Collin's Residence
Dining Room
6:30 pm
"Where's Trevor?" John asked Sabrina. She and Brian were seated at the dining room table next to each other. The table was situated for eight, but since there would be four people at dinner, only three seats were filled. Kathy was in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner.
"Oh, he should be down," Sabrina pushed a strand of her golden locks behind her ear, "right about-"
Right on cue, Trevor appeared in the door way with a irritated expression as he stood in between the door frames.
"Now," Sabrina finished, glancing at Trevor with a "please just sit down and don't ruin this" expression.
"Well, it looks like I made it just in time," Trevor said enthusiastically as he sat down in the empty chair next to Sabrina.
The baroque wooden table was decorated with four red dollies, plates and utensils, napkins, tall glasses of water, and a vase of yellow and orange daises in the center. Sabrina wasn't use to sitting down for dinner. In Miami, they never sat down in a formal manner for dinner. Everyone went their separate ways or ate whenever they felt like it. She had only eaten at a dining table when she went over her friends house.
Sabrina's glanced over at John who she heard inhale deeply. She could tell that he was nervous and slightly intimidated with Trevor.
She didn't see why though. Trevor was a kind, funny, and caring person to be with. Then again she remembered the fact that Trevor hate their mom and the fact that she was engaged. When he met John, he refused to shake his hand or even acknowledge him. John looked down at his feet and smiled, obviously feeling rejected.
"So, you guys play any sports back at your old school?" John asked breaking the awkward silence the filled the dining room. Sabrina was thankful that someone had started talking.
"I'm not really a sports person. I used to be play soccer when I was seven, but then I had to quit when I kicked this kid Billy in his privates with the ball." Sabrina sheepishly smiled as John laughed at her story.
"Well, thanks for telling me. Now I know not to play soccer with you!" John joked. Trevor watched him and Sabrina laugh with each other. He rolled his eyes and sat back in his seat.
"What about you Trevor? You look like you hit a few home runs." John asked with a smile still present on his face.
"I don't play sports. I don't like them". Trevor blankly stated. The smile on John's face slowly disappeared as he cleared his throat.
"Oh" John mouthed as he arranged the silverware in front of him. Sabrina gave a small reassuring smile to John. She could tell that John was a patient and easy going guy. She wish Trevor would at least crack a smile.
The table grew silent once again as everyone except for Brian and Trevor racked their brains for something to talk about. Brian was sleepy from swimming and stuffing his face with candy at his grandparents house to really make conversation. Then again, how much of a stimulating conversation can you get out of a five year old. Trevor would be the last person to start a conversation. The only words Sabrina figured he would mutter were "may I be excused?" Then again, he might just get up and leave without saying a word.
"Dinner is ready!" Kathy sang as she entered the dining room with a three shelved pushcart. John and Sabrina both expressed a mental sigh of relief. They were saved from awkwardness.
Fresh basil and Alfredo sauce filled Sabrina's nostrils as Kathy places the bowl of fettuccine alfredo in the center of the table. Sabrina felt her stomach grumble; reminding her what a home cooked meal smelled like. She couldn't recall the last time she had a home cooked meal. Unless you counted frozen tv dinners that became soggy in the microwaves as "home cooked". When their grandmother died, Sabrina and Trevor didn't have a family to visit and sit down for dinner. They would either order out for pizza or Chinese takeout.
"So, I remember when we talked over the phone you mentioned how much you loved fettuccine alfredo, so I just had to make it for you." Kathy smiled as she filled the glass cups with water. "Is that so? That's my favorite too!" John chuckled in disbelief. Kathy placed four spoonful of the fettuccine on everyones plate. Brian picked up a piece of fettuccine and inspected the gooeyness of the sauce a rolled it between his finger. He tilted his head back and raised the fettuccine above his head, lining it with his mouth.
"Bud, what did I tell you about playing with your food at the dinner table?" John asked calmly.
"Uhm, that it was bad..." Brian slowly lowered the string of pasta that he held between his fingers back on the plate. Trevor picked up his fork and moved a piece of parsley to the other side of the plating, debating whether or not to skip dinner and lock himself up in his room.
