No Shame (Book 2 - No Regrets)

Chapter Sixty-Three - All the Priors

***Please forgive writing errors, my writing of this chapter was very me trying to keep up with my brain as it poured out the story***

DOMINICK'S POV

Everything with Katie and I started off strange. No, more than strange, it started off wrong. Instead of it being me who got prepped to have a sibling, it was Katie. Katie was the one who watched as the environment around her changed to accommodate a new sibling. Katie was the one who Mom and Dad worked with to prepare. There weren't any children's books about getting an older sibling, at least none that our parents could find, so they had to improvise.

I don't remember the meetings with them at the start of the adoption process. Mom says that I was very timid, especially during the first few meetings when it was only the three of us and the social worker. According to our parents, despite my timid nature, it was evident that Katie and I formed an instant bond.

  Now, there does not appear to be any speck of a sibling bond between us. Katie does not talk to me. She hardly even looks or acknowledges me when I'm over at the house.

Even now, as we sit next to one another at the table, she won't look at me. How could I have hurt her so badly and not realized? The question torments me.

"It's been so long since we all sat together like this as a family." Mom says. "It is so nice." She reaches over and places a hand on Katie's shoulder.

"I agree." Dad chimes in. "Both of you kids have been so busy."

"Sorry about that." I say. "Things should begin settling down more in the next few weeks." I always say that.

"Yeah, sorry." Katie says in a quiet voice.

"Don't be sorry. You kids are growing up, spreading your wings."  Mom says. "Your lives can not revolve around us, after all one day we won't be here."

"Mom." I say. "Don't say stuff like that."

Mom does a gentle laugh, "Oh hush, I know it won't be for a long time."

"Better not be." Dad jokes. "I quite enjoy living."

"All I am saying," Mom says giving Dad an amused look, "is that you two don't need to apologize."

"Got it, now can we please change the subject to something." I say.

"Okay, but first,"

"Mom."

"Let me get one last thing out, as your mom, it is so important to me that you two be there for one another." Mom folds her hands on the table. "Not just for Dad and I are gone."

"Don't worry Mom, we know." I say. I look toward Katie. "And we are, right?"

Katie doesn't look at me, she pushes her plate a couple inches toward the center of the table. "I have homework I need to finish up. Can I be excused?"

Dad and Mom exchange a look, before Dad replies, "Of course, Champ. Just put your plate in the sink."

"Thank you, I'll probably work on the homework and then go to bed."

"Okay, don't stay up too late." Mom says.

"Okay. Goodnight." Katie says as she gets up from the table. Biting my tongue, I watch her walk into the kitchen and then head upstairs.

Not a day passes that I don't want to call her. I want her to talk to me. Even if all she'll do is yell and curse at me. Anything would feel better than all this nothing. She can be mad at me, she has every reason and right to be. I put her though so much.