Changing out of our paint-splattered clothes into something clean, we make a late lunch. I take the dirty clothes and toss them into the laundry while Kaitlin stirs the tomato soup. After we eat, we start the second season of The O.C . We're so caught up that when my mom and her dad come home from work a little early, it catches us by surprise. I shoot up in my seat when my mom says hello.
“Hi, Mom,” I say as calmly as I can.
“You seem shocked to see me.” She sets down her purse on the end table and gives me a kiss on the forehead.
“Not really, just a little too into the show to realize it wasn’t real.” I try to laugh, but it trails off into silence.
Maurice sits down next to Kaitlin and puts his arm around her. “I gather today went well.” Kaitlin nods enthusiastically in response.
“Well, then,” my mom says, pleased. “Let’s all go upstairs to take a look, shall we?”
“No!” I say jumping up.
“Why not?” my mom asks, baffled. Her eyes narrow slightly, as if she is expecting something went terribly wrong.
“It’s just…Kaitlin and I were talking earlier and thought it would be fun to do a dramatic reveal when Grandma comes tomorrow night. You know, the whole closing your eyes and opening them when we turn on the light thing.”
Her shoulders slump in disappointment. “I suppose I can wait one more day. It’s not like I don’t already know pretty much how it’s going to look.” I cringe internally and manage an appreciative smile. So far, so good.
Chapter Sixteen
Wednesday, June 20 th
The next day, I'm on pins and needles waiting for it to end. I want to get home and get everything set up, including the throw pillows. I had put the finishing touches on them earlier today, and now I can’t wait to give them to Kaitlin. The big reveal is going to be just as much of a surprise for her as for the rest of them. I have hidden them in a large shopping bag in my trunk so that Kaitlin won’t see them when I picked her up.
Since there is strength in numbers, I even convince Mom to invite Faith and Lyndsay as well. It's their mom and grandma, too, after all. It puts the nerves slightly at ease, but only slightly.
Once we get back home, Kaitlin and I move the furniture back where it belongs. When she goes to the kitchen to help her dad start dinner, I sneak out the back door and around the house to my car to get the pillows. I manage to set them up on her bed without her coming upstairs.
I go back down and help them make dinner, since my mom is picking up Grandma at the airport. Faith and Lyndsay show up around the same time as they arrive, so we all are able sit to down for our meal together. It has been a year since we have all sat down to a meal together. It's difficult juggling our different schedules between work, school, and discount airplane tickets.
Grandma wants to hear all about the job at River’s Bend, so Lyndsay and I take turns talking about it, her a little more than me. Grandma doesn’t notice my lack of stories. After I help put dishes into the dishwasher, she says, “So I hear we’ve got a new room to view.”
Kaitlin and I exchange a glance. She has a little bit of worry in her eyes, but I flash her a smile to put her at ease. “There is,” I say slowly.
“Well, come on, let’s have a look-see.” We all make our way up the stairs. My heart is beating rapidly, and I want to cross my fingers but can’t. As if it would make a difference.
I push Kaitlin to the front and tell her to do the honors. It is her room after all. She smiles shyly and puts her hand on the knob but hesitates. She is still worried about the reaction. When I nod to her, she opens the door and clicks on the light.
Her room has been transformed into a palace.
The dark purple encases the room in a royal glory. It bypasses the lilac by miles with its deep hue. The throw pillows match the walls, and the gold edging just adds to the regal effect. Overall, it turned out greater than I
“Hi, Mom,” I say as calmly as I can.
“You seem shocked to see me.” She sets down her purse on the end table and gives me a kiss on the forehead.
“Not really, just a little too into the show to realize it wasn’t real.” I try to laugh, but it trails off into silence.
Maurice sits down next to Kaitlin and puts his arm around her. “I gather today went well.” Kaitlin nods enthusiastically in response.
“Well, then,” my mom says, pleased. “Let’s all go upstairs to take a look, shall we?”
“No!” I say jumping up.
“Why not?” my mom asks, baffled. Her eyes narrow slightly, as if she is expecting something went terribly wrong.
“It’s just…Kaitlin and I were talking earlier and thought it would be fun to do a dramatic reveal when Grandma comes tomorrow night. You know, the whole closing your eyes and opening them when we turn on the light thing.”
Her shoulders slump in disappointment. “I suppose I can wait one more day. It’s not like I don’t already know pretty much how it’s going to look.” I cringe internally and manage an appreciative smile. So far, so good.
Chapter Sixteen
Wednesday, June 20 th
The next day, I'm on pins and needles waiting for it to end. I want to get home and get everything set up, including the throw pillows. I had put the finishing touches on them earlier today, and now I can’t wait to give them to Kaitlin. The big reveal is going to be just as much of a surprise for her as for the rest of them. I have hidden them in a large shopping bag in my trunk so that Kaitlin won’t see them when I picked her up.
Since there is strength in numbers, I even convince Mom to invite Faith and Lyndsay as well. It's their mom and grandma, too, after all. It puts the nerves slightly at ease, but only slightly.
Once we get back home, Kaitlin and I move the furniture back where it belongs. When she goes to the kitchen to help her dad start dinner, I sneak out the back door and around the house to my car to get the pillows. I manage to set them up on her bed without her coming upstairs.
I go back down and help them make dinner, since my mom is picking up Grandma at the airport. Faith and Lyndsay show up around the same time as they arrive, so we all are able sit to down for our meal together. It has been a year since we have all sat down to a meal together. It's difficult juggling our different schedules between work, school, and discount airplane tickets.
Grandma wants to hear all about the job at River’s Bend, so Lyndsay and I take turns talking about it, her a little more than me. Grandma doesn’t notice my lack of stories. After I help put dishes into the dishwasher, she says, “So I hear we’ve got a new room to view.”
Kaitlin and I exchange a glance. She has a little bit of worry in her eyes, but I flash her a smile to put her at ease. “There is,” I say slowly.
“Well, come on, let’s have a look-see.” We all make our way up the stairs. My heart is beating rapidly, and I want to cross my fingers but can’t. As if it would make a difference.
I push Kaitlin to the front and tell her to do the honors. It is her room after all. She smiles shyly and puts her hand on the knob but hesitates. She is still worried about the reaction. When I nod to her, she opens the door and clicks on the light.
Her room has been transformed into a palace.
The dark purple encases the room in a royal glory. It bypasses the lilac by miles with its deep hue. The throw pillows match the walls, and the gold edging just adds to the regal effect. Overall, it turned out greater than I
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