"Trevor?" Kathy held up her palm to him before he was able to put the pasta in his mouth. "Before every meal we say grace. Yesterday was Brian's turn so it's back to me again." Kathy explained as she held John and Brian's hand. Sabrina and Trevor both looked at each other, unfamiliar with this new custom. Although they were Catholic, they didn't grow up very religious. The last time they were even in a church as for their grandmother's funeral; and even before then the hardly ever attended mass. They held each other's hand, closed their eyes, and bowed their heads. The table was quiet as Kathy began to pray.
"Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you to give thanks and gratitude. Thank you for giving me the strength to cook this meal and nourish my growing family. I also want to thank you for blessing me with to beautiful children who I love very well. I know I have not been the best mother-"
"Damn right." Trevor scoffed, cutting Kathy off. Sabrina's eyes opened wide as she nudged Trevor with her elbow.
"Knock it off." Sabrina seethed through clenched teeth. She closed her eyes and bowed her head again. She wished they weren't holding hands so that she could keep her fingers cross. She hoped he would just leave it at that.
"What? I'm just simply agreeing with her." Trevor shrugged his shoulders, not seeing the big deal.
"Just shut up and let her finish." Sabrina said, starting to get slightly irritated with her brother. Why did he have to be so difficult. Was it too much to ask for him to stop talking?
Apparently so.
"Why? So she can go on lying about how happy she is to have us here? If she was so happy she would have picked up a phone ever once in a while or sent gifts for Christmas or even our birthdays." Trevor's voice began to raise as he was directing his anger towards Sabrina.
"Why are you so difficult? Be thankful that you have somewhere to be. Do you know how hard she's trying?" Sabrina raised her voice as well, matching his tone. Sabrina rarely raised her voice, especially at her brother. They rarely got into fights or arguments, but this seemed to be the first one in a long time
"She's had twelve years to try, and you expect me suddenly appreciate her? Should I get down on my knees and kiss the ground she walks on?" Trevor's face was not getting red with anger. Sabrina could see the vein in his neck starting to throb. That only happened when he was really upset and holding back tears. Sabrina rarely saw her brother like this and started to soften a little bit.
"Trevor.." Kathy softly spoke, trying to calm him down.
"Don't even speak to me. You think I don't see through your act? You're so fucking pathetic!" Trevor yelled directly at her. He pushed his seat back and stood up, walked out of the room. The dining room was silent as they listened to him slam his door shut.
Sabrina breathed in deeply, trying to recollect herself. She felt her cheeks and they were flushed, but not as flushed as her mom's.
"He said a bad word." Brian said shaking his head. John closed his eyes and then spoke to his son,
"Bud, go play with your legos in the playroom." John said as she rubbed Kathy's back. Oblivious to the scene that just played out in front of him, Brian's face lit up as he hopped out of his seat and ran to his playroom.
Sabrina listened closely to make sure he was out of distance until she spoke. She didn't know whereto start. She was baffled and unsure of what to say. At least it wasn't as bad as the funeral where he fully cursed her out in front of hundreds of friends and relatives. She remembered the pained look on Kathy's face. It was a mixture of shame, embarrassment, and hurt. Sort of like how she looked right now.
"Mom..." Sabrina started off softly. She went to reach for her mother's hand across the table but Kathy simply shook her head. Her eyes and nose were red as if she had a bad case of allergies. She pushed her chair back and slowly rose,
"I'm..I'm.." Kathy choked on her words and she stared at the 's heart ached seeing her mother look like this. John looked up at her and took her hand in his,
"Hon, do you need me to-"
"No. It's fine." Kathy pulled her hand away and kept them by her side. "I'm going to bed." With that, Kathy left the room.
"Thanks for dinner mom." Sabrina managed to get out before her mom was gone. She didn't responded though.
John and Sabrina looked at each other, unsure what to say. She could tell by the torn up look in his eyes that if affected him as well. Unable to make any conversation, they both began to eat their meal.
