Dancing Away with the Player | Book #3

Family is Family

"Stella, sweetie, you're home!" My mom cried out once I stepped inside of the house.

I embraced her in a tight hold, smelling her rose scented perfume. My mom looked the same. Her brown hair was up in a bun and her face displayed wrinkles. She was dressed in black tights and a yellow top with white slippers on her feet. My dad came running down the stairs and engulfed me in a big hug then twirled me around a few times. Once he pulled back, I took in that he was now growing white hairs.

"Smelly Stelly, is back!" My dad cheered, with a wide smile on his face.

"Not for long," I reminded him.

"I know, I know."

"You look like death," my mom remarked.

I narrowed my eyes. "Did Emma tell you to say that to me?"

She sheepishly smiled. "Yes... but you kind of do. Have you been eating enough? Have you been getting enough sleep?" Have you been–"

I cut her off. "Mom, I'm good. Trust me."

"You must be too busy for your parents. I called you and Benjamin picked up. Nothing is going on between you guys, right?" My dad questioned me.

I couldn't help but giggle. "No, dad."

He nodded. "Good because so god help me, I don't want your heart being broken again especially by another musician boy who can't sing."

When I told my dad about Dylan and I's breakup, he didn't take it well. I think he took it worse than I did. He grabbed his keys and stormed out of the house to confront Dylan face to face. Luckily my mom was there to stop him or else who knows what would've happened to Dylan. I understood that he was protective of me, but my dad always went overboard. He was impulsive and would act before he thought. That was just the kind of person he was.

I hit my dad's chest. "Dad, you cant say that!"

He shrugged. "Dylan only saw you as a prize at some amusement park. I can say whatever the hell I want."

"His music is good. Admit it," I demanded him.

He rolled his eyes. "It is."

I smirked. "I knew it."

My dad pointed his finger at me. "Don't you dare tell anyone I said that, not even Dylan."

I ran my thumb and index finger over my mouth, pretending I was locking it up and threw away the key. "Your secret is safe with me."

"Good."

"Come on, I just finished making lunch," my mom said.

It surprised me that my mom cooked lunch since she wasn't a big fan of cooking at all. I carried my duffle bag into the house and set it on the floor. My dad took a seat at the table and I joined him whereas my mom served us food. My stomach grumbled at the sight and began to dig in. Before I left my apartment in New York, I didn't really eat much so I was glad my mom cooked something.

"How's work going?" My dad questioned.

"Pretty good. I'm going to be booked and busy so I won't be around that much as I'd like too. I'm sorry," I replied.

"It's okay, we're just glad that you're here with us now," my mom told me then planted a kiss on my check.

"Me too. I'm sorry I came last minute, but it was urgent."

My dad raised his eyebrow. "What do you mean it was urgent?"

I placed my fork down and looked at my parents. "I need you guys to tell me the truth about something."

"You're scaring us. What happened?" my dad wondered, his face stern.

"We'll tell the truth. What is it?" My mom asked me.

I fiddled with my fingers. "Did you know about James' car accident?"

My parents looked at me in shock then my mom spoke up. "Since when did he get into a car accident? Are you sure that's right? I know Shannon would've told me."

I nodded my head in understanding. "I had thought so too, but she told no one. I met James in Los Angeles and he had no idea who I was until I told him. He had no clue about Juilliard. So, I visited the Maxwell's a couple days ago and they told me that he got into a car accident three years ago."

My dad slammed his fists on the table, causing my mom and I to snap our eyes to him. "What the fuck? How could they not tell you that the boy you're in love with was in a car accident and can no longer remember you?"

"I don't know dad... they just didn't," I replied to his question.

"That's just fucking messed up. I knew they were a bit crazy sometimes, but this is insane. We're done with that family. They're not messing with my little girl!" He yelled in anger.

"Dad, don't worry. I'll never forgive them," I reassured him.

"You should forgive them," my mom chimed in, causing me to look at her in disbelief.

My dad shot her a strange look. "What!"

"Sweetie, Shannon and Milton betrayed you and that was not right, but they're family to you. Family is family, no matter what. I bet they want to tell you how sorry they are. I'm sure that if you guys talk again everything will be fine."

"But family doesn't do that," I argued.

She grabbed my hand. "I know, but we've already planned on have a little family dinner tomorrow with everyone. Maybe you guys can patch this up and everything can go back to normal."

"I'll go to the dinner. As for forgiving them? I don't think so. Mom, I've been waiting to meet James for so long and to have him... not want me anymore breaks my heart. Yet, what breaks my heart even more is that you're not even on my side. You not even trying to understand the pain of James not remembering me."

"I am on your side," she disagreed with me.

I pulled my hand away. "No you're not because if you were you wouldn't have asked me to forgive them so easily."

"Well, dinner will be at 7pm. I hope you can forgive them for their mistake," she said before leaving the kitchen.

"Not likely," I muttered.