Invisible String [T.S-E.S BOOK ONE]

32

December 23rd, 2013

Going back to Louisiana for a massive Christmas celebration was not what Eleanor wanted. In fact, it was the furthest thing from what she wanted.

"Can't we just do our own little Christmas with our kids?" Eleanor asked as she dramatically flopped down onto the bed, disrupting Taylor's packing.

Taylor rolled her eyes at her childishness as she continued pulling things out of the dresser. "We have a cat and a dog, El." She sighed. "And, no. You need to see your family. I told you I had plans for us to go in October, but considering your situation I figured it was best not to. I promised them, so we're going."

"They're going to ask questions." Eleanor whined. "Pat's going to ask questions."

Taylor was getting tired of El's addiction ruling their lives. She was tired of it dictating everything they did. She was at the end of her rope.

"Then you better come up with answers." She huffed in exasperation, throwing her clothes down into the suitcase. It almost scared Eleanor.

"We're going."

Eleanor wasn't arguing.

December 24th, 2013

"Hey!"

Great. The entire family was there.

There were her dad's parents, Grandma Judy and Grandpa Dan. His older sister Jennifer and her husband George and their kids, Holly and Ben. Holly and Ben were both older than El, being twenty six and twenty four respectively.

Then there was Catherine's family. Her parents, Bill and Tammy. Her three siblings, Rachel, Lucas, and Isaac. Rachel's husband Arthur and their twenty two year old son James. Lucas's wife Amanda and their daughter's Kaitlyn and Olivia, twenty and seventeen respectively. And lastly, Isaac's wife Samantha and their kids, Matthew, Ryan, and Hailey. All of them were much younger than the rest like Anthony, being thirteen, ten, and six.

Eleanor had not been told that everyone was going to be there and one look over at Taylor told her that that was intentional.

"My Eleanor! I'm so glad you could make it!" Grandma Judy wrapped her in an inescapable hug. "My little Olympian! I watched every game last year."

It was uncomfortable, yet also evoked a feeling of warmth deep within the reluctant athlete.

Her family was a typical southern family: impossibly close, impossibly nosy, and a touch problematic. They'd been getting better since Eleanor came out, but it was a slow crawl.

The slowest was her grandfather. As much as she loved old Dan, he just couldn't wrap his head around the fact that his granddaughter didn't like men.

"So, Eleanor, now that you're a hot shot athlete, any men breaking down your door?" He asked her for the thousandth time as the two of them sat on the couch.

Eleanor sighed, shooting an apologetic look to Taylor. They were out to her family with a mutual agreement that no one would say anything, but it wasn't without its challenges. No one was outright homophobic, but the stark difference from Taylor's family wasn't lost on either of them.

"Pops, I told you a million times, I don't like men. I like women." She spoke slowly, but he'd never get it. "You're sitting next to my girlfriend."

He looked genuinely confused as he slowly turned to look at the blonde next to him. "I thought she was your best friend?"

Eleanor rolled her eyes, she couldn't even count how many times they'd been over this. "Yes, and my girlfriend."

"So no husband?" He asked, still looking at Taylor.