Living The Dream...Or Is This A Nightmare? (Sequel to Finding Hope)

Chapter Fourteen: A Very Special Visit

Edited 08/27/15

Aviva's POV

I stood at the edge of the driveway looking up at the house, too scared to take another step. Then I remember Ashley's hand holding mine. I give it a gentle squeeze and he returns it. I can do this, I know I can. It's been too long since I last saw her. I don't know exactly what I'm expecting to happen; I know that it's most likely that absolutely nothing will happen. But perhaps that's what I'm truly afraid of. I eventually start walking. Once I start all my worries seem to just disappear. I walk confidently up to the front door and ring the doorbell. Karen answers it. I've met her a few times before. She's a very pretty woman of about thirty-five years with curly, caramel brown hair that comes about halfway down her back and kind, deep, blue eyes. Her skin is flawless and her pale pink lips curve upwards in a smile that shows perfectly straight, white teeth. She's about 5'6" and not too thin but not too chubby. A few years ago I would've given anything to look like her.

"Good afternoon Angela." She says warmly.

"Good afternoon. Sorry we're a bit late, we've actually been here for some time but I got distracted by admiring your beautiful rose bushes." I say. It's true; I had admired the roses while I stood there frozen to the spot.

"They did bloom quite beautifully this year, didn't they?" She asks happily.

"They're perfect. I especially like the white ones, they're my favorite."

"Karen, don't keep them standing outside." Joseph says, walking onto the landing by the front door. He smiles warmly at me and Ash. Like his wife, he's perfect in every way; thirty-seven, 5'10", short, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, sun-tanned skin, and a friendly smile. Me and Ash go in and they lead us to the living room. We all sit down and talk for a bit. It's nice just getting to be normal for once, but I definitely couldn't do this full time.

"So, on the phone you said you have big news?" Karen says/asks. I nod and take Ashley's hand.

"Me and Ashley are getting married." I tell them. After several minutes of congratulations and well-wishes, I finally get to continue. "I'd like for Missa to be there. Just for the ceremony, not for the after-party." That's right, these are Missa's new parents.

"I think that'll be doable." Joseph says.

"When will the wedding be?" Karen asks.

"We haven't decided yet." Ash tells them.

"We'll let you know as soon as we do." I add. They nod. A girl who's about ten runs into the room.

"Karen, Mikey stole my Barbie-doll again!" She cries.

"Just a minute Becca, we have guests. Say hello to Missa's sister Angela and her fiancée Ashley." Karen says. Becca looks over at us.

"Hello." She says, then she turns back to Karen. "He won't give it back!"

"I'll handle this." Joseph says, standing up and taking Becca's hand.

"Come on, I'll take you to Missa's room." Karen says, standing up. Me and Ash stand up as well and she leads us down the hall to a door. She opens it and steps to the side so we can go in. I take two steps in and freeze. There's Missa, sitting on the bed playing with a doll, the doll Ali gave her last year. And there, sitting in a chair next to Missa, reading her a story, is Ali herself. She looks up at us and freezes, just like I had. Missa looks up at Alicia, then over at us. She stands up and takes my hand, leading me into the room to sit on her bed. I don't want to move, but she's actually interacting with me. I'd be a fool to refuse her. She brings Ash over to sit down as well, then she climbs into my lap and stares at Ali.

"Missa." Karen says. Missa looks at her. "If you want something, you have to say something." She says slowly. Missa turns back to Ali.

"Read more." She says softly. Ali half-smiles.

"Missa, you have to say the magic word." She says calmly, in the way she's always spoken to Missa. It makes me want to start crying, but I refuse.

"Please read more." Missa says, even softer than last time. Ali hasn't taken her eyes off me since I walked in, but she does now. She looks back to the book and continues reading. Missa goes back to playing with the doll. I don't hear a word of the story, my mind is too busy thinking of everything that just happened. First, Alicia suddenly reappeared in my sister's bedroom after I hadn't spoken to or heard from her in over a year. Second, Missa noticed we had walked in, although it was probably the fact that Ali had stopped reading that she noticed. Third, Missa took my hand and brought me to sit down then did the same for Ashley. Fourth, she sat in my lap. Fifth, she responded the first time Karen said her name. Six, she spoke when Karen told her to. Seventh, she corrected her mistake when Ali pointed it out to her. These are all things Missa's never done before or did very rarely. Ali showing up was just completely unexpected. One thing keeps going through my head; she voluntarily sat in my lap. There's plenty of room left for her to sit on the bed, or she could've sat in Ash's lap. Based off of her reaction the first time she met Ash, I'd be more able to believe she sat in his lap than mine. But no, she chose my lap. She knew who I was.

Alicia's POV

I finished the story and Missa smiled. It took Angela a minute to realize I'd stopped. When she did she gently picked Missa up and put her down so she was standing on the floor, then she knelt in front of her, looking her in the eye. This is what she always did when she had something extremely important to say to her or to ask her. Ashley looked a bit confused though.

"Missa." Angela said. Missa was already giving Angela her complete attention. "Do you know who I am?" She asks. Normally I'd find that to be a strange question, but nothing is strange when it comes to Missa and Angela. Missa nods. "Who am I?" Angela asks softly. Why is this suddenly so important to her?

"Angie. Sissy." Missa says. Angela smiles and hugs her. And then something amazing happens; Missa hugs her back. Me, Karen, and Angie all gasp. Angie hugs her tighter. Missa has never, not once in her whole life, hugged someone. Karen quickly takes a picture. Angie lets her go and smiles, tears running down her cheeks.

"Thank you, Missa." She whispers. Missa smiles.

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