"If you want to be seen with me, who am I to say no? Just give me five minutes to get ready," I called back, a smile tipping my lips.
Since the move, Phoenix had slowly opened up and was even excited to get up and go to school. My coward of a sister didn’t say a word, but she signed everything I sent, giving me temporary guardianship. I noticed she left the end date blank, something the lawyer I found said would help us if she came back in a year or two and tried to disrupt our lives.
Phoenix took the news well. She seemed hurt, but hid it quickly. I’d offered therapy to help work through, but she said she wasn’t quite ready yet and I was going to respect that, while also keeping an eye on her.
Over the last month, we’d gotten into a groove and it was starting to feel normal. Something she told me was refreshing. Knowing my sister, it wasn’t that shocking to me. She hated anything to do with normalcy or routine.
On shaking knees, I pulled myself up with the help of the toilet. The first thing I did was brush my teeth to try to get the gross taste from my mouth, using my mouthwash twice to be safe. The minty flavor helped calm things down a bit.
A shower was a must, but time wasn’t on my side. Thanks to my wake-up, all I could do was throw on a t-shirt and jeans. I'd come back and shower before work.
"Phoenix, I'm throwing on shoes and I'll be ready," I called as I opened my bedroom door so she could hear me better.
I didn’t exactly look put together, but I wasn't feeling a hundred percent myself. I just hoped that I didn't embarrass Phoenix.
Was this what motherhood was like?
"That's what you're wearing?" she asked, eyeing my Nirvana shirt, jeans, and scandals.
"Yeah?" I questioned.
"Cool, you don't look as uptight as you usually do," she told me with a nod of approval.
"Ouch, kid," I said, holding a hand over my heart.
"Could you please dress down more?" Phoenix asked as she held out a hand to help me up.
"I can do that. More on weekends, because you know, work," I shrugged before I took her hand and got to my feet.
It was gorgeous out, both of us taking a big inhale when we stepped outside. We were greeted by birds chirping and a light breeze.
"Can you believe how warm it is for March?" Phoenix asked. “I expected it to be cold here.”
"No, but I’m glad," I answered as we hit the sidewalk. "Maybe dinner out by the lake tonight?"
"Yes, can we have pizza?" Phoenix asked, hope lighting up her eyes.
"We could use our new grill and do burgers and hot dogs?" I countered.
"Pizza and we can read a book?" she volleyed back as we crossed the first street. I kind of loved that she wasn’t as afraid to add her own input.
"You know my soft spot already?" I questioned her as we passed a few people that we nodded to as they said hello. "Is there a book that you have your eye on? I can bring it home with me tonight."
"Maybe," she smirked, "I've been eyeing Percy Jackson."
"A girl after my own heart," I squealed. "Once you finish the book, we can check out the movie or show, deal?"
"That would be amazing. Popcorn and sweets, too?" she asked.
"Is there any other way?"
“According to my mom, TV would rot your brain and sweets are bad for your aura,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Well, your mom isn’t here,” I said as gently as possible. She nodded, thinking it over. My poor girl was far too wise for her age now.
"Aunt Bea, I want to thank you for everything. I know my mom dumped me on you, but I never thought that I'd find a home here," she told me. “I really love it here.”
"Are you trying to make me cry?" I joked, pulling her into a side hug as I blinked back the tears that were very much real.
