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Maia slays with my family, just like I knew she would. My mom and dad hug me, and I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve seen them. They hug Maia while I bring my littlest sister in for a bear hug. Seeing them in person makes me realize I missed them more than I thought.
Emily’s smitten with Maia right away. “Wow, you’re, like so pretty.” Her big brown eyes take her all in, and wow, does Emily look so different. She’s wearing makeup now, and her hair is straight with blond highlights. No more pigtails or high ponytails. I bring her in for another hug. “My baby sis is so grown now. What the hell? I’m old as fuck.”
“Ha, and what are we?” my dad jokes.
My mom scurries off into the kitchen. “Come, you two must be hungry.”
After a big dinner of salad, lasagna, and garlic bread, we sit around the table chatting. They ask us about school, the drive, and we discuss the wedding.
“I’m afraid I still need to shop for a dress,” Maia says.
Emily perks up in her seat, finally looking up from her phone glued to her hand. “Did I hear dress shopping?”
“Oh, now you want to speak,” I tease her.
She narrows her eyes at me and sticks out her tongue. “It’s finally something interesting.”
“Where did my sweet baby sis go? Tear.” I pretend to wipe my eye as Maia laughs, and my parents shake their heads and roll their eyes.
“Zoey and I can take you!” Emily says. “Maybe Kate, too.”
“That would be awesome.”
“We might even have something here you could wear. I’ll check for you, okay? Add it to my ever-growing to-do list,” my mom says, her voice a bit brisk. I know she’s stressed, so why offer to do it, then?
“That’s alright, Ma. I’m sure Maia wants to shop for something she likes.”
“Yes. She doesn’t want an outdated dress from the back of your closet,” Emily says, and I chuckle under my breath and raise my eyebrows at Maia. Oh the sass on this one.
“I didn’t say my closet. Zoey or Kate must have something. Not sure about Melissa. She’s not much for dressing up fancy. I’m surprised we even got her in the bridesmaid gown.” My mom sips her wine.
“It’s no biggie,” Maia says. “Whatever is easiest.”
Emily looks directly at Maia. “We’re going shopping,” she squeals.
Maia giggles, and I can tell she’s enjoying Emily’s excitement.
“Where is Zoey, by the way?” I ask.
“She’s at a friend’s house. She’ll be back later. The rest you’ll see soon,” my dad explains.
After we help my mom clean up, I show Maia my room, along with Kate’s old room where she’s staying. It no longer looks like what it used to. My mom turned it into a guest bedroom. I give her a tour of the house as well and show her how it’s changed over the years. Six bedrooms, now with one being an office and another being a guest room.
“I still can’t get over how big your house is.”
“My dad owns a construction company, so he did a lot of expanding. It was originally a four-bedroom house.”
“Ah, that makes sense. What does your mom do?”
“She’s a seamstress. Mainly works from home. When we were younger, she didn’t work and took care of us and the house. She picked up sewing as a hobby at first and ended up with her own little business.”
“Wow, that’s pretty cool.”
After I show her around, we go our separate ways to our rooms. “Night, Mi.”
She offers a little wave before she closes the door softly behind her.
It’s weird. Our first night sleeping in a separate room, and a part of me wants to ask her to come hang in my room. But that’s pushing it, I know.
