Chapter 16



Rachel
I stood in front of the mirror in Mr. and Mrs. Hanson’s bedroom, drying my hair with a towel. I couldn't believe I was actually here in Tulsa staying with Isaac and his family for Thanksgiving.

Meeting his family, coming this far to spend a holiday with him mean something usually but I don’t know, maybe this is just a thing. I finished doing my hair and getting dressed, still thinking about the fact that I'm here and even though I hated it, the incident was still in the back of my head.

I should get over it. It really wasn't a big deal, but I just keep thinking about what if Isaac wasn't there. "Rachel, honey you almost ready?" I heard Mrs. Hanson's voice come through the door.

"Oh yes I am I'll be right out!" I said back grabbing my stuff and coming out a moment later.

Mrs. Hanson, Genna, Jessica, Avery and Zoey were all waiting in the living room. "Oh my god! Were you all waiting for me?" I asked not wanting to be the guest and make them have to put something more out then they already were.

I put my stuff in my bag and Isaac came out of nowhere and took the bag, "I got this. Go have fun," he said quietly and heading up the stairs to the room we were sharing together.

"No, no honey. We were waiting on Jessica too," she said with a smile giving her a look.

"Mom, