Chapter 17 #2
“Hi, favorite sibling of mine,” she replied. “I heard all the laughing y’all were in here doing. You having a party and ain’t invite me? That’s wilddddd.”
“Dawn, you stay playing,” a girl chuckles as she walks over. The boy who was in the room joins us at the door as well. “You know…” She pauses when her eyes land on me, and soon all three of them are staring. “Oooh, who are you? You’re cute.”
“Aht! Back you bigheaded ass up, Tasha,” Dawn laughs, palming her face and pushing her gently. She giggled. “She’s too old for you, but most importantly, she’s already taken.”
“Oh my god, is this her?!” the one who I assumed was Devin asked as they squealed with delight.
Dawn nodded with a proud smile. They wrapped their arms around me and hugged tightly before letting me go.
“Hi, Raine! I’m Dawn’s sibling, Devin, and it’s so nice to finally meet you!
She talks about you all the time, and it always makes me so happy because I can tell from what she says that she loves you, and you feel the same.
It’s honestly so inspiring, and I hope to one day have a love just like you two. ”
“Whoa, slow down, Speedy G,” Dawn chuckles. “I promise, I won’t leave early today, so you have hours to get to know her.”
“Sorry!” they apologize, but I shake my head, taking their hands in mine.
“No need to apologize, love,” I assured them with a smile. “It’s so great meet you. Dawn talks about you a lot, too. She’s always going on and on about how smart, sweet, and funny you are. She’s always so proud of you.”
“Aww, you loveeee me,” Devin teases as they look up at Dawn. Dawn rolls her eyes and pulls them into a loose headlock. Devin yelps, swatting at her. “Okay! Okay! Let me gooo! You’re so freakin’ strong! I swear, I don’t see why a singer needs that many muscles.”
Dawn lets them go and stands there with a grin on her face, and my eyes travel to her deliciously muscular arms as she crosses them.
I’ve always found how strong she was, so attractive.
She could pick me up with ease and toss me around, and I love every bit of that.
I could feel the heat in my body rising just from the thoughts swirling around my head.
She must sense my mind spinning because she takes one look at me and winks before turning her attention back to Devin and their friends.
“Hey, Mama said come downstairs because we bouta eat!” Dominic calls up the stairs, and two seconds later, their mom screams that she could’ve done that.
We all share a laugh before filing down the stairs and towards the massive dining room.
On the way, we stopped to wash our hands.
Once we’re all seated at the table, grace is said, and then dishes are passed around as conversations drift over to the usual family gathering type of conversations.
I sat back and listened as I ate, drawn into every story.
This was a slightly new experience for me, having so many family members in one place.
It’d always been just me and my mom on the holidays that I didn’t spend with Ginger and her family.
But even then, it wasn’t this many people because she also didn’t have a large family, being the only child of only children.
I didn’t have any cousins on my mom’s side, and I didn’t get a chance to know my dad, of course, so I don’t know if I had cousins or other family members on his side.
I’d never been to a family reunion or family gathering, so being around Dawn’s massive family felt so surreal.
No wonder she was so full of love. She was surrounded by it.
“You’re awfully quiet over there,” her mom says, pulling me back to the present. I glanced around the table and saw everyone looking at me. Suddenly, I wanted to shrink, but her smile eased my nerves. “Just checking to make sure you’re okay, love.”
“Oh, yes ma’am, I’m fine,” I nod. “I’m just in awe at how lively it is. I guess I'm not used to being at a family gathering this large, but I like it.”
“What does your family usually do for the holidays, if you don’t mind me asking. I hope we haven’t stolen you away from them,” she says with a small, apologetic smile.
“Oh, no ma’am,” I assure her. “My family doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving.
Back when I lived with my mom, we’d usually go to the movies.
My older sister usually spends the day with her husband’s family and their kids.
I don’t really get along with her husband's family…or him, so I pass on any invites they send.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she says, and I nod.
“Well, had we known we took you from you and your mom’s tradition, we would have invited her as well,” Dawn’s dad says, and everyone nods. “There’s still time if you’d like to-”
“No!” I interrupt, and everyone turns to look at me with confusion. “Uh, sorry, but no, no thank you. We’re not exactly on speaking terms at the moment. I just…”
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Vivian smiled. “Family is complicated sometimes. That’s understandable. Hell, even some of the people sitting around this table work on my nerves.”
“Dominic,” Dawn coughed, sending the whole table into a fit of laughter. I could feel my shoulders relax as I joined in while he tried to defend himself.
The rest of the dinner went by smoothly, and I could feel myself relax more as time went on.
It also helped that Dawn was right there with me the entire time.
As always, she treated me like a queen, making sure that I had everything I wanted on my plate.
If I even reached for something, she was grabbing it before me so that she could serve me.
Whenever I tried to do the same for her, she told me to relax and let her take care of me. I could see her mom and dad stealing glances at us every so often. They were trying to be subtle, but they couldn’t hide the excitement on their faces.
When it was time to move on to dessert, I excused myself to go to the bathroom, and Dawn’s mom offered to show me the way.
Dawn looked hesitant, but I told her that I’d be fine.
I know she was probably worried about her mom casing me, but I didn’t mind.
If anything, I felt more comfortable around her than I’d ever felt around Dawn’s aunt.
At least I knew she wasn’t praying on our downfall.
“She’s truly so in love with you,” Vivian whispered as we walked down the hall.
“I’ve never seen her light up the way she does when she’s around you or even when she talks about you.
So, I apologize if I’m overstepping, but I’m so glad that you two found each other.
