Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Nine

Esme stood up at the dining table holding a glass of wine in one hand as she steadied herself on the table with her other hand. She cleared her throat.

'Oh look guys,' Verde grinned up at her. 'I think she wants to say something.'

'I just wanted to say that these past two days have been something very different,' Esme said as everyone turned to look at her. 'I want to say thank you to Melvin and Verity for flying out all this way to stay with us and we hope you had a great time here.'

Melvin and Verity smiled and nodded.

'We hope that you have a safe journey home and we look forward to hearing from you again soon,' Esme said. 'So I would like to make a toast: to family.'

'To family!'

'Do you have everything?' Lauren asked leaning against the door of the guest room.

'Yeah,' Verity replied zipping up a weekender bag. 'I think we're all set.'

'I have something for you,' Lauren smiled walking into the room and presenting a wrapped gift. 'I thought you'd like something to go home with, and you deserve it after all these years.'

'Thank you,' Verity smiled taking the gift. 'I'll open it when we get home, shall I?'

Lauren smiled and looked around the room. 'So you enjoyed yourself?'

'I have to admit it was rocky at times,' Verity replied. 'But I know how much stress we're all under.'

'Hmmm.'

'When will you next be coming home?'

'I really don't know,' Lauren replied. 'I'll have to see what my timetable permits, but it probably won't be for a long time. I'm trying out for this placement over the summer, so we'll see if I get it.'

'I'm sure you will,' verity smiled. 'You work so hard and you deserve everything good.'

'Thanks mom,' Lauren smiled hugging her mother. She kissed her cheek and smiled. 'You're so beautiful and I love you.'

Verity kissed Lauren on the cheek too and smiled. 'I love you too.'

'Are we all ready to go?' Melvin boomed.

'Yeah,' Lauren said pulling away from her mother. 'I'll help you with your bags.'

Lauren picked up the weekender bag from the bed and walked past her father as she left the room.

'Don't forget my bag too!' Melvin said. 'They all need to be taken down.'

'It was really great meeting you,' Ecie smiled at Verity and gave her a hug. 'I hope you have a safe journey home.'

'Thank you so much for having us,' Verity replied. 'I am sorry if my husband upset you at all.'

'It's fine,' Ecie replied. 'You don't have to keep apologizing.'

Verity nodded and hugged Lauren. 'I love you.'

'I love you too mom,' Lauren said. 'Perhaps next time you'll come alone.'

'We'll see,' Verity smiled letting go of her daughter. 'I'll give you a call to let you know we've arrived home safely.'

Ecie and Lauren stood together as they waved at Melvin and Verity who started making their way through the train station to look for the right platform.

'That wasn't so bad,' Ecie said after a moment. 'It could have been worse.'

'You're telling me that you weren't kept awake all night by the incessant snoring?' Lauren stared at her best friend. 'Really?'

Ecie laughed as they turned to go. 'Maybe a little.'

Lauren laughed. 'I think their little visit was just what I needed to give me the push,' she said as they walked to the parking lot. 'If Verd can do it then so can I.'

'What do you mean?' Ecie asked looking at Lauren.

'I don't want to go back home again,' Lauren replied. 'I can't stand my father; he just makes me miserable all the time. This was like the last farewell.'

'That's a little steep, don't you think?' Ecie said opening the door to her car.

'I don't think so,' Lauren replied sitting next to Ecie. 'I'm sick and tired of his behavior and quite frankly I find it embarrassing. He was supposed to be a guest and he took it that we were all his servants. He was rude and just fucking disgusting. He left pee all over the place like it was his house. He has no manners and no concept of anything but himself.'

'Well whatever you decide you know my family will always be there to help you,' Ecie replied starting the engine and reversing out of the parking lot. 'You can be my unofficial sister.'

'I would love to,' Lauren smiled as they drove home. 'I suppose they're used to taking in strays by now.'

Ecie laughed.

'Okay girlies,' Esme said holding up her glass of wine. 'What are we doing tonight?'

'We're going out and we're going to get so drunk,' Lauren replied. 'I need to kill my liver tonight.'

'Yeah I think we could do with a couple of drinks,' Ecie agreed. 'Where's Verd?'

'I think he's working tonight,' Esme replied. 'We should go down to the bar and give him a surprise.'

'That sounds good,' Ecie said. 'Then we should head over to Les Deux afterwards and dance the night away.'

'I'll call Taylor and ask him if he wants to come,' Esme said getting up shakily. 'I'm sure he's free now.'

'Well I've got nobody to call,' Ecie said. 'You should call Ethan.'

'I'm guessing that Ethan and Taylor are together right now,' Lauren replied. 'Taylor will tell Ethan that we're going out then Ethan will get mad at me for not calling him and telling him about it. I cannot be bothered.'

Ecie laughed. 'I actually worry about you sometimes,' she said. 'You remind me a lot of myself once upon a time.'

'Really?' Lauren looked at Ecie. 'That's interesting.'

'Uh-huh,' Ecie nodded. 'Especially when I was cheating.'

Lauren looked at Ecie and nodded slowly. 'Well that's very interesting.'

Ecie looked at Lauren and nodded too. 'Yep.'

'Well we should get ready,' Lauren said after a four second silence. 'It should be a fun night.'

'Hey guys,' Esme grinned interrupting them. 'Taylor's all set and he said he'll meet us down at the bar. Oh and Lauren, Ethan was with him too.'

Lauren looked away from Ecie and at Esme. 'You're already a little too drunk.'

'I'm fine,' Esme grinned. 'Honestly.'

'Right,' Lauren laughed linking arms with Esme. 'Let's go and get dressed.'

'Woo,' Esme cheered. 'Tonight is going to be so much fun.'

'I know, right,' Lauren said. 'No parents, no rules, no nothing.'

Ecie stood in the living room for a moment before shaking her head and joining her sister and best friend in the closet to get ready for their night out.