Among The Wildflowers

𝔼𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟: Meet the Fam

It was the week before Thanksgiving and Gina was freaking out. Her family had called a few days ago informing her that they would be flying from Dublin, Ireland to Virginia so they could all be together for Thanksgiving.

They had only given her four days' notice. She quickly realized that there wasn't enough room upstairs to accommodate her family. There were only three bedrooms and by the end of today there would be nine people staying in this house.

It was going to be a nightmare.

Gina decided that she would give her own room to her parents and her older brother and his wife could have the guest room. Their two children could sleep on the pull out couch downstairs and Nic could sleep on one of the blowup mattresses. That only left her and her younger sister who would share Nic's room. It would be difficult, but it would work.

"Bella, did ya clean your room like I asked?"

Nic remains silent as she watches TV.

"Young lady, did ya hear me?"

Nic looks up from the TV and glares at her mother,"I'm not talking to you right now." She then turns back to the TV without another word.

Gina's brows shoot up.

"Oh really," she says, her tone suddenly dark. She goes to stand in front of the TV, crossing her arms and glaring down at her daughter.

Nic looks up at Gina with a scowl,"Move."

"No," Gina says,"answer my question."

"Get outta the way," Nic barks, her face growing redder by the minute.

"Raise your voice to me one more time and see what happens, little girl."

Nic smirks,"Nothing. Nothing will happen. So move."

Gina does her best to conceal her shock. She reaches down and plucks the remote from the coffee table.

"Hey!" Nic yells,"give it back!"

Gina hits the power button and the TV fades to black. She turns back to her daughter, who is fuming, and sticks the remote in the pocket of her apron.

"There will be no more TV today. That includes when my family arrives."

Nic rolls her eyes, trying to hide how much she hates this punishment. She doesn't want Gina to think it's actually working.

"And," Gina continues,"there will be no sweets for the rest of the day. I've been making cookies all morning and you will not be eating any of them. If I find out you've sneaked any, I'll have ya stand with your nose in the corner until bedtime. Do ya understand?"

Nic remains silent, glaring at Gina with her arms crossed.

"I said, do ya understand?" Gina repeats, accentuating every word.

"Yes," Nic spits out.

"Yes what?"

"I'm not saying it."

Gina narrows her eyes at Nic,"You will say it or I'll just let Kate and Stan know that you're grounded for two weeks."

"Fine," Nic snaps,"yes ma'am. Are you happy now?"

With a frustrated sigh, Gina sits down next to her daughter,"What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Nic asks, arms crossed.

"Bella, you've had an awful attitude ever since I told ya my family was coming. Is that why you're upset? Are ya nervous to meet 'em?"

Nic sinks back into the couch and sighs,"I'm not nervous to meet them. I'm just.."