Chapter 34 – New family members
"Mommy, there's something wrong! The bee is missing!" Yasmin sighed as she hurried through the living room to where Kamili was resting in the couch. Kamili opened her eyes and looked up at her daughter who was tangling with her pink sweater. Her little features were twisted in anger as she was being uncomfortable in the sweater.
"Oh sweetie, come here, let me help you." Kamili smiled as she pushed herself up into sitting position, just that little movement leaving her out of breath.
Yasmin stood in front of her with her arms stretched out, and Kamili tried to pull the sweater off her daughter, but her chest was protesting painfully as she tried to reach up her arms.
"Can you get the sweater off sweetie?" Kamili asked as she lowered her arms back into her lap, and Yasmin looked at her mother before she pulled the sweater off herself, handing it to her mother. Kamili smiled as she took the sweater from Yasmin, turned it around and held it up for her daughter to dive into it.
Yasmin pulled it on and smiled happily as the bee on the sweater now was on her front, and she looked up at her mother with a gleaming smile.
"It was just on back and forth!" Yasmin smiled, proud that she had found out what the problem with the evil sweater was.
"Backwards baby. It was on backwards." Kamili corrected gently. Yasmin nodded before running out of the room, leaving Kamili to lie down in the couch again, a faint smile on her lips.
When she once again heard footsteps approaching, she opened one eyes, and then smiled as she saw her sister walk into the room. Tara lifted Kamili's legs and sat down in the couch, putting Kamili's legs into her lap, putting her hands on top of Kamili's knees.
"Hey girl."
"Hey." Kamili smiled tiredly.
"How are you doing?"
"Tired."
"Yeah I bet. Are you sure you're up for the ride?"
"Yeah, I want to go. It was my idea and I want to see Sandra's face."
"Just promise to take it easy, okay?"
"I promise, don't worry."
"I will always worry about you, you know that." Tara said, stroking her sister's legs.
Kamili looked up at her sister, seeing the strained expression of her face, she reached up her hand, grabbing onto her sister's hand.
"How are you doing?" Kamili asked gently, squeezing her sister's hand. Tara bit her lower lip, swallowing, not really knowing what to say. "Tara, I'm sorry for scaring you, for putting you through this. It must've been hard on you."
"Well, I'm not gonna lie to you. I was sure we would lose you when we took you in the second time, you were in such bad condition. I… I didn't think you would survive. I sat with you through the entire surgery, but I couldn't help out. I was in shock, I just sat next to you all the time and watched them work on you and it was probably the hardest thing I've done in my life. I don't ever want to go through that again Kam, I love you so much." Tara said, tears streaming down her face as she finished.
Kamili carefully sat up into sitting position and without a word she pulled her sister into a hug, holding onto her hard. Tara pulled her arms around her kid sister and the two of them hugged for a long time, Tara crying into Kamili's shoulder as Kamili gently brushed her back and hair.
"I'm still here Tara, and I have a lot to do yet before anyone of us will leave. I am so sorry for scaring you, and I'm so sorry you had to go through that, but I will be fine, you know I will. I'm not leaving yet."
"I love you so much." Tara whispered into her shoulder and Kamili smiled.
"I love you too sis."
"Why you sad?"
Kamili and Tara pulled apart when they heard the voice of a little girl, both of them looking down at Yasmin who was standing by the couch, looking up at them. Tara smiled as she leaned down and pulled Yasmin up into her lap. Yasmin looked up at Tara and put her small hand towards her face.
"Aunt Tara is wet."
Tara smiled as she wiped her tears off with her sleeve, smiling slightly as she did.
"Why are you sad? Mum is awake now so we can be happy again." Yasmin smiled, not understanding what all the tears were about.
"I am happy mum is awake Yasmin, I am, so very happy." Tara smiled, brushing Yasmin's hair as she looked from her to her sister. "I am so happy."
