Trouble in Paradise

Beaufort.

It's currently 11 pm and Char and I are sitting on my bed packing my bag for our flight tomorrow. It's been a week since I asked my mom if I could go and this week has gone by in a blur. Now Char and I are leaving for two months to Beaufort......alone. It all feels so surreal but satisfying at the same time. We decided to stay there for just two months out of our three month vacation. 

I take my black purse and just lazily dump all the loose papers I have on my bed side table into the bag in case it's useful. Then, we're finally done packing after over an hour. Hey, in my defence, it wouldn't have taken that long if Char didn't put my whole closet plus a little of hers in my bag. Her golden travelling rule "It is better for thy to be over packed than to be under packed". And you know Char, the dramatic flare she adds to it makes it even funnier. 

Why can't we just be packed; not over not under... Gosh, Char's logic is a bit questioning sometimes.

"Are you sure I need 7 different swim suits?" I say to Char looking into my filled up bag.

"Of course I'm sure silly" Char says in a duh tone.

"Even though you won't use them" Char say laughing. 

"Hey, it's not my fault, the water and I don't necessarily mix...plus I'll use it, to get a tan but I'm not going near the water"

 Her bags are already packed and she's sleeping over at mine so we could go to the airport tomorrow together early for our 6:30 am flight. Leave it to Char to book a flight at 6:30 am because she wants to start the vacation as soon as possible.  

Again, her logic can be a bit questioning at times. 

Her mom is aware of our trip but she hasn't been home recently because of her work, it basically has her sleeping in the hospital every night. Sometimes I think Char wishes her mom would spend more time with her but she also knows that her mom works for her; so she can have a better life. Same with my mom, except my mom isn't as busy at work as Char's. 

My mom is a nurse at the local hospital. She also bakes in her spare time. I think I acquired my liking for baking from her. I can bake anything and everything all day long. it's kind of a way to let go of everything and just focus on my dish. At least that's how I USED to feel when I baked. Now it just brings back memories. Memories I would like to forget. I remember the day I first learnt how to bake a cake from my mom. It was in Grade 4 when my dad was still here. We were all gathered in the kitchen watching my mom bake and she taught me how to make chocolate cake, now I'm in love with chocolate cake. That night I made chocolate cake for my mom and dad, and seeing the look of satisfaction on their face made me fall in love with baking because I always wanted to know that I was the one who made my parents close their eyes and tilt their head in pleasure when they taste my food, I wanted to be the one who made them proud. 

But it seems that wasn't enough.  

"Hey, what are you thinking about? You've been blank for about 5 minutes now" Char said with a slight laugh while rummaging through my closet looking for God knows what.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Just thinking." I said back with a sad smile. 

"Why do you always worry about things? We're going to be on a plane to Beaufort alone in a few hours, so just relax" Char said and turned around and held up a beautiful long silver coloured dress that she pulled from MY closet.

Even I had no idea that was in MY closet. She quickly ran to my suitcase and chucked it in before zipping it up.

I gave Char a look that meant Really? and Char stuck her tongue out like a kid and said You'll thank me later. She was getting ready to sleep to get a few hours of sleep before we wake up at 3 am to go to the airport.