Vena Cava (Medicinal Love Book Two) IN HIATUS

Chapter 11

June 15, 2012 | 7:30 pm

Situating her peach scallop hemmed dress, Aija stepped out from her father's truck with him following suit, before coming around hooking her arm around his so they could walk towards the location where Evelyn and Preston's rehearsal dinner was. The rehearsal itself went without a hitch, with lots of laughter mixed in between, and now it was time to satisfy hungry bellies. Derrick and Aija walked into the restaurant and they were led to where all the family was gathered. There were other family members that weren't there at the venue and Derrick leaned in to say into his daughter's ear. "Did I tell you that your Uncle Isaiah made it home? He's right there at the table."

Aija gasped in delight and turned to see her uncle sitting next to a cousin, his faded hair unmistakable.

"Hi, Uncle Zay!"

When Isaiah's eyes caught her, he leaped up from his chair and rushed over to hug her, the smell of cigars and mint all over him. "If it isn't my favorite niece. It's been so long since I've seen you." Aija pulled away from him and took his appearance in. He was in the marines and so she was super surprised he was even in front of him.

"You were able to be on leave for Auntie Eve's wedding?"

Derrick grasped Isaiah's hand before he brought him in for a hug and Isaiah looked back at Aija, nodding. "Yeah, just for the week, then I'm heading back. How are things in Seattle?"

The father and daughter duo blinked. Nobody in the family really knew what had happened between her and Hikaru. All they knew was that they were now engaged. She put a hand on Isaiah's forearm before saying, "Life is good but I'm not currently in Seattle. I'm in Japan right now."

"Japan? Wow... I guess you're kind of on leave then too, huh?"

"You could say that," Aija responded, with a chuckle. Isaiah grinned before bringing his niece in for another hug before one of Aija's great aunts came and waved him over. Derrick went to sit next to his mother while Aija sat down between Genevieve and Roxanne. Roxanne snuggled her close and then Gen discussed more about her wedding ideas with pearls and what needed to be planned next. The roar of conversation permeated the area and then was suddenly broken by the clinking sound of a knife hitting a glass.

Heads turned to meet the gaze of Lydia Edwards who was the current matriarch of the family and Aija's grandmother. She smiled when the volume came to a quieter level before nodding and suggesting, 'Let's bless our food, shall we?" She winked over at Aija who smiled back. Hands grasped onto one after another and when all were connected, heads bowed.

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing our family together here safely, especially for ones who had to travel across seas. We thank you for keeping us close with old bonds and now new as we welcome new members into our family. Finally, we thank you for this food that has been graciously made for us that will keep us nourished and pleased. Aaa-men!"

The family laughed together while exclaiming, "AMEN!", dropping hands to trade them for silverware as family-sized plates of spaghetti, alfredo, and ziti were placed before them. Aija looked from side to side as she took in her family. None of them looked like her, but since she came into their lives at the age of eight, she didn't care about that, and nor did they. She loved the fact that she had just as much love for Grandmama Lydia as much as if she were biological.

There were times when Aija wondered, however, if her real grandmother loved her just as much when she was little and missed her. She couldn't say if she did. She didn't remember her enough to miss her. The thought saddened her, but like always, she pushed it away to make room for the love that covered her as snug as a blanket. That's what mattered right now. The family she had now. There would be time for that later in life.