Believing lies

chapter 14

"Oh sweetheart I'm so sorry," Mom says cupping my cheek. I give her a forced smile leaning into her warm embrace.

"It's okay, I'm okay now," I shrug and mom gives me a smile that shows she wasn't convinced but let me be anyways.

"What did you do with the letter?" Dad asks handing me a cup of tea. My brothers turn their heads to me, waiting for a response as well.

I grip the mug with both hands and sigh, "River has it, brought it home with him, and said if I ever really wanted to read it he will give it to me,"

"What a sweet boy," Mom gushes, and I blush.

"Speaking of when are the Nash siblings arriving?" Celeste asks. It was Thanksgiving weekend and Mom invited the Nash family over, Elizabeth kindly declined for her and her husband, which I'm sure my whole family sighed with relief.

I glance at the time on the stove, "soon, Celeste had a midterm so they wanted to wait for her," I tell them.

They would be having Thanksgiving with us today and tomorrow I spend thanksgiving with them. Or the twins and just Elizabeth so I've been told by River.

The doorbell rings "speaking of the devils," Mason chuckles as I slide off the counter chair and towards the door. The chaos of welcomes soon happened by everyone and moved from the front door to the kitchen.

River pulls me back, "how are you feeling today baby?" He asks me. I nod and he squeezes my hip. "You're not lying are you?" He tilts his head.

"I'm okay," He confirms. He gives me a tight-lipped smile before nodding. He pulls me into his side and rubs my arm. I let out a sigh as I breathe in his cologne and we walk into the kitchen.

"Happy Thanksgiving River," Mom smiles rounding the kitchen island and placing both hands on his cheeks. He smiles brightly at my mother as I step away from him.

"Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you again for pushing your normal dinner for us idiots," River jokes and mom pats his cheek.

"Oh hush, it's no big deal," she says pulling away and River smiles at her before she turns to Monroe, "Monroe honey, I got some honeycombs from the market because I know you've been stressed lately,"

Mason chuckles, "mom says honey can conquer anything," He says and Monroe thanks her as mom drags her towards the container.

River slides his hands around my waist and pulls me back into him, "I don't think the twins are used to such motherly ways," he whispers into my ear.

"Well now they're stuck with her so they better get used to it," I mumble placing my head on his shoulder. He hums in response.

An hour later the boys settled into the living room with beers in their hand while us girls stayed in the kitchen and did what we did the best, gossip. Celeste and Monroe sat at the kitchen island as Mom and I finished the preparations for dinner. Mom insisting that my help was fine.

"So what kind of doctor would you like to be Monroe?" Mom asks.

"I wanna be a pediatrician," Monroe smiles, "I had visited a children's hospital with my mother once when I was a kid, and according to my mother I wouldn't stop bugging the doctors there," She chuckles.

"Well good for you," Mom nods and Monroe smiles.

"She's actually a really good baker too," I tell mom, "she makes good mochi," I wink at her and she shakes her head smiling.

"I've always wanted to make mochi!" Mom exclaims, "you should come over once your on break and teach me, please!" Mom begs and I laugh.

"Mom, come on," I say not being able to hold in my laughter.