t even moving.

“How was your trip here? Was it a good one?” Chrissie asked, still walking forward, but sounding as interested as a little kid trying to find out what they got for Christmas. “It was smooth, tiring but smooth.”

“It must have been tiring, you don’t seem like yourself.” She paused, stopped walking, turned around, and looked at me. “We’ll fix that.” She winked with a warm smile. She was right. I wasn’t being myself, I was so tired, but her comment made me happy. If anyone knew how lift my spirits high and funky, it was Chrissie.

She was so encouraging. I had always looked up to her growing up. She has always been two years older than me, but our friendship worked. She had left the country to be an immigrant two years ago. Oh, how I had missed her. The way she laughed when I made no sense and nothing seemed to be going right and then would tell me everything would be OK. Her long black hair was always blowing with the wind, Her eyes were emerald green and they shone with the light of the sun. The contrast of her light skin and green eyes always reminded me a fair princess. Her appearance was so different from mine. My hair was just a wavy shaggy brown that dropped at the edges with no volume but beautiful in its own way. My eyes were just as brown as my hair but they were beautiful, so I’ve been told. Unlike Chrissie, I had no freckles, but I still loved who I was and no matter how much I looked up to Chrissie, I knew who I was.

We walked out into the sunny day and I was amazed at the buildings and the many people crowding the sidewalks. It seemed worse out here than it did inside.

“My building is just a few blocks away. John is home. Oh, you’ll love him!” Chrissie said as she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the curb where I seemed really out of place. We walked fast but people seemed to be used to the crowdedness and no one bumped into anyone miraculously.

I was amazed at the busyness of the city; it was so different from home. How could I get accustomed to it? Well, I thought, at least I have a job now. A job that pays well…or, that’s what Chrissie says. I knew that if Chrissie could get accustomed to this kind of life, then so could I. Although she’s much better with change than I am. After walking a couple more minutes we entered a rather dull looking building which lacked character. The inside was most beautiful. The architecture, layout, design, and color of this small yet unique building was beautiful! We went up nine floors in the elevator to apartment 9B.

---

“How are things back in England?” Chrissie asked, as she came around the sofa where I was sitting to hand me a cup of tea.

“Terrible. Mum and Papa had to send me off. Financially, things were tough. I don’t blame them, I had to live with Lizette for a year or so though and that wasn’t the best,” I said with a knowing glance to Chrissie.

“Lizette? Who is she?” A man asked as he came in from a small hallway. He was smiling. He was very handsome yet had a mystery to him. Chrissie quickly got up and gave the man a hug and a tender kiss on the lips. It’s John, I thought. Chrissie picked well.

“Aly-Anne, this is John, my husband.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” John said. “Ever since yesterday Chrissie has been babbling on about meeting you. She’s said some nice things about you and your experiences back in England,” John said with a gentle, soothing voice.

“Yeah, we’ve had some pretty nice experiences. Chrissie, remember when Papa was trying to catch the chicken and it flew into his arms and pecked at him until Papa had to put him down?” I laughed.

Chrissie looked at me like I should be careful with what I say and then glanced at John who looked the least bit pleased with my idea of comedy.

“I don’t see how that’s funny,” John said confused.

“Well, it was one of those you-had-to-be-there moments,” I said trying to ease whatever it was that was going on in that room.

Chrissie laughed nervously, moving into the dining room where John was getting his suit case.

“I suppose. Darling, I am going out to meet with the men from work. We’ll be home for dinner.”

“Yes, dear,” Chrissie smiled, gave him a quick kiss and turned to go to the kitchen. John smiled and quickly walked to the door with one glance back he nodded toward me and left. Chrissie quickly ran back into the living room and embraced me. “Oh, Aly-Anne!! I am so happy to have you here with me! I’ve missed you so. Things have been great here but having you makes it even greater. And yes, I do remember when your papa did that and all of that happened. I haven’t thought about it in a while,” she laughed.

I just looked plain confused. “Chris, what just happened? Why was John so serious?”

Chrissie sighed before beginning. “John is a working man. He doesn’t believe in childish jokes. We’re in our twenties, Aly, he wants a woman. I want to be that woman.” She picked up my finished tea cup, walking to the kitchen sink.

I followed behind. “But you already are that woman. You two are bound by marriage, which is a precious thing. He married you because of who you are. He loves you. He’ll just have to learn to love the things you believe are funny too because everyone has a childish side to them.”

