"We meet again"

3

     Today is my last day at my brothers household. These 3 days went so fast and I won't be seeing him for who knows when. When they come to play the stars or vice versa, we'll only have time to give a hug and say 'hey'.

     I wake up at decent time today, 9:30. That's early for me so I go straight downstairs to see what's cooking for breakfast.
"What's cookin good lookin" I say to my sister in law.
"Kids wanted to make waffles. Charlie made you one. Not sure if you want it or not"
"Should I be scared" I question knowing that my three and a half year old niece 'made me a waffle'.
She put it on a plate and handed it to me.
"Yum" I say to Charlie with an awkward face.
It had strawberry's, blue berries, bananas, and chocolate chips all in it. Overall, the taste was a 7. The looks, not so pleasing.
"I can't believe you ate that" Elias says giving a disgusting look. "She'll eat anything Eli."

     When I was finished eating, I played with the kids for about an hour while Brigitte gets some housecleaning done.
I pack my things so I don't have to do it later and I get ready for the day.
Sweatpants, hoodie, uggs type of day.

     "E. Come down here we have a real early Christmas present for you."
I question what it could be and go downstairs to see.
"Christmas is like 2 and a half months away bro"
"Here auntie E" jack hands me a box and everyone's gathered around the island in their kitchen with their phones out.
I think to my self- I'm scared, I look horrible today, they better not post this video or whatever they're doing and what could this gift possibly be.
It's small rectangular box so maybe a Tiffany's bracelet? An Apple Watch? Sports/concert tickets? Gift card?

I unwrap the bow tie that's around it and pick up the box top. It has tissue paper wrapped around it.
I pick it up and it's a pregnancy test.
*++* *pregnant* it reads.
My draw drops.
"What?" I'm excited but also like 'how can they have another kid this close? 3 under the age of 5. Charlie will be 4, jack will be 5 and this baby will be just born.
"I'm so excited. I was not expecting this.
That's why you wouldn't take a drink of that flames drink at the game!" It clicks in my head.
We all exchange hugs and talk about it for a while.

The guys had an off day today so we were all just hanging out at the house, and had some old friends over since I'm leaving later. We went out to eat around 2 and shopped for a few hours. When we returned to the house, it was 6pm. I took a nap before I hit the road.

"Bye sis, I hope them guys treat ya good down there. If not, tell Lindholm their number. He'll fight them for this old man. Tell mom we all said hi. I'm surprised she didn't ruin the baby surprise" mike tells me. The guys in Dallas are way younger and different from when he played. Them guys got traded or even retired.
Brigitte comes and gives me a hug with both of the kids in each arm. I give jack and Charlie both kisses and big hugs and say good bye.
Elias and I actually gives each other a hug too. In the 3 days of meeting and hanging with him, he's a good guy. I just don't know how he does it- living with my brother, his wife and 2 about to be 3 kids. "It was nice meeting you Ellie. Good luck with the stars. Like your brother said, if you need me to straighten one of them up for you, let me know".

————————

I arrive at my moms house a few hours later. I grab my suitcase and bags from the trunk and head in. Of course- the doors locked. I knock and I hear my dog- Cali barking. She's a St. Bernard who my mom got so she wouldn't be lonely since my brother and I left.
It was pretty late when I got there so we changed in our pajamas, made some hot chocolate and turned on a movie just like when I was little. Soon, I fell asleep on the coach cuddled up next to Cali.