Forever Kisses by Kate Russell

Author:Kate Russell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sweet romance, chick lit, college romance, new adult romance, romantic comedy
Publisher: Kate Russell Books
Published: 2018-09-06T00:00:00+00:00

DINNER WAS A SUCCESS, well, kind of.

The food was delicious. I mean, it’s hard to go wrong with barbeque, beans, and potato salad. I loved the pasta salad, and although the deviled eggs were a bit saltier than I’d normally like, I still ate mine. I forgot who brought the hash brown casserole, but that was good, too. The white birthday cake, with its pastel sculpted roses and ribbons had buttercream icing instead of that whipped stuff that I hated. I almost moaned when I had a corner piece after Grandma had blown out the three blue and white striped candles.

The gifts were greatly appreciated. Grandma got gift cards to her favorite restaurants and clothing stores, a leather handbag, a devotional book, and a new diamond tennis bracelet from my grandfather. Grandma sure did love her jewelry, something else that ran in the family. I was a bit of a magpie, myself, as I twisted the emerald ring Luke gave me at Christmas.

It was the conversation part that was less of a success. Aunt Faye tended to dominate, so we heard her unwanted opinion on everything. Then there were the well-meaning questions tossed at my mother about how she was feeling. I know. It’s great that people care, but it was this overly cheerful inquisition. Grandma kept saying over and over about how good Momma had been doing a while back. My great-aunt Karen insisted there was no way anyone else in the family had bipolar. When they finally exhausted the bipolar topic, they moved on to the usual religion and politics route, and the old memories, some that were hilarious, and some that should have never been heard again. I knew I was anxious after a couple of hours of this, and poor Momma had been rubbing her temples, and her smile looked painful.

I was about to suggest she go upstairs and rest, well away from all of us, when Emily spoke up.

“Momma, you look worn out. Why don’t you go lie down and rest for a while?”

“Emily, baby, I’d like to help clean up. I’ve been taking it easy today.”

“Don’t worry. Everybody can dump their plates and get their leftovers together. It’s getting late, and everybody’s going home in a few minutes.” Emily gave a pointed look at our family members, and they all chimed in that, yes, it was time for them to get going. I wanted to laugh again, but I was just too tired.

Momma kissed me and Emily, and Grandma and Grandpa, and said goodnight to everyone, before carefully walking towards the back of the house. I pressed my lips together to keep from calling out for her to be careful on the stairs.

After all of the trash was bagged up and taken out, leftovers were handed out and put away, and our guests finally left, I went out to the back porch, feeling the shock of going from the almost-chilled to the humid air that tried to drown me. I kind of liked it.

I wrapped my arms around myself as I heard the back door open and shut gently.

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