Blank Skies

61

Rebecca

The house is humming with noise from every corner as the party is on full swing. Jake and his family are joining us for our thanksgiving dinner this year due to an argument.

"I love you guys." Jake says tying up a trash bag. I smile, "We love you too Jake." I say and Dre shrugs, "Depends on the day." Jake laughs, "Seriously." He says walking away with the full trash bag, "Um." I say looking at Dre and he opens a new bag, "Is he alright?" I ask and Dre scrunches his face up, "That was a little off wasn't it?" I nod.

The faint sound of music playing in the kitchen surrounds us, "I can take the cans down when I leave if y'all want?" Jake asks take a sip of his beer, "Okay, what's wrong?" I ask and he shakes his head, "Nothing, I just am really happy to have you guys." He smiles walking out rubbing the back of his neck.

"I know I'm sad, but damn." I sigh and Dre stares at me for a moment. "Come on." He hold out his hand. I smile and take it as we go into the living room. The furniture is moved out some to create more room and the illusion of a larger room. Our parents sprawled across the small of the couch. Jake and Trisha sat in the corner.

"There's the couple of the hour." My birth father beams. The only place left is Andre's favorite recliner. "Hush." My mom smiles holding his shoulder. Andre sits down pulling me down, "We can make room?" His mom says and Jake can't help but laugh, "It's fine mom." I sink to the side and he pops the bar leaning us back.

I rest my head in the crook of his neck under his jaw. His arm falls behind me and his hand lays against my butt and his opposite hand on my knee. My hands fold and slip in between my thighs. "They might need a room." Jake says pretending to whisper, "Shut up." Trisha laughs.

"You know I might have to agree with Trish." I say and Andre chuckles, "I'm changing the subject." My dad says leaning forward, "I have to say this house is amazing." I smile, "Thank you sir." Andre smiles, "No matter how many times I'm in here it never ceases to amaze me." He says looking around, "It'll take your breath away for sure." Jake says smiling, "I know my breath was taken away when he made us build it."

I laugh softly, "He's lucky we knew what we were doing." Andre scoffs, "Not everyone." Jake laughs, "Ryan almost burnt this place down like eight times." Andre laughs with him, "Yeah sorry Becca, we didn't think you were going to have a house for a while." Jake shakes his head. The room is full of love. This is what I've been missing or at least needing more validation.

"I love the house." His mom beams. She decided to bring her new boyfriend to dinner tonight and so far he hasn't said much. He just nods to what she says, "I love the kids." My mom smiles and his mom nods, "Oh I love them." I smile and Dre squeezes my leg.

"Y'all make it look so effortless." The boyfriend speaks up, "I just mean that when my ex wife and I did the whole happy home thing—it never worked out." Andre gives him a sympathetic look, "Hey don't look at me like that, I'm happy now." His mom smiles and nudges him with her elbow.

"There's bad times but it's about what you do during those times." I say and Trisha offers a smile, "Life isn't rainbows and puppies all the time, bad things happen and you just have to push through." I say and the room feels stuffy, "Momma?" I lift my head and see Audrey rubbing her eyes, "I'm tired." She says with heavy eyes.

I climb off Dre and he catches my arm, "I got it." He catches me off guard and I just stand there as he carries her off. I sit back down and bundle my legs up, "Becca can you help me out for a second?" I look up and see Kat a couple feet away from me, "Yeah." I get up and follow her into one of the back rooms. We sit down on a couple of bean bag chairs and she crosses her legs.

She fumbles with her fingers, "Is everything okay?" I say holding my knees, "Oh yeah." She says unconvincingly, "I just was thinking and I wanted to say thank you for everything that you've done for me. I know I haven't always been the best person to you, but I'm extremely grateful for everything." She wipes away a tear, "You took me in with open, loving arms without even blinking."

I smile and let her talk, "Part of me was scared that I wouldn't fit in or things would turn out that we would hate each other." I reach out and hold her hand, "You held me when I was scared from the nightmares. You cared about me when I didn't think anyone did."

Tears roll down her face, "Becca you made things not so scary for me anymore." I squeeze her hand, "I've been talking to Andre about you and I was scared to come to you and talk with you." I scoot closer, "Hey, I'm here for you in each and every single way. When you're happy I'm here. Sad I'm here. Anything I'm here for you." She smiles.

Her arms engulf me in a hug, "I love you." She says and I wrap my arms around her, "I love you." My eyes tear up. She jolts back, "I'm gonna try to call you mom from now on." MY ENTIRE HEART. "Okay." I smile and she hugs me again before leaving the room to go to bed. I sit in the floor and close my eyes letting the tears flow down my cheeks.

My finger tips wipe the little blobs of water away, "Hey, is everything okay?" Trisha says entering the room, "Oh yeah." I stand up and wipe my cheeks, "You sure?" She says offering a smile, "Just a little heart to heart." My feet bring me closer to her, "How are you?" She nods, "I could be better, but you know it's just life." She says and I can see the pain in her eyes.

"Y'all are always welcome here, you know that right?" I say holding the top of her arm, "Thank you Becca." She says softly and I nod, "Always honey." She smiles and takes a deep breath, "Okay I'm not crying." She fans her face and walks out. I turn the room light off and walk back into living room. I sit down in Andre's chair and curl my legs up.

"I love coming over here and being around all of you guys." My mom beams, "We love having you guys." I say and she nods, "You two never cease to amaze me." She says and Andre's mom chimes in, "They make me look like an amateur!" I shake my head as she laughs with my mom, "Do you guys have plans for tomorrow?" My mom asks sipping her drink.

"Yeah I have to go to David and Marleys." My adoptive parents. "They invited us over but we're not taking the kids." My dad nods, "I don't really want to put them through the ring of fire just yet." I tuck some hair behind my ear, "Do you still play?" They ask and I shrug, "I probably could play from memory, but then again it has been years." Andre walks down the stairs watching the room.

"Do you even want to go?" His mom asks and I sigh, "Not really, but I don't want to hear the complaints all year long." Andre nods. "ALL year long." He emphasizes my words. I stand up and let him sit back down before sitting back down. I curl right up to him like the last time, "They know how to hold a damn grudge." He says rubbing my back.