Meadow wondered downstairs, taking a quick glance at the gallery wall that sat in the middle of the hallway above a small dresser covered in awards. Mostly Riley's. Her eyes darted across the photos. From family vacations to graduations and award ceremonies. A large family photo sat in the middle of them all. Everyone was dressed in their best clothing. It had been taken professionally only for this very purpose. Meadow shook her head as she turned away and wondered down the hall towards the kitchen. Everything was catered. Everything had been placed neatly. Waiters walked round carrying glasses of champagne and wine on trays as well as small cakes and pies. She walked through the kitchen before standing at the large open glass doors that led out into the beautiful garden. When she was 6 her mom had promised her a pool but got a pond built instead. She gazed round at everyone laughing and talking, she spotted her brother in the far back of the garden. His arm wrapped around Tonya's waist, holding her close against him as he laughed along with family members. She turned to see Declan laughing with her dad as they drank their expensive glass bottles of beer. She froze for a moment as she squinted at the sight of someone standing by table filled with a large bowl of fruit salad. She was dressed in a short baby blue jumpsuit with an opening at the chest to show her cleavage and white high heeled wedged sandals. She had large white sun hat covering her face along with gucci sunglasses covering her eyes. Meadow narrowed her brows in a frown as she began to storm towards her before grabbing her upper arm and gently pulling her aside, away from everyone.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" She whispered to avoid making a scene to give her mom something new to complain about. Nicole chuckle, pulling her sunglasses off with a smile.
"Your mom invited me of course! I wasn't gunna say no to her big summer BBQ!" She chuckled back at her before taking a sip of her red wine. Meadow rolled her eyes back at her, shaking her head briefly.
"Of course she did." She sighed, rubbing her temple with frustration. Nicole raised a brow at her, looking her up and down for a moment as she slid her sunglasses back on.
"Lighten up, you're always so tense at these things." Nicole commented as she swirled her wine around in her glass. Meadow took a step back from hearing Nicole's comment. She gritted her teeth for a moment, taking a quick glance over to see her mom was before looking back towards Nicole.
"You know what my mom is like! I've avoided her for months because of this exact reason!" She snapped, glaring back at Nicole. Nicole sighed softly, taking a quick glance over at Meadow's mom before looking back towards Meadow.
"Maybe it's time you fix your relationship with here. You're an adult now." Nicole suggested, taking another sip of her wine. Meadow was taken back by the suggestion. Nicole had been her friend since high school, she'd seen everything her mom did and said.
"I- You- What!?" Meadow stuttered in disbelief of the suggestion, still trying to put a lid on her anger to avoid making a scene.
"I'm just saying, maybe it's what's best. Think about it." Nicole suggested before turning and walking away. Meadow shook her head with a sigh as Nicole walked away. She took one quick glance over at her mom before turning to reenter the kitchen before abruptly being stopped by her aunt walking towards her.
"Meadow!? Is that really you!?" She shouted in disbelief as she walked towards her with her arms out. Meadow smiled for the first time since she arrived. She embraced her tightly without a second thought. Aunt Iris. Her mom's one and only sister and Meadow's favourite family member. Her mom and Iris had never seen eye to eye since they were born. Her mom focused on a successful career and family while Iris travelled the world and stayed single. She always brought the most beautiful gifts home for Meadow no matter where she travelled. Iris always made sure she had Meadow's back when no one else did, you could say she was her favourite niece. Iris chuckled as she took a step back to gaze at Meadow in amazement. She couldn't believe how much she'd grown and blossomed. The last time Iris had seen her was 3 Christmases ago. Much like Meadow, Iris had made it her life's mission to avoid her sister as much as humanly possible.
"It's good to see you Aunt Iris!" Meadow exclaimed with a smile, brushing small loose strands of hair behind her ear. Iris took a step back to gaze at her one last time, shaking her head in complete disbelief.
