We Are A Family

Chapter 15

Its been a week since we left Texas, its been a week; since I've learned of my mom's passing. You would think, most twenty-five year old's would be depressed or not able to speak after learning about something so tragic. It took me a solid week, to move forward. I didn't do it because I was heartless, I did it; because I knew that was what she would want me to do.
When Ashley and the others found out about my mom, they all came over the moment we got back; Ricky ended up staying longer after Chris left, CC didn't really like it though.
Lily loved Ricky, he's been her favorite person since she could say his name; I thought it was sweet. Yet, it still upset CC.

I sat on the couch, feeding Bandit his bottle as Lily stood in front of the window; her stuffed horse in one hand, her blanket in the other. The rain was coming down harder and harder by the minute, today was the day Lily began her first day of Kindergarten.
I was trying not to get stressed over it, I offered that she could stay at home this year then go back for first grade. CC told me no, along with everyone else.
"Lily, we will head to school after Bandit finishes his bottle." I informed the six year old, Lily turned to me with a soft frown.
"Joey isn't going to be at my school.." She murmured.
I sighed softly, "Joey lives in Texas; I'm sure you will make new friends at this school." I said.
Lily shook her head with a pout. "I want Joey." She whined.
"You only played with him for a day after fighting with him, sweetie." I told her with a sigh.
Lily frowned deeply. "Then I'm not going." She stated.
I rose a brow before frowning.
"Don't start this, Lily Marie." I warned.
Lily huffed stomping her foot down.
"Lily, I mean it." I said raising to my feet.
Lily kept stomping her feet at me until she was swooped off of her feet by CC who held confused expressions looking at us.

"She's just a kid Haley, you can't get upset with her giving you attitude over her first friend she can't see." Shay stated as she pulled up to the red light, the rain poured down as I sighed leaning my head against the car window.
"I know that.. I don't know why it upset me so much." I murmured.
"Its only been a week, could that have something to do with it?" Shay asked beginning to drive again.
I frowned glancing to her now, I could only shrug at the question. "I just don't want to be the bad parent, you know? When we were teenagers all I would talk about was being the cool mom.. now that I have kids, I can see the stress and frustration you can get put under with them. I can't call my mom up and be like, 'hey, how did you deal with me, Kyle or Jace when we were six and stomped our feet at you because we were upset?'" I murmured.
Shay frowned looking to me.
When we made it to the school that Lily would be attending, I helped my daughter out of the car then walked inside the building.
Lily was clinging onto my leg as we walked, there were little ones already talking to each other then would stop and look to Lily.
She kept hiding her face.

I smiled softly when we approached the kindergarten teacher.
Mrs.Lewis turned to us from a pair of moms with a warm smile, her blonde hair was pulled into a braided bun; her blue eyes sparking with her wrinkles trying not to show. She wore a plain blue shirt with a long blue jean skirt with flat heels.
"My, oh, my. Is this little Lily Marie I've been hearing so much about?" She asked before kneeling in front of me to be face to face with Lily who hid her face from the shyness.
 I gave her a nod. "Yes ma'am, it sure is." I looked to Lily with a soft smile.
"Lily, this is Mrs.Lewis, she was your daddy's kindergarten teacher." I explained to her.
Lily tilted her head, trying hard not to place her thumb in her mouth; she slowly stepped out from behind me then approached her teacher with much shyness.

I stood at the classroom door watching as Lily tried to figure out where to sit, kids were talking to each other and some were already sitting down. I almost walked in there until two kids walked over to her, one was a girl and the other was a boy. The little girl had curly brown hair and the boy was scruffy black hair, they were talking to her and I couldn't help but smile watching them take her by the hand and have her sit by them in the classroom. She was smiling and listening to the two talk to her, running a hand through my hair; I exited the building then got back into the car with Shay.
Shay glanced to me as I looked to the doors of the school, sighing softy.
Shay drove off.

Today was also Alex's first day, and I guess I'll find out how his day went after he gets picked up.
I walked inside of our house, Shay following behind me; CC was lounged out on the floor while Bandit slept peacefully in his crib, from how it looked. CC had just woken up, I yawned softly. I wouldn't be picking Lily up until twelve, I guess it gave me some time to do some chores around the house.
I walked into the kitchen, and began on the dishes.
Through out every dish I washed, I couldn't help but think about how much I complained about doing them when I was younger; and how my mom would snap at me to do them anyway.
I could feel the tears trying to appear, but I wouldn't let them.

I sat impatiently on the couch, waiting for the clock to hit twelve. I wasn't at all ready for my kid to be gone this long, was this how it would be when she got her first boyfriend or girlfriend? Would I be THAT parent who waited on the front porch with a gun in the hand waiting for her to come home? Oh wait, that was CC's job with the gun.. I glanced to the sleeping CC with a raised brow, could I even picture this crazy guy with a gun..?
The minute the hour hand hit twelve, I was grabbing my keys; Shay, the wallet and we were heading to the school house.

When we picked her up, she was waiting with her two friends; when she spotted our car. She hugged the two before running up to me with a big smile plastered on her face.
"Did you have a good day?" I asked her with a soft smile.
Lily nodded smiling. "Mm-hmm! And I can't wait to go back tomorrow!" She exclaimed.
I smiled softly, this was going to be an interesting first year of school.