Daniel and Allison St. James are hard cookies to crack because when you’ve faced the death of your daughterover and over again, it’s either that or crumble from the weight of it all.
I’m not saying it’s the mosthealthytrait that any one of uspossesses, but it was born out of necessity. Plus, he understands the importance of having something just for yourself. That has been another means of survival for all of us over the years.
Mom struggles the most with that one. She has a hard time letting go and doing something that’s just for her. I get it though, I’m not sure if I could either if I was in her shoes, but I know she knows how important it is too.
That’s why when I said I wanted to do this, they were supportive, even though they were nervous for me. Physically, I’ve never been able to do something like this, not counting the fact that I’ve never spent hours on end away from home.
“I know, but you’re my little girl. I still get to worry, you know. Even with your newfound independence.”
I snort,“I’m nineteen, a far cry from that toothless little girl on your mug.”
He smiles and turns the mug around so he can look at it, then he looks at me.“No, I guess you aren’t. More like nineteen going on forty if those pajamas have any say.”
My jaw falls open in shock as I look down at my very comfortable gray two-piece set.“What’s wrong with my pajamas?”
The top has buttons and a collar, and the bottoms are wide-legged pants.
“Nothing, but I’m pretty sure I saw your mother in a pair just like them last week.”He casually takes a sip of his tea like he didn’t just throw out the ultimate burn. What nineteen-year-old girl wants to dress like their mother?
I laugh when I realize he has a point because I think he’s right about Mom having a matching set.“Okay, I might have to concede on that one. In my defense though, they’re supercomfortable and no one’s going to see me in them besides you and Mom. Plus, it was a gift from Mom.”
He laughs as his eyebrows shoot up his forehead.“Ah, I see.”
I look down at them again and back up.“See what?”
He only shakes his head and laughs again.
“What’s so funny in here?”
I turn to see Mom coming down the hallway in, what do you know, thematching set of freaking pajamas. I have to laugh at how ridiculously cute the two of us look.
“Just admiring your choice of nightwear, my dear,”Dad smirks like he knows something the two of us don’t.
Mom comes over and eyes me up and down.“I thought they would be cute on her, and they’re super comfy, aren’t they?”
I nod because I can’t disagree there.“What do you see?”I ask again when he doesn’t answer.
“I can only make one assumption as to why she bought you those.”
Mom cocks an eyebrow and places her hand on her hip.“You have me curious now. Why did I buy them, Mr. Know-It-All?”
"I'm not saying anything. I like your PJs, Millie."He looks over at the clock and hums before finishing his tea and placing the mug into the sink. He walks over and kisses Mom on the forehead then he heads for me.
"Tell me what it means,"I demand.
He leans down and quickly kisses me before saying,"Ask your mother. Night, pumpkin."
"Daniel St. James!"she scolds but my father doesn't seem fazed in the least as he chuckles all the way to their room.
My chin juts out and my eyes go wide."What was that?"
Mom sighs as she grabs a washcloth to wipe down the kitchen island."Just your father being annoying. Don't worry about it."
I sigh as I look down. I really do look like someone twice my age. I don't know how to dress like someone my age. I missed outon all the shopping trips with girlfriends or buying all the new hip clothes for each school year.
I have been homeschooled my entire life. It was too risky to let me be around a bunch of germ-infested kids. With my numerous hospital stays there would be no way for me to keep up. My parents made the very early and difficult decision to homeschool.
They wanted me to have as normal a childhood as I could but some things just weren't worth the risk and attending public school was one of them.
