The Trouble With

Chapter 7

Chapter 7..........From left to right and back again

The morning was crisp and clear as I stood on the back deck. The hustle and bustle of the city noise had yet to interrupt the quiet calm of the sun rise. A moment of tranquility before the pending kayos I knew deep inside was coming. Pushing back the dread that was tying knots in my stomach I was determined not to become consumed by it. Instead I snapped Lexie's leash on her and set out for a run on the same trails I ran as a kid. I loved these trails as they wound along the Bow River.

Lost in my own world I had been gone a little over two hours. When I got back home mom was already setting the table for Sunday breakfast. "Sorry I was gone so long. Here let me help."

Bending down my mom kissed Lexie's head and gave her a bowl of water. "I knew you had gone running as soon as I saw Lexie gone. "

"We just did our big breakfast yesterday and your doing another today. See this is why I had to run so much as a kid. If I didn't you wound have to carry me in a wheel barrel." Laughing at me my mom handed me a cup of coffee.

"I just figured since everyone was going to be here to say goodbye I might as well make something." Growing up my moms dad died when she was young leaving behind some large bills. They ended up loosing the farm before it could be sold and moving to the city. My grandma did the best she could to raise 3 girls but money was tight and the food budget slim. The end result of mom knowing what it was to be hungry was our house resembled a small grocery store. That or a constant revolving buffet.

"Hi mom your up all ready? Don't you ever sleep in? You should try it you just might enjoy it." Kayla was your typical I hate the morning teenager. You nearly had to use a bull horn to get her out of bed.

"You should try getting up in the mornings you just might like it." I teased back

"Ya no I seriously doubt that. I'm only up now cause gramps kept dog piling on us." My mom raised her eyebrows at me as she watched Kayla pour herself a cup of coffee.

Shrugging my shoulders I chose to ignore my mothers look. "Where's your sister?"

"She is doing her hair and makeup." Dodging my moms hand Kayla snuck a peace of bacon off the tray.

Apparently the makeup comment was more than my mom could keep quiet on. "You shouldn't be drinking coffee in the morning at 14 and makeup. Dee you weren't aloud to drink coffee or wear makeup until you were at least 16."

"Relax mom we live in New York be glad that's all the girls are doing. Regan is in grade 6 and it's only some light eye shadows. Kayla's in grade 9 and only has a cup or two a day and it's not every day." Knowing I would send my mom off on a tangent of moral upbringings I poked the bear so to speak. "They aren't hooked on drugs, dropping out if school, joining gangs or pregnant." To add the icing on the cake I finished off with, "did you know there are 2 girls pregnant in Regans class.

With that my mom was off and running. "Pregnant in Regans class? That would mean those girls would be 12 years old too. Babies having babies it's absolutely ridiculous. You know what I contribute it to...."

From that point on I knew I didn't have to join the conversation. My mom would go on and on for at least another 15 minutes under her own steam. When she was finished with her rant she would have forgotten all about the coffee and makeup discussion. Kayla and I exchanged knowing smiles.

Before long everyone had came over and the table was once again full of food and laughter. I was truly blessed to have such a close knit family. Leaning over I nudged Kayla, "Your dad should be here any minute please be ready to go."

"I don't see why you are making us see him. We could just phone him when we are back in New York. Besides you said when we were older we could decide if we wanted to see him. Well I'm older." I had tried to protect the girls from the ugliness of the divorce and the eventual fallout. Still the truth about the affairs and especially the one with their aunt eventually came out in the wash and ruined their relationship.