"I am too!" Yasmin nodded, climbing over to her mother to sit in her lap, leaning backwards to get close to her. Coming a little too fast, she slammed the back of her head hard into Kamili's chest, and Kamili's eyes flew wide open in sudden pain, her breathing becoming labored as both her hands went up to her chest. Tara cussed underneath her breath as she lifted down Yasmin on the floor, then helped Kamili to lie down, sitting next to her she comforted her as Kamili tried to push the pain from her broken breastbone aside. Tara looked at Yasmin when she heard the girl sob loudly, and she turned towards her, seeing tears streaming down the girl's face. Tara pulled her up into her lap, one hand on top of Kamili's stomach, and one arm around Yasmin.
"Did I hurt mommy?" Yasmin whispered, tears flowing uncontrollably.
"Don't worry sweetie, mommy is okay, she's just a little sensitive right now, she'll feel better soon." Tara reassured the girl who tried to dry her face with the palms of her hands, as Tara looked down to Kamili who had opened the eyes which she had closed when the pain got too intense. "Kam, how is it going? Do you need me to give you anything?"
Kamili swallowed hard as she just breathed for a few seconds, before nodding to her sister.
"I'm… okay… Shit that hurt." She whispered in a small and vulnerable voice, in the same time as they heard the door bell ring. Yasmin jumped down from Tara's lap and ran for the door.
"Remember to look out before you open Yasmie!" Tara called for her as the girl ran out of the room.
"It's Janet!" Yasmin called back, opening the door and let Janet into the house.
"Hi girl!" Janet smiled, lifting up the girl on her hip, but almost immediately realizing her face was wet from tears. "What's wrong sweetie?"
"I hurt mommy!"
"What?" Janet said worriedly, hurrying up her steps into the living room as she saw the two sisters on the couch. Janet quickly sat Yasmin down on the floor as she knelt next to the couch. Yasmin clung to Janet, holding onto her black leather jacket with one hand, the other hand unconsciously sucking on three fingers, something Yasmin always did when she was nervous or scared.
"What happened?" Janet asked worriedly as she looked from Kamili to Tara.
"Yasmin accidentally bumped the back of her head into Kamili's chest." Tara said, still with her hand on top of Kamili's stomach, observing her sister's every single movement. Janet winced as she grabbed onto one of Kamili's hands with her hand that wasn't holding onto Yasmin.
"I'm okay, just so damn sore." Kamili whispered, blinking her eyes.
"Maybe you should stay home."
"At let you take all the credit? No way, I wanna go."
"I'll give you some painkillers before Kam." Tara nodded, and before Kamili had time to protest Tara had left the room. Janet jumped up into the couch and helped Kamili to slowly move up into sitting position, and Kamili let her head fall back onto the backrest. Yasmin was holding onto Janet's knee, staring at her mother with worried and scared eyes. Kamili saw this and she motioned for Yasmin to get up into the couch, but Yasmin just shook her head in fear as she stared at her mother who was still breathing painfully.
Janet lifted Yasmin up between them and Kamili pulled an arm around her daughter, pulling her close.
"I'm fine honey, you didn't hurt me, I promise." Kamili said gently, putting on the special mother voice for her daughter. "I'm fine. Really. I'm gonna go out with Janet for a while but you'll stay here with Aunt Tara okay?"
Yasmin nodded slowly as she stood up in the couch, Janet helping to steady her, letting Yasmin give her mother a kiss before sinking down into sitting position, as Tara returned with some pain killers for Kamili to wash down.
"Sandra." Janet said carefully, brushing her back as she sat down next to the blonde who was lying in the couch, head popped up onto the headrest. Sandra didn't look up, she kept staring at the dog collar which was in her hands. Janet reached over and moved Sandra's bangs out from her face so she could see her, tucking the hair behind Sandra's ear. Janet saw the tear-drained face of her friend, and she instinctively pulled her up into sitting position, pulling her closer, wrapping her arm around Sandra's shoulders.
"Sweetie…"
"I miss them so much Janet. The house feels so empty."
"Come. Let's go."
"I don't wanna go anywhere."
"Sandra, you can't just sit here. I know you miss them and you have every right to do so. I know how much they meant for you, but honey, there's nothing you can do for them now, except take care of yourself. There's been a month. I don't expect you to stop missing them cause I know you won't, but you can't dig yourself down into a hole honey. It will eat you alive, and I hate watching you this sad."
For the first time Sandra turned her head and looked up at Janet, who reached up and pulled her fingers through Sandra's hair, then took her hand down and took Sandra's hand.
"Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"I'm not gonna tell you." Janet smirked as she lead Sandra out of the house. Sandra grabbed her jacket on the way and the two of them walked down to the driveway. She saw Janet's car parked next to hers, and she saw Kamili wave to her as they walked towards her. Sandra smiled widely, she was so happy to see Kamili out of the hospital. A cold chill went through Sandra when she thought of how close they had been to losing her, but she shook it off.
Sandra jumped into the backseat as Janet got into the front seat. Sandra leaned forwards and smiled to Kamili who was leaning against the window.
"Hey Kam!"
Kamili laughed slightly as she stretched slightly and patted Sandra's head.
"Hey girl. How are you doing?"
Sandra swallowed hard – she knew there was no need to lie. Kamili could obviously see Sandra had been crying, and even if Sandra hadn't been wearing her emotions on her face, they were such tight friends, that Kamili was able to see it anyway.
"I… I just miss them a lot. They were really a part of my family."
"I know." Kamili said, stretching over to grab onto Sandra's hand. Sandra squeezed it hard, then observed her friend. She let go of Kamili's hand and Kamili put it towards her chest, rubbing the sore spot slightly.
"You okay?" Sandra asked, making Janet tossing a glance from the road towards Kamili, who smiled softly.
"I'm fine, really, just a little sore."
"Why don't you lean back and get some rest? There's a 40 minutes drive." Janet smiled.
"To where?" Sandra asked as Kamili followed Janet's suggestion.
"What do you mean 'To where'?" Janet repeated, grinning towards Sandra into the mirror.
"To where are we going?"
"Where are we going? Good question. Why do you think I know?"
"Janet…"
"Who is Janet?" Janet smiled, making Kamili giggle out, still with her eyes closed as she leaned back.
"You suck." Sandra sighed with a smile on her face as she leaned back into the seat.
"Suck whom?"
"Get your mind out of the gutter."
"What gutter?"
"The gutter you live in."
"Who do I live in this 'gutter' with?"
"Probably Kelly."
"Who is this Kelly and where can I get her number?"
"Damn it Jane."
"Jane? I thought I was Janet. Now I'm Jane. I do not understand."
"You two damn marmots… You never stop amuse me." Kamili smiled, laughing slightly as she shook her head.
45 minutes later, the three friends got out of the car. Janet in the middle, keeping track of her two friends. Holding Sandra's hand, she also kept an arm around Kamili's waist, steadying her who was a little round under the feet after the painkillers Tara had given her. They walked up to a big house, and Janet' rang the bell with a smile in her face. Kamili smiled too as they waited, and as they did she turned towards Sandra.
"So just before everything, you should know that it was totally my idea."
"It was my idea." Janet snapped back.
"No, I gave you the idea."
"But I went through with everything and made preparations."
"It was still my idea."
"Yeah but-"
Janet was cut off when the door opened and an elderly chubby woman smiled brightly.
"Hi, welcome!" The woman smiled, reached out her hand. Janet quickly caught it.
"Hi, I'm Janet, we spoke on the phone, if you are…"
"Tilde yes." The woman smiled happily, before shaking Kamili's and Sandra's hand. Looking at Sandra, she smiled motherly. "I would guess you are Sandra."
Sandra nodded slowly, still not knowing what was about to happen.
"Why don't you three follow me out on the back, that's where they are."
"Lead the way." Janet smiled, all three of them following the chubby woman as she walked through the house. She turned slightly towards them, smiling brightly.
"Can I get you anything?"
"No, thanks." Janet and Sandra smiled.
"I could take some water." Kamili smiled, getting glances from both Sandra and Janet who were still quite worried about their friend. The woman smiled and gestured to the kitchen they just past.
"Please, feel free to help yourself with anything."
"Thank you." Kamili smiled, walking into the kitchen as Janet and Sandra followed the woman outside.
Walking out through the back door, Sandra immediately stopped and gasped in surprise when she realized what was going on. Outside was a big yard, which several playpens, where dogs of all colors, races and ages were happily jumping around playing with each other.
Upon seeing Sandra's happy face, Janet smiled widely.
