Chapter 48
<Jasper Coven>
"Are you ever gonna bring Callie over here for dinner? You guys have been hanging out for three months and she hasn't even been over to see the new house or meet your new siblings."
My mom is balancing my month-old brother, Aaron, on her hip while my sister, Aurora, cries from her crib in the living room. I chuckle and go to pick her up, holding her close. She draws in a deep breath as I dry her tears. My mom gives me a grateful look as she pops two bottles in the microwave.
"I'm not sure what Callie and I are yet. I don't want to rush into things after all that she's gone through."
"Hanging out everyday for three months sounds like more than just friends." My mom winks as the microwave dings.
"She just needs to not be alone." I reply with a sigh. "She was gonna marry Andrew, mama, it's not easy to get over something like that. She's still mourning him and I just want to be there for her in whatever way I can."
"That's very admirable, but I still think you can bring her over for dinner, romantic or not. I'm sure she'd appreciate some home-cooking."
"I'll mention it the next time I see her."
I chuckle as I follow my mom upstairs to the babies' nursery. It's painted green with monkeys and trees decorating the walls. My mom takes a seat in the rocking chair in the corner, a gift from Mrs. Arthurs, and begins to feed Aaron his bottle. I take the second one from my mom and begin to feed Aurora, who closes her eyes. She sets her tiny hands on top of mine as she continues to drink. When the bottle is gone, I gently pat her back before setting her in her crib for her nap. My mom sets Aaron in his and the pair of us step out into the hallway, closing the door quietly. We hear the front door open downstairs and the sounds of Ashley and Sophie talking in the foyer.
"Dinner's here," Ashley calls out and my mom shushes him as she comes down the stairs.
"We just got the babies asleep," My mom pushes his shoulder, a smile playing on her lips.
"All the more reason to celebrate," Ashley winks and wraps his arm around my mom's waist. "We picked up Tex-Mex on our way home."
"Sounds delicious," My mom says as we all head to the kitchen.
Sophie and I set the table and pour drinks while Ashley warms up the food. Once dinner is ready, the four of us sit around the table and join hands to say grace. Sophie thanks God for her brothers and sisters, for the food, and for us to have a good day tomorrow. We all mumble 'amen' and then begin to eat as Sophie describes a handprint project she is doing in kindergarten for Mother's Day. Ashely describes a fun lunch he had with clients today. My mom and I stare at each other across the table with huge grins. Family dinners will never get old.
~~~~~
"Thank you for helping with clean-up," my mom says as she hands me the last plate to dry.
"I'm happy to, mama." I smile as I put the plate away.
My mom pulls out three wine glasses from the cabinet and pours some red wine from the fridge. She takes a glass into Ashley, who is working in his office. She grabs her glass and motions for me to follow her upstairs. I take a sip of my wine as she takes me up to the attic where a good portion of the moving boxes are still sitting unopened.
"I've been trying to go through this stuff during my maternity leave." My mom says as she sits down on a stool and pulls a half-empty box towards her. "A lot of this stuff is things from the old house that I never got rid of. I thought you might want to help me out."
YOU ARE READING
A Girl Named Callie
Spirituální*sequel to A Boy Named Jasper* ~~~~~ When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6) ~~~~~~ Jasper has been in L.A. for almost five years. Not a day w...
