Terminal

Chapter 12

We probably got home somewhere around 3 that morning. After we woke back up tired and groggy from 4 hours of sleep, we headed downstairs where mom was already cooking a small breakfast of eggs, bacon, grits, and sausage. Mom hummed while she cooked, trying to cheer herself up maybe. Possibly, she was just trying to lighten the mood a little; we were all a little tense for the conversation we knew was about to happen.  

Once the food was done, we all got our plates and sat down in the living room, in the same spots we had sat in just last night. It didn't feel like it was last night, that time felt forever ago. It felt like my sister and I had walked out of the house ages ago. Everything involving time felt so distorted right now. 

"So, we have a lot to discuss. Let's start with the easiest thing first, so that we can have at least something accomplished.  Juleisa's old room will be converted into an extra room for anybody when they come over. Kaitlyn, since you will be leaving soon, your room will continue to stay your room, for when you come home for weekends or holidays. Hopefully you can leave it a bit cleaner than it's infamous for being now", my mom jumped right into it. 

"Okay, that sounds pretty good...", I said. She was right, getting the easy stuff sorted and out of the way made for smoother sailing. 

"Mom, with Kaitlyn leaving for school...and with Juleisa....not being here... you'll have a few more dollars in your pocket. Maybe now you could finally afford that little house over by the beach you'd been looking at", Brianna suggested. I could see her internal struggle to get some of the words out, but she had worded it in the gentlest way possible.

Mom's face had been a little pale and gloomy from my sister's comment, but at the mention of the new house, her face brightened and I saw a nice smile I had missed the past day. "That's a nice idea, Bri. Thank you. Hopefully, you girls could still make time to come visit me often." Here she chuckled lightly, "I'm gonna miss having someone to take care of, a little one to run after." I could tell mom would miss having a child to be a mother to, but she had no idea what ship was coming her way. 

Finally, Brianna spoke up, given the perfect opportunity to inject her announcement. "Mom, I have some really big news to tell you. As you know, Sean and I have been married for two years now, and we wanted to wait a little while to make sure we were ready financially, but we thought the time had finally come."

My mom looked up at her as she spoke. I thought she was beginning to comprehend what my sister was saying, as a new gleam formed in her eyes. She looked at my sister with such hope, so much happiness that I was positive she had to have known before Brianna said, "We're having a baby."

My mom just smiled and stood up. There were tears in her eyes as she walked over to my sister and embraced her. The maternal feelings were evident in everyone throughout the room, and I even felt a smile tugging at my heartstrings. I wondered what the next thing to talk about would be. 

"Well, that's wonderful Brianna. I know you'll make an excellent mother. And whenever you start to feel the growing pains of taking care of a baby, I'm here to help."

My sister said a thank you, and then we pushed back on. 

"Something we do have to look at, though, with my schooling, is the cost. Mom, that school seems so perfect, and I would do anything to attend, but it seems like it would be so expensive. With Bri having a baby, all costs are going towards that. And the only income we have right now is you. So not to be a debbie-downer, but how do we know we have enough money to fund me going to this school?", I questioned. I would love to go to Ridgehill, but it almost seemed to good to be true. A school that amazing would definitely have a price to it. 

"I know. But, I've been saving up for a little while. And like your sister said earlier, now I might find myself with some extra funds laying around now. Besides, the beach house can wait a little" . She winked at me, and I smiled back. 

I thought of leaving my mom here everyday by hersef, alone, and I couldn't help but think of how bad that could be. What if she didn't take care of herself, or what if she got badly hurt? 

I voiced the thoughts I'd just had aloud, and she responded with "Oh please. I'll be fine. While you guys are at school, I actually do have a life, you know. I have friends to hang out with. I can handle myself, I promise. Okay?"

It sounded good now, but there was no way to know if she would keep her word or not until we started it.  Everything started to seem like it was going to come together nicely. I allowed myself to relax and enjoy the company of the two of them. I knew that everything would work out.