Sorry this chapter took so long! It's the end of the school year for us and it's crazy busy! Little warning for language. Thanks so much for being patient with me and thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy!
****Charlotte****
“Are you ready?” I took a deep breath and nodded. He looked
briefly at Steph and then walked to the front door. He paused and then opened
the door. The second I heard her voice I started tearing up which surprised me.
In all the scenarios I had thought up in my head, I never imagined that hearing
her voice would bring tears to my eyes.
“Hi Mom. Let me get your coat.”
“Thanks. Did everyone make it here okay?”
“Yes, they’re all in the living room.” I saw George walk
into the room and I caught a glimpse of her reddish brown hair. George moved
slightly to the side and that’s when I saw her. I couldn’t stop the tears from
falling at that point. When I saw her face I noticed that she too had tears in
her eyes. It was like someone else took over my body and before I knew what I
was doing, I was hurrying over to her and hugging her.
“I’m so sorry Mom.” It was all I could get out before I
started bawling into her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me
as I cried. All I could think about was how stupid I had been. Why had I run
away all those years ago? Why had I not contacted any of them? George had tried
to explain to me how hurt everyone was but it didn’t register with me until
this moment. I had been so selfish, so self-absorbed that I didn’t think of how
my actions would affect everyone else.
At some point I felt Mom take one of her hands away and then
I felt even more people hugging. I didn’t even have to look up to see that the
four of us were now hugging. I had a
flashback to when we had all hugged in the hospital when we were waiting to
hear about Dad. But unlike then, when it felt like our family was being ripped
apart, this time it felt like we were coming back together, except Will wasn’t
there. That would have made that moment perfect; if it had been the five of us.
I have no idea how long we stayed like that but I honestly
didn’t want it to end and I was sad when we broke apart. I looked at Mom and
she held my head in between her hands. “I love you Charlotte and I can’t tell
you how grateful I am that you’re okay, but next time, please tell me where you
are.” I started crying again and nodded. She once again pulled me in and hugged
me. I eventually stopped crying and looked at George and Trev. The only time I
remembered seeing them cry was when dad passed away; as I looked at them, I
realized that they too had been crying. I hated that I had caused so much pain
and worry. I wished I could go back in time and change the decision I had made
all those years ago to leave.
“Oh my! How thoughtless of us! Your poor friend is having to
stand here and watch us all crying.” Mom worried. She walked up to Steph and
hugged her. “You must be Steph. It’s nice to meet you!” I almost laughed at the
look on Steph’s face. She wasn’t quite sure what to do and I was sure it was
because Mom was hugging her. Mom stepped back and Steph looked at her.
“It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Davila.”
“Oh, please call me Bridge.”
"Ummm. okay." It was obvious that Steph wasn't sure how to respond. She needed to be saved. There was only one person in the room who was good at doing that. I jabbed George in the ribs with my elbow.
"Ow!" He looked at me and I motioned for him to step in. "Oh, hey Mom, why don't you, Charlotte, and Trev sit down and talk for a bit. Hey Steph, do you want to help me?"
“Sure!” Steph
hurriedly agreed. I chuckled as they went into the kitchen while Mom, Trev and
I walked over to the couches.
Steph and I walked into the kitchen and I immediately turned
around to look at her. “Sorry if you felt uncomfortable out there.” I didn’t
know how uncomfortable she had been during the exchange between Mom and
Charlotte, but it had been obvious that she was when Mom had hugged her.
“It’s okay. After Charlotte explained everything earlier I
had a better idea of what would probably happen.”
“You seemed a little. . .unsure when Mom was hugging you.
She normally doesn’t act that way with people she doesn’t know very well; she
must have been caught up in the emotions of seeing Charlotte again.”
“It’s okay. I’m just not used to hugging.” She said and
looked down at the floor. I really wanted to ask her why but this wasn’t the
time. Maybe some other time during these next couple days I could ask her about
it. She looked back up at me and I nodded.
“Hopefully the most uncomfortable part of the night is over.
I do need to tell you something about tomorrow though so you won’t be
completely in the dark.”
“What do you mean.”
“It’s something that no one but me knows and although I want
the others to be surprised, it wouldn’t be good to keep it from you.” She
raised an eyebrow and looked questionably at me.
“What?”
“I promise I’ll explain it later; I guess you’re just going
to have to trust me for right now.”
She smiled. “’Trust me’ says the tiger. I guess I really
don’t have a choice.” There was that sarcasm again that always seemed to be
present when she was uncomfortable.
“I guess you don’t, Sunshine.”
“Sunshine? Is that in reference to my love of pie?”
“That, or could be a sarcastic reference to your sarcastic
personality.”
“Did you. . .No, I don’t believe it! You used sarcasm!” She
said sarcastically.
“I sure did, Sunshine.” She playfully narrowed her eyes and
was about to say something when we heard Trev.
“Damnit George! We’e hungry.”
“Trevor. . .language.” I heard Mom say.
“Sorry, Mom.” Trev apologized. Steph and I both laughed at
Trev getting scolded by Mom. I plated the food and the Steph and I carried the
plates into the dining room. Mom, Trev and Charlotte were already sitting at
the table and when Steph and I sat down Mom scolded me.
“George, you should know better than to have a guest help
with dinner. She should be sitting down, not serving.”
“Hey, I tried to convince her of that earlier and she
insisted.” I defended myself.
“Well. . .still. . .” She gave me a scolding look but smiled
at Steph.“So, I’m glad you were able to join us for Christmas, Steph.
Charlotte’s told me how you’ve become a good friend of hers, which I have to
admit, I’m relieved that she’s made some good friends where she is.” Mom and
Charlotte smiled at each other.
“I’m just touched that she invited me and George and you
have opened your houses to me.”
Mom smiled. I was just waiting for her to start asking
personal questions. That was one thing that hadn’t changed about Mom; she still
had this desire to know if people were truthful. I had often wondered if my
wanting to figure people out had been something that I had inherited from her.
“I was sad to hear that you might have spent Christmas
alone. Have your parents passed?” And there was the first of the personal
questions. I couldn’t blame Mom, though, to her it seemed like an innocent
question but the rest of us sitting at the table knew it was a touchy subject;
even if we didn’t know exactly why.
