Oxygen

Chapter 37 - Family

I entered the dining room to find everyone sitting around smiling and talking. The minute they saw me, all seven of them went silent. "What?" I asked, directing my question to Jordan. The look on his face meant that he knew something, but wasn't willing to tell me. He took a sip from his glass to avoid my glare. 

"Oh, nothing dear. Come, take a seat. How's Emily going with the cooking?" Cathy made an attempt to change the subject, but I wasn't fooled. I know I will find out some day. "Um,she's nearly done, I think. Just twenty minutes in the oven". I looked around the table as I sat down next to Jordan. 

All his immediate family were here, to my surprise. His brothers Eric and Jasper were opposite me, along with Andrea. Beside me was Jordan and Carol, while Cathy and Michael took the heads of the table. It was quite a big family. I wish I could've had a big family for myself.

Looking at all of them reminds me of my now passed family. My mother was much like Cathy; sweet, caring, understanding and all kinds of helpful. She was the perfect mother. Although Bonnie is a great Mum, she doesn't compare to either of them. She's nice and all, but before she adopted me she had no children. Taking in a teenager was gong to be never easy, but it didn't help with my attitude towards her that she was inexperienced.

Michael was similar in some ways to my Dad; he hated anything to do with parties, fun and teenagers in his house. He played with Alice and I as kids, but as we got older he became very work involved. His broad smile was much like Michael's, which Jordan seems to have developed from him.

And my sister Alice, she was my everything. She was my best friend, the only thing I cared for. It was the hardest thing to watch her die in that hospital room, but there isn't much I can do now but try and move on, and be happy for her. I remember when we were little and the first earthquake struck in Christchurch. We were both terrified, we had no idea what an earthquake was like until that moment. It reminds me of Carol when she sees a spider on the wall, that same uncertain look.

The tragedy affected everyone around us. I clearly recall the day when Alice got a call from her best friend's mother, breaking the news that her best friend died. It was terrible for our whole family, we were all really close to them. I barely remember them now, but I remember caring. I think with us that's all that really mattered.

"Fern?" Jordan asks,  pulling me from my daze. "Huh?" I ask drearily. "Do you want any Fanta?" he asked politely. I think he was reading me, and he knew what I was thinking about. He moved his other hand under the table and squeezed my thigh affectionately.

"Oh, yes please" I said with a smile, thanking him as he poured me a glass. No one else commented, just moved their focus to the food entering the room. "Wow Emily, this looks amazing" Jasper says with a snarly tone. "At least I can cook" she comments, sticking her tongue out in his direction.

After plating up the salmon, cream and a few vegetables on my plate, I tuck in. I want to take this opportunity to dig the family for some background; I knew them all, but not in depth. It was my turn to play twenty questions.

"So, Jasper, Eric, where do you live?" They looked at each other before Eric answered first. "We flat together with our erm, partners in London. We have a three bed apartment there with plenty of space". Jasper nods as he explains. "We wanted to save on bills, and hopefully some day soon this one" Eric nudges Jasper in the shoulder as he speaks "Will get the balls to propose- Ow!" I laugh as Eric rubs his leg from under the table. 

"Jasper feels a little sensitive on the subject" Andrea explains. I nod and smile as the brothers continue to argue. "So what are you into?" I ask Andrea, curiosity getting the better of me. "I love love love sewing. I know it sounds like a grandma thing, but I really enjoy it. I make dresses and clothes for woman in America" I nod along as I listen. There's so much to learn about this family. Every second of the dinner is filled with a thought or memory.