Please Stand By

Chapter 2

Jade woke up to the sound of birds chirping and the sun shining through her window. She stretched and yawned, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She went out to the living room to find the back door open.

"Trisha?" She asked as she walked out to the back deck. Trisha sat in a rocking chair, still wearing her zebra striped pajamas. Trisha looked at Jade with a look of surprise

"Good morning, Jade," she said as she patted the chair next to her. "Take a seat. Did I wake you?"
"No, the sun did, ma'am." Jade said, sitting down.
"Sorry about that. It can be sunny here, even in the winter."
"That's alright ma'am." Jade thought for a moment. "Would you like me to help with the rest of dinner at all?"
"I suppose I could find something for you to do." She leaned back in her chair. "Say, what were the holidays like with your family?"
After a long pause, Jade finally gathered the courage to say "Not like this. It was never that fun. My family and I never got along very much, and we didn't really act..."
"Like a family?" Trisha finished.
"Yeah... like a family."
"I'm sorry dear. But you're always welcome to spend the holidays here if you'd like."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Trisha smiled. She had the look of a woman who felt content in the work she had done to get where she was now. She seemed so happy and like a proud mom, wife, and woman. Jade wished she had that much confidence.
"May I ask you something Trisha?"
"Of course."
"How come Melody has a bunk bed? I thought she was the only girl?"
Trisha looked down at her feet.
"She wasn't always the only girl, Jade. She had a little sister a while ago." Jade looked over at her, an expression of pure shock on her face.
She apologized for asking.
"It's okay." Trisha replied. "You didn't know. She disappeared when Harmony was little. We still haven't found her."
"That's awful! I can't even begin to imagine what that feels like. I wish there was something I could do."
Trisha looked over to her, a sad smile lay across her face. "Do you want to help me finish thanksgiving dinner?" Jade decided to not press Trisha on her youngest daughter. They went to the kitchen and began finishing thanksgiving dinner.

***
"Okay," Trisha began "turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole, and the pie is thawing out." They all sat down. Mr. Anderson sat at the head of the table, DeShawn, Trevor, Cain, then Jade on his left and on his right were Trisha and Harmony. They all held hands and bent their heads, saying grace, blessing the meal. Jade simply bowed her head and listened.

"Did you never learn to say grace growing up?" Mr. Anderson asked.
"No sir. My family wasn't too religious." Jade answered.
"I'll teach her all of our prayers." Cain said. Mr. Anderson nodded in approval.
As they ate, they sat around, enjoying each other's company and talking about childhood church events.

***
After the dinner, everyone headed to the couch for an evening movie night. Once they hit the second movie, people began to fall asleep. Trisha fell asleep on the end of the couch halfway through the movie. Mr. Anderson fell asleep in his chair shortly after. Harmony fell asleep at the other end of the couch before the movie ended. The twins were asleep a short time after on the floor with their heads resting against the couch. Jade and Cain went upstairs.

"Oh here," Cain said, rushing into the other room. After a moment he came back with a bath ball. "Mom said to give one of these to you in case she forgets. I think this one's lavender.
"Thank you!" Jade said. "I'll use it in the morning. I don't want to wake everyone up." Cain shook his head.
"Use it now that way you can relax all you want and won't hold anyone up in the morning." After a moment of silence Cain spoke in a rather quiet yet seductive voice. "Maybe I'll join you." The two of them smiled at each other, silently agreeing on how they should spend the rest of the night.