Chapter Thirty Six
"You should totally ask if you can come out this weekend," Hunter said excitedly the next day. The semester was winding down and her school was throwing an end-of-semester party. Hunter had been campaigning heavily for her cousin to join her out on the west coast.
"I don't think my parents would ever let me fly out there alone, especially after our last California escapade" Lia said, knowing her mother would worry the whole time.
"Well, you're starting college in a few months," she pointed out. "If you decide to come out here, they'll have to get used to the idea eventually. Come on, you should at least ask."
"I'm grounded right now, so it's a lot to ask," she told her cousin, though she desperately wanted to go.
"You're still grounded?" Hunter asked, surprised. She knew Vanessa could be a bit strict, but Lia was practically an adult. They couldn't keep her locked up in the four walls of their Washington Heights apartment forever. They had to let go and let Lia spread her wings.
"You know how my mom is," Lia said. "She says she's the CEO of our family. I'll ask, but I'm not sure if it will work," Lia explained, hearing the twins screeching down the hallway. Now would not be a good time to ask, when the twins were going wild and her mother was surely stressed.
Lia was on her best, most helpful behavior that evening. Lin was at the theater for the evening, so it was just Vanessa and the kids. She helped out with the twins and did the dishes without being asked. After Sebastian and Stella had been put to bed, she put the kettle on and delivered a decaf tea to her mother.
"Thank you," Vanessa told her, already suspicious. Usually, Lia was caught up enough in her own life that she rarely did something so thoughtful.
"You're welcome," she replied. "Mind if I put on a movie?"
"Go ahead," Vanessa said, seeing pretzel style on the couch with her laptop open. The evening was the only time she had a moment to think. Knowing her daughter all too well, she let the silence sit between them, knowing she wanted to ask something.
"I was talking to Hunter earlier," she finally said after settling on the original Grinch movie, one of Vanessa's favorites.
"Yeah?" She asked. "Is she getting ready for finals?"
"Mmmhmm," Lia said. "Her school throws a big party at the end of the semester. She was hoping that maybe I could go too. Since I'm interested in going to school there?"
Vanessa glanced over at her, looking hopeful. "You wanna fly across the country all by yourself?"
"Mom, I'm practically an adult and my last day before break is Friday anyways," she pointed out. Lia wasn't sure why her parents seemed to keep making a few months such a big deal. It's like they wanted control over her life as long as possible.
"Lia, I know the prospect of living a thousand miles from your family seems enticing," Vanessa began, "But California is a long way. Are you sure you're interested in UCLA?"
"Yes!" she said. "Hunter would be there, and California's such a cool place."
Vanessa knew her niece was a great kid but she also liked to party. "Do I have to remind you about the last time you were in California with Hunter?"
"Mom, I promise it will not be like that this time. I will not even look at alcohol!" Lia pleaded earnestly, "I will be so sober that everyone will think I'm in AA!"
Vanessa sighed. Her daughter was probably a bit inexperienced as far as college life went. As a mom, it was hard to think of her kid all the way on the other side of the country without her. She'd still talk to her husband, but there wasn't a valid reason why she couldn't go. Lia was overall a responsible person and it would be a good opportunity for her to explore her potential next city. "Look at ticket prices."
"Yes!" Lia bounced up and down like a little kid. She pulled out her phone and instantly began looking for flights. By the end of the night, she'd booked a ticket for that Friday afternoon. It would be the first time she'd be flying solo and it made her feel pretty grown-up. She texted Hunter and they started to make plans.
___
I hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan...
Welcome to the land of fame excess, am I gonna fit in...
Lia felt just like Miley Cyrus as she took in the sights in her cab, heading for Hunter's dorm at UCLA. As promised, she was sending her mother updates on her whereabouts. She'd been given a strict budget and orders to check in every few hours.
Here, no one knew who she was. She didn't have to worry about being thought of as Lin-Manuel Miranda's daughter. There were so many celebrities walking around, being the daughter of a composer was the least exciting thing she could be. For the purposes of this trip, she was anonymous and it felt great.
When she reached Hunter's dorm room, her cousin opened the door and they both squealed in excitement. Her roommates had already left for the holiday break, so Lia was shacking up. The building was buzzing.
"What did you bring to wear?" Hunter asked as Lia unpacked. She pulled out a skirt and top that she'd carefully picked out at home. It was one of her more risque outfits, but Hunter turned her nose up at it.
