"So, now that breakfast is out of the way, it's time to get today's events started." Lian said as she sat among her family. "Girls, I'm sure you're excited to see your grandfather. I need some stuff put into place before he gets here. Phil, you're in the kitchen with me."
"And what about me, mother?"
"Any task is yours as long as you keep out of the kitchen!"
"I'm not that bad in the kitchen." Melinda folded her arms. "Tell her, Phil."
He stared at Melinda and then he glanced over to Lian. "Well, I'm not going to lie. She really isn't that bad in the kitchen."
"See!" She pointed.
"No, she's much worse." He finished.
She glared daggers at him as she then looked at the girls for support.
"Hey! Don't look at us. Your food sucks." Daisy bluntly said. "But mom, at least it was edible, right?"
"Dais, don't you think you took it a little too far?" Jemma asked.
"Okay, maybe just a little." Daisy admitted before looking at Melinda apologetically. "I'm sorry, mom."
Melinda folded her arms and looked at her family. "Well, the kitchen may not be my calling but I got other things going for me!"
"We're only teasing." Lian said. "Try to lighten up."
"I am lightened." Melinda pouted. "I'm going to go in the garage to see what needs moving."
"So, Phil." Lian started. "Are you going to impress me today with you culinary skills?"
"Well, that depends on how easily impressed you are." He replied. "Quite frankly, I like to cook with remedies so old that Daisy can't call their names. The right amount of natural spices can make the difference."
"Sentimental in material things and also in food items, I see." She smiled. "We may get along quite fine in this kitchen. It's all about making a super delicious healthy meal."
Phil gathered some of the ingredients that Lian had placed for usage. "You can definitely say super delicious again."
As Phil and Lian began preparing the food, Melinda lifted and moved heavy boxes that sat in the garage.
"I wonder why my mom doesn't throw out this stuff." Melinda said as she journied to the entrance of the attic.
On her way to her destination, something hit her from behind causing her to drop the box.
"Sorry." A wavering voice called from behind.
"Daisy, you shouldn't have been running!" Melinda scolded as she turned to face her younger daughter. Guilt filled Daisy's face as Melinda looked into her eyes. "Now, are you alright?"
"I think so." She answered before gasping. "I made you drop one of Grandma's special boxes. She said they contained special fragile things."
Melinda hugged her daughter. "It'll be alright. Things can always be replaced but you, you can't be replaced, ever! Okay?"
"Okay." She smiled as her mother combed her hair with fingers.
After their embrace, Melinda opened the box to see what was so special. Melinda stumbled back as she saw the precious cargo. It was what she least expected. Her mother's prized possessions were boxes filled with her school reports, pictures of her growing up, pictures of her wedding and many more happy memories. As she ruffled through the box, she found a broken picture frame. In the picture, Daisy was a one year old and was being held by Lian.
"Daisy, come here." Melinda beckoned softly as her daughter stepped closer, slowly. "This is what my mother cares so much about."
"Is that baby me?" Daisy asked as she sat next to Melinda.
"You were a year and we had a family reunion." she replied. "My mother cherishes family, that's what so important to her."
"I must have been a handful."
Melinda chuckled as she placed the picture back into the box. "Dais, you're still a handful. Anyway, were you not running off to do something important?"
"Oh yeah, I was helping the others with chores."
"Chores? Daisy, you don't like doing chores." she stated.
"Grandma is giving out allowance in proportion to how much work you do."
"That is definitely my mother." she smiled. "Well off you go while I get these boxes in the attic."
After a few hours, everything was done. Melinda made sure the boxes were transported to the attic, the girls did all of their shared tasks and Phil and Lian prepared a feast. The only thing that was left was for William to arrive.
"Does anyone know how much longer we have to wait?" Daisy asked.
"Someone seems a little impatient." Bobbi replied. "He'll get here when he gets here."
"And to besides, we will have all the time to be with him until we go back home." Jemma added.
A little while later, there was a knock at the door. Daisy dashed towards it to open up for her grandpa but on the other side stood the next door neighbor. Disappointed, Daisy sighed as Lian went to see what the neighbor wanted.
"He's never late." Daisy commented.
"Traffic exists." Melinda voiced. "Dais, he'll be here don't worry."
"How can you tell me not to worry?" She asked before her grandmother and grandfather entered the room. Rising from her downed position, she ran to him. "Grandpa!"
