Room Mates

7

   Trev raised his head and looked at me for a moment before his eyes widened.

  "What's wrong, honey?" Dreading the next hoop I have to jump through before we marry.

  "I actually forgot why I had to search for you. You have visitors. From Mississippi. They showed up at the ranch house."

  I stiffen. "What the hell? They can't get to me over the phone so they show up here?" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Alright! I can deal with them. Just another hurdle in my race to the alter."

  "That's my woman! Let's go do this!" Trevor said cheerfully.

  We went to the house and I wash up in the mudroom. When I enter the den, I see my mother, father, brother, sister, and brother-in-law. Stephanie was holding her daughter. Anna, Jillian, and Natalie were talking to them politely.

  "Hello everyone! What did I miss?" I ask as Trevor and I sit on the love-seat.

   "We were just getting to know each other. Would anyone like something to drink?" Anna asked.

  "Please." Mother replied.

  "Jillian, Natalie, will you help me?"

  "Of course, mom." Both sisters said as they stood.

  Trevor and I are left with the intruders. "So what brings all of you to Montana?"

  "Aren't you going to introduce us to this young man? We don't know if he can be trusted." Mother said.

  "I trust Trevor with my life. Trevor, this is my mother and father, Jane and Bryan. My brother, Michael. My sister and her family, Stephanie, Daniel, and Mallory. This is my fiancee, Trevor Hunt. So what are all of you doing here?"

   "Fiancee?! When did that happen?"

  "I notice that you have avoided my question twice now. I want an answer."

   "We decided to take a vacation to see you since you haven't been home in several years." My father finally said.

  "I am home. You are the one who said that I was dead to you. You are the ones who refused to visit me in college. You're the one who refused to help me pay for college after paying for Michael's. You went all out for Stephanie's wedding. You called me wanting me to move back to Mississippi to help you pay your bills. Because mother and Michael are draining your bank account."

  "And you top that phone call off by calling her a bitch and hanging up on her." Trevor added.

  "I would never call her that!"

   I hadn't realized that Trevor had heard that. I actually forgot about feeling like I was being watched. "Oh, you heard that?" I looked at Trevor.

  "Yes, sweetheart, I heard it with my own ears. Only an idiot would call his daughter that."

  "I'm sure that daddy didn't mean it. It is good to see you, Ashley. You have never met my daughter. This is Mallory." She nodded at her daughter. "Lori, this is your auntie, Ashley. You want to give her a hug?"

   Lori walked over to me and climbed into my lap. When her little four year old arms wrapped around me, I was lost. I hugged her close. "Hello, my little love! It is very wonderful to meet you."

  Trevor rubbed my back. I was getting emotional. He knew me so well. Lori smiled at me. She was playing with my hair. "You like my hair?" She nodded. I pull my ponytail over my shoulder so she could play with it better. "Your mommy used to spend a lot of time playing with my hair until she fell asleep. Did you know that?" She shook her head. "Do you like animals?"