A.N.: Hey guys sorry I have been gone so long. Life just sort of got in the way. Here is another update and hopefully more will follow shortly. Thanks for all of your support and keep the reviews coming!
Ellie stretched as she stood in front of the coffee maker. She had forgotten how drafty her mom's house was in the mornings. Bobby walked up behind her. "You making enough for me?" he asked as he looked over her shoulder.
"Yeah, grab a mug. You want sugar and cream?" Ellie asked as she filled the mug Bobby handed her.
"Naw, you know I'm sweet enough as is. So what happened to your boy last night. I was looking forward to having a little chat with him."
Ellie rolled her eyes at Bobby as she handed him his coffee. "There was too much ice on the roads last night. He called and said he was going to stay put." Bobby just scoffed in reply as he gulped down his coffee. "Sounds like a fucking pussy to me" Bobby muttered under his breath. Jerry walked in through the side door.
"Hey, y'all, I brought over a turkey. Where's Jackie? He's the only one who can cook worth a lick." Jerry announced as he set the Thanksgiving provisions down on the counter.
"I'm right here. I know the rest of you can cook, you are just too goddamn lazy to lift a finger." Jack mumbled as he walked into the kitchen. True to form however, Jack got down to business dressing the turkey.
"What I don't understand is how come you haven't seen this boy since he left you at the funeral? Didn't he come with you to support you and shit? Comfort you through this tough time?" Bobby needled.
"Yeah, I was thinking that too." Jerry joined in. "I mean, I know you are tougher than most girls, but isn't it kind of his duty? He is living with you after all."
"I have you guys. He knows that I want to spend time with you guys and that we have a lot of catching up to do. Besides, it is okay for him to give me some space. I don't need him or want him hanging all over me." Ellie defended. But even as she said the words the impact of what Bobby and Jerry had said was beginning to sink in. Neal really had been MIA sinceher mom'sfuneral. She had talked to him on the phone a couple of times but for all intensive purposes he hadn't been around at all. Jack must have noticed the shift in her attitude and quickly shifted the conversation.
"Have you two seen us? Bobby and Angel probably scared him off like they have scared off all of Ellie's boys. He is probably too intimidated to waltz right in here. One of us might beat his ass just for showing up." Jack defended.
All of the sudden the kitchen was filled with the noise of people pounded around upstairs followed by a very distinct female's giggle.
"Oh shit, I know he did not bring that crazy bitch home with him!" Bobby exclaimed as he stood up from his chair. Ellie started laughing.
"You mean you didn't hear them last night? Or this morning? Why do you think I was awake so early. Couldn't sleep with all of their noise. Boy's got stamina!" Ellie joked.
"Ugh! Angel get your ass down here! Send that crazy bitch home! She is not staying here!" Bobby yelled as Angel came down the stairs. Ellie shook her head in disgust.
"It is too early in the morning for all of this yelling. I'm going back to bed. Call me when dinner is ready." Ellie said to Jack as she walked past Bobby and Angel. Ellie started up the stairs as Sofi started coming down. "Hey Sofi, nice to see you again." Ellie laughed as Sofi gave her a quick smile and then immediately launched into a tirade of Spanish curses aimed at Bobby.
The rich aroma seeping from the kitchen finally dragged Ellie from her room. She had been up there for the better part of the day looking through her old yearbooks and letting the memories from the time she spent in Evelyn's house overwhelm her. The first thing she heard as she opened her door is the sound of her brothers wrestling in the living room. "The Gorgeous Black Ladies of Wrestling, Nitro and Midnight..." Ellie laughed as she walked through the door and saw Jerry pinning Angel to the ground.
"Man, you're bigger than him! How you gonna let him take you down like that?" Ellie teased Angel.
"Do you see his teeth? I was scared he was going to chomp on my ear. He always was a fan of Tyson." Angel said defensively.
"Come on, guys, let's eat. Bring out that bird." Bobby interrupted. They all headed towards the dining room.
As the siblings sat around the table quietly munching on the food an awkward silence settled down on all of them. Ellie tried to enjoy the meal but for some reason it tasted like ashes in her mouth. Ellie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes and looked over to the empty spot she had been avoiding looking at the whole meal. The spot that Evelyn had once occupied. "Ellie sweety, I am so proud of you." Ellie blinked as the voice she thought she would never hear again filled her ears. Sitting right where she once sat was the sweet comforting figure of her only true mother. "You have come so far darling, but don't give up now. You stick in there. You always were a fighter, you just have to keep on fighting for what you want. I know you will do great things. Don't give up." Ellie's eyes began to sting from the tears welling up. She quickly looked down at her plate and shoved another bite of turkey in her mouth.
"To hell with this man. Let's go get a pick up game." Bobby's gruff voice interrupted her thoughts. "I want to see some quick sticks and some tight passing."
"It's too cold man!" Angel whined.
"You gonna let me play? I've been working on some new moves." Ellie teased.
"Fuck that, you aren't stepping foot on the rink. You can be our hot chocolate girl. Gotta keep Angel over there warm." Bobby replied.
"Fuck that." Ellie replied as they all stood up from the table and moved towards the door. "I'm going to call Neal and invite him."
"You going to give us the chance to test his manliness out on the rink. He better be damn good if he thinks he can get with our little sister." Bobby said as they all headed towards Jerry's car.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Ellie replied as she dialed Neal's number.