“You're right, you know? Normally it's me that helps you figure things out; you’ve grown.” She smiled and pinched my cheek before turning back to the sink, even though there were no dishes in it.

“Well, I wasn’t going to be a 10-year-old girl forever.”

Chrissie laughed and fully turned around from the sink, slowly putting on a grave face. “You’ll be staying in our spare bedroom. Tomorrow I shall take you to your job. You will be working alongside me,” Chrissie said as though something wasn’t right.

I studied her for a while as she continued in the kitchen. I took in her body language, her facial expressions. She had stretch marks on her chin, which she only has when she’s in deep thought about something. Although Chrissie speaks to you, you know when she’s not really focused on what she or you are saying when she has those creases on her forehead. How she does it is beyond me, but I knew something was being hidden from me. Tomorrow’s a new day. I’ll talk to her then. I yawned. Traveling from England to New York was one tiring ride.

“I would like to get ready for bed, Chris.”

Chrissie quickly looked up at me. “So soon? You haven’t had dinner yet. John and the men will be here soon. You must stay for dinner, Al! Please. I had something special planned.”

Although I was tired, I knew that I couldn’t let Chrissie down. She had done so much for me already, the least I could do was please her by having dinner. “Very well. I will. Let me go freshen up a little, and I will see you in a bit.”

Chrissie’s smile could have lit up the entire Roman Coliseum. “Let me go show you your room.”

Chapter 3

The men were late. Chrissie was sitting, her smile fading by the minute.

“Where could they be?” Chrissie said worried.

“I’m sure they are fine,” I said with a comforting voice. “I sure hope so.”

We heard men laughing outside of the apartment, and Chrissie quickly walked to the door relief flooding her face, only to vanish immediately as she opened the door. “John!” The men were laughing and acting weird. A man and a woman were holding John up and he looked drunk. “Did you go to the bar again? John! What have I told you?” Chrissie's voice was shaking.

“Oh, relax, barbie doll, your man here was just having some fun,” the lady with short black hair and dark purple eyes said.

Chrissie’s voice darkened as she looked at the lady and spoke with what I call her "death voice.” She’s only used that voice twice from what I remember. Once in fourth grade when this tough guy “Sam” from America was trying to bully her younger sister Jesse and the second time when we were out and about in the town square and this lady was trying to cross over with her cousin Jonathan. Perfectly well reasons to use her “death voice.”

“You said it right, Melanie. My man. I swear if you dare look at my man one more time, you better watch your back.” Chrissie grabbed her husband and yanked him inside. Before she closed the door I was able to see that there was another man in the group. He was so handsome, tall, and very serious. He looked out of place and didn’t seem to enjoy any of what was going on. The man looked at me, his blue eyes pierced mine as the door slammed shut.

Chrissie was grunting as she was trying to get John into their bedroom.

“Let me help.” I jumped off my chair and grabbed one side of John and helped Chrissie lug him into their room.

---

Chrissie was crying, the food was cold, and it was getting dark out. I felt completely hopeless, not knowing how to comfort her. I mean, I had no idea what had just happened.

“Ever since they opened the bar two shops away, it has been constant fight after fight trying to get him away. He promised me he wouldn’t go anymore! It's…" her voice broke. "It's that girl!”

It hurt me to see my best friend in so much pain. I wanted to comfort her, but there was nothing I could do. She was hurt, really hurt. As Chrissie’s tears calmed down we heard a knock on the door. I quickly got up.

“You stay seated. I’ll get it.” I walked towards the door trying to think of who it could be which was of no use because I knew none of Chrissie’s friends over here. I hoped that it wasn't Melanie, or worse, the man that was holding John up. The one who could barely hold himself up. As soon as I opened the door, those deep blue eyes met mine once again and I held my breath. It was the man that was behind John the other man and the lady. What was he doing here?

“Who is it?” Chrissie called out from the living room. I thought it funny of her to ask me that. James looked away from me and looked around the apartment as if trying to see where Chrissie was.

“It's James," he called out. Chrissie quickly popped her head out of the living room and ran to embrace him.

“I’m sorry,” James said sadly.

“It’s fine. Come in,” Chrissie said solemnly.

