Toscane Days 1

"I do."

"I do."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Congratulations!!! We all hurried and gathered around them. We were really happy, I think all of us, for that moment. It was just pure joy for them, they really looked good together, and for that one moment all disagreements were forgotten.

We moved in with them. All of us together. It was really awkward at the beginning, especially while Zoë and Jessie were forced to share a room. It was a very tense phase until we found some kind of balance.

I moved into the garage apartment and it gave me a feeling of independence, almost like I was living on my own now. I guess dad thought that way I might feel the need to make something of myself, to gather myself and find my place in the world.

At first it was so strange, to wake up and meet all of them, first thing in the morning, but gradually it became kind of a routine. We have this little hurried morning gathering where we all bump into each other while frantically grabbing something to eat on the way to school or work.

I somehow got the feeling that Grace has something for me. I caught her sometimes, looking at me when she thinks no one notice, but I do. We also had this moment on the wedding day, we almost kissed, actually. I like her, she's a nice person and she's really smart and has this sarcastic sense of humor, but she's my step sister now, so I try to ignore her glances… but I don't feel like she's my sister too.

Zoë's a cute child, she's very observant for her age, I think. She can be a real pest, but she has her good moments too, I suppose I can relate to her as a sister.

Lily, well she tries real hard to be ok with us, and I guess she's quite successful, I mean I feel that I can talk to her on better terms than with my mother right now, we just don't carry the years' baggage and I feel like she understands me better, or at least she is more supportive sometimes. She doesn't think my music is just a stupid dream, like my own parents, but then again, maybe she's just pretending… I don't know yet.

Jessie's not so happy about the whole thing, but she's getting used to it, especially since I moved to the garage and she got a room of her own. I think she and Grace became closer too, and she got this new best friend, Katie, and she looks so happy with her. I'm happy for her, I like seeing her that way, she really frightened me with the whole eating thing. I love my sister.

My dad is happy, after all this long story with my mother, he finally looks content and in place. He and Lily make a good couple. And I also feel like he's treating me with a lighter approach, gives me some space, now that he has his own life, Lily, and our new large family, to take care of. I've been getting along better with him lately. It really feels good. I can't say this about my mother, I think she feels a little left out in all this mess. I try to avoid confronting her as much as possible these days, but I'm afraid I'll make her feel neglected, it's a very thin line to work on…

***************

This morning I got up surprisingly early, and headed towards the kitchen. Everybody was already there, engrossed in their morning activities, meaning eating, bumping and yelling at each other to hurry up. "Morning Eli" dad noticed my presence and greeted me. "Hey guys, listen up, now that we're all here, Lily and I wanted to talk to you all this morning, but since we're in a hurry, we'll postpone it until tonight, so be home at…"

"I guess seven will be right" Lily added.

We all agreed and after Lily and dad left, I took the girls to school. "I bet they're having another child…" Zoë said excitedly. "No way, there are already too many people living in the house…" Jessie cut her excitement. Grace just smiled at me and rolled her eyes gesturing to our sisters. I returned a smile and decided to interfere. "Hey, calm down, why don't we just wait 'till tonight instead of making all kind of assumptions…". They both made a face at each other, but stopped arguing.

We reached Zoë's school and she got off and waved goodbye. Next stop was Grace's and Jessie's school, they reluctantly got off the car too, it's only another week before summer's break starts, but as soon as Jessie noticed Katie, her frown changed into a little smile. Grace turned and waved bye and mouthed a 'thank you' to me and then left too.

I headed to 'Book Lovers' for my morning shift, but I must say I was quite curious about our 'family meeting' tonight myself. 

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See how I study for my exams? Bad me! I'm going now, it's just that I had this cute idea for another story and it just wrote itself…  

Drop me a line & make me smile ;D

Litjunkie