Loved By You

Twenty-eight

Maja

I was sitting at my vanity staring at myself as I did my makeup. "Mama?" I looked down at Sami as she stared up at me. "Yes, love?" She smiled up at me. "Can I have some?" She said point to my lip gloss. I chuckled. "Sure." I picked up this cute pink lip gloss giving her just a little before picking her up and sitting her on my vanity. "You like?" I asked. She smiled nodding her head. "We're twins mommy!'" She cheered. We really were. We were both wearing a similar white top and black skirt. Then for her hair, was up in two buns while mine was pulled back into a low bun. I looked in the mirror and smiled before kissing her cheek. "Alright let's head to nana's place." She held my hand as we walked into the living room.

"Well don't you look pretty Sami," Tae said picking her up. "Thank you." She said with a smile on her face. "You ready to go?" He asked looking at me. "Yeah. Nadia! Arnell!" I yelled. "Mommy!" I looked at Sami and she shushed me. "Inside voices." My mouth hung open as Tae laughed. "Tell her again Sami," Arnell said. I rolled my eyes at her before walking to the door. "Let's go." I opened the door but stopped when I saw Angelo. "Hi." He said with a small smile. "Hi," I said back. "We'll meet you at the car," Nadia said leading everyone out. "Why aren't you with your family?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't want to talk about it. Shit, you're probably heading to dinner. I should have called instead of just showing up." He said taking in my appearance.

"No, it's fine. Are you sure you're okay?" I questioned. "Yeah, I'm good." He fell quiet as I stared up at him and I could tell something was bothering him. "Did you want to come with us?" I asked. He looked at me surprised. "Really?" "Yeah, I mean if you want. What's one more person." He smiled. "Okay, I'll just follow you." I smiled and kissed his cheek.

--

I stepped out the car and looked up at the Governor's mansion and a sickening shutter rain up my spine. "You okay?" I looked to my left to see Angelo standing there. "I haven't been here since...." I trailed off. He wrapped his arm around me. "Well, I'm here now. Your brother is here. Your sisters. He's not going to do anything to you." I clenched my jaw. "I'm not scared," I said before grabbing Sami's hand and walking inside.

I handed my coat over to the closet attendant. Samiya ran off chasing the dog as I slowly made my way further inside. I walked into the living room seeing everyone sitting around. "Shit." I looked back at Angelo seeing him staring at his phone. "What?" "My uncle's calling." He pushed the decline button but it soon began ringing again. "Just answer it." He looked at me skeptically and I couldn't help but stare up at him. "I'll be right back." I nodded my head before hearing my name being called. I looked to see my mom walking towards me. "Was that Angelo?" "Yes, when is dinner." Before she could speak his voice rang in the air. "Dinner should be ready in a couple of minutes. If everyone could head to the dining room." He gestured towards the backroom.

I trailed everyone as they made their way to the dining room only to be stopped. "Who was that man you brought with you?" Richard questioned. My eyes went from his hand that gripped my arm back to him. "Let go of me," I said through clenched teeth. He looked at me with a clenched jaw before dropping my arm and walking off. "So, that's him?" I turned around seeing Angelo. "Yep." He walked over to me draping his arm around me. "You're right he does look like a grasshopper." I couldn't hide the laugh that left my lips.

Angelo

After I finished my call I walked back inside just as Richard let go of Maja's arm and walked off. I walked up behind her. "So, that's him?" She turned around looking up at me. "Yep." I walked closer to her sliding my arm around her. "You're right he does look like a grasshopper." She laughed as she shook her head making me smile. We walked into the dining room taking our seat before saying grace. Maja and I sat quietly as everyone around us talked. "It's so nice to have my family together for the holiday," Richard said before Maja scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Jackass." She mumbled. I chuckled until I realized the room fell silent. I followed everyone's stare to see a man standing in the doorway wearing a hoodie. "So, sorry that I'm late." He said clearly drunk or at least buzzed. "Dimitri why don't you go lay down," Richard said. So, this is Dimitri. I thought to myself. I could see some of the features that Samiya got from him. Dimitri turned and looked at his dad with a pissed look on his face. "Why don't you shut the fuck up." He barked as he pointed at him.