If it were just a few of us, I'd just wear what I have on, but with Victor and Mel coming, I don't want to look like a complete slob. I run up the stairs just as Vance is coming out of the shower, with a towel wrapped around his waist. When Vance was in school, he was a full-on jock, and always at the gym. I know he still goes to the gym, and even does workouts at home but not nearly as much as he used to. I like to pick on him about slacking on his physique. He's still in great shape, but it gives him a complex, and I find that extremely funny. "Better lay off the beers Vance, you're starting to look like dad." I smile knowingly.
His stomach goes in slightly as one would when sucking in. I laugh and rush into my room before he tries to do something to me. I switch out my sweats, and band shirt for black leggings and a nice red tee with lace capped sleeves. I slip my feet into my black flats and skip out of my room. Just as I reach the bottom step, the front door opens, and in walks Victor and Melissa.
"Victor!" I yell and rush towards him. I jump up and he catches me, hugging me while my feet dangle.
"Has someone missed me?" he asks.
"Yes!"
He sets me back on my feet, and I step back taking in his professional appearance. Movement behind him catches my eyes and Melissa comes into view.
"Hi Mel!" I say to her and give her a polite hug.
"Hi V. How are you?" she asks as I move away from her.
"I'm good."
They move further into the living room and greet everyone. I watch their retreating backs. Victor was always tall; he's the tallest of all my brothers. Melissa isn't much taller than me, so she only reaches his shoulders. Victor keeps ahold of Melissa’s hand as they greet everyone, and I find it completely endearing. I glance around the living room, and there's a space beside Vaughn, so I make my way over and plop myself down.
"Who's playing?" I ask looking at the game on the TV
"Seattle and Pittsburgh."
"Cool," I say, but it's really not. I watch ten seconds of it before I'm bored and declare, “This is boring."
"Shut up, V!" Vance yells at me.
"You shut up," I say lamely and look toward him. Chase is to his right, eyes on me, and Vance isn't even paying me any attention. Chase smiles. ‘What?’ I mouth to him.
He points at me. I shrug, and his smile widens.
"Dinner's ready!" my mom yells.
Dad pauses the game and jumps up from his recliner. We all follow behind him. The food is spread out among the table, and she's placing the big pot of mashed potatoes in the middle. With such a big family, we've always had a very large table, but they didn't take into consideration that girlfriends would be coming to dinner. There's a fold-out chair at the corner of the table and guess who has the pleasure of sitting there.
"Veronica, honey, you can sit at the corner," Mom informs me even though I already knew. I sit between Mom and Victor. Chase is on the other side between Vance and Vaughn. We're not a super religious family, and I haven't been to church in a couple of years now. However, when the whole family is together, my parents like to say a small prayer before digging in. Our father says a prayer of thanks, and we all jump at a plate of food and then pass it on to the person to our right. There's a lot of light chatter amongst the table, but it ceases when Victor clears his throat like he has an announcement to make.
"I have some pretty great news," He informs us then pauses, keeping us waiting.
"Melissa's father has offered me the job of lead accountant at his firm!" He smiles widely, proud.
I sigh in relief, smile wide, and rub his back. "Congrats bro!"
"Thanks, sis."
My brothers and Chase all praise him in congratulations. Mom is overjoyed. "Oh honey! That is wonderful! I am so proud of you!"
"That's great news, Victor," Our father agrees. "You'll still cover the family businesses?"
Dad. No bull. Victor nods. "Of course. Greg knows how important that is for you--and me."
"Greg, he's a good man!" Dad continues eating.
"That's quite a drive. Isn't his firm located in the city?" Mom is quizzical. I look at Victor as he looks over at Melissa, then back to Mom. "It is," he agrees. "That's why we've decided to move."
Everyone gets quiet. We have small surrounding cities, but the major city in which is being referred to here is a good hour and a half drive. While it's not in another state or across the country, it's still a bit devastating to know that he'll be so far.
Vance is the first one to speak. "Nice! Now we can go to the city and have a place to stay."
Victor laughs and looks at me. I muster up a weak smile, that he obviously sees through because he puts his arm around me and squeezes me to him. This makes me want to cry, but I hold the tears at bay.
"It's okay, V. I promise to visit, and you can come up anytime. There's a lot to do. You and Melissa can go shopping." I grimace. I'm not a huge shopper, and he knows this. He chuckles. "They have lots of shoe stores," he whispers. I smile. I do like shoes. Maybe not heels or platforms; anything stylish. I like my Converse and kick-ass boots. I nod, not daring to talk.
"I am so happy for you," Mom says. "But it's going to be hard with you so far away."
"I know, Mom. I know." Is all Victor says.
We all finish dinner, and my tummy is full. I rub my belly. "Mom, that was so good," I tell her. She pats my leg. "Thank you!"
"I have pie!" Mom informs everyone as she stands up, taking her plate, and then my empty one in front of me.
"I think if I eat anything else, I'm going to explode," I say and stick out my protruding belly. I glance up and catch Chase laughing at me. I quickly suck in my stomach and sit up straight. I forgot he was across the table. I look everywhere but at him. I’m totally embarrassed.
"Yeah, we better get going. We're going to go look at some condos tomorrow," Victor informs us.
"Oh okay," Mom says, a bit deflated, "How about some to go?"
"That'd be great," Melissa says politely. Mom goes about getting them some pie to take with them.
"I'd love some pie, Vivian," My father says.
"Of course, my love." Although my parents are old, they are still very much in love. I am thankful to have grown up in a household full of compassion. Many of my friends haven't been so lucky.
"Me too, Ma!" Vin speaks up.
"Vaughn, can you please get the dishes?" Mom asks as she places the pie in a container and a slice on a plate for dad. Vaughn sighs and grumbles to himself.
"Vaughn Joseph!" My dad says loudly which quiets Vaughn. I smile wickedly finding it amusing when my brothers get scolded.
"Chase, would you like some pie?" Mom asks him.
"Um no, ma'am. I'm pretty full yet," he tells her.
"Some to go then?"
"Love some!"
She brings small plates with a nice sized slice of pie for Vin and Dad. Then turns and walks back to the counter, bringing back two containers for Victor and Chase. Victor and Melissa stand up and move around the table saying goodbye to everyone. I give them both hugs as they leave.