Loud banging on walls and chatter brought Luke and I to a stiff awakening. I rushed down the stairs stopping at the middle of them and Luke stopping right behind me.
"Grace" everyone in the house yells "Who are all these people" Luke asked me "My relatives" I said walking down the last few steps slowly. "Dad" I yelled "In here" my dad said. I walked into my dad's office seeing him busy at work.
"Hey hon, come on in" he said not taking his eye off his paper. "Don't hon me" I said "Why are they here" I asked yelling "They found out you were here and wanted to come and visit, I know that you don't get along well with them but-" he said before I interrupted.
"Dad, this was time for you to meet Luke and know the man I'm dating just you not the whole freaking family" I said "I know, I know, I should have told you" he said to me. "How long" I asked "What" my dad asked me confused "How long are they going to be in Ohio" I asked "four days" my dad said taking off his glasses "I'm leaving" I said as I left my dad's office.
I walked into the living room to see the sight of my relatives. "Grace dear" my aunt Jamie said "Hey guys listen I can't talk long" I said "Is this your boyfriend or is he a single man" my cousin Corinne asked "Yes this is my boyfriend" I said. "And were leaving" I said grabbing Luke and going up stairs.
We went to my room and he shut the door behind him. "So that's what you were talking to me about" he asked "That's not even the half of it" I said. "I know it's a bad time but where is your mom" Luke asked me "My mom?" I asked. "Yeah I noticed she wasn't here when we showed up yesterday" Luke said "She's out but I'm sure she wouldn't mind a visit" I said. "Get dressed" I said as I pushed Luke out of my room and shut the door.
I walked over to my closet and put on a pair of dark jeans, a black cotton tank-top, and a thick eggplant colored cardigan. I went to the bathroom to apply a thin layer of makeup and twist my hair into a top knot loosening it and taking out little baby hairs. I grab a pair of christmas reindeer socks and head over to Luke's room.
"Luke, are you ready" I asked knocking on the door and opening it "Just a minute babe" he said putting a sweater over his head. "You look as pretty as you did this morning" he said smiling "Before or after my family ruined my morning" I asked "Well it's only nine so it can't be completely ruined" he said shutting the door behind him.
We walked down the stairs and over to the coat rack. I slipped on my dark faux leather boots and Luke put on his black snow boots. "Where are you going" my dad asked "To see mom" I said as Luke helped me with my jacket and we left out the door.
I decided to drive, since I knew where we were going. I pulled in through the gates at drove up the hill. I parked the car and took off my seat belt. "Why are we here" Luke asked me "Just follow me" I said. "This is where my mother is buried" I said. Luke looked down on a marble stone that reads: Judy Figueroa 1975-2004 amazing mother and wife may she be with God.
Luke held my hand and looked at me as he crouched down on his knees. "My name is Luke Coleman and I've been dating your daughter for about five months and those were the best five months of my life, I wish I could have meet you in person to tell you how great your daughter is but this is just as good-" Luke said.
Luke continued to talk to my mother's grave and tell her who he is and a little about himself. He felt so natural, talking to my mother as if she was right in front of him. "Thank you for raising such an amazing free spirited girl" Luke said as he got off of his knees and held my hand once again.
"I'm sorry if that was weird" Luke said "It wasn't that ment alot to me" I said to him. "My mother was my best friend in the whole world, we did everything together, we shared the same taste in clothes or music, I was just about three or four when she died" I said.
"How did she die if you don't mind me asking" Luke asked "Cold murder" I replied "From who" he asked "They never found who it was, but since they never knew who they assumed that it was my father who was away on business at the time" I said "That must be rough" Luke said to me "It was but I knew that my Dad didn't do it, someone just wanted to frame him" I said.
" So your family back at the house, do they have anything to do with this" Luke asked "If your talking about the murder no, but they never likes my mother even her own sisters so they always say thing about her and aren't good" I said. "The only person that I actually like from my family is my Aunt Opal" I said "Aunt Opal?" Luke asked. "My mother's sister the only one that liked my mother and me" I said letting out a chuckle.
Luke and I stood there talking about my mother and family and soon relize it was almost twelve O'clock. We said our goodbyes, got back into the car and headed into town for lunch. We stopped at a barbeque place named: Dick's steak and barbeque grill. I ordered the southwest salad and Luke ordered the Jack Daniel's ribs. We ate and talked until we were full and waiting on the check.
During the car ride back I dreaded walking into that house facing all those people. "Why didn't you tell me about your mom" Luke asked "I don't know I guess I never found a perfect time" I said "Anytime would have been" Luke said "What did you want me to say, Hey by the way my mother's dead, while were at dinner or making out or something" I asked. "You know what I mean" Luke said to me as he pulled the car into the driveway.
I got out of the car and unlocked the door. "There she is" my aunt Jamie said as I walked in through the door. "I'm surprised you would be back so soon" my cousin Garrett said "Why's that" I asked.
"We know you went to go see your mother" my Uncle Tim said " So what shes my mother I can go and see her whenever I want" I said taking off my coat "Typical, being defiant just like her mother" Jamie said "Excuse me" I asked.
"I'm mean for crying out loud her mother was shot if she was paying attention maybe she would still be alive" Lucas said "She just had to go out with her friends maybe being dead would have taught her a lesson" said Aunt Stacy. "How dare any of you" I said as I stormed up the stairs.
I walked up the stairs with tears rolling down my face. I went into my room and slammed the door behind me. I walked over to my window and sat on the bench with my legs to my chest and my head placed on my knees. I cried and cried until my eyes were basically dry. How dare my own family talk about my Mother like that.
