Page 15 of Hooked on a Demon
“How do they help you to feel connected?
It’s a good question. Eliana doesn’t see them nearly as often as she feels she should. Friday night dinners used to be a regular occurrence before she moved away, and now, it’s only when she has the time or the energy. However, she is planning to attend tonight’s dinner. “Family is hard. I feel like I’m constantly lying to them. They still don’t know everything that happened. But I don’t want to focus on that right now.”
“Okay. Then, I expect an update on the progress toward your goal at our next session,” Colson replies as he makes a note on his pad.
She smiles, feeling, not for the first time, more renewed with a sense of motivation with a goal post in mind. “That I can probably do.”
“But I do want to provide, maybe, a word of caution.”
“Okay.”
“You’ve said you felt lost, and now you’ve come up with a goal to work toward. I want you to be aware of how you’re feeling now and be careful that this feeling doesn’t become a crutch for you later. You can’t spend your life constantly chasing goals as a way to avoid dealing with whatever else is going on inside.”
Well, I didn’t need to be called out like that.
“I understand and appreciate the warning,” she replies, knowing she’s come up with this plan for that exact reason.
* * *
Friday family dinners are a regular occurrence for the Oaks family. The invite is basically open, with Eliana and Everest showing up when they can. Their parents are really good about understanding that their work schedules are not consistent, and as such, that means they may not be able to stop in every week. As is the case with Eliana. She’s only attended once since moving back, and it’s likely been three or four weeks since her last attendance. As she pulls up to their childhood home, she feels a sense of calm wash over her.
She’s missed these nights.
“Hello?” she calls into the house, closing the door behind her.
“Kitchen!” her mom’s warm voice responds from deeper inside. Eliana kicks off her ankle boots and hangs her coat in the front closet before walking down the hall toward the center of the house.
“Hi, Mom.” She opens her arms and gives Cora, her mother, a hug, breathing in her vanilla scent.
“Hello, darling. It’s been too long,” she says, releasing Eliana and holding her at arm’s length, taking her in.
“It definitely has. Work’s been so busy lately.”
“Always is. You’d think people would want to spend time with their children on Friday nights.”
Taking a glass from the cupboard, Eliana laughs. Her mother has a point. For some reason, the Friday evening classes are always the first to fill up. “Apparently, they’d rather spend time with me.”
“Well, I can see why!”
“Really? I can’t,” Everest says, sliding in behind her and grabbing a glass as well.
Eliana rolls her eyes. She steps away, opens the fridge, picks up a container, and pours herself a glass of mango juice. She puts the container back and closes the door in Everest’s face. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want something?” she says before sticking her tongue out at him.
“Oh, you two, give it a rest,” Cora says, playfully tossing dishtowels at them. “Dinner is about ready, go set the table.”
“Yes, Mom,” Eliana and Everest answer in unison.
“So, how’s the car?” Everest asks, placing plates around the table.
Eliana follows behind him, placing the cutlery and napkins down at each setting. “It’s good. Started without a problem to come here.”
“Good. Declan’s a good guy and a great mechanic. I’m not happy that you’re still driving that piece of junk, but I’m glad you wound up there.”
“Hey, you leave my hunk of junk alone. It’s been a great car to me, and I won’t let her go before she’s ready.”
Everest stops, leans in, and with his voice low, says, “Lil’ foot, she was ready about five years ago.” She scoffs, and he jumps away before she can swat him. The audacity.
Crossing her arms across her chest, she glares at him in the way that little sisters do when trying to make a point. “Well, when you want to pay for a new car for me, let me know.”
