Safe Place // Jake Kiszka x Calum Hood

Chapter Thirteen.

You walked down the stairs to the living room where you heard your mom and Ivy laughing.
They were both sitting on the couch currently looking at old photo albums, Matt across from them in your dad's old recliner.

She always did this when you came home.
It didn't matter if it was just you, or if you brought Ivy, Calum, anyone.
She loved reminiscing on the old days.
The GOOD days.

"Oh my and here's our vacation to Disney World with the Kiszkas in 2006? I believe it was? Fare I think you and the boys were around 11, so that means Ron and Matt would've been 10, and Sammy 8 I guess?"

You smiled and nodded, sitting down on the other side of your mom to look at the photos even though you had seen them more than dozen times.

"Yeah I think you're right. Do you guys remember that very first day we went to the Magic Kingdom?? Oh my gosh, mom and Karen had tried so hard to plan our days down to the hour" you said leaning up to look at Ivy while you laughed, "Dad and Kelly basically told us kids to just go with it so it would make them happy. Please tell me you remember Matt??"

Matt nodded, beginning to laugh as well, "How could I forget? Sam and I wanted to ride Space Mountain but mom said that "wasn't on our schedule until 12:30".."

Everyone began to laugh in unison, you nodding your head enthusiastically, "YES!! And then we were walking down main street and it started absolutely POURING the rain?? Mom and Karen were so upset because they "didn't plan for that kind of weather"! Oh man and then to top it all off Jake and Josh ran out in it, all of us following suit shortly after.." you replied, shaking your head as the tears streamed down your face from laughing so hard.

Your mom started to shake her head with you, "Hey now, we just wanted to have a good time. Taking 6 kids to Disney World is a lot if you don't make a time schedule to get it all in....but your dad....oh your sweet dad. I'll never forget it, Karen was still yelling at all of you to get under the shelter with us out of the rain but naturally, you wouldn't listen. And I had finally given up on yelling with her because I knew if you weren't listening to Karen you weren't going to listen to me either. So your dad and I stood there under the awning, just watching the six of you run around and play in the puddles and rain. After a few minutes he pulled me into him, squeezing me tight and whispered into my ear "I love you. And this crazy life we share. I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else." And in that moment I was so at peace."

You wiped the tears from your face that you hadn't even known had fallen, looking over at Matt who was doing the same, "That was the last vacation we took all four of us. It's still my favorite vacation we've ever went on." you replied.

Your mom smiled, wiping the last few tears from her cheeks as well, "Yeah mine too. We had a wonderful time."

At about that time you heard the front door open, "Where's my girl?!?"

You jumped up on your feet from the couch and turned toward the direction of the front door,
"Mom???"

Karen popped her head around the corner, a huge grin spreading across her face, "There she is!!"
She ran around the doorway and straight to you at the couch almost knocking you back down as she engulfed you into a giant bear hug, "Oh honey how I have missed you so!!"

You squeezed her back just as tight with a giant smile on your face, "I've missed you too. So much."

She pulled back and just like your own mom had done, cupping your cheek with her hand, "Oh sweetheart you're absolutely stunning. You look more and more like your daddy every time I see you. Doesn't she Kim??"

You couldn't help but grin.
Your mom and Karen were one and the same.

Your mom smiled and nodded, clearly thinking your thoughts as well, "She does."