"You have so much to learn, cousin," she said, shaking her head. Hunter went to her closet, letting her cousin take her pick. Lia gleefully looked through the clothes - Hunter had always had a sense of fashion that she envied. Lia was well aware her parents wouldn't let her wear half of it. She made a note not to post any pictures.
The night that followed was a blast - dinner, dancing, hanging out. It ended well after midnight with a late-night run to Taco Bell. The next day, they rolled out of bed at an indecent hour, put on sunglasses, and chilled by the beach. As they laughed and goofed around, Lia felt at such ease. She wondered if she'd found the place she belonged for the next four years.
"I just got another text from a guy in my biology class wanting to know more about my hot cousin from the city," Hunter remarked as the two cousins basked in the California sun.
Lia didn't even try to act modest at the comment. She dogeared the current page she was on of her 'The Amber Spyglass' before placing it to the side. She knew she had looked hot the previous night and she had enjoyed the feeling, "Tell them she will be back out tonight! I can't believe how much fun last night was."
"I still can't believe you got up and sang karaoke," Hunter commented as she ate a handful of doritos, "Everyone was asking for an encore!"
"I was more shocked that I got up there completely sober," Lia had been serious about wanting to show her parents that they could trust her. Any more drunken nights wouldn't help that. "It was a high though. I wouldn't want to do it all the time, but I understand a bit more why my dad loves being on stage so much."
"The Miranda gene of showing off runs strong," Hunter joked over the feign laughter of her cousin.
The two girls basked in the sun. Lia was taking full advantage of the opportunity to be on the beach in a bikini in December.
"So, are we ever going to talk about the fact that your ex guy showed up at your place?" Hunter posed the question as she rolled over on her beach towel onto her stomach.
Lia peered under her sunglasses, "You've been waiting this entire weekend to ask me about it, haven't you?"
Hunter's facial expression was enough to answer Lia's question. "It was exactly what it sounds like: mortifying, infuriating, and... nice. At least in the beginning." Her voice trailed off as she admitted the thoughts that had been spinning in her head for over a week, "He wants to meet up when I get back."
"Whaaat?!" Hunter's eyes widened, "Does he want to get back together?"
"I didn't say that I even want to get back with him," Lia sniped at the assumption, "He was a complete ass to throw Justin under the bus like that. And this is the first time we have said more than a few sentences to each other since October."
"Don't bite my head off!" Hunter replied, "He clearly wants to talk to you about something. The excuse that his mom sent him over was so lame."
Lia sighed, knowing her cousin had a point. She wasn't upset with Hunter - she knew by now that her cousin had no filter. Her feelings towards Ayden, both of rage and love, were right under the surface. If anything, her hasty response made it even more clear to Lia that her decision wasn't as black and white as she was trying to portray it to be.
"What about your other guy? Have you talked to Justin?"
Lia nodded, "We talked that same night. He knows my parents don't think he's an axe murderer. We're still texting."
"Have you thought about what you want to come from that?" Hunter prodded.
Lia stretched her toes out past her beach towel and into the hard, wet sand. The texture gave her mind a bit of a mental reprieve, "Nope." She answered shortly, "I have no idea where I'm going to even be next year. And he'll be at NYU regardless."
Hunter took a swig from her water bottle, "People do long distance relationships all the time."
"I know. I've been in one." Lia pointed out, "But it doesn't mean I want one again. I like Justin but, part of me, also likes the idea of starting fresh."
"Soooo, you don't want to be with Justin?" Before Lia could respond, the familiar ringtone of her phone started buzzing from the beach bag. She held out her hand for Hunter to grab it for her.
"I'm saying that I don't know and I don't have to make any decisions right now."
Hunter glanced down at the caller ID as she handed the phone to her cousin. The subject would be dropped for now. "It's your other guy."
Lia scrunched her eyebrows with confusion but it didn't last long when she saw who was calling her on Facetime, "Hi Dad."
"I have the perfect idea!" Lin's excited voice boomed through the screen as Lia was met with the image of her father donning the oversized headphones she constantly made fun of him for, the dim sky of the city his background.
"Which is?"
"You go to college wherever you want to, but every Friday you take a plane back to New York to come home for the weekends and leave to go back Sunday night."
Lia would have started laughing alongside her cousin if her father's face wasn't so hopeful and she was well aware he had the means to make his perfect plan happen. "You've really thought about this idea."
