Finding my light

Chapter 16

"Winter?" Mom called bringing me out of my thoughts. "What are you..." Mom paused as she saw Kayla and Tristan. "Oh." She said as everything seemed to make sense to her. "Oh my God, you guys are back." Mom said walking towards Kayla to give her a big hug. "I missed you so much. You could have told us you were back so we could have come to see you guys." She said acting nice as I glared at her. "That's why we came Norah." Kayla said smiling at my mom.

"Yeah, I see." Mom said smiling. "Come in." She said motioning for all of us to come in. 

I go in to see dad sitting on the couch. I glare at him and make sure he sees me doing it. "Kayla, Tristan, you guys are back!" Dad says smiling at them. "Obviously." Tristan says letting out a sigh. "And who's this pretty lady with you guys?" Dad asks referring to Edna. "It's Edna, our daughter." Kayla says smiling slightly at him.

I thought my parents said they knew their family well. Now I'm beginning to have second thoughts about it. How would they not know Josh had a sister?

 "So what brings you here?" 

"We came to see the girl our dear Josh would be getting married to." Tristan says smiling and looking at me. 

I wish he would have never said that. My heart went up immediately I heard that. My eyes meet with dad's as he quickly removes it and pretends like nothing just happened. 

"Of course, I should have thought of that." Dad says turning to me. I could feel his gaze on me but I don't bother to look at him. It'll just make me feel sad the more. 

"I'll be right back." Dad says heading up. Probably to go meet mom so they'll order Sushi. Since we came I haven't seen Aunt Amber. I just hope she's gone, or if not, I don't want to see her rotten face out till we go.

The place is quiet as dad leaves. I take out my phone to reply all my chats. I could see Edna and Josh with their phones too as Kayla and Tristan stare at us. Dad comes back in a short while with mom. The both of them sit on the other couch.

"So how has living with Josh been Winter?" Mom asks as I look at her before answering good. Like if it was bad she'll actually want to take me back. Kayla notices my attitude but she just gives an understanding look. At least someone that cares. I see mom nod her head. 

"I heard your boss died." Mom says trying to bring up a topic for us to talk about. Probably because she doesn't want Kayla and Tristan to think bad of her. "Yeah."

"Could you go for his burial?" 

"No, I couldn't." 

"Oh okay." She says noticing my straight replies until I can't take it any more. "You know, if you actually wanted to know about my boss's death you could have called." I say as mom gives me a shocked look. 

"Yes Norah, you should have called. I can't believe you didn't even give her at least one call to ask if everything was okay." Kayla said supporting me. "I-I don't know... I've been busy lately. Since Winter left, I've been the one doing all the chores, going to work and handling most of the things here since Albert travelled." Mom said trying to use that as an excuse. "Dad travelled?" I ask glaring at him. "I-I'm sorry Winter, I didn't want to bother you. I thought you'll be having a good time with Josh." 

"Bother me? now I get this, you guys just want to put me out of your lives, out of this family. Omg, what am I saying? you already have." I say getting up to the bathroom. I could feel a tear roll down my cheek. How would he do this. I mean, dad and I made a commitment that each time he travels I'll go with him and it had become a tradition since I was four. He promised me he'll never go on any trips without me and now he broke it. 

I could hear Kayla and Tristan telling my mom and dad that that wasn't an excuse. Of course it wasn't but that was the only excuse she could come with.

I wipe the tears away as I look at the mirror and see my cheek black. Probably the mascara. I wash my face with water and clean it with the towel beside me. When I'm done, I walk outside through the back door and sit on the swing.

 "Are you feeling good?" I hear a voice from behind me as I turn to see Josh. "H-how did you get here?" I ask calmly. "duh, through the door." Josh answers. "You haven't answered my question yet Winter." 

"No!" I answer truthfully. "You know, I thought maybe... maybe Dad was doing all of this because of mom but clearly was wrong. It was a tradition for dad and I to go together on all of his trips since I was four and now cause I'm eighteen he just blew it away." 

"I know it may sound kinda childish but it's something that makes the both of us closer. I don't even know why I'm telling you this because it's... 

"All my fault?" Josh says completing the sentence and cutting me off. "No." I say lying. It was actually all his fault or no, it was actually my parents fault for letting me follow the dumb tradition. They wanted it after all.

"Then complete it." Josh says looking down then at me. "because it's you they want me to get married to." I say as a little smile forms it's way to his face. It was a fake smile. That one that tells you he actually knew I was lying but used it to cover up. "Come on lets get inside." Josh says as heading towards the back door. 

"No." I reply shaking my head. Josh asks as my eyes lock with his. "They sent you to come get me, didn't they?" I ask but he didn't reply. "Of course they did." 

I knew there was something that made Josh act so nice. It's just so they'll think good of him. I wouldn't even be able to look at their faces if I get there. I can imagine what Kayla, Tristan and Edna would be thinking in their minds.

"I'm not coming." 

"Come on, you can't just sit out there making sad faces. It's not going to make your Dad change his personality. It's who he is." 

Yeah he's right. It's just dad being dad but how could I have not noticed it all this years. 

"Don't act like you care. Just go, I'll be fine." I say fixing my ear piece in my phone and listening to a slow music as I see Josh go inside.