9. Family Comforts
Chapter 9
Family Comforts
Lila
Everything always seems right with the world when I’m visiting my big sister Joanne and her beautiful family. Whenever I’m with them, the rest of my life seems to blur into the background, replaced instead by the welcomed chaos that are my twelve-year-old twin nephews, and my sweet three-year-old niece.
As the driver makes another right, I realize that I’m only a few houses away. The car rolls to a stop in front of the two-story, Mediterranean-style building, and I step out, heading straight for the front porch. I knock twice on the front door, listening for a response.
Seconds later, the front door flies open to reveal my older sister Joanne, dressed in comfy loungewear. Her dark hair sits atop her head in a messy bun as she walks the remaining few steps between us. She throws her arms around me, wrapping me in her warm embrace, a bright smile on her face.
I bury my head in the crook of her neck, inhaling the faint scent of vanilla that seems to float around her. She always smells exactly like our mom.
“You’re here! The boys are going to be so happy, especially if you got them the action figures you promised them last time,” she smiles.
“Got them right here,” I respond, patting the bag in my hands.
“Thank goodness. Maybe I can finally get them to stay in their rooms for the rest of the evening,” she whispers, excited at the thought of having a moment to herself. I would give anything to have that problem.
I chuckle, watching her with fascination. She’s done an amazing job raising three beautiful kids—especially when two of those kids are my hardheaded nephews Mason and Jason.
“Where’s Hank?” I inquire about her husband as I trail behind her into the house.
“Working late tonight. He says to let you know how sorry he is that he couldn’t make dinner.”
“And where are the other men of the house?” I ask, glancing around and seeing no trace of my two nephews.
“I had just managed to convince them to do their homework, but now that you’re here, I—yup. There they come,” she sighs, gesturing towards the staircase as the pitter patter of feet slaps against the marble tiles.
A second later, my favorite—well, only—twin nephews come bounding down the stairs at the sound of my voice.
“Aunt Lila!” they chorus, running right into my arms with childlike excitement, but the strength of grown men. I’m almost knocked off my own feet too, but somehow manage to catch myself, laughing when they wrap their arms tightly around me.
“Hey, boys, how’ve you been?” I ask, ruffling their sandy blonde hair playfully.
“We’re good,” Mason, the older one, says.
“But we’ve missed you,” Jason, the softer of the two says, holding onto me even tighter now.
“Aw, I’ve missed you both too,” I murmur, kissing the tops of their heads.
It’s crazy how we live in the same city, yet somehow manage to go weeks without seeing each other. Sometimes I get so busy with events and projects, but I need to do better for these angels.
“Where’s your sister?” I ask, once again glancing around for my niece.
“She’s watching cartoons in the den,” Jason says.
“We’ll go get her,” Mason adds. The two run off in the direction of the den to get their little sister.
“Boys, what have I said about running in the house?” Joanne calls after them.
“Sorry, Mom!” they chorus, and I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up.
“Dinner’s almost ready. Wanna help?” Joanne asks, already heading into the kitchen.
“You bet,” I respond, trailing after her.
Jason and Mason come bounding into the kitchen, each of them holding their little sister’s hand.
She instantly gives me a wide, toothy smile as soon as she sees me, her pretty eyes lighting up.
“Anty Lila!” she giggles, holding her arms up to me. It never fails to bring a smile to my face at her sweet pronunciations.
“Gracie, sweetheart!” I singsong, picking her up and wrapping her in my arms as I inhale her sweet smell.
“You look so pretty, and you’re getting so big. What has mummy been feeding you?” I whisper, kissing her chubby cheeks.
“Coco Pops,” she says sweetly. Laughter bubbles out of me, and Joanne joins along.
“Hey, boys, guess what’s in the little bag I left on the table over there?” I whisper conspiratorially to the twins, gesturing in the direction of the living room.
Their eyes grow as wide as saucers, excitement dancing in them.
“Is…is it—” they stutter.
“Why don’t you take the box up to your room and find out?” They nod excitedly, proceeding to race out of the kitchen.
“No running inside the house, boys!” Joanne yells after them, sighing when they chorus another ‘sorry, Mom.’
I sit at the island, with little Gracie on my lap as Joanne moves around the kitchen fixing dinner. The boys are in their room, no doubt enraptured with their new toys. It’s the perfect atmosphere, calm and serene.
Joanne opens the oven door and a delicious aroma perfumes the air, making my mouth water.
“That smells amazing. What do you have in there?” I ask, my stomach grumbling right on cue.
