Family is Forever

Chapter 59

Ali had finally fallen asleep, it was half past midnight. Colette sighed. She had brought Ali home last night since Ela was at her auntie's and she thought Ollie and Zosia needed night alone. She'd sat with Ali until she'd fallen asleep and stroked her hand like she did when Ela was upset at night. They had both spoken to Ollie who had told Ali he was here for her and apologised, Zosia apologised too, but like a petulant child who was told she had to apologise for her cousin, a quiet "sorry Natalia." Was the best they got. Colette knew Zosia was hurting but could see Ali was too. She just wished she could take the pain away for both of them. Before Ela became her daughter Zosia was like a daughter to her, and Ali too when she was younger. She had been around the house getting rid of everything sharp. She put her knives in the locked medicine cupboard and put her razors in the outside bins. She'd just have to be hairy. It was only two weeks until Christmas. Colette hoped it would be all sorted by then.

Ali woke up the next day wondering where she was then remembered she was in Colette's spare room it was a Sunday so she didn't have to be anywhere. She didn't feel like getting up and just lay in bed staring at the ceiling after a while Collette popped her head round the door and seeing Ali was awake came over to her. "Hey, Natalia, good Morning." Colette smiled " come downstairs and have some breakfast."
"I'm fine." Ali answered.
"A cup of tea at least?" Colette asked. Ali nodded and Colette grabbed a dressing gown off the hook on the door and handed it to Ali. December mornings are cold. Colette had some granary toast while Ali sipped her tea. Colette had put whole milk in hoping it would give Ali a few extra calories. They watched some TV just whatever was on for a few hours. "Lunchtime." Colette announced "what do you fancy Natalia?"
"Oh I'm not hungry." Ali answered
"Come on love, I'm letting you decide what you want to eat, either you give me some ideas or I'll just do you a sandwich?" Collette said softly
There was silence from Ali "Natalia?" Colette asked a bit louder. "Can you do an omelette?" Ali almost whispered. "Great idea." Colette said in a jovial voice to try and make the omelette sound like the best thing ever. "Cheese and ham?" Colette asked. "No cheese." Ali said.
"Natalia, it won't taste good without cheese, I'll only put a little on."
"No. no cheese!" Ali said louder.
"How about you grate the amount of cheese you want me to put on?" Colette remembered Zosia saying something about Ali being happier about food when she helped with it. Ali agreed and started grating the cheese. Colette had never really seen Ali like this, as usually she was with Ela who seemed to calm Ali and take her mind off food. As Colette whisked the eggs she leaned over and kissed the top of Ali's head "I love you Natalia, you know that don't you?" She smiled. Ali looked over at Colette "it's just been a hard few weeks, with Zosia and all."
"And you've dealt with it all like the little star that you are." Colette put her hand on Ali's shoulder who gave her half a smile in return. Ali passed the cheese to Colette who was fairly pleased with the amount Ali had grated but didn't want to draw attention to it so smiled a "thank you." And added it to the pan. "Can you grate some for me too Natalia?"
"Sure."
Colette placed the omelette in front of Ali then made one for herself. Ali was taking tiny mouthfuls, and chewing them for ages, putting her cutlery down between each bite. It took her over 20 Minutes to finish the whole thing.

Colette's phone rang while she was clearing up
"Hello?" It was Zosia on the phone "she's here, she's fine don't worry.......Yes we just had omelettes....... of course....see you then." Colette hung up the phone, and sighed Zosia was coming round and she hoped that her and Ali would be able to patch things up. It was almost Christmas after all.

Zosia rang the doorbell and Colette answered "Hey Zosh." She said and pulled Zosia into a big hug. "Where's Natalia?" Zosia asked "I need to talk to her, to apologise. And thank you, for coming last night and everything." Collette smiled in reply. " She's in the living room. I'll go into the kitchen. And Zosh, I'm always here for you and your family. And Natalia can stay as long as she needs to."
"Natalia, przepraszam." (Natalia I'm sorry) Zosia went to hug Ali but the teenager instinctively pulled away. There was a beat of silence while they both hesitated. Zosia put her arms back by her sides. Ali was the first to say something."Sorry. I don't know why I did that."
"It's ok," Zosia said although Ali could see it had upset her. "I've hurt you and you don't trust me again yet. I get that. I need to gain your trust again. Natalia, I'm really sorry about yesterday. I thought that once I was discharged I'd be fine and able to go back to work but my psych said we'll review it 15th Jan and in general I was really sad and seeing you so happy was difficult. I snapped and I'm so sorry." Zosia said all in one breath as she looked at her younger cousin who gave her a small smile. "I'd like for you to come home but I don't know if that's what you want?" Zosia asked.
"To mums?"
"No to ours with me and Ollie silly, but Colette said you can stay here if that's what you prefer."
"I don't know what I prefer, I mean I love you and Ollie but I don't want to be there if it's upsetting you." Ali reasoned
"Natalia, I want you to come home, kochaine"
Ali looked at her cousin. Then away. Zosia smiled at her "maybe we can watch some telly and then see how we feel later. Zosia, Ali and Colette all sat on the sofa watching Love Actually. By the end of the film Ali's head was leaning on Zosia's shoulder. "Zoshy, can we go home now?" Ali asked. Zosia kissed the top of her head. "Of course lets go."