Among The Wildflowers

ℕ𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟: Faking It

Dinner is going well and Gina's family continues to compliment her cooking.

The whole evening is surreal and Gina can't stop looking around the table filled with her family. It's a lovely feeling hearing their voices again. Being together again.

Looking at the end of the table, she notices the three children eating in silence.

"Bella, why don't ya give Sophie and Jack a tour of your room?"

Nic gives Gina a pleading look, "Can't we just eat, Gina?"

Every head at the table turns in Nic's direction.

"No, do as I said."

Nic sighs loudly, before standing and walking towards the stairs. Sophie and Jack follow after her.

Once the children are out of sight, Maeve turns to her daughter,"Did she just call ya by your name?"

Gina looks down at her plate and tries to focus on finishing her potatoes.

She doesn't look at her mother as she says,"Yes, she did."

It's quiet for a moment and Gina can feel her family's eyes boring into her.

"If ya don't mind me asking," Maeve begins,"why do you allow her to call ya by your first name?"

Gina sets down her fork and looks up, facing her mother,"Because that's what she's comfortable with."

"She's been living with ya for how long, dear?"

"Almost ten months now," Gina replies with a soft smile.

"Ten months and she calls ya by your first name?"

"Mam, please," Saoirse breaks in, shooting her mom a look.

Maeve lays her napkin on the table and shrugs,"I'm just curious. It's a bit odd, that's all."

"Well, it's not odd to me," Gina says, an edge to her voice,"I'm perfectly happy with her calling me by my name. I'm sorry it offends ya."

"Darlin', I'm not offended. I'm just confused and a bit concerned. You adopted this child and she can't even call ya her mother? I mean, that's extremely disrespectful. It's rude to say the least."

Gina pushes back from the table and stands, pointing a finger at her mother.

"You have no idea what you're talking about," she snaps, her expression dark,"that little girl has been through hell and I'm not about to force her to call me anything. She lost her parents in a car accident when she was five years old for God's sake. She's been tossed around from family to family and they weren't always good to her either. Hell, I'm lucky she trusts me enough to call me anything at all. And if ya have a problem with the way she addresses me, I'd suggest getting to know her and her situation before jumping to conclusions when it comes to something ya know nothing about!"

The entire table is silent as Gina sits back down.

"I, for one," Saoirse begins,"have no problem with Nic calling ya by your name. I think it's rather endearing."

"I agree," Niall seconds and his wife gives a nod of approval.

Maeve's face falls and she takes her oldest daughter's hand,"Regina, dear, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I love and respect ya. Forgive me?"

Gina gives her mother a small smile,"Of course, Mam. Always. I'm sorry I let my temper get away from me."

"That's alright, dear."

While the adults finish dinner, Nic is upstairs having a very hard time controlling her own temper.

"Why is there a stuffed animal on your bed?" Sophie asks, her nose shriveled in disgust.