You're Not Always Alone for the Holidays

(Author's note: I had originally intended this to be a short story, from just three view points. But I had two people ask for more. So here is another view point. I might make more view points.)

Lillia's view

I'm finishing the cooking dinner, when I hear the usual argument between my two children.

"How can you even like that troublemaker! "

"Kai is not a troublemaker. "

"Yes he is. He comes here every summer and flirts with all the women, most are old enough to be his mother. "

"He is just being nice. You could learn from him. "

"Me learn from that bum? "

"He is not a bum, he does make money from his snack shack. "

The way my son is acting, it is as if he is my husband. I can feel a bit of a headache starting, "Can you two stop fighting? This is supposed to be a happy festival. "

I turned and looked at them.

"Sorry mom. "

"Yeah, sorry mom. "

"Rick, set the table. Popuri, carry these dishes to the table. "

My son set the table for the three of us. My daughter stopped at the table after carrying the first course.

"Mom, Rick is only setting for the three of us. What if dad comes home? "

"Popuri, you know that Rod is looking for that flower that will help me get better. "

I could see that my daughter was about to burst into tears.

"But, but…. "

"Sis, if dad does come home tonight, it wouldn't be that much trouble to set a place for him. "

"But it would be nice to set a place for him. "

"Yes it would be, but it is a waste of time. "

I hugged my daughter, "I'm sure that your father wants to be here. He should see how beautiful you have grown. "

I saw Rick roll his eyes.

"Come on, get the rest of the food. I want to eat. "

"You just want to get done early, so you can then go and see Karen. "

"Yeah, so what if I do want to see her? "

"You want to spend time with her instead of us? My brother chooses a different family to spend Starry Night Festival with? "

"Oh, if Kai were here, you would be spending time with him! "

"I would have asked him to have dinner with us. "

I slapped the table, "That's enough! Popuri get the rest of the food. Rick, get a fire going in the fireplace. "

"Yes, mom. "

"Yes, mom. "

I sat down. It may not be easy raising these two. I guess that it beats being alone. I only hope that Rod will be home next year.