We Lost It

Chapter 9

The trip back home was full of grandmother's nagging. Not that I remembered any of it, I was higher than the plane we flew in. It was more difficult than I thought to leave Robin, but I knew just as well as everyone else that I'd be back soon enough. Mates couldn't stay that far away from each other that long.

Dad stood besides mom on the patio of our house. He looked thrilled. Note the sarcasm. Mother rushed me and squeezed me tightly, tears welling up in her warm eyes. I wasn't going to lie, I missed her hugs.

"Did you do the diddly do?" Zana yelled down from her window.

"I hope the fuck not!" My father snapped.

"No." Grandmother pouted.

"Why do you sound disappointed mother?" Dad questioned, exasperation thick in his voice.

"I want great grandbabies." She shook her head, "You were never a cute baby."

"Thanks mom." He rolled his eyes.

"You turned into a lovely man, and you've pumped some lovely kids into your wife, but it's her turn now."

"Mom if you don't shut up."

"Don't speak to me that way Virgil!"

"I am a grown man!"

"And I can still shove my foot up your ass." Grandmother growled, "Or rather, shall I use my dildo."

"Grandmomma!" Estara gaped.

"Don't worry darlings, it's not used." She waved her hand, her eyes still focused firmly on dad, "Yet."

I rolled my eyes and walked past my parents, savoring the familiar smell of my childhood home. I ran up the stairs and slammed my bedroom door, launching myself onto my plush bed. The bed I hadn't seen in over two weeks.

Lord had I missed it. The warmth, the fading smell of apple soap, the softness of the blankets. It was wonderful. Save for the fact that I could hear Zana creeping up to try to murder me in some way. I slipped the knife from under my pillow, swinging around to point it at my sibling.

"Well hello to you too." She smiled.

"Hello you evil thing." I responded, putting the blade back.

"So how was it?"

"How was what?" I sat up.

"Your trip." She plopped onto my bed.

I laughed and told her everything. Everything from the trip there, which I don't remember, to the trip back, which I also don't remember. We sat and talked until mom called us down for dinner. I wasn't really hungry, but not sitting at the dinner table when my mom calls usually results in us getting yanked down the stairs by whatever body part she feels like grabbing. I've watched her drag my father by his dick, and it wasn't the pleasurable type either. I don't think he spoke to her for a week and he still covers himself up when she moves suddenly.

I sort of feel bad for my dad because he lives in a house of just women. Aside from him. Mother, grandmother, Estara, Zana, Marnie and I. I'm sure we've run him out of the house on more than one occasion. Oh and then there's Lola, my best friend, who is always where I am. He usually stays in his room when she stays over.

Zana and I went down the stairs, and Zana magically tripped. Lord I don't know how that happened at all!

"Bitch!" She yelled up at me from where she was on the ground at the base of the stairs.

"Technically you're not wrong." I hopped over her, wandering into the dining area.

I sat down in my chair, telling my mom that I wasn't hungry. Guess who gave me food anyway. I wasn't allowed to say no apparently. I'm a grown ass woman and mom still tells me what to do and when to do it. What can I say? She's a scary woman.

We finished dinner, notice I said we. I ended up eating the food in front of me. Mom just gave me less than everyone else.

Dinner was a sight. Marnie was having none of her carrots. She wanted potatoes. She had hit mom in the cheek with a carrot slice. At least it wasn't chewed, dad wasn't so lucky there. Grandmother finally gave Marnie her potatoes and she was quiet again.

Grandmother had made a dick joke, causing dad to choke on his chicken, and mom just put her head down on the table. Zana laughed, and Estara slapped at her. That turned into a slap war. Mom and I shared a look and snuck away into the kitchen, shaking our heads at how rambunctious they were.

"Have they been like this the whole time?" I asked, rinsing off my plate.

"Yes, just minus your grandmother. It was usually Zana that busted out with the inappropriate jokes." She began to wipe down the counters.

That's another thing about mom, she's an absolute clean freak. If her counters weren't clean then there was hell to be seen. I put my plate in the drying rack and kissed mom's cheek. It was time for me to sleep, and sleep I was going to do.

***

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" Estara jumped up and down on my bed.

"Go die. Go die. Go die. Go die." I muttered in response.

"Grandma set dad on fire!" She jumped off the bed and bolted out the door with a laugh.

Only my family would laugh at our dad getting set on fire, it was pathetic. Although I couldn't say much, I was out of the bed and running down the stairs in my pajamas faster than I ever got up in my life.

Sure enough, sitting in the pool was dad, his hair singed his clothing nearly all burnt off, his skin red. Mother stood in the kitchen, ignoring that this was happening in her house, while grandmother stood at the pool edge, lighter in hand.

"What happened?" I snorted.

"He decided to be a brat."

"You can't keep treating him like a baby," I shook my head.

"Dear I pushed him out of my who-ha. I'll treat him like a baby until he dies."

"Don't you think you'll die first?" Zana questioned.

"Darling I'm going to live forever. Plus at this rate he's probably going to die out first."

"I'm going back to bed," I yawned, turning back to my room.

"No dear," mom stopped me at the door, "we're going to beach today."

My head sagged as I groaned tiredly. It wasn't that I wasn't happy about going to the beach, I loved the beach. It's just that I was tired, and I wanted to sleep, but with this family that's impossible.

I went to my room and rummaged through my storage to find my swim suit. I didn't actually remember where I had put it after the cruise. I finally found it, in my closet, in my shoe storage. Why was it there? I'll never know. Why did I think to look there? I had a hunch.

I shoved it in my clear lemon bag, the bag I brought to the beach every time. It also held my towel, glasses, sunscreen, sandals, and a book just to make sure I had something to do if I got bored. I changed into normal people clothing, I know so sad. My pajamas were comfortable.

I trudged down the stairs and met mom at the car. I helped her load in the cooler and everyone else's bags before getting in the front seat. Dad wasn't coming with us after this morning's incident, so this seat was mine.