Head Over Boots

2. T-Shirt

"Emma, it's lovely to see you," the smiling woman that opened the door pulled my mother into a hug, her southern accent clear in her voice. "Come in, the food is nearly ready to be served so we'll do introductions at the table."

We were ushed through to a light airy dining room where a young girl was laying the table.

"Jenifer, go tell your Dad and brother our guests are here," her mother dismissed her once she had set the table, I notice that she signs to the girl as well as speaks. "Jenifer's deaf," She explains as the girl leaves the room, "Please take a seat, Fred and Nathan will be here in a second, I'm just going to finish dinner." She scurried off to the kitchen, her hurriedness reminding me of my mother, as a man walked into the room.

"Hi, I'm June's husband Fred," He introduced himself, giving my mother and I a kiss on the cheek before shaking my brothers' hands. "Good to see you, Emma."

"You too Fred, these are my boys Charlie and Luke and my daughter, Avery," my mother introduced us as we sat at the large table, me beside Luke with a free space to my right.

"Where would you like these?" Luke held up the wine he was holding, passing them to Fred.

"You didn't need to  bring anything, thank you though, might as well leave them out." Fred placed the bottles down on the table, taking a seat at the head as Jenifer excitedly dragged a tall boy into the room. I sign "hello" to her before she lets go of his hand, running around the table and jumping into my lap. "Hi," she signs to me, "you're very pretty."

"You are too, I love your dress," I whispered back as I sign, Luke and Charlie stood up, introducing themselves.

"I'm Nate, and I have to say that is an exquisite choice of wine," it was this statement that made me look up to see the guy from the grocery store with a cheeky smile highlighting his bright blue eyes, "good to see you again," he nodded at me, taking the empty seat beside me.

"What's your name?" Jenifer signs to me.

"I'm Avery, and I know you're Jenifer," I moved her so she was sat more comfortably on my lap, able to see what I was signing.

"Do you two know each other?" My mother asked me, obviously referring to me and Nate.

"Nate is the one who helped with my wine dilemma earlier," I told her, and Fred as June brought the food in, she'd made a pasta alfredo that looked absolutely wonderful.

"That's my boy, always helping out a damsel in distress," June smiled proudly as Nate looked down blushing, before sitting down and we all started piling food onto our plates, Nate passing me a smaller plate for Jenifer as she was still on my lap.

"So your mother said you two are at college?" Fred offered to Luke and me.

"Yes, I've just finished my junior year at the University of Georgia," Luke replied, the fact that he was at a Georgia Uni was one of the reasons I chose to study here too.

"What are you studying there?" June sounded genuinely interested.

"I'm majoring in Journalism with a certificate in Sports media. I played soccer throughout high school and was offered a scholarship but got injured in Freshman year and decided to hang up my boots," Luke was always the most confident out of the three of us, happy to talk about himself and carry the conversation.

"What about you Avery?" Fred turned to me, making me feel nervous, I'd never been very good at talking to new people, especially in a group.

"Um, I'm majoring in Art history with a minor in Equestrian studies at Savannah College of Art and Design," I replied quietly.