"Woah, Daisy!" Her grandfather exclaimed as he scooped her off the ground. "Looks like you're getting bigger."
"I think that's why they call it growing up." She chuckled. "On another note, I was a little worried about you."
"A little?" Melinda chuckled. "I think you meant to say you were really worried; nearly caught a fit."
"I would say she got her worrying from you, Melinda." He laughed. "You're always looking over your shoulder."
"I'm just precautious most of the time, Dad." Melinda replied. "That's not a big deal."
He laughed at them as sat at the table with them. "So what's new?"
"Nothing really is new." Melinda smiled. "What's new for you dad?"
"Well I have been looking into the idea of moving."
"Moving?! Where to?" She asked filled with concern.
"Back in here with your mother." He smiled. "We've been thinking about it for awhile but we haven't fully decided yet."
"Wow! That's pretty huge." Phil commented.
"We will see when the time comes what happens." Lian added.
"So, how's school going?" William smiled at the girls.
"Well for the short time I've been there, it has been amazing." Bobbi smiled.
Jemma giggled before answering. "And for me, it's a real fun time. I get to learn about all of the things that will prepare me to be a doctor and I also get to invent things with Fitz."
Daisy sighed. "I really don't like going to school. It's filled with people who cause problems."
"Problems?" Lian repeated.
"Yeah, problems. They have nothing better to do than cause problems kids trying to get by."
"Are you bullied?" Her grandmother asked.
"Well in a way yes and no since I fight back."
"Before you say anything, we do allow Daisy to fight but only when necessary." Melinda voiced.
"You are much like your mother, my little flower." William smiled. "Anyway, let's eat."
"Grandpa, can you tell us a story?" Daisy asked excitedly. She sat in between her sister and cousin in the living room, facing her grandfather who sat next to his ex-wife. Phil and Melinda sat behind the girls.
"A story of you when you were little?"
"No, one of mom when she was little." She beamed.
Melinda blushed instantly.
"Ah, well, Melinda was always a tough cookie. She was really a handful too." He smiled. "I remember how she would always get up when knocked down."
"Knocked down?" Her eye brows twitched in confusion.
"Yeah. When she was very young, she would ice skate and was really graceful with it. No matter, she still had times she fell. One day she decided she would not skate again."
"Mom gave up?" She wondered.
"That doesn't sound much like our mom." Jemma added.
"Yeah, it really doesn't sound like Aunt Melinda." Bobbi agreed.
"She quitted ice skates but not as a sign to give up, she wanted something something she could hit back when she fell so she got into martial arts and became a master at it. No matter how hard she was hit and knocked down, she jumped back to her feet and struck back with perseverance."
"Now that sounds like my mom." Daisy smiled. "She's amazing and never gives up and she inspires me to become great."
"Awww, Daisy." Melinda smiled and blushed as she looked at her daughter. "Come here you." She moved closer to her daughter and hugged her.
"What about my mom?" Bobbi asked.
"Well Melissa was almost the complete opposite of Melinda. She was more laid back in life. Be that as it may, she had a lot of time on her hands and would spend more time making friends and hanging out. She and Melinda often argued and fought because of their differences and their philosophies. Either way, I know they love each other and I love them both equally."
"Oh, well I'm sure my mom did her best in what she believed in." Bobbi frowned.
"What's the matter, Bob?" Daisy wondered.
"I sometimes wonder if my mom loves me like Aunt Melinda loves Daisy and Jemma." She answered. "She makes time for me when it's convenient for her and when she's tired of taking care of me, places me in someone else's care like Grandma Lian and Aunt Melinda. It's just frustrating sometimes! I love my mom don't get me wrong but sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I told her that I am done with her moving me from place to place and I'm settling in with Aunt Melinda."
"Wow! That's a huge can of worms there, Bob." Melinda said as she pulled Bobbi into her arms. "You're welcomed you stay with us as long as you want and for your mother, She loves you more than ever. She holds you high in thought. To her, you're a warrior and she wants what's best for you. That's why she is always working so hard all the time. She loves you more than anything so don't forget that, okay Bob?"
Bobbi nodded while in the arms of Melinda who could tell the girl was crying. She rubbed the girl's back and held her tight.
"It's okay Bobbi, it's okay." She said soothingly. "I got you."
This moment wasn't interrupted and it prompted the family to bond.