As time went by, Sabrina and John stayed only noise that could be heard was the sounded of their forks scrapping against the glass plate. Occasionally, Sabrina would let out a tiny burp, which resulted in a tiny "excuse me", and John chuckling. When they were finished, Sabrina offered to take the plates to the sink and wash the dishes. While she was washing the dishes, she started to think about how triggered Trevor to explode. She hoped that him and their mom would resolve their issues. They would have to if they planned on living under the same roof. One more year and Trevor would be gone to college. If he could make up with her and keep his feelings under control for a year, they would be fine. He would have to find a way to put their differences aside and at least show her some respect. She was after all their mom.
"You know what I think it is?" Sabrina flinched, flashing soapy water on her shirt. She turned to see John next to her, drying the dishes she had washed.
"Sorry to startle you there." John chuckled. He took the plate out of Sabrina's hand and dried it with the dish towel. Sabrina couldn't help but feel awkward near John. His cheeks were chiseled like a Michelangelo statue, and his amber eyes reminded her of the changing color of leaves during autumn. His dark hair was combed back sexily with a part on the side. Whenever she stood near him she could smell his woodsy aftershave, and it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up straight. She had to keep reminding herself that this man would soon be her step-father.
"Oh, it's okay. I was just lost in thought. What did you say?" Sabrina tried to focus back on the dishes in the sink instead of the tantalizing smell of John.
"I think Trevor is dealing with bottled up emotions. Has he ever gone to therapy?" John asked, re-rinsing a plate Sabrina had washed.
Sabrina had mentioned therapy in the past for Trevor. Even some of his teachers back in Miami had suggested it when they realized that he would always by himself and never involved himself with the other kids. But because of insurance and lack of money, their grandma never had the chance to take him. She felt that he was better off just going to her. Why pay money to tell someone your problems when you could do it for free?
"I just think it'll be best for him. I feel like he needs a male figure in his life." John said. He had a point. They did grow up without a father and Trevor didn't really have many guy friends. He didn't have anyone to take him fishing, play catch with, or do manly stuff with. It was always their grandma and Sabrina. That was all he really knew.
"I think so too, but I know my brother. He won't see a therapist. He's not the kind of person to come outward with his feelings. He asks as if nothings wrong." Sabrina said shutting off the water. She walked over to the breakfast nook and sat down on the bench. John opened the freezer and took out a carton of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Therapy and grabbed two bowls and spoons.
"Well that's what us guys tend to do sometimes." John confessed, setting the carton on the nook table. He placed a bowl and spoon in front of Sabrina and sat down across from her.
"Since we're talking about therapy, how about a little chocolate therapy of our own." John joked as he opened the lid the to ice cream carton. Sabrina couldn't help but giggled at his lame attempt at a joke. He gave herself two scoops and began eating.
"So, after dinner, I know how Trevor feels about being here. Now tell me, how do you feel?" John asked.
Sabrina had to really think about this. Sure, she was happy to be with her mom but, she felt like she was just a guest, no matter how much they made her feel at home.
"Well, honestly, I kind of have mixed feelings." Sabrina said, putting a spoon of ice cream in her mouth. "I mean, don't get me wrong; I'm in love with Westwood and I've only been here less than 24 hours. I love that I'm living here with you guys, but at the same time, I feel like an intruder."
John shook his head, a smile stretching on his perfect face, "Don't feel like that. I see you as my daughter and you are more than welcome to come to me with anything. You're vibrant, beautiful girl. You'll fit in perfectly here." John patted Sabrina's hand that was on the table and they both looked at each, smiling. It feel like one of those father-daughter moments she watched on Full House. It felt nice.
"Thanks. I'm happy that my mom is engaged to you. You're a really great guy and I know you'll take great care of her." Sabrina caught John blushing, but this time it wasn't embarrassment like before. He seemed flatter and appreciative.
"Why thank you. I will do my best." John said as they finished their ice cream.
Sabrina didn't mind this kind of therapy. It was sweet and tasteful.
