Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 54

Samantha POV

"I know it's only been a day, but what do you think of California?" Sarah asked me as we pulled out of their driveway.

"It's so bright and colourful," I smiled.

"B and I are really glad you guys came out here. We want to spoil you rotten by the way," Sarah laughed. I laughed too.

"Mom and Dad spoil me enough. Any more and I might rot," I laughed.

"Spoiled rotten. Huh?" Sarah smiled.

We pulled into a little plaza and went into the butcher there.

"What should we have?" She asked me. "Any preferences?"

"I'm good with like, hamburgers," I said. I still don't like people spending money on me. Even though dinner wasn't just for me.

"Why don't we get some hamburgers, sausages and some steaks? That way everyone can have something they like. I'll need to grab some buns, too."

Sarah spoke to the butcher while I looked around the shop. There were lobsters in a tank by the rest of the seafood. They were grey.

Sarah came by with her bag of meat.

"Ready?" She asked.

"Yeah. Aunt Sarah?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are the lobsters grey? I thought lobsters were red," I asked.

"They turn red when you cook them," she said. "Something to do with a reaction to boiling water and their shells."

"So you kill them and then put them in the water," I asked.

"Uh, no," Sarah said. "You put them in alive."

I looked at her.

"Seriously?!" I asked.

"Erm, yeah," she said, sheepishly.

"I don't think I'm ever eating lobster," I said.

Sarah laughed.

"Okay. Let's head over to the mall quickly," she said. "Don't worry, I have a cooler in the car with an ice pack. The meat will stay cool."

I was eyeing the bag when she said that.

We drove to the mall and Sarah parked outside the Target.

"Let's do a little shopping," she smiled.

"For what?"

"For you," she said.

"I don't need anything," I said. "Mom and Dad took me shopping before we came out here."

"Nonsense. Today it you and me and I'm spoiling you," she grinned at me.

"Aunt Sarah, you really don't have to," I pleaded.

"Too bad," she said, pulling me close to her and putting her arm around my shoulders.

We went into the mall and walked around for a bit. Sarah pulled me into Hot Topic and we looked at the band merch on the back wall. She pulled out a couple of Panic! shirts and a couple of TwentyOne Pilots shirts and declared she was buying them for me. They were newer ones I hadn't seen, and didn't have.

"I don't need them," I pleaded.

Aunt Sarah turned to me and looked me straight in the eyes.

"Samantha Joseph. I am buying these for you because I want to. Not because you need them. They are a gift. From me to you. And from Uncle B."

"Okay, okay!" I exclaimed, giving her a hug. "Thank you."

"That's better," she said, smiling, returning my hug and kissing my head.

We wandered about a little more and eventually went to Target where Sarah picked up some hamburger and hot dog buns, some potato salad and coleslaw and some veggies for the burgers.

"We have some Diet Coke at home but do you want anything else? Root beer or Dr Pepper?"

"Diet Coke is fine, thanks," I said.

"You're sure?"

I nodded.

"Okay."

We paid for the groceries and left the mall. Aunt Sarah pulled into a Starbucks and parked.

"Come on. I need a coffee," she said.

I followed her into the cafe and we ordered drinks. I got a sugar free latte and bolused on my pump.

"What's that?" Aunt Sarah asked. I explained the pump and the continuous glucose monitor to her. She asked a couple of questions about it, genuinely interested.

"We should probably make sure tomorrow at Disneyland we get a pass so you don't have to stand out in the heat and cause potential problems for your insulin."

"You can do that?" I asked.

"Sure. It's called a disability pass, even though you're not technically disabled. It's recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Plus we usually get Fast Passes anyway so we'll see what we can do to incorporate that too.

I had no idea what any of that meant.

We drank our coffees and talked about school and just, stuff. It was nice.

When we'd both finished our coffees, we left and headed back to the house.

Aunt Sarah put the groceries in the kitchen and I took my new shirts upstairs. I decided to change into my bathing suit. I saw Dad and Uncle Brendon were in the pool and Mom was on a lounge chair. There were two more people in the backyard, too.

"Uncle Josh!" I said, running outside and into his arms.

"Hey there, sweetie! Nice to see you too!" He said, hugging me tight. "I have someone o want you to meet."

He turned me around and introduced me to a really cute and beautiful woman in shirts and a striped fitted t-shirt.

"This is Debby," he said, proudly. "My fiancée."

"Hey there!" She said to me, giving me a tight hug. "Josh has told me all about you."

"Everything?" I asked looking at Josh. He nodded. I looked down.

"Hey," Debby said, picking my chin up and looking into my eyes. "Don't you worry about any of that stuff. You are not the things that have happened in your past. And I want to get to know you."

I smiled.

"Thanks," I said.

"Kiddo," Josh said. "We brought lunch. It's over there. Sandwiches and stuff. Deli. Go eat. You're too skinny."

"I just had coffee with Aunt Sarah. I'm okay for a minute," I said. And I'd already unhooked my insulin pump and didn't want to do a shot just yet.

"How was shopping with your aunt?" Dad said, coming over after getting out of the pool. He hugged me.

"Daaaaad!" I squealed as he got me all wet.

"I love that sound," he said to Uncle Josh and Debby as he wrapped his arms around me. "Did you unhook your pump?" He asked me. I nodded.

"Good. Go swim. Uncle Brendon is asking for you,"

Just then, Uncle Josh picked me up. I squealed again and begged him to put me down.

"Can you swim?" He asked.

"Yes!" I screamed. "Put me down!"

He did. Right into the deep end of the pool. I surfaced and sputtered. Uncle Brendon was lying on a pizza shaped floatie and laughing at me.