Hello Monday #2
“First off, language, ma’am.” Standing from the ottoman, I flicked her on the nose and cocked my brow at her, which earned me her signature overdramatic eyeroll.
“Second off, you’re way too damn perceptive for your age.
Also, there wasn’t anyone worth bringing around.
Not that I was dating much anyway, but that isn’t totally your business, spawn.
As far as work goes, I wanted to prove myself.
To show I was just as good, if not better than, everyone else.
Looking back, though, I realize now that I sacrificed parts of myself for a job that didn’t care and I regret that.
Please don’t ever make that mistake, Olivia. Please.”
I took a deep breath and looked toward the kitchen, where I knew Spencer was, and smiled.
“To answer your question, though, yes. I do love him. So much. He’s treated me better than any man has before, and it’s almost scary cause I feel like I should be waiting for the other shoe to drop, and it hasn’t yet.
He treats me like a queen, and I hope you find a love like this one day, Olivia.
I really do. Promise me you’ll never settle.
” I grabbed her hands in mine and squeezed them tight.
“I promise. I’m glad you have him. You deserve to be happy, sissy. Really and truly happy.” We hugged each other tightly, and then I sat back down to set to work on her costume.
I finished the last stitch, and Spencer watched while he ate his food that had been delivered not long ago.
“You do go all out, don’t you?” He asked as he shoved another chip with queso into his mouth.
“I told you I did. Never doubt my commitment to a good Halloween costume. Here, let me show you the test run we did on her makeup.” I pulled my phone out and quickly showed him the zombie makeup we had perfected on her.
Complete with arm cuts, gray skin with a hint of a green undertone, and cracked lips. It was utterly grotesque and perfect.
“That’s actually impressive. Unsettling for sure, but highly impressive. I didn’t know you could do that type of makeup.” He handed me my phone back and went to sit on my mom’s couch to finish eating.
“What can I say? Jack of all traders but a master of none.” I huffed a laugh while I placed the needle into the small pin holder on my wrist. “Okay, I think it’s done.
I don’t see anything else we could do to make it better.
Go take another look, and if you’re happy, then you’re good to put it back in the bag. ”
“Will do, captain.” She gave me a salute and then skipped down the hall to her room.
“That girl, I swear. She cracks me up.” Plopping down on the couch next to Spencer and grabbing my box of takeout. “Thank you again for ordering dinner. I appreciate it.”
“Anything for you, baby. I love you.” He rubbed his hand on my knee and leaned into me, being respectful that we were in my mom’s house and my sister was a few rooms down.
Olivia came back a few moments later, sitting cross-legged on the floor, telling us how much she loved the costume and that it turned out even better than she had pictured it.
She also caught us up on how she was about to submit her college applications and how nervous she was.
“Don’t stress too much, I know you’ll get the one you want.
You’ve worked so hard for this. I believe in you.
” I choked on the words some, trying not to cry.
She may not be my child, but with the age difference we had, and watching her like I did, we had a stronger bond than average sisters.
Since we had a single mom who worked all the time in the hospital, I was the designated babysitter.
My grandparents helped the best they could, but they were both older.
They’d watch us after school, and we had some sleepovers too, but I always jumped in to help them. Dirty diapers needed to be changed?
I grabbed everything and jumped in. Babysitter canceled, and Mom has to work all weekend? Don’t worry, I’ll cancel my plans and help watch her.
I don’t think any of them expected me to, but I wanted them to be happy and to take some stress off of them. It quickly turned into lots of late nights of frozen pizzas or ramen noodles with Disney movies on repeat. Concerts and dressing up way past bedtimes.
“Thanks, sissy. I couldn’t have done it without you.
” She came over and hugged me again, both of us more emotional than normal.
“Well enough of that. I’m gonna go call Addie and see if she’s on the way.
” I laughed cause neither one of us wanted to talk about feelings, but we’ve gotten better about it.
My mother and I never set a great example growing up on how to talk through big feelings, and unfortunately, Olivia also picked up on that.
Getting up, I gathered everything up and shot off a quick text to my mom to check in again with her and let her know we were about to head out. Olivia let me know that her friend was almost here, so I took that as our cue to leave. We all hugged goodbye and then headed back home.