Tainted Perfection [bxb]

Chapter 13 - The Summers

Music - Seventeen by 'the Queen' Marina and the Diamonds.

•••

Tony

A yawn escaped my mouth as I stared out the window of Todd's car, the air conditioner making me want to go back to sleep. As I checked the rearview mirror, Joanne was asleep on the back seat, her face was buried on a pillow that she brought with her so she could take a nap in the car. She didn't get enough sleep as she spent the entire night working on Hollie's gown.

Todd arrived at the apartment around nine in the morning. I had just woken up when he knocked on our door. I got a little wasted last night after Jack and I decided stay in the club after our shifts and just let loose a little. Her daughter was staying the night at her ex-wife's anyway.

It had been a while since the last time I went out for a drink and relaxed. I got a little too heavy on the alcohol but it was a good night overall.

During breakfast, Todd told me his parents were friends with my mom in high school. They invited us over for lunch and we were on our way to their house.

Mom didn't talk much about her experiences in high school. All I knew was that she made a lot of friends during her four years of stay at Dixons High. She would talk about her college life more as he met dad during those years.

"I'm gonna apologize now, but my mom really missed Aunt Lia...can I call her Aunt Lia?" Todd asked and I nodded. He continued, "She'd be asking a lot of questions. But I can tell her to tone it down a little."

I smiled and nodded. I never really got to talk about my parents much as no one really cared about asking them. Even Aunt Annaliese, dad's sister, didn't really ask about how they were. I replied, "That's fine, Todd. I love talking about them." 

When we reached their neighborhood, the first thing I noticed was that it was surrounded by huge houses and there were kids playing in their front yard behind white picket fences. I turned slightly to my left to tell Joanne to wake up. "Jo, we're here," I told her and she released a yawn.

After Todd parked his car, we got out as we made our way inside their house. With slow steps, my head was looking up at the blue two-story house. With the houses around the neighborhood  that I had just seen on our way to the Hitchers, they definitely owned one of the bigger ones.

It must be relaxing to enjoy a cup of coffee by their white balcony.

"Mom, dad, they're here," Todd announced as soon as we stepped in their home. When no one replied, he told us, "They're probably in the kitchen."

He signaled us to follow him to the kitchen. "This house is huge!" Joanne's eyes were wide in awe and her mouth was in a wide grin as she held her voice back from talking too loud. I nodded in agreement and we scrambled to where Todd had gone to.

When we got to the kitchen, we were met by a loud high-pitched gasp coming from a woman who was hurrying her way towards us. I could already tell that she was Todd's mom just by looking at the similarity  of their eyes. With a huge smile, she said, "Oh my god, Anthony, you're all grown up now."

I nodded and I was about to respond when Todd said, "No need for introduction, I guess. This is Tony's sister, Joanne."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hitcher," Joanne said with a toothed smile.

"Oh sheesh, please, just Sally." Todd's mom shook her head, her voice was filled with excitement. She heaved a deep sigh as her gaze never left my sister's face. "You must be Joanne. Wow, you got your mom's hair and button nose."