She’s always so busy, and I feared for the longest that she’d never find anyone to settle down with, but I can see that you’re who she was waiting for. ”
“Mrs. Vivian, I love her so much,” I admit, and she takes her hands in mine and nods.
“She pours so much positivity into me and showers me with so much love that sometimes I have to pinch myself. I’ve never been with someone who is so intentional about how they speak, love, and act.
She makes everything feel easier and lighter, and it makes me so emotional because she constantly shows me that I deserve all the good things in life.
She’s constantly showing me that it’s okay to feel the feelings I spent years locking away.
” I chuckle lightly as she gently wipes the tears from her eyes, then smiles at me softly.
“Mrs. Vivian, I promise to love, care for, and respect Dawn for as long as the universe allows. I promise to always be intentional just like she is. She means so much to me, and sometimes, I can’t help but feel like she’s an angel who was sent to me from… ”
My voice trails off as something catches my eye.
I walk over to the wall of photos behind her as my eyes zone in on a familiar figure.
I gasp when recognition floods my brain, especially after I see the keychain attached to the bag the kid was wearing.
Staring back at me was a face that I wouldn’t forget, even if I lived a million lives.
My heartbeat quickened as I pointed at the photo, turning back to face Mrs. Vivian.
“This kid,” I said, staring at her as she nodded. “I know them. I wouldn’t forget them in a million years. I searched for them for weeks, but couldn’t find them. Who…who are they?”
She looks at me, confused. “Sweetheart, what do you mean you were searching for them for weeks?” She asked.
“When I was younger, probably about nine, I went to a park one day because I was frustrated after finding out that I wouldn’t be able to go to a camp I’d longed to go to for years because my sister talked my mom out of it,” I admit.
“My sister didn’t come around often, but when she did, things were always tense.
I didn’t know why then, but knowing the reason now puts a lot more into perspective.
” I sigh. “Anyway, as I was sitting on the swing, I remembered this kid coming up to me and offering me a popsicle. When I looked up at them, they smiled and told me they’d gotten it from the ice cream truck for me because I looked sad.
I took it, thanked them, and then they joined me on the swings. ”
I continued to tell her the story of how this kid and I started talking, and how she even made me laugh a few times by attempting to do a front flip, but chickening out halfway through each time.
I could feel the smile pulling at my lips, and when I focused on Mrs. Vivian again, she was smiling like a proud mom, dabbing at her own tears.
My eyebrows furrowed, but I kept telling the story at her request.
“So, after what seemed like an hour, she asked me if I was feeling better, and I told her I was, then explained why I was feeling so down,” I continued.
“That’s when they patted me on the back and told me that one door closing doesn’t mean that all of them will be closed forever.
It was the first time I’d ever heard that saying, but it stuck with me even after they told me that they had to leave.
We unfortunately didn’t exchange names, but they did leave that exact keychain behind.
” I point to it in the picture and show her the exact one.
“So, did you ever find them?”
I shake my head. “No, but I went back to that park every day for two weeks straight, hoping that I would, so I could return it,” I sigh.
“I also wanted to tell them that I’d won a scholarship to the same dance camp I was upset about not being able to attend.
Just like their saying predicted, another door opened for me, and I just had to tell them that they were right.
And that’s also around the time when I started to live by that motto. ”
“Raine, sweetheart, would you mind taking a closer look at the picture for me?” she says, and I hesitate but nod. “Just take a few seconds to really look at it.”
I turn my attention back to it and examine it closely.
The more I stared, the more the wheels in my head began to turn.
I got a funny feeling in my stomach and an odd sense of recognition.
But it wasn’t until Dawn came down the hall to see what was taking so long that it finally clicked into place.
I turned to Mrs. Vivian, and she had a knowing smile as she nodded.
“Wait, this is Dawn?!” I gasp, and she chuckles, a few tears streaming down her cheeks. I glance over at Dawn, and she looks at me in confusion. I point at the picture. “This is you?”
“Oh, yeah!” she chuckles, smiling at the picture. “I was cute, huh? Yeahh, I know. Dang, I remember that day like it was yester…why are you staring at me like that?”
“Did you know this whole time?” I ask, my heart beating wildly against my chest.
“Did I know what?”
“Dawn, do you remember when I told you the story about the kid in the park and the keychain?” I ask, and she nods. “This is the kid! You’re the kid!”
Her eyes widen before looking at the picture and then back at me. It takes her a few moments, but when it clicks, she scoops me up and then places kisses all over my face. I squeal as she puts me down and takes my face in her hands. She kisses me passionately, and I feel myself relax at her touch.
“How in the hell didn’t I put two and two together?
Of course, you’re my mysterious friend from back then!
I should’ve known!” she exclaims. “I always felt like we had a deeper connection from the moment I laid eyes on you in the dance studio. You know, every so often, I wondered about how your life turned out.” She smiles at me as if I were the most important person in the world. “God, this is the best day of my life.”
“And I should’ve known too,” I nodded. “You were so kind and attentive back then, doing everything you could to cheer me up. You don’t understand how much I needed that.
You don’t understand how much your words helped me over the years.
” I hugged her tightly. “Thank you for being there for me even when I didn’t know it. ”
“I told you, Siren,” she smiled down at me. “You never have to worry about anything as long as I’m around, and it seems the same is true when I’m not around.” She chuckles. “I got you, love. Always. I love you.”
“And I love you too, Dawn.”
We shared another kiss as her mom looked on in admiration. She told us that she prayed for days like this, and all we could do was nod in agreement. It was in that moment that I realized just how much Dawn and I were meant to be, and I was excited to see what else the future had in store for us.