Strings and Stitches

Chapter 8

We had to cross three states and ride a boat before we arrived at Hadenton Island. There, Uncle Steven, Aunt Lydia and their sons, Peter and John were waiting for us at the port. I couldn't even recognize them at first but when the boat finally docked, out of instinct, I ran out first and without a hint of notice, I just jumped at Peter.

We almost fell down the water if he didn't immediately shift in order to catch my sudden impulse. He was taller than me now and so was John who was taller than Peter which means I'm shorter than the both of them...by a few inches... of course.

"Who is this little monkey hugging me?" Peter tries to balance himself while laughing.

"Is this the little urchin who used to run after us?"  John runs a hand behind my hair.

He used to play with my hair all the time making me wonder if he was somehow gay. But looking at him now, I'm still not sure if he is.

"The one and only," I tell him before giving him a light slap on his shoulder. I unlock my arms and let myself fall down. Peter catches hold of my waist in order to lighten my fall.

The three of us awkwardly stare at each other so I turn to Aunt Lydia and Uncle Steven. Daddy's already joined us with the car in tow. "Patrick, always the slow poke," Uncle Steven says.

I laugh with them in agreement. When Dad steps out of the car, he asks us, "What are you all laughing about?"

I cross my arms and snicker at the little inside joke. When Dad finally approaches us, he points a finger at me before taking off his sunglasses, "You, young lady, are grounded for a day."

"What? But why?"

"No buts. You could've fallen down the water," he firmly tells me

"But I didn't!" I wasn't quite sure if he was joking or if he was really serious.

"The possibilities are endless," he mutters.

"Come on, Patrick, lighten up!" Uncle Steven pats Daddy at the back. Aunt Lydia circles her arms on me and gives me a tight hug.

While the two of them talk, I rest my head on her shoulders and just let the moment pass. "How are you, Angel?" she asks me but I didn't answer. I don't know what to say. She doesn't ask me any further though and I'm glad. Instead, she whispers, "I missed you so much, Grace,"

 While embracing her, I can't help but think about Mom. Did she ever hug me like this before? I ignore the thought and just hug her as tightly as I could.

"Me too, Aunt Lydia."

The little reunion went on for a few more minutes until we finally decided to move along. I was glad that John brought my car with them but I didn't want to ride with those two. Instead, I joined Aunt Lydia at the back of Daddy's car while Steven took the front seat. I feel uneasy just thinking about Peter and John driving my Camaro but since John's the one driving, the uneasy feeling was lessened.