"Wow, you look radiant my sunflower! If I'm truly honest, I'm surprised you decided to show up." Iris chuckled before taking a quick sip of her bloody Mary. Meadow chuckled back at her, shaking her head slightly.
"Like I had much choice, I wasn't ready for mom to hunt me down if I didn't show my face." Meadow chuckled as they both laughed in agreement. Iris turned her head to glance over at Declan drinking his bottled beer next to the BBQ. She swirled the celery round in her glance as she looked back towards Meadow.
"Still with Declan I see." She declared as Meadow quickly glanced over at him before looking back towards her. She nervously rubbed the back of her neck, Iris was the only person she could never lie to.
"It's...complicated.." She sighed in response. Iris raised an eyebrow at her for a moment before taking another sip of her drink.
"I see, well if you ever need someone to talk to honey you know my number. I know a thing or two about complicated relationships, trust me." She suggested with a smile, Meadow happily smiled back at her as she nodded in agreement.
"Iris!" Her mom announced as she stormed towards them both. Meadow took a quick step back as Iris rolled her eyes before turning to face her sister.
"Yes Erin." Iris teased, she knew exactly how to press her sister's buttons. She could see her already clenching her fists, trying to keep herself composed.
"I told you that I didn't wanna see you around Meadow till after the reporters left. I can't have you messing this up for me!" She hissed back at her quietly. Meadow kept her mouth shut, there were a million things she wanted to say but now definitely wasn't the right time. Iris shook her head at her with a sigh.
"Whatever your highness desires." Iris sarcastically replied before walking away from them both. She quickly waved goodbye to Meadow as she walked away. Meadow avoided eye contact with her mom, hugging herself for comfort since she could feel her mom's glare burning straight through her. Her mom exhaled deeply through her nose as she looked Meadow up and down.
"Either mingle or stay out the way." She declared before walking away towards two reporters standing in the far back of the garden. Meadow quietly made her way out the garden and through the kitchen before entering the study. So many memories gathered in her mind from just entering the room. Long study sessions that ended in her mom yelling at her or hiding away to avoid her. Meadow hid behind one of the large bookshelves as she slipped her backpack off her back, unzipping it to dig inside to find her phone. She unlocked the screen before scrolling through her contacts, hovering over Hedi before scrolling down and pressing on Keegan instead. She listened to it ring as she pressed it to her ear. She felt a pit in the bottom of her stomach, hoping she would pick up.
"Hello?" Keegan answered down the phone. Meadow let out a large sigh of relief from just hearing her voice.
"I..It's Meadow.." Meadow stuttered nervously in response.
"Meadow? Hm, that name doesn't ring a bell. Are you sure you have the right number?" Keegan teased.
"Um..er.."
"I'm kidding! I have you as bambi in my contacts idiot!" Keegan chuckled back at her. Meadow chuckled nervously back at her in response.
"O..Oh, aha.."
"What's up?" Keegan asked as she lay back on her bed, resting her hand behind her head.
"Shitty family, you know the usual.." Meadow replied with a sigh, running circles on her thigh with her finger.
"Ah, one of life's many joys!" Keegan joked, sitting up in her bed as she pulled her knees to her chest. Meadow slid down the bookshelf before sitting herself down on the floor.
"I don't wanna be here, my mom is such a judgemental control freak. I've been avoiding her for months.." Meadow complained with a heavy sigh.
"Listen, if you get overwhelmed just step outside and call me. If I don't answer I'm either getting laid, asleep or busy." Keegan suggested, Meadow sat in a stunned silence for a moment as she tried to find the words to reply with.
"Er..thank you.." Meadow replied nervously with a weak smile. Nicole stood outside the room quietly listening in. She raised an eyebrow in confusion as she tried to piece everything together.
YOU ARE READING
Unlikely Conditions
General FictionMeadow has always been miss perfect. Perfect grades. Perfect boyfriend. Perfect job at a cheesy restaurant. Even her attitude and manners were perfect. She's never really stepped outside her comfort zone, in front of people any way. After a long shi...
