"Meeting new people has always been a thing I find enlightening. I enjoy getting to know the people I don't know."
"Do you enjoy getting to know me?"
I smiled. "Of course I do."
Where a girl who just lost her mom and a boy who fights his own demons...
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"I am fine. I just needed some time to breath." I sat on the couch and looked from my father to Alex and Ellie. They seemed worried about me since I came back from Marmee's all sad and worried. I was shaken with nervousness and couldn't stop thinking of Alex. When I had gotten home, my father and Ellie had made sure I didn't go up there. I sat on the couch, bobbing my leg up and down as I bit on my thumb nail. I was scared for him, but soon was released of stress when I was around my kids. Holding Annemarie in my hands and the boys around me.
"Are you sure? The boys are worried for you." Ellie asked.
I smiled. The boys had never seen my cry until today. It was probably more scary for them than me. They hadn't believed I would ever cry unless it was tears of joy. I got a glance at Lincoln as he looked at me with his worried eyes. I felt like he knew what was going on before being told about it. Him seeing me crying and worried pretty much confirmed it. Lincoln and Ashton sat beside me as I let Annemarie sit on my lap. I bounced her around as she laughed.
"I am sure. The doctor had promised to keep me updated."
"You're still going to ball, right?" Ellie asked.
I nodded. "I just hope Alex will be able to attend. I don't think I could have fun without him there."
Lincoln gave me a side eye and smiled. I just ignored it and looked at the three worried family members in front of me. "It just scared me. That is all."
I looked at my father who gave me his fatherly eyes. He knew everything about me. I was his daughter after all. He knew when I was sad even when I pretended to show the opposite. "You do know we love you, right?"
I looked at my father and nodded. "Of course I do. I don't know what I would do if you didn't."
"Good." He nodded at me with a smile.
"Would you like some tea?"
I nodded. "That would be lovely. I'm going to take a step out on the porch." I stood up and walked to the door, opening it after putting on some warm shoes. I crossed my arms in front of my chest as I tried to warm myself with my own body heat. I was worried for Alex and didn't want to lose him. I knew he would overthink about me overthinking. I had always talked to him about my fear of sickness.
I sat down on the white rocking chair and held the small blanket around me. The snow had stopped hours before, but a thick layer of it laid on the ground. I hated winter more than anything. If that was my reaction to Alex being sick, I'm not sure how I would react to my children being sick or my dad. They were so important to me. I don't know what I would do without them.
The door opened and Lincoln came out with two cups of hot tea and a blanket of his own. I took the cup with a smile and watched as he took the seat beside me. We had done this every morning, but I think we both needed it.
