Trinity High (Book 1 of the Trinity Series)

Chapter 23

COMMENT AND VOTE, PLEASE!     -XOXO

"And I don't normally tell this to people, but I like to add a smidge of cinnamon in them to add a little kick in the otherwise normal chocolate chip cookies," Natalia told me. She put a pinch of cinnamon powder into the the cookie dough mix and mixed it around.

I was currently sitting on the island countertop in the kitchen. Natalia was making chocolate chip cookies, as per request by Trey and Cole. I was helping. Well, mostly I was there just to sneak spoonfuls of cookie into my mouth. I loved cookie dough. It was the best taste there ever was.

Natalia pulled out a rounded bottom measuring spoon and began scooping the cookie dough into little round balls and placing them onto the cookie sheet. I bounced to my feet to help her.

"I've only ever made cookies from scratch once. I usually just use those packages," I told Natalia. She laughed her motherly laugh that made me smile. It reminded me of m own mother's laugh.

I felt a pang of pain punch through my chest as I remembered my mother. This would be my first Christmas without her. I knew I would get lonely and depressed, but I was glad that I had Trey and his family around me to keep my mind occupied.

Although, I still found myself drifting into thoughts about the blonde girl whose picture I had kept seeing. I wondered continuously about who she was. This was partially the reason I decided to hang out with Natalia today instead of going last-minute Christmas shopping with Trey, his father, and Cole.

"I've always made cookies from scratch. It's how my mother used to make them," Natalia told me, putting the cookie tray into the oven and leaning against the stove. Her eyes became distant as memories came to her. Then she blinked and looked at me, smiling kindly.

"You know, Caley. I do like you very much," she said to me, making my lips twitch up into a small grin.

"I like you, too," I replied.

And it was true. She had been nothing but kind to me. All of her actions reminded me of my mother's. Sometimes when I was sitting, she would randomly come up behind me and fix my pony-tail. Or if we were eating, she'd tell me to eat all of my food as I pushed some of it aside because I didn't feel like eating it. Or when she'd come into my room at night sometimes and sit on my bed and tell me a random, happy story before saying good-night, just to make sure I'd fall asleep happy.

I loved all of these little things that she did for me and each and every one of them reminded me of my mother. It felt so good to have someone take care of me again. I had gone so long without the care of a mother. When my own mother first got diagnosed, she wasn't able to do all of the things she used to do. The tables had turned around and it was me that was taking care of her. And now, I felt like I was in the presence of my mother again; my mother when she was healthy and happy.

I felt my vision blur as tears flooded my eyes. I turned away quickly before Natalia saw, but it was too late.

"Caley! What's wrong, dear?" she asked, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. I took a deep breath to regain my composure before turning around to face her.

"Nothing! I'm fine," I replied, pulling up a fake smile. She frowned and gave me a look.

"You know better than to lie to me, young lady," she scolded, pulling me to the island stools. "Now, sit and tell me what's going on," she said. I sat on the stool next to her and looked into her bright, kind eyes. "Is it Trey? Has he done something?" she asked. I nearly laughed.

"No," I replied, shaking my head. "He's great to me. He treats me perfectly," I added. She continued to look at me with those concerned eyes.

"Then what's wrong, sweetie?" she asked. I sighed and looked down at my hands which were folded on my lap. Now was the time to ask her. I reached into the pocket of my cardigan and pulled out the picture that I had found earlier that week. I had taken it from the box after Trey and I had gathered all of the Christmas decorations.