"It's the best of both worlds, Emilia!" Lin replied in a chipper voice, "What would be better than school on the weekdays and your family on the weekends?!" Even Lin couldn't say the last line with a straight face as he saw his teenager's expression turn horrified.
"Tio," Hunter threw her arm around Lia's shoulder, both girls now in the phone's frame, "Lia is way too nice to say this, so I will. That plan is absolutely not happening. Like ever."
Lia's eyes flip flopped between her cousin next to her and her father on the screen, "Yeah..." her voice trailed off, "Great effort though."
Lia could tell by Lin's attempt at looking disappointed that he wasn't truly hurt by the rejection. That wouldn't stop him, though, from at least attempting to hone her in. "Ju- Just think about it. I mean, look at this." The camera flipped to the view of the city buildings of Manhattan, the bright orange sky beaming down on it and the street lamps were covered in Christmas lights. Lia had to flip her phone horizontally to see the full image.
"At what?"
The video glossed over the city covered in snow, the bottom of the screen showing the heads of people whooshing past her father without a second glance, "At what?" Lin asked rhetorically, "Do you not see this view?! There is no way you're getting a view even close to this anywhere in the world."
Lia snickered to herself. She knew her father was supportive of wherever she chose to go to school, but also knew he was on a lifelong mission of convincing everyone that New York was the greatest city in the world. At the forefront of his current mission included his daughter who more than likely would be leaving the city within the next year. "But I have you to Facetime so that I can get my daily dose of the city from wherever I am."
The camera flipped back to Lin with a dopey smile. "There is nothing like the ambiance of New York, mija!"
"What about the toxic fumes from the mounds of trash or the rats on the subway?" Hunter interjected over Lia's shoulder with a full smirk on her face. Two could play at the winning Lia over game.
"No one asked you, you Jersey hater!"
Lia bellowed out with laughter at their antics as the two continued on. The conversation soon drifted on their respective days. Lin begged Hunter to send him the video of Lia's rendition of 'Superbass'', which she heartily agreed to over the protests of her cousin.
"Where are you off to?" Lia asked as she pushed her sunglasses up into her hair as the clouds moved in and brought in some welcomed shade.
"On my way to the Longacre Theatre."
Lia's jaw dropped, "You are not!" The sheepish grin on her father's face only infuriated her more.
"What's at the Longacre Theatre?" Hunter asked.
"The Prom aka the musical I have been telling your uncle that I have wanted to go see for weeks and he assured me he wouldn't go see it with any Broadway people before we went!"
"I'm not the one who told you to jet set across the country once you got on break!" he countered.
"I'm coming back!" Hunter chuckled, amused at her cousin's near tantrum.
"I know," Lin whined back in the same dramatic tone his daughter was using, "which is why I'm going to the theatre to meet some friends who are going to see it tonight backstage and make sure our tickets are good to go for next Thursday's matinee."
Lia's hand instantly covered her mouth in shock at the trick and her eyes nearly bulged out their sockets. "You suck!" she squealed out in delight.
"Yeah, you should have seen your face." Lin remarked, "But act surprised when you get the tickets on Christmas. It's one of your presents."
Lia's feigned look of surprise emitted laughs from both her cousin and dad. The conversation continued on as Lia reminded Lin of her itinerary for Monday's flight. As he reached the theater and they exchanged their goodbyes, Lia couldn't help the twinge of homesickness she felt in the pit of her stomach. She had no idea what she was going to do about Justin or Ayden's places in her life but one thing was for sure: Lin-Manuel Miranda was, by far, her favorite guy.
____
"Here you go, Daddy," Stella handed her father a tiny cup and saucer as they sat at her little table in the playroom at home. He'd just picked her up from dance therapy, where she'd been thriving. Since they'd enrolled her, her teachers had noticed a marked improvement in her behavior at school. Her tantrums were now few and far between and, fortunately, much more mild.
"Thank you," he accepted them and took a pretend sip.
"Not yet, Daddy," she gently corrected him. She poured herself some pretend tea, and then her teddy bear. Stella then held up her cup and they clinked them together. "To life," she declared.
Lin grinned and took another pretend sip. "Yum," he told her. "You make the best tea."
"I know," she said, taking her own sip. Lin's heart felt a little heavy that he had missed this time with Lia when she was small. Girls were so sweet and creative. He loved his rough-and-tumble time with Seb, and Stella certainly joined in, but quiet games like this were so fun.
