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“Some things you never get rid of in life, but you will soon learn that when you set up your own kitchen,” she paused, “in your own home.”
Completely caught off guard by her words, Donja spoke up. “And I want you” she paused, “no, I need you with me every step of the way.”
“I don’t know about that, you seem pretty much in control, actually more so than I ever imagined.”
“Not really,” Donja mused, sipping her coffee. “To be honest, it’s just a guise because I’m scared, happy, excited, worried, oh gosh, about every imaginable emotion one can harbor, but the one thing I am sure of,” she said as their eyes met, “is my heart.”
“That’s important,” Lisa whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
“Don’t cry,” Donja whispered.
“I can’t help it.” Lisa blubbered. “My little girl seems to have become a woman overnight, it’s not easy.”
“Well your little girl still needs you. Will you help me plan the wedding?”
“Err—yes, I suppose,” she stumbled over her words. “Is it to be soon?”
“Yes.”
Lisa’s brows furrowed. “You’re not…”
“No, of course not…but I could be.”
“Oh Donja.”
“Mom, you know how it feels to be in love, you can’t control those emotions. Let the cards fall where they may, it’s not so bad, you were pregnant with me at seventeen.”
“Yes, I was, but that doesn’t mean you should follow in my footsteps.”
Donja slid her hand across the table and gripped her hand. “Why not, there are none better to follow.”
“Okay,” Lisa smiled gripping Donja’s hand. “We can get this planned quickly.”
“Good.”
Hearing the front door, they glanced as Carson and Torin approached.
“We got it cleared,” Carson said, “thanks to Torin, who’s strong as an ox.”
“Well, I’m a bit of a mess so I’m going to go now,” Torin said as he planted a kiss on Donja’s cheek. “I’ll call you later, I have a meeting to attend, and if you’re up to it, we can have dinner tonight, perhaps with the two of you,” he said to Lisa and Carson.
Lisa smiled weakly. “That would be nice, perhaps seven?”
“Sounds good.”
“And of course, my son Frankie will be with us and Makayla as well if she doesn’t have plans.”
“Family,” Torin smiled, his eyes sparkling, “what a beautiful word.”
~~~
It was a relentless shaking that roused Donja from slumber and she slowly came to realize it was Makayla.
“Wake up, its nigh on four o’clock and you’ve been asleep all day. I’m dying to find out what’s happened because your mom is talking wedding. I’m beyond shocked.”
“Ugh!” Donja grumbled as she stretched like a cat, then sat up, rubbing her eyes. She tried to swallow but it stuck in the back of her throat. “My God, I’m so dry I could spit cotton,” she complained.
“Here,” Makayla said offering up her Diet Coke.