My Life in Rosewood

Chapter Thirty

After practice I head to do a quick run for the store and check in on Marie and to do some inventory before having to head home to change for the party. The store has been a little more mellow these days, which has made it easier to keep up with things, but with the holidays coming up I know that won't last long. Buying sports gear for kids as Christmas gifts is usually top on most parents' lists.

I'm in the office checking things off on what we have and need on my list, my eyes scanning from the paper in front of me to my computer and adding things to my cart to get the total and purchase what isn't in stock. Then my eyes scan to the door and I see Marie pop up to ask if she can take off early to meet up with a family member she hasn't seen in almost a year. I of course give her the okay and thank her for all the help she's given since I reopened the store and she was off. I'm very lucky to have someone like her around.

Once she's out of sight I check the time on my computer and see I have about a half hour until I have to head back home. So I finish up with buying things and then go to the front of the store to put a sign that the door is closing early and make sure things are put back where they belong. In the half hour a few people popped in and then I was free to close up and head out. I made sure the sign that said I was closing early stayed up because when I left there was about another hour and a half left before the original time.

When I get home my aunt and uncle are talking about Mike and how he seemed to be uninterested in the party and wasn't sure if he'd be here. I know this bothered them because he's obviously been very moody since they separated and has gotten worse when she moved back.

"Hey." I say when I walk through the door and stare at them standing in the kitchen because Aunt Ella is setting things up while cooking.

"Hi, sweetie." She smiles.

"Hey, Jellybean." He says at the same time.

I smile back at them, still grasping being called Jellybean without dad around. "Aria home?"

"She's upstairs getting ready." Aunt Ella tells me as she keeps zooming around the kitchen.

"Mike hasn't gotten home yet" Uncle Byron adds, giving a slight smile.

I press my lips together, "His efforts seem to be lacking lately."

They both take a breath and nod, "Teenagers." He says with a smirk.

I give a small laugh, "Hey, watch it." I say playfully as I start heading to the stairs.

"How was your day?" Aunt Ella asks, staring at me with some concern. I know she's been worried since my breakdown and is more alert to my needs.

I smile and nod, "It was good. Practice is brutal as usual, but nothing I can't handle." I'm leaning against the edge of the hand rail now since she asked when I started to go up the steps and turned around to answer her.

They both give me a warm smile, love behind their eyes and it makes my heart flutter a bit. They remind me way too much of my own parents. "We're proud of you." Uncle Byron says now, smiling at me more.

I smile back, "Means I'm doing something right." I say playfully and now point upward, "I'm going to get dressed."

They both smile and nod, "People will be here in about 20 minutes." She tells me

"I'll be done in 15." I run up the stairs now.

When I walk into my room Aria is already in her dress and now putting on makeup. So I set my things onto my bed and stare at her in the mirror with a sly look before heading to the closet to get the clothes I'm wearing.

"Don't start." She says with a bit of a giggle because she knows why I gave her that look.

"I didn't say a word."