Her Name Was Meloni

where do we start

"Hello, I'm Tate. Loni's boyfriend."said Tate, breaking the awkward silence. He stood up and reached out his hand for hers. She looked him over for a moment before she clasped her hands in his and shook.

"I know who you are. It's lovely to meet you properly." She said with a sweet smile. It seemed genuine, but I'm not completely sure.

"Likewise." He returned her smile. He was very polite, very kind, and very demure. And yet there was something very calculating in his eyes as he watched her.

"How about I introduce you to everyone here and then we will get started?" Tate said with a smile. My mother nodded and he walked her over to the other table first. My eyes shifted over to my dads and his eyes followed her with every move she made. He seemed so....lost in her. Now I know why people say 'he/she gone' when they talk about someone falling in love. Cause whenever they see that person you can actually see them get lost in the other person. The man watching that woman now is not the father I know but the boy who fell in love with a girl.

"These are my brother. Mike and Tim." Tate said as he introduced the tables. Mike gave a polite smile, while Tim gave her a hesitant nod. "This is Rebecca." Tate said.

"Everyone calls me Becks. I'm your daughter's best friend." Becks said reaching out her hand. Becks made direct eye contact as she shook my mother hand. Lord I pray she does t break her hand.

With a grimace, my mother pulled away. "You have a strong hand young lady." My mom said but Becks just laughed it off.

"This is-" but before Tate could introduce Ms. Robinson, my mom caught her off with a look.

"I know who this is. We have already been introduced. Nice to see you again." Said my mom with a smirk, as she reached out her hand. Ms. Robinson looked at her hand and then looked at my mother and stared her down just like Rebecca, only she never took her hand.

Tate broke the silence that was threatening to swallow up the room by clearing his throat and hustling my mom over to Kyle for the last introductions.

After Kyle introduced himself, my mom looked at all of them with a warm smile. "I would like to thank you all for help taking care of my family and helping them through this hard time." Her eyes landed on the brothers and then to Tate.

"You know, I see the similarities but I also see the difference. Half siblings, right? And you have your father in common? Your mothers must've been beautiful." She said nonchalantly.

I could see Tim shift in his seat, and Mikes indifferent aura change. Tate seemed almost unfazed if it wasn't for his smile faltering just a little bit.

"Yes. They were." Said Ms. Robinson. Her voice was cold and sharp. And I could see her lean closer to the boys as if to protect them from any other inquiries of there mothers.

My mom seemed like she wanted to say something, but gladly my dad snapped out of whatever trance held him in place at the sound of Ms. Robinsons voice. "Tate, bring her here so we can get this over with." He said.

She turned toward my father with a tight smile. "Missed you too." She said. When there eyes locked you could tell that what they feel was very different. In my mother's eyes there was a distance and a strange detachment, but her smile was still in place. However, my father was opposite. His eyes were filled with hurt, confusion, yearning, and anger. And he couldn't hold back his frown. His shifted between his current girlfriend and his ex wife.

"What? Worried I might have stepped on your girlfriend's toes." She murmured under her breath.

"Sit. Down." He said between gritted teeth.

She rolled her eyes and walked over to the table but didn't sit. "I would like to sit next to my daughter." She said.

"You're sitting next to me." Said dad.

"Hell no!" Said Tyler.

"No." Said Tate.

She seemed taken aback at the resounding 'no's' for everyone. She seemed like she wanted to protest but then her eyes shifted to mine and we held each others eyes. "Hi baby." She whispered.

I said nothing.

"Can I? Sit next to you, I mean?" She asked.

I shook my head no.

Tate slid in next to me and one of my hands in his. And some of my nervousness left me. But only a little.

She seemed to deflate a little, but if you hadn't been watching her you wouldn't have noticed. "Ok. Then I'll just sit across from you." She said. She turned to my dad, "Scoot over." she said. He rolled his eyes and moved over to make space for her.

She sat down gracefully and sat down facing me. She was beautiful and..... she seems to be very arrogant. My eyes stayed on her as the waitress awkwardly made her way to the table. "So what did you guys want to start with?"

That is the question.

.......where do we start?