Lia was due to be home any time. During their brief conversations, it appeared she was having a great time with Hunter at UCLA. It was hard to think of her on the other side of the country, in a completely different time zone. Still, Lin knew he had to say goodbye at some point.
The front door opened and Stella set down her cup with a clink. She knew her older sister must be home. She ran to the door to see Lia coming in with her bags.
"Lia!!!" She ran and embraced her older sister's legs. Lia grinned and knelt down to have a proper hug. She'd missed her siblings more than she thought she would.
"Stella, I missed you!"
Lin and Seb weren't far behind. Lin waited patiently for Seb to have his hug before coming in for his own. Lia was as tall as he was now; practically an adult.
"How was California?" He asked her, seeing the way she beamed.
"It was great," she told him as she picked up Seb. He still loved to be held.
"Want to elaborate anymore?" he asked, having expected Lia to be talking a mile a minute at the prospect of her new school.
"Not quite yet." Lia answered, "I've thought about some things over the past few days and just want a bit more time to think about it."
Whether it was the response, the tan from the California sun, or a mix of both, Lia seemed to have aged over the last few days. Part of him wanted to cry at the thought of her growing up, but more than that he was proud of her. "How very mature of you, Ms. Miranda."
"Well thanks, Mr. Miranda" Lia teased, grateful he wasn't pushing the subject. "Don't worry, not even Hunter knows. You and Mom will be the first ones I tell when I figure out where in the world I will be living next year."
"Are you gonna live in Cafilorna?" Seb asked. He was always so perceptive.
"California," she gently corrected him. "And I'm not sure yet, buddy, but maybe."
"Is that far away?" he asked his sister sadly.
"Yeah, you have to take a plane to get there," she explained. "But no matter where I live, I'm not leaving you guys. We'll still FaceTime and I'll get to come home for Christmas and Easter and other holidays."
"And our birfdays?" Seb interrupted his sister in a timid voice, "Can you come home for that?"
Lia had to keep her composure together at the innocent question and the lips that were nearly quivering on his face, "I'll absolutely be with you on your birthday." She reassured him, thankful that the tickling of his belly was still enough to emit a deep laughter from the toddler.
Lin could sense that everyone in the room needed a bit of a reprieve from any more hard hitting conversation, "How about we take full advantage of Lia being back home with some ice cream!"
All three kids instantly brightened up. Lia quickly dropped her bags off in her bedroom as the twins got on their shoes and coats. Ice cream before dinner didn't often happen, but since Vanessa wasn't home yet, they could get away with it.
"Don't tell Mommy," Lin told his children as they walked down the street. They found the neighborhood ice cream shop and placed their orders. Since it wasn't summer, there weren't any piraguas around, which was usually the family favorite. Lin had to keep reminding Stella to eat because she talked so much and it was melting.
As they ate their treats, Lin got a buzz on his phone. Vanessa was on her way home. "Let's finish up so we can get home before Mommy."
It was difficult to hurry toddlers with ice creams, so they headed out five minutes later. As they arrived back in the apartment, Vanessa was already unloading some groceries bags. She took a look at them all and instantly noticed the ice cream stains on the twins' shirts.
"Ice cream before dinner?" She raised her eyebrows at her husband. He gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"It's not every day our eldest makes a huge decision," he explained.
"Go wash your hands," she told the twins, guessing her husband hadn't taken wet wipes and their hands were sticky. They ran off down the hallway and Vanessa turned her attention to Lia.
"You've decided on UCLA?"
"I made a decision," Lia explained, "Well, I think I did. But I don't want to tell you guys just yet."
Vanessa looked over to Lin who shrugged his shoulders, "Not even cookie dough could get it out of her."
Vanesa gave a resolved smile as she looked back at Lia. For someone who was normally completely frazzled and filled with anxiety over college talk, she looked at ease. It was a similar demeanor to the night she had told them she didn't want to go to MIT. The unknown was going to drive her crazy, but the look of assurance on her daughter's face was enough to hold her over.
"Just assure me of one thing."
Lia leaned her weight back onto the kitchen counter. She knew her mom wouldn't let her go that easily. "What?"
"You didn't decide to go to Wesleyan, did you?" Her voice dripped in sarcasm as Lin pressed his hand to his chest at his wife's accusation. Lia shook her head at her parents' antics that somehow led into them making out. Her family was absolutely ridiculous at times, but she was grateful they were hers.
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