Dare Kings

Chapter 38: Thanksgiving

"Get the chicken out of the oven, Alyssa!" Screamed my mom as she ran from upstairs in a panic.

I giggled and ran towards the kitchen and the oven, my little sister behind, giggling. I grabbed the mittens and placed them on opening the oven.

Damn, the smell of the chicken was bussing bussing! The aroma spread throughout the kitchen with other cooked and baked foods.

"Good, you got it," mom exhaled, leaning on the counter.

I smiled at her. "Yeah, what were you doing that you forgot you were cooking?" I chuckled, placing the chicken on the island, and walked over to her, removing the mittens. "Be grateful for having a great daughter like me," I chuckled.

She gave me a small smile. "It's the doctor, honey," my eyes widened, and I went closer to her, not wanting Amber to hear anything....not yet, at least.

"Yeah?" I said curiously.

She nodded. "He gave us an appointment on the twenty-eight of this month, sweetie. Everything is going to be alright," she caressed my face and then hugged me. "Everything is going to be alright," she whispered. "I promise."

I exhaled a breath I didn't know I was holding in when my mom first mentioned the doctor.

This was good news, great news.

Another reason to worry was not one anymore.

"Thank you, mom," I hugged her back.

"Mommy, can I help with the cake?" Amber asked, walking over to us.

My mom pulled back and laughed. That was when I noticed she was crying.

She tried wiping her tears while sniffling.

It broke me. I hated seeing mom cry. She had been through so much already to be crying right now.

Losing my dad and sister was like losing her soul. I still remember those days as if it was yesterday, and I could only imagine her pain mom was too good at hiding it.

My mom hardly ever talked about my sister and dad because she thought that she was protecting me and my sister from breaking, but she was only protecting herself.

She couldn't accept it. Losing a daughter even though she wasn't blood and losing my dad also the love of her life and high school sweetheart, was something she and we had to live with forever.

I think about them every day, but to keep my mental state healthy, I tried not to. Sad, devastated, broken, could not explain my sentiments about losing them. That was an understatement.

My mom and sister went to bake some cakes, and I went to help. My mom loved fruit cake, and we got some new neighbors as well, and I was sure mom going to make one for them.

"Grab that greased pan, sweetie."

****

"Amen, let's eat," my mom said, and we all started reaching for meals.

I grinned at mom. "Happy Thanksgiving, mom," I told her, grabbing the mashed potatoes and then turning to Amber. "Happy Thanksgiving!"

Both smiled at me. "Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Sweetie pass me the sweet corn?" Mom asked Amber. "Oh, take some.."

I smiled, looking at them in awe. No matter what, we were still a happy family, and I treasured that. Sitting around this table with both my mom and sister was everything, and seeing them smile like this was heartwarming, knowing that two more someones were always here.

Rihanna and dad.

"Hey, mom, pass me the gravy?"

"Sure, sweetie," she passed it to me, and I took it, smiling.