The only time that I think everyone wanted to kick her out all together was when she made a comment about me not drinking any wine with my dinner. “What’s the matter, Della, are you knocked up again?”
Had she really forgotten that I had been pretty much waster the night before, or maybe she was just trying to embarrass me in front of Justin. I wanted to sink through the floor right then and there. Everyone fell silent, except for Justin who quickly told her to shut the fuck up. I winced at his choice of language, but everyone nodded in agreement, my dad smiling at him for handling the situation.
Justin had held onto my hand tightly the whole time we were there, avoiding Mia as much as he could after that as he ran his finger lightly over the ring he had given me that morning when we had woken up. No, definitely not an engagement ring, although I could see that happening with Justin, just not now. No way in hell.
This ring was just an ‘I love you’ gift and a good reason for him to be able to pull that bubblegum ring off of my finger. I had tucked it away in a tiny baggie, knowing that I would want to hang onto it even if it wasn’t on my finger anymore. He had done perfectly at picking jewelry out for me. The silver band was thin and intricately woven with another and three pink stones were placed in the center. Not too flashy but just enough. It was so…me.
My mother had pulled me out to the porch, a glass of wine that she had brought along in her hand as we sat down on the swing. “Thank you, Adelaide, for dealing with Mia last night. I can only take so much of her.”
I snorted in response, “Yeah, me too. Is she always like this?”
“Yes,” she rolled her eyes, taking another sip of her wine, “unfortunately. She brings a different guy home with her almost every night to the guesthouse, and Gerald just ignores it. I really don’t know what to do.”
I remained silent because I really didn’t have any advice for her. Mia was on a downward spiral from where she had once been, and she didn’t seem as if she wanted to change.
“I’m so proud of you, dear,” she said, her tone switching to soft as she reached over to twirl a piece of my hair, something she hadn’t done since I was a little girl. “You’ve grown up so much and come so far. I know I haven’t always been there for you, but I promise I’m going to try more. I’m glad you found Justin. You two seem like a perfect fit, and I can see he has a good influence on you. You better not let that one get away.”
“Thanks, mom.” I smiled as her eyebrows shot up at me using mom instead of mother. I hadn’t felt like she really had been a mom to me until she had just said that right there. To know she was proud of me, for once, really was a little overwhelming, but it felt good. “It means a lot to me to hear that from you. I think I just needed a bit of change to get my life in order. Maybe that’s what Mia needs.”
“Hmm…maybe,” she said before pushing off the swing and hobbling to her feet. “Well, darling I think we should get going. Gerald’s meeting us at the airport so we can head to Aspen. Are you sure you don’t want to come along?” I shook my head, all ready having told her no earlier in the day. We were spending tomorrow with Justin’s family, and I wasn’t about to bale on that.
She kissed each side of my cheek before going inside to say the rest of her goodbyes and to pull Mia out of there, who of course, had attached herself to Justin’s side while I had been gone.
We stayed for a little while longer, exchanging some gifts and playing board games before my eyelids started drooping close. “Time for us to head out I think,” I heard Justin say as he pulled on my hand. I gave hugs and kisses to my family, Grams shoving a bag into Justin’s hands that was loaded down with containers filled with leftovers.
I slept the whole way back to Justin’s house. By the time we got back, I was feeling a little more awake. We curled up onto his couch, watching old Christmas movies while eating leftovers.
He pushed aside my hair, kissing my neck after I finished off the rest of the cheesecake and buried my head in his chest, breathing in his spicy cologne. “I had a good time today,” he murmured into my ear. “Minus that evil step sister of yours.”
I laughed into his chest, his title for Mia perfect in my book. “I can’t wait till you meet my family tomorrow. They’re going to love you just as much as I do.” I smiled even though I was a little nervous; I think pretty much everyone was when meeting their boyfriend’s family for the first time. But if they were anything like Justin, I’m sure they would be more than easy to get along with.
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