Being the Little Sister

44 - Picknick

The storm that was swirling up in my stomach made it hard to sit still. The dread as my eyes couldn't leave the door made seconds feel like minutes. After another shaky breath, I dared to look away from the door to everything set up behind me. Pillows, lights, candles, food. We had everything ready and now was just a long wait for Cole to get here with everyone. Mason was outside, probably cold, as he awaited in dad to stop him at the door so Clara, Masie, and dad could all be surprised at the same time.

We managed to make our normal boring living room into something special. Fairy lights from the attic where we stored all of our holiday decorations were hung up around the room. We had candles lit from close distance to anything that would be able to burn down the house. We wanted to use more candles but Cole said no because he didn't need this night to turn into a disaster too. We couldn't argue with that. Pillows and blankets along with couch cushions were on the floor to provide us seats and last but not least we had the food we had prepared for about two hours put out in the middle. Everything from chocolate dipped strawberries, sandwiches, brownies, a salad along with some other different varieties of foods.

It looked like something straight off of Pinterest and I was really happy with how it turned out but at the same time scared of what Clara, Masie and most of all dad would think of it. Maybe it's not enough. What if he still would be mad at us after. What if something goes wrong. A thousand thoughts seemed to occupy my thoughts I wasn't ready for when someone touched my shoulder.

"Mable" Slightly caught off guard I turned around with a jerk and found Luke looking down at me "Dad is outside," He said which made me suck in some air. "Don't worry. He will love it"

The reassurance helped but the slight doubt in his look didn't make the uneasy feeling to completley go away. It's just nerves. Get it together. With those final thoughts, I stood up from the couch and walked over to Noah who was peeking out through the bathroom window where we could kind of get a view of dad as Mason talked to him.

I got onto the toilet lid to get a better view. "Do you think he will like it?" I whispered to Noah as I rested my chin on his shoulder. I could feel as he let out a breath.

"I honestly don't know. Let's just hope" I knew he was nervous. It was almost strange seeing all of my brothers be so anxious and affected but at the same time, I was down in the same pit as them just wanting dad to not be mad at us.

"I'm nervous" I whispered out shakingly as I didn't realize I was getting emotional. It was all leading up to this moment and I hated seeing my dad so cold towards me. I hurt. Hur more than anything and to know the disappointment was genuine and directed towards I included. I think I've built up all of the emotions inside and now as the moment neared the were rising to the surface.

Noah turned and looked me in the eyes and my bottom lip unwillingly started to pout and my eyes turn glossy "I don't like it when dad is disappointed in me" I said looking into Noah's blue eyes that seemed so similar to my own.

Noah reached his hand up to put it on my cheek "Hey, don't worry Marble" His thumb rolled over the skin under my eyes just as a tear rolled down. "He loves you" Noah whispered as my eyes went to the floor just as another tear rolled down. Putting his other hand around my back he pulled me into his chest and turned us so he was sitting down on the toilet chair with me in his arms. "He loves us so much and that's why he's hurt right now"

"I'm scared. W-what if he's still mad after" My shaking voice was muffled by Noah's black shirt as I was slowly making it wet with my tears.

"He won't. I promise. He will love it" Noah pulled me away from his chest and looked me into my slight red eyes. "Don't cry, okay?" He said and once again wiped the tears away. I gave him a little nod and he gave me a reassuring smile.