A Summer Storm

Chapter 5

That Wednesday night after Garrison left, I was feeling like I was on cloud 9 and I was that way all night and Thursday. Mom noticed as soon as she arrived home with her sister and her family. I love my aunt and uncle, they are awesome and their daughter, Ivony; they treat me like I'm a person and family still despite carrying and birthing my twin babies. Their son, T.J. (Troye Jr.) on the other hand, treats me like I'm worse than a piece of trash.

"Baby boy, what's gotten you in such a wonderful mood, not that I'm complaining?" Mom hugs me after hanging up her coat, taking off her shoes and dropping her purse on the floor by the couch.

Hugging her tightly back, I whisper in her ear becaues I don't want to deal with T.J. and his snide comments; "I had the best night, not lonly with you, Hal and Aussie but with Garrison too. He kissed me, mama before he left for the night after asking for permission."

Mom pulls away a huge smile gracing her stained red lips. "That's wonderful, baby boy."

Nodding at her, she heads into the kitchen with auntie Ivory and Uncle Troye to make tea while they chatted leaving me in the living room with Ivony and T.J.

"How have you two been?" I ask them trying to be civil as I sit on the armchair closest to the stairs in case one of the twins wake.

T.J. scoffs at me as he sits on one of the couch as Ivony takes the other as she grins at me showing off her semi-straight white teeth. T.J. is 18 years old, with short dark blond hair that he styles into a quaff, built from his time hitting the weight room year round and due to football and he has light brown eyes. While Ivony is 16 years old with shoulder length medium chesnut brown hair, brown eyes to match and soft, welcoming features.

"I've been doing good, love school still and I'm the school's volleyball and softball teams. Oh, hey, I even found myself a nice guy, Steve, he's my boyfriend and he's 17 years old and a junior," Ivony tells me with a sweet smile.

"None of your buisness, fairy, how I've been doing," T.J. snears just as our parents enter the living room hearing his comment.

"Boy, I'm going to tell you right now," uncle Troye starts off angirly, "If I hear one more snide comment about Oakley's sexuality or his children, you will regreat it."

When T.J. opens his mouth to argue with his father, who mind you is probably 6 feet 2 inches tall, burlier than T.J. and icy blue eyes that will bore into your soul; uncle Troye cuts him off with a glare. "I've had enough of your rude and obscene behavior at Oak, whose only been polite to you."

T.J. visisbly shrinks back into the couch, knowing full well that uncle Troye isn't playing around and will make him regret his words and actions toward me and my babies.

"I'm going to head upstairs, check on the babies and go to bed," I say standing to avoid being the further cause of any tension in the house. My awesome mood instantly has diminished from what's just transpired in the last few minutes.

"No Oakley, you don't have to leave just because my son is an insensitive jerk," my auntie says as I step onto the bottom step.

Turning back to everyone, I give them my best fake smile, sure that none of them believe it. "It's okay auntie, I'm tired and I should go to bed anyway. Busy day being a freak and a horrible human being," I mutter the last part hoping no one hears.

My mood drops even lower after checkin on Aspen and January and chaning into my night clothes; as I lay under the covers staring at a picture of Owen and I on the wall from the Christmas before he was killed.

I shouldn't have allowed Garrison to kiss me, let alone kiss him back or initiate the second kiss before he went home this evening. I should know better than to fall in love or even have strong feelings for anyone else besides my mom and my children. I only get those who love me in a non-blood related family way killed in cold blood.