Page 39 of Surrender
Drew raised a brow at her. “Don’t kill our vibe.”
Colbie laughed as her brother then reached out and pulled her into a hug. She always enjoyed the back and forth between her two siblings. Honestly, she felt as if they were born in reverse. She was sure Cameron should have been the oldest because she nagged all of them like she was. Drew, she was for sure, should have been the middle child because he just didn’t care a lot of the time. That and the fact that she wasn’t going to give up her baby status to either one of them. It came with too many perks from their father. Who Colbie noticed wasn’t there yet.
When she and her brother pulled apart, she heard her mother yelling from the kitchen. She figured she might as well go in and say hello now and hope the questioning and accusations held off until her backup arrived. She had gotten a text message from Lawrence when she pulled into the driveway, saying he would be there in thirty minutes.
Making her way into the kitchen, she found her mother stirring something in a pot at the stove. She looked at Colbie when she entered the kitchen and smiled.
“Hey, Mama,” Colbie greeted, kissing her on the cheek and peering at what was in the pot.
“Hey, baby. How was your trip?”
“It was good. Do you need any help?”
“No, I’m good. Everything should be ready in about an hour.” Colbie nodded. “But you can keep me company. Tell me how things have been going at the new school you’re teaching at.”
Colbie paused for a moment as her mother’s comment made her think about Dallis, but she quickly placed him on the back burner of her mind.
She sat in the kitchen with her mother, telling her about what had happened during the school year, leaving out her relationship with Dallis and the incident with Coach Porter.
A commotion in the dining room caught her attention, and Colbie told her mother she would be back. She found her father and Lawrence there when she entered the room. She smiled at them, going over to greet her father and then Lawrence.
She was so happy to see them both. Though her father and mother were divorced, they were still amicable. They spent Christmas and Thanksgiving together as a family still.
Once she had greeted both of them, they went into the kitchen to speak to her mother, and she figured it was an excellent excuse to avoid keeping the other woman company. So, instead, she went on a search for her niece. Though she was more than sure, she was in her playroom.
Sure enough, she found her there coloring at her little table. Sitting across from her, Colbie watched her color for a bit before Cassie slid around and told her they could color together.
She lost track of time, and it was only when Drew came and got them, telling them that the food was ready, did she realize that they had colored four different pictures together.
Getting up, she took Cassie’s hand and led her into the bathroom, so they could wash their hands before joining the others.
Once in the dining room, she sat beside Lawrence. She placed her niece in the seat on the other side of her. Her sister and brother were across the table, an empty chair between them, usually reserved for whatever girl their brother brought to family dinners, but he had come without. Their parents sat at each end of the table.
Everyone joined hands, and her father said grace over the food. Once he finished, Colbie made a plate for her niece with the foods the child liked in small portions. She didn’t mind taking care of her niece during family functions. It gave her sister a much-needed break. As a single parent, Cameron did absolutely everything for Cassie. So, Colbie liked to help when she could, even if it was just for a day.
She then fixed her plate, and it was quiet for a bit while everyone began to eat. However, it didn’t last long as most silences went with her family.
“So, Drew, it’s nice to see that you didn’t bring some random girl to dinner this year,” their mother spoke, and Colbie glanced up at her brother. He didn’t often get into debates with their mother, but now and then, he surprised them. She was wondering if this would be one of those times.
“Well, I had plans to, but no one was working the particular corner I stopped at.”
Colbie’s eyes widened while Lawrence snorted. Her father seemed to choke a bit on his food, and Cameron reached over and hit Drew, reminding him that a child was present. Her mother didn’t seem all too amused at his answer.
“I’m glad you think this is a joke.” Their mother told him. “You realize you’ll be thirty-five soon and have yet to settle down with a respectable woman.”
“Why do you say it like me turning thirty-five means I’m going to die soon?” Drew questioned.
“I’m simply stating that you’re getting too old not to pursue someone seriously.”
Colbie watched as her brother bit the inside of his jaw. More than likely to keep from saying anything that would further push the conversation.
“Alright, mother,” he stated finally, and Colbie knew just like the other adults at the table, that he was only saying it to pacify their mother. Not because he was going to take her advice.
It was quiet for a few minutes, but her mother broke it. This time, her comment was aimed at Cameron.
“Cam, there is the most wonderful man that just recently moved in next door to Linda. You remember her, right? I got the privilege of meeting him when I was visiting her last week.”
“That’s nice, Mom,” Cameron responded.
