Chapter One – Age 26, Year 2011
I found my toothpaste and toothbrush in my drawer by the sink. The bluish white walls seemed to reflect the sunlight streaming in.
“Hey babe.” Leo came up behind me and hugged me by the waist, then went and grabbed his toothbrush and stole some of my toothpaste. I spit into the sink before speaking.
“Remember, tonight we’re eating dinner with my family.” He groaned and I kicked him gently in the side with my foot seeing as I didn’t want to drop my toothbrush AND fall. With the toothpaste coming out the sides of his mouth, and a five o’clock shadow he looked like a rabid animal, foaming at the mouth. I laughed to myself. He spit into the sink and turned to me.
“Why don’t you tell me these things?” He joked.
“I told you multiple times over the past week!”
“UGH! Why are we even going?”
“I’ve told you this more then multiple times and you know it.” I crossed my arms.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry babe.” He uncrossed him arms and hugged me. He smelt like mints. I uncrossed my arms as well and hugged him back. “You know I seriously forgot until about a second after I asked?” I pulled back with a sigh.
“Yeah,” I paused “But I like to give you crap anyways!” I said with a laugh as I bounded away.
“Hey! No fair! Head start! Judge, call her out!” He shouted with fake anger. I just laughed. Like he took our morning jog seriously.
“Well then, hurry up!” I shouted back. I already had my shoes on and was out the door.
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I drove my car down the avenue, scanning the sidewalk for Leo. I turned one corner then another, then one more, until I finally spotted his familiar tousled longish brown hair. When I say longish, I mean long for a guy, short for a girl.
I honked twice. He spotted me and ran to the car and got in. He buckled up then leaned over and kissed me, like normal.
“We have to run to the florist, then to the store, and then we have to go home and change and then we’re off to my mom’s.” I said with a small smile.
“Why don’t we go home, change, each run an errand then meet up at your mom’s?” He suggested.
“Because the florist is right here, and so is the store, and mom’s is the other side of town.” I replied.
“O” he held that face until the light turned green, I hit the gas, and he screamed like a little girl while I laughed.
>>>
It’s so sad. Only a year and a day ago my father was perfectly fine. Only a year ago exactly, I walked into my parents’ house to find my mother wailing over his dead body. My father was shot. A burglar broke in while my father was supposed to be at work, but he had forgotten some important papers for the case he was working on so his boss made him go back to get them.
To this day we have no idea what the papers were about, because the hotshot lawyers he worked with wouldn’t tell us, or who shot him. There were no fingerprints, no nothing. They know one thing. That this guy was so good he had to be on their list of watched people, but all of them had excuses.
Leo taps my shoulder. “We’re here honey.” He tilts his head to the side, examining me to make sure I don’t burst into tears. If there is one thing Leo hates more than taxes, it’s crying people. I put on a brave face and smile my reply.
“Fine. I’ll be fine.” He narrows his eyes like he knows I’m lying. “Listen to me Leo, I’ll be fine.” I know he still doesn’t believe me, but he lets it go. I open the passenger door of the shiny new Buick dad left us the money for in his will, and take a deep breath.
I walk in the door to the smell of mom’s famous caramel pie. I don’t know how she does it, she’ll never tell me. Relatives and cousins are shoved in the small living room but somehow I see my mom on the far side of the room, and then she ‘s right there in my face.
“Oh sweetie, such a sad day, but such a happy one too!” Mom looks like she’s about to cry with joy and anticipation. She grabs my shoulders and looks me over. “Soon it will be your turn!”
“My turn for what Mom?” I asked perplexed. I could see why she would be crying today, but she looks... happy. Before I know it, my third cousin Celia Joe was on my right, and boy did she gain weight!
“Emily! I’ve got great news! I’m pregnant!” She has the same look as mom, about to cry from joy. I’m stunned. I haven’t seen her in at least six months, but she looks like she’s about to give birth right here, right now. Finally I find words.
“Oh my god, congratulations! Do you have a name yet?” I’m still shocked and I think Celia Joe knows. Her husband, Shawn answers.
“Joe-Joe. We can call him J-J” There is so much pride in his voice, and his smile that it actually kind of hurts to look at. I smile.
“Celia Joe, and Joe-Joe. Coincidence? I think not, but she or he will be handsome or beautiful. Depending on the gender.” Celia Joe just laughs.
“You just think of every possible word, don’t you?” Celia laughs and pats her big round belly. Shawn puts his arm around her shoulders. Though what I said is true, and she knows it but will not admit it.
See, Celia Joe is very pretty, cutest girl in high school and voted most likely to be a model. She has long black hair and nice olive colored skin to go with it. Her bright blue eyes shock everyone, but draw them in none the less.
Shawn, oh don’t get me started on him. Quarterback on the high school football team, hair the color of the sand on the beach, and warm brown eyes the color of melting chocolate. He has fair skin and edgy bones. He’s easily one of the most handsome men I’ve ever met.
Besides my Leo of course! And he’s the reason I’m standing in this house on this day. We are at my old house, on the anniversary of my Fathers’ death, seeing everybody act so happy. Or maybe they’re not acting. Maybe they really got over his death. Anyways, thank God for Leo.
Leo and I say goodbye to Celia Joe and Shawn and wish them luck then weave our way through the large crowd. We get ‘Hello!’s and ‘Did you hear about Celia Joe and Shawn?’s and ‘So sorry about your Fathers death, darling Emily!’s and other such things.
We see my cousins, my grandparents, a single great grandparent, nephews, aunts, uncles, nieces, and every other extended family member and friend of my fathers. I didn’t get how everyone seems so happy.
It was hard for me to even gather the courage to get up out of bed. I loved my father so much. Still do. I look away from Grandma Taeys should-be-wrinkly face and look at Leo. A look that should clearly mean ‘Honey, get me out of here, or else I’m going to go crazy’ and Leo squeezes my hand gently and excuses us.
When we get out by the car I feel sick. I go to find a pot or bowl or something of the sorts but Leo is – as usual – one step ahead of me. He holds out a plastic bag, pulls my hair out of the way and rubs my back as I retch my guts up.