“Only the good stuff for my favorite sis. Prime rib roast,” Joanne whispers, turning around to give me a wink.
My stomach grumbles again in appreciation. “I'm your only sis,” I laugh. She turns back to her food, smiling.
“Pretty hair, Aunty Lila,” Gracie whispers, staring up at me with wide, sparkly eyes. I smile at her as her tiny fingers curl gently around a lock of my dark hair, gaze fixated on it like a moth to a flame.
“Aw, thank you, baby,” I coo, beaming down at her. “You have pretty hair too.” I smooth my hands over her silky sandy brown hair with blonde highlights.
“Women pay a fortune to have highlights like this.” I laugh. “She’s so precious,” I say to Joanne, chuckling when she gives me a side eye.
“She can be. Just don’t leave her anywhere near your makeup,” she says, the expression on her face telling me that she found this out the hard way. I can’t hold back my own bubbly laugher.
“I can’t wait to have my own beautiful little children stressing me out. I mean, look at you! You’re stressed, but still glowing. It’s the only kind of stressed I want to be,” I smile, smoothing down Gracie’s beautiful hair while I hold her.
“So, when exactly is this going to happen? You know every time I talk to Mom and Dad, it’s one of the first things that comes up,” she teases. “When’s Lila going to give us more grandbabies? They keep pressuring me to find you a man. At this point they’re probably starting to look into mail order grooms.” We both crack up at the thought.
Her face lights up into a wicked grin and I brace myself knowing what’s coming next. “Seriously, Lila, when’s the last time you even got laid?”
“Jo!” I say, face turning beet red as I place my hands over Gracie’s ears. One part of me wants to be annoyed with her, but the other part knows she’s right. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been intimate with a man. How long has it been? Six years? Seven?
She laughs. “It’s not like the baby knows what we’re talking about. Anyways, I saw in a documentary somewhere that women need to have regular sex to keep things down there healthy. If you know what I mean.” Her brows raise suggestively.
I groan, burying my face in Gracie’s sweet-smelling hair.
Jo and her “documentaries.”
“They’re right, you know. You’re not getting any younger,” she continues.
“I’ve never met anyone so in love with the idea of family the way you are. Yet somehow, you’ve managed to go this long without starting one of your own. You are so beautiful, Lila, inside and out. Too many men to count are interested, yet you refuse to give them the time of day. Why do you keep saying no when it’s the only thing stopping you from living your dream?”
Joanne stands at the oven, a hand on her waist and the other holding her spoon waiting for an answer.
“Don’t let that beautiful roast burn,” I say, gesturing behind her. She rolls her eyes, turning back to the food.
She pulls the pan out of the oven, sets it down on the pad on the marble counter, and covers it with aluminum to rest.
I put Gracie down and drain the potatoes that have just finished cooking. I grab garlic, butter, and cream from the fridge and start on the garlic mashed potatoes. I add some salt and give it a taste. Perfect.
The oven pings and Joanne turns it off and pulls out the sheet pan of roasted veggies.
“I haven’t found him yet, Joanne,” I say softly.
Joanne starts whipping up gravy for the mashed potatoes, and I continue talking.
“I haven’t found the man that I want to build that family with. Yes, I want the kids and the big house and the big family, but I’m not going to settle for just any man, simply because he can afford to give me that life. I know that time is not on my side, but I refuse to settle for anything less than the perfect man.”
When her eyes meet mine again, they’re softer. Those blue eyes identical to my dad’s stare back at me with understanding.
“Also, my life is about so much more than just a man, you know? I’ve got a pretty good life, with much to be grateful for,” I say.
“I have my business. I’ve learned a lot. Remember when you almost didn’t let me plan your wedding because you were scared I would mess it up!” I exclaim.
We both burst into a fit of giggles at the memory.
“It was absolutely perfect. Better than my wildest dreams. I should’ve never doubted your abilities,” Joanne says.
“You’re right, you shouldn’t have. But I forgive you,” I tease.
“I’ve made a name for myself in this industry, plus, I already have a beautiful family. I mean, just look at this angel right here,” I whisper, kissing the top of Gracie’s head.
“That’s all true,” she says, “and I hate to be the squeaky wheel, but I’m going to keep reminding you that time is not on your side.”
A look passes between us, recognition of a truth needing to be said.
She finishes carving the perfectly medium rare roast and places it on a platter.
“Come on, dinner’s ready,” she says. We make a few trips taking the delicious meal to the beautiful table she’d already set.
“Boys, time to eat,” I yell up the top of the stairs, cradling Gracie at my hip.
“Be right down, Aunty Lila!”