Always With Me

Part 18- Dahlia Parker

         The next few days seemed to fly by as I prepared myself to leave for Ohio.  I packed all of my warm clothes, although many of them were on the verge of being too tight as I pulled them over my pregnant stomach.  I took some of the money out of my account and bought a few pairs of larger jeans and more oversized shirts, but my jacket was still fine.  I drove up to Memphis, Tennessee to board my plane to land in Cincinnati.  The flight was long, but I was able to sleep the entire way through it. I was used to flying alone because of my frequent visits to see my dad growing up.  I hadn't heard from my dad since I sent him an email saying that I was pregnant, but I knew that I wasn't going to see him any time soon to break the news to him.  I was honestly horrified by the possibilities of what his reaction was going to be.

        I got to the airport and sat at the baggage claim once I finished getting my things, waiting on Cassie and Blake to come and pick me up.  I was about to pull out a book from my purse when I felt someone tap on my shoulder.  I looked up to see a tall woman with straight, chest length brown hair and blue eyes.  She wore a purple jacket and jeans and had frozen rosy cheeks.

       "Hey, Dahlia," Cassie said as she pulled me up to hug me.  I hugged her back, although I hadn't seen my sister in a long time.  She was standing next to a man that I recognized as Blake Davis, her husband.  He was a tall, broad man with pale skin and dark hair.  He looked as if he had been an athlete at some point in his life, but he now worked as a bio-chemical engineer in Ohio.  I had only spoken with him once over the phone, but I could tell by that short encounter that he didn't have much of a personality.  All that I knew about him was that he was smart, and he was a Christian.  I honestly found it very odd that Cassie would end up with a Christian.  She had never been one for religion, but now she dated the ultimate 'Bible thumper' that there was, and she absolutely loved him.  I mean, she was absolutely crazy about him, and I could see that especially now as they stood beside each other.

       "Hey, Cassie.  Hey, Blake."  I couldn't quit staring at my sister, and she appeared to be doing the same to me.  She seemed to be doing good, wearing a genuine smile on her face that I had never seen with her growing up.  She was ten years older than me, so we never had a relationship worth talking about.  When she and my mom quit talking, she and I quit talking, also.  I hadn't seen her since before her wedding.  I didn't even go to the wedding.  I felt my muscles tighten as I remembered.  

       "I haven't seen you in so long!" Cassie said, grabbing one bag as Blake grabbed the other.  She pulled it out to the car and opened my door for me as they put my things into the trunk.

       

        "I know.  How's Mom?" I asked as Blake made his way through the airport parking lot.  There was snow on the ground, about eight inches I learned, so he drove slowly.  There was a snow plow in front of us almost the entire drive home.

       "She is doing so good, Dahlia.  I mean, it is almost as if she has made a one-eighty turn around!" She said excitedly.

       "What kind of place is she staying in?"  I asked, grabbing my stomach.  I could feel it beneath my hands, and it had begun to become a safe place for my to hold when I felt uncomfortable.  I had no idea why.

       "It is a Christian Rehab center down here in Cincinnati.  I get to see her every day," Cassie said.  Blake was sitting beside her in silence.

       Great, a Christian Rehab Center.  I sighed, looking out the window.

     "How are you and Mom doing?" I asked.  She smiled even bigger.        

       "We are doing so good.  I mean it.  I am so happy, Dahlia, and I feel like Mom is going to be also.  She told me about the last man, and I am so sorry that you had to be there for that.  I know that it was tough."