Finding my light

Chapter 23

***

We finally arrive home after the long drive. I don't know why but I have a feeling that this isn't gonna turn out fine. 

Kate gently presses the doorbell. "Who's that?", I hear mum yell from inside. I take a deep breath as I hear her footsteps get closer to the door. I could feel Kate's gaze on me as I hear the door open. The look on mom's face was unreadable. She didn't say anything at first, she just starred. 

"Mom are you gonna keep us waiting or are you gonna let us into our house", Kate says making the house more pronounced. "Oh my, Kate, It's been so long", mom says pulling Kate into a tight hug. "I've missed you so much", she said referring to Kate. She doesn't say anything to me as she motions for us to go in. 

I step inside and nothing's changed. Just reminding me of the way it all turned out bad the last time I came. 

"Where's Dad?", Kate asks looking at the pictures around. "He went to work."

"Oh, too bad he isn't here to see us before we leave."

"Before you leave? Honey you just came aren't you gonna spend the night over?"

"Nah, I'm already at Josh's", Kate says now starring blankly at mom. "That reminds me mom, you never told me about Josh, or worse, you never told me you were gonna cut Winter out of this family."

"We're not cutting her off Kate you of all people should know what our family tradition entails."

"Really, Does our family tradition entails giving Winter to a complete stranger who bosses her around like she's some low privileged poor child who doesn't have anywhere to stay?"

"The Taylor's aren't some strangers", mom replies back in a low tune. "Honestly? what is their family history then?", Kate says as mom doesn't say a thing. "See? you can't say. You don't know it." 

"You say you're not cutting Winter off but you never call even for once to check out how she's doing or more, you can't even come over to the house to visit her since she left."

"You know what mom, since she came you haven't even uttered a word to her. You didn't even glance in her direction. What kind of mother are you mom?", Kate says but this time in a louder voice. 

I thought I was the only one who noticed the ill treatment mom gave me since we entered. 

"What's going on here?"

We hear Aunt amber's voice and we all turn to her direction. I could see her glaring at me, only me. Seriously, if looks could kill I doubt if I'll be alive right now. 

"Are you blind? What does it look like?", Kate answers Aunt Amber glaring at her. "Wow, I see you've summoned courage from your husband's house to come disturb us in our house."

"Look Amber, I'm sure being homeless wasn't nice for you so I really don't get it why you're still striving to go back to the streets. You've ruined your house already so I think you should stop there."

I don't know why but despite the tension, I'm starting to enjoy it. I just feel like giving Kate a really tight hug right now. I haven't been so proud of her. She's taken Aunt Amber right to her place.

"That's enough!", mom finally says being fed up with everything. "No mom, it isn't. Just because we're girl's doesn't give all of you the chance of looking down on us. And then you blame it on some stupid tradition which you can correct in just a second."

"You can't correct the tradition."

"Really, watch me. I can't believe just because I was in love with Jason I didn't have the time to figure all this out. Come on Winter let's go", Kate says holding my hand firmly as we dash out of the house.

I knew it wasn't gonna go well. My instincts were right. But I didn't regret coming though, it was fun how mom, Kate, and Aunt Amber fought. 

"How are you gonna change the family's tradition", I ask as we both wait for the uber to come pick us. "I don't know yet, but I'll find a way for sure. You'll get married to who you want to get married to and you're gonna have a happy life. I promise."

Hearing that word "Promise" from Kate is like knowing it's definitely gonna happen. She never fails on her promise. 

I give her a huge smile a pull her into a hug. We quickly pull out as we see the uber arrive. We hop in immediately and straight to Ashley's. 

***

When we arrive at Ashley's I walk as fast as I can to the door. It feels like it's been over a decade since I last came here. I wanna make this a surprise for her. She's gonna be so happy. I hit the door bell and wait for an answer. I just hope she's around. 

"Who's there?" I hear her say from inside but I don't say anything. Like I said, I want it to be a surprise for her.

She opens the door and I'm already pulled into a very tight hug. "Oh my God, is this really happening?"

"Ash, I can't breathe", I say as she pulls out from the hug. "Are you really Winter?" She says sniffing my hair. "Oh yeah, that's my bestie's scent."

"So that asshole finally released you out of that hell hole right?"

"Turns out your little friend here was hallucinating that Josh actually said that", Kate says as Ash gives me a smack on my head. "I knew he wouldn't be that bad. So you made rules for yourself."

"Believe me that doesn't stop him from being any less of a Jerk", I say as we all laugh. "So I'm gonna leave you girls now, Winter don't forget to be home before ten okay?", Kate says as I nod in reply. "Sorry Kate I was too focused on this little mess, I didn't really notice you. How's Jason?"

"Oh it's nothing, I know Winter is a really huge piece of mess that needs a lot of focus. Jason's good, thanks for asking", Kate says smiling as she leaves.