Exotic

XXVIII

Kath

The nurse sent me home and Sydney has to come with me because I'm her only ride and well... I want her to. She's feeling really guilty about it and I've been trying to assure that I'm okay, she's not having it. Constant apologies and cheek kisses. I mean, I'll take the kisses, apology or no apology. Not gonna pass up the opportunity to be loved on by my girlfriend, am I?

"I'm really sorry." she pouted as pulled up to our house.

"Babe, stop. You're fine."

"It's not! Please, is there anything I can do to make it better?"

"Hmm..." I hum thoughtfully, "Maybe a lovely little smooch and a big cuddle will make it all better."

"A smooch?" she mused.

"Yeah, a kiss." I nod.

"Mhm, I got that part. But you want to kiss while you've got a poorly lip."

"I always want to kiss you." I grin as the lovesick teenager I am.

"You're cute." she smirked before getting out of the car. She's getting good att hat, getting out of the car. Although, it's weird not helping her out.

"Does she not want to kiss me?" I frown as I watch her crutch away. She turned around before going into the front door and frowns at me, too. She gestured for me to come inside and I shook my head. She rolled her eyes and crutches back out to stand by my door and she opened it.

"Your Mum is here." she said.

"Don't you want to kiss me?" I pout.

"Of course, I do! But we can do that inside." she smiled.

We head inside and I'm immediately ambushed my Mom "Kath, are you okay? I was so worried! Let's see the lip." she rambled as she held my face and inspected it, "Has it been cleaned? Are you in pain? How long did it take to scab over? How much did it bleed? Was it a good kiss?"

"Yes, no, maybe a couple of minutes, it bled quite a bit and it was perfect." I answer her rapid fire questions.

"Okay. You'll be fine." she nodded.

"Best Mom Ever." I grin, "How are you feeling?" it was my turn to take her face into my hands, check her temperature ect.

"A bit shit. I won't lie. But I'm better now that I know you're okay. How's Eli getting home?"

"She's gonna go hang out with Auntie Marley after school." I shrug.

"Okay. Let's go cuddle. I'm cold." Mom said.

We went to the couch and Mom wraps a blanket around herself and opens is up for me. I dive in and she wraps me in the blenket to, "Oh, I love you, Kath."

"I love you, too, Mammy."

"I love your little Irish accent too." she giggled. It made me laugh as well. Mom squeezes my right and I could feel myself falling asleep.

"Mommy! Watch!" I shout, well, not me. The younger me. It feels like I'm  there but not as myself.

"I'm watching!" Mom called back. She's got a big smile on her face as I prepare to show her my new trick. My little self then does a cartwheel and Mom gasped in excitement, "Wow! Did Mama teach you that?"

"Yeah! Wasn't it so cool?" little me asked as she patted over to Mom and sat in her lap.

"It was awesome!"

I remember this.

We'd gone to the park with Mom's friends and their kids. Eli had found herself a tree to climb under the supervision of Mama and Auntie Marley, the triplets had run off somewhere and Jordyn was sat quietly, reading a book. Mom's friends' kids had tried to join the triplets but they were all in their own world and pretty much ignored them the whole time.

Meanwhile, I was showing Mom and her friends my new trick. Little four-year-old me was the bee's knees. Everyone loved me.

"Oh, watch this one!" little me gasped as she got up and did a round-off, earning praise from Mom and her friends, "I could so much more on a trampoline though."

"Kath!" I hear Eli's voice giggle. She ran straight into little Kath and they both fell into a pile giggles. It was amusing, so I laughed. Mom's eyes found mine and she smiled brightly.

Then everything went white.

Mom got off of the floor and came up to me, "I suppose you're my little Kath, all grown up?" she smiled sadly.

"Yeah, well. Kinda? I'm sixteen, seventeen this year."

"Wow. That's nuts." Mom said, "Are you good, though?"

"I'm great."

"Are we still best friends?" Mom smirked.

"'Til the end." I held out my pinkie to her. She took it with her own and we did a little pinkie promise thing that we always used to do when I was younger. We don't really do it anymore. Maybe we should.

"I hate to interrupt your cozy slumber but you two need to eat at some point." I heard Nat say. She was shaking us gently and I heard Mom groan.

"No, thanks."

"Sweetheart, come on. You need food." Mama's voice said.

"Baby?" Mom questioned. I felt her shift and because I was laying on her chest under the blanket, I heard her heart rate pick up, "Hi," I heard them kiss.

"Hi. Wake the baba up. She needs to eat too." Mama said. The cover was gently unwrapped from me and I feel cold air violate my body, "Kath, come on, sweetheart. It's time for food."

I chose to ignore her. Mom is comfortable and she makes me feel safe and loved. Why would I leave her embrace.

"I don't think she heard you." I heard Mom muse.

"She must be zonked." I feel Mama sit down next to me and gently rub my back. It felt nice.

"She might be coming down with something, too. She feels warm. And her nose seems a bit red." Mom says, "She's sweating quite a bit, too."

"Poor baby." Mama whined as she kisses my head, "I think she'll stay home tomorrow. You two can get better together."

Then I smelt food, and my stomach rumbled so loud.