Miracles

Chapter 40

~Amari's View~

"Stop!" Our instructor cuts us off by clapping her hands. "I think we've rehearsed enough for today. Margaret, please pray before we leave."
"Finally," I murmur as Magaret ends her prayer.

"Amari," Our instructor calls me. Picking up my bag, I groan internally and quickly walk to her. "Yes, Miss Stevens."
"Amari, you're losing focus. Is everything alright?" Miss Stevens asks. "Yes, everything is alright. I promise I'll do better on our next rehearsals." She studies me for a minute before nodding. "Alright. I don't expect any slip-ups next time. You can leave."
"Thanks, Miss Stevens." I nod and quickly leave the church premises.

"How did rehearsals go?" Eloise asks as I get seated in the front seat of her car. "It was okay. Thanks for asking." I smile at her. I apologized to Eloise earlier for overreacting about the whole Wyatt situation. She let it slide as if it never happened. I'm still not talking to Wyatt. I want to talk to him but my pride isn't letting the whole situation pass easily.

"I can't wait to see you perform. I'm sure you'll steal the show." Eloise smiles, her eyes still on the road. I chuckle, "You've seen me perform about a thousand times. It's nothing new."
"You just had to spoil the mood, didn't you?" She says and we chuckle.
Soon enough, we arrive home. I can't wait to hit the showers. I take off my shoes and run into the house.

"Ow!" I whine, hoping on my foot. I just stepped on lego bricks. That thing seriously hurts.
"What's going on here?" Eloise asks the children who have their toys scattered everywhere.
"Grandpa told as to look for Sky the toy mouse," China answers. "Grandma's home," Rasheeda adds.
"Mom's home?!" I squeal and zoom up the stairs, straight to my parent's room.

"Oh my gosh! Mom! I mi-" My excitement fades away when I see how disorganized my parents' room looks and the state my mom is in. She's crying and dad is trying his best to comfort her.
"Mommy?" I skip over their stuff and walk closer to them. She pulls away from dad with a tear-stained face and tries to put on a smile for me.
"I'm so sorry baby." She breaks down. I quickly hugged her tightly, rubbing her back. "It's okay, mom. It's okay." I console her.
"It's not okay, Amari. I lost Sky. I lost her favorite toy. The only thing closest to her. I-I lost y-your sister." She sobs more. What should I do now? Seeing her like this just breaks my heart. I also feel like crying. You can't cry Amari, not when mom needs you.

"Mommy, look at me. I'm right here. Me. Amari." She stares at me, nodding her head vigorously. "My sister is in a happy place. She's happy and she wants you to be happy. Okay? When you cry, you hurt her feelings. You don't want to hurt your baby's feelings right?" She nods. "Good. Now, listen. Sky was just Avisha's favorite toy and no matter the number of times she played with her, the stuffed mouse can't replace us, Avisha's family. We're the closest to her even though I never met her. So please don't cry, okay? You've got us. Stop giving yourself a hard time. None of those things that happened was your fault. You're a great mom and I love you so much. We all love you. So please don't cry." I wipe her wet face.

She nods with a smile and hugs me. "I love you, Amari."
"I love you, mommy." I smile and pull away. Dad clears his throat. "I'm done cleaning up. The least you can do is tell me you love me too." I chuckle at my dad's silliness and get off the floor, helping mom up too.
"You clean up pretty well." Mom compliments dad. "Really?" Dad asks with a sly smile, walking closer to mom. What is going on here? Are my parents flirting with each other?
"You guys are so... Ugh!" I rush out of their room, closing the door behind me. I hear them laugh before I hear mom scream happily.

I skip to my room to find Jaina in bed watching a Christmas movie. "Hey, Jay. I missed you so much." I smile falling on her lap.
"Okay?" She cocks a brow at me. "What's up? Have you talked to Wyatt? Ooh, I bet you guys kissed again, that explains why you're happy right now." She wiggles her brows at me. The thought of Wyatt and I kissing again brings a smile to my face but I quickly dismiss it.
"Stop assuming." I scowl. "Wyatt and I happened. We're not happening again."
"Oh okay." She sniffles, wiping an imaginary tear away. "You would have produced beautiful babies."
I hit her with a pillow and rush to the bathroom to shower.
Coming out later, I put on my comfy sweats and colorful socks, and grab my laptop and move downstairs.
There, Eli was busily singing carols with the kids. I smile at this and enter the kitchen.

"Food!" I hoot, taking a plate full of pancakes and waffles and drizzling maple syrup all over them. Mom brought a lot of maple syrup home. I mean, you can't go to Canada and come home without maple syrup. The country is known for its maple syrup. "Mmm..." I smile in satisfaction and start eating.
Scrolling through articles on my laptop, I feel someone's presence behind me.

It's none other than Wyatt. I feel like I'm gonna melt. He's so close to me right now. Don't freak out Amari.

"Whatchu reading?" Wyatt asks securing his hands on either side of the countertop.
"It's this really interesting article about how annoying it is when someone reads over your shoulder," I reply.
"Yeah, I hate those people." He says making me shake my head at him. "You're one of those people."
"Real quick, click that link right there." He points to a picture of a contortionist.
"I'm done here." I close my laptop and turn around on my stool to face him.
"Where are you going?" He inquires. "To the bathroom?" I shrug.
"Why?" He asks. I mentally facepalm. Are you kidding me?
"To take a tennis lesson." I roll my eyes at him and get off the stool.
"That was really mean." He says following me out of the kitchen. "Hey, I don't sugar coat anything. I'm not a bakery."
"Ouch!" He fakes hurt. A small smile makes its way onto my face. He takes my hand in his and looks at me with a silly smile. "Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk past you again?"
I giggle, "Pick up lines? Really?"
"I've got more. Listen to this." He says staring at my lips for a second before continuing. "Your lips look lonely would they like to meet mine?"
His hands cup my cheeks and I blush, admiring the charming guy in front of me. Wyatt is amazing. Does he think of me that way too? No, I don't think so. I wish I could read minds right now. His mind most especially. Just kiss him already. No, that would mean I'm giving him the chance to reject me again. But I really want to kiss him again. I miss the short-lived encounter we had in my bathroom. But I can't let it happen again. Yet I want it to happen again.

"Amari!" Rasheeda shouts from downstairs. I quickly pull away from a disappointed looking Wyatt and shout, "Coming!" He runs his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Sorry," I murmur. He shakes his head, "It's fine," And with that, he walks away leaving me to question my life choices.
"Amari!" Rasheeda shouts again. "I said I'm coming!" I yell.