"You need a new partner, or maybe even two?" Janet smiled, nudging Sandra with her elbow, as Kamili walked outside with a glass of water, smiling.
"What do you think Sandra?" Kamili smiled.
Sandra didn't answer, she just walked up to the playpens and looked over the dogs. Most of them looked up at her when they noticed she was observing them, wondering what she was going to do. Sandra looked over them, wondering how to chose, until her eyes got stuck on a little bundle in one of the playpens. Looking over at the woman, the woman gestured for her to walk inside. Sandra opened the playpen and walked in, some of the dogs hurrying up to her as some of the dogs stayed behind.
The dog Sandra had her eyes on was one of them who hurried up next to her, and quickly jumping up into her lap. Sandra patted the Jack Russell Terrier over his back, and she knew this boy would follow her home. Sandra loved smaller dogs, she had always had them and she didn't feel like a bigger dog was anything for her.
"That is Aldo, he's just passed a year old." Tilde explained. "A woman found him in a ditch covered in dirt and brought him here."
Sandra was just listening with one ear as she was cuddling with Aldo, already creating a bond with him in the same time as she was looking him over. Tilde walked over to the playpen and walked inside. She walked up to the far corner were another jack russell terrier were sitting down, looking at Sandra with big eyes, not daring to run up to her.
"This is Aldo's brother, Alvin. He's shy and unsure, but he is a real sweetheart."
Sandra put Aldo down and walked over to Tilde, Aldo following her as she walked. She took Alvin from Tilde's hands and looked the little dog over. She cuddled with him, and he wasn't trying to get away from her, he was curious at her and sniffed slightly at her as she petted him. She didn't need much convincing, there was something about these two boys, and she knew the three of them would be happy together. Sandra pulled up Aldo too and held both the boys in her arms. They were so alike, but still so very different, and Sandra smiled.
"I'll take them." She smiled, and Tilde nodded.
"They seem to like you." She smiled. "Why don't you put them down and we go through the paperwork before you take them with you?"
Sandra smiled as she put both boys down in the playpen, telling them that she would be back. Sandra and Tilde then sat down at the outdoor furniture where Tilde had papers ready. Janet and Kamili stayed by the playpens, Kamili sitting down at a couch which were standing outside. Janet was crouching down next to playpen, talking to a baby rottweiler through the fence. The brown and black puppy were climbing on the fence with her front paws, and Janet had a feeling she would not be able to leave this place without that puppy. She was adorable and Janet loved rottweilers.
"She seems to like you."
Janet looked back at Kamili who was stretching out on the couch, watching Janet and the rottweiler with a smile on her face. Janet nodded, he seemed to like her, and she was already up over her ears in love.
Not long after, all three friends were on their way back home with the car. Aldo and Alvin was resting in Sandra's lap, and the female rottweiler Raven was sleeping in the backseat next to Kamili as Janet was driving.
"I don't know how to thank you guys for bringing me here. I… I don't know what to say." Sandra smiled, patting the two chipmunks in her lap.
"Well we couldn't let you lay inside all days sleeping, you needed some new family members to get you back on track." Janet smiled.
"It was still my idea." Kamili smiled. "And you got a new flatmate too."
Janet smiled as she looked into the rear view mirror, seeing the female dog stretched out into the backseat.
"It was a great idea Kamili, thank you so much."
"I made the calls!" Janet said, looking over at Sandra, pouting as she did.
"You're awesome." Sandra smiled, reaching over to pat Janet's head.
"She called me awesome!" Janet smiled proudly, looking back at Kamili in the backseat.
"Oh, you know I am more awesome than you are." Kamili smiled, rolling her eyes as she was patting Raven's black and brown fur.
"No, you are not more awesome than me, no way." Janet said, shaking her head.
"Just bow in the shadow of my awesomeness Jane, just bow." Kamili laughed, earning an angry glare from the front seat.
"Do you want to walk home?" Janet threatened, still with a grin on her face.
"Naw, you wouldn't do that to me now would you? Remember I'm in pain!" Kamili pouted.
"You're gonna use that as an excuse for the rest of your life right?" Janet grinned, whereupon Kamili nodded with a smile.
"Yes of course."