---

“I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t stop. It started with one drink and then she came. She kept giving him more and more and more,” James said while eating a plate of pasta, chicken, and potatoes, our favorite dish back home in England. James had the face of an absolute gentle man, the arms of a hard worker and the eyes of the bluest ocean in the world. He seemed to really care about how Chrissie was feeling and what John had just done. I looked at Chrissie trying to find answers from her face. James would occasionally glance my way confused as well.

“Oh, how rude am I. James, this is my best friend from England, Aly-Annette.”

“A pleasure to meet you.” James extended his hand to me.

“Same as well. So, are you a friend of John's?”

“Oh. No, I am John’s brother. Chrissie’s brother-in-law,” James said matter of fact. That would explain why this man seemed to care about what John did and did not do.

“My brother John is a rather ‘tough’ man to deal with. I try my best to keep him grounded, but only Chrissie can do that and sometimes, not even.”

I smiled. John seemed like a tough man.

“Did Chrissie ever tell you about my brother?” James asked me.

“Slightly,” I chuckled. “She’s only told me that, and I quote, ‘you’ll love him!’” I laughed.

Chrissie laughed and James looked at me happily.

“Don’t let this little incident keep you from getting to know him. My brother is tough, determined, and independent. When we found out that he was in love…oh, boy was that a huge deal!” James said reliving the memory. “For a man like my brother to fall in love was huge in our family. John had always said he would die alone. And was happy like that. He didn’t want a woman telling him what to do, but all of that changed when he met Chrissie." James looked at Chrissie admiringly. "She softened his heart. The man that you see now is nothing close to the man he once was. If you think he’s tough now, you should’ve seen him 2 years ago before he fell in love.”

James said the word love like it was the most beautiful thing in the world. I looked at him with admiration as he spoke. Chrissie seemed to have noticed because she looked at me with a sparkle in her eye. James also seemed to have noticed the look she was giving me because he quickly stood up.

“Well, I should get going now.”

“So soon?” Chrissie said. I giggled at her signature remark. “Can’t you stay for a little while longer?”

“I’m sorry, I have to go. Mother is waiting for me at home with an apple pie that has my name written all over it.”

He has humor.

“Well, if you must."

Chrissie and James walked towards the door, I stood a few feet behind.

"James," Chrissie began, glancing back at me with a wink. "Would you mind showing Aly-Anne around the city tomorrow? I’ll be busy working, and I would just love for her to get to know the place she'll be living in,” she said imitating innocence.

James and I looked at each other, then at Chrissie who seemed clearly amused by her suggestion.

I spoke up. “But what about work tomorrow?”

“It's too soon. You haven’t even been able to rest yet from your long journey. We can start next week. How does that sound?” Chrissie said with playful eyes.

“Fine,” I said trying to sound like I was being forced to go but inside, I was ecstatic. James’ face lit up as well as he grabbed for the door.

“I will see you tomorrow at two then,” James said as he looked at me with his blue eyes and then back at Chrissie, nodding his head he said goodbye.

“Ooo la la.” Chrissie playfully flew her hair up and fluttered her eyes as the door closed.

I laughed. “What are you doing?” I asked Chrissie, smiling from ear to ear.

“Am I seeing something that I have never seen in you before?” Chrissie asked a little too sweetly.

“What are you talking about?”

Love, perhaps?”

“Love? Oh, God, Chrissie. Never! I just met the man. How could you be so incredulous?!” I said shocked at her outburst and my own as well. The thought of being in love with a man I’ve seen only once for an hour or so seemed bizarre. "I know nothing about him," I said a little less dramatically.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken so soon. You’re right. You just met the man…” She looked down at the table with a sly smile then back at me…"But, I’ve known him for two years.”

I cut her off. “It doesn’t matter, Chris. I don't know him.”

Chrissie shook her head and continued wiping down the dinner table.

I sighed. “I’m going to bed, I wish you the best with John.” I quickly regretted saying that.

Chrissie’s face darkened and she seemed as if she was going to cry again. I wonder why I even open my mouth sometimes.

“Chrissie,” I said walking slowly to her. “Tell me, there’s something more, isn’t there?” I asked starting to believe that the incident that happened today wasn’t all that was flooding her mind.

Shelooked at me with sad green eyes and said “Some other time, Aly. Good night.”

And with that she took the dishes to the kitchen, leaving me to find my way to my room.

---

To be continued.

---

If interested in the second installment/other chapters, please let me know. Second installment soon to come.

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