Rings to Hold
“Beep beep beep.” The dreaded sound of a car horn announces that my sister from hell has arrived. My mother rushes out the door to greet her fiancee jumping into her arms. And I couldn’t blame them, although my new stepsister is a pain, her mother is amazing.
“Grace come outside and help grab some bags.” I leave the sanctuary of my room and walk headfirst into Sam holding her bags.
“Watch it! God, I didn’t know you were such a clutz,” without even waiting for me to respond she pushes my shoulder and walks down the hallway. I don’t know where she is going since she has never been here before. Whipping my hair back I walk out to greet Alex my mom’s wife-to-be. She pulls me in for a hug kissing the top of my head. She pulls back and grabs my face and says,
“Can you believe we are getting married this weekend!” I smile sweetly at her.
“I sure can, we’ve been prepping for this for months and I’m glad we are finally done with all that work and can now move in together,” my mom exclaims. It’s true they had been attending cake tastings and meeting with florists for a while now and each meeting Sam was there and she did what she always does.
“Kathy I hope you don’t mind but I made some cupcakes for the wedding. Just thought it would add a nice touch to have some cupcakes with both of your initials to add to the desserts,” Sam pops out to explain. My mother immediately gushes and runs to hug her thanking her for making her wedding that much more “special”. If you call box cupcake mix “special” then sure.
“I also have both of your rings safely tucked away,”
“Oh yes I almost forgot to thank you, honey, for holding onto them for us I don’t know what we would’ve done,” my mother responds. I grip the bags in my hands tighter and walk straight inside the house I see my door open and walk through and knock over bright pink suitcases. Did Sam think she was staying in my room, no way.
“Oh, I see Sam got all her bags in here already. You can bring Alexs’ bags to my room sweetie,” My eyes bulge out of my head and I grab my mother’s hand.
“Ok I get why they have to move in with us but why does she have to stay in my room!” I flail to my mother.
“Oh calm down its just temporary. After the wedding, she’s gonna move into the guest room. The mattress for her room is coming while we’re away on our honey room so it’ll be set up for when we come back this is just for before the wedding.”
“It’s bad enough gets to hold onto the rings but now I have to stay in a room with her while she boasts about it!” I exclaim to her.
“Sweetie you know she’s only holding onto the rings because she is very responsible, Alex talks about it all the time how organized and responsible she is. It’ll be fun for you two, It can be like a sleepover!” she says walking away to her room to help Kathy unpack. Of course, Ms. Perfect is just so responsible and organized that she gets to hold the most important piece of the wedding. Sam pushes past me abruptly into my room and sits on my bed.
“So where will you be sleeping?” Sam asks like it’s not my bed she’s sitting on.
“Umm on my bed? It is my room after all.” She rolls her eyes but says,
“Fine we can share but I’m sleeping on the left side.” She starts to put away some of her stuff and I just realized that the left is my side. Alex pops her head into our room and says,
“Grace, Sam, dinner will be ready in 10 wash up and come downstairs when your done unpacking.” She gives a big smile that I can’t help but return and we both agree and head down to the dining room shortly. I’m the last to get down and I see Sam is sitting in my spot.
“Does she have to take everything of mine!” I burst out. The look on everyone’s face makes me immediately regret it and I rush up the stairs. Going into my room and slamming the door open I hit one of Sam’s stupid bags. I sit on the floor disregarding the stuff that fell out went my foot touches a hard box. I tilt my head and peek from under my hair and spot my mother’s wedding rings. I hope the velvet box and see both of them fit snug inside the encasing. Like a flash, a thought occurred in my mind. How responsible would Ms.Perfect be if she “lost” our mother’s rings and I just so happened to find them. Maybe I’d finally be able to compete with her. Just then a knock sounds on my door. I wipe my face not realizing the salty tears that had escaped and see the last person I was expecting to open the door. Sam walked in and shut the door quietly and kept her hands behind her back pressed against the door.
“I asked them if I could come up and talk to you myself,” she says looking at the floor her voice only barely louder than a whisper.
“I’m sorry about sitting in your chair, I didn’t know it was yours.”
“The point wasn’t the dang chair,” I say throwing my hands up. She now looks at me and says,
“I know it wasn’t. Everything leading up to this wedding has been terrifying.” Shocked I ask her,
“Do you not want our parents to get married?” She stares at me bewildered and rushes out,
“No of course I do, I love my mom and I love Kathy and I want them to be happy.” She looks back at the floor.
“Then what is it?” I ask gently.
“It’s just that, I don’t know what it’s like to have a sister.” I sit on the bed and I pat the spot next to her. She walks over and takes a seat next to me without another word.
“It’s ok, I’m willing to figure it out together if you are?” She nods her head and gives me the first genuine smile I’ve seen. She gets up off the bed and opens the door and asks,
“You ready to come down?” I nod my head and reply,
“Right behind you.” As she makes her way down the hallway I take the rings that were buried in my hands and slip them back into the pocket of her bag. I make my way down to the dining room and find a plate waiting for me at my spot. I receive soft smiles from everyone but Sam who gives me a big toothy smile. I take a seat and the conversation dives into the wedding and I sit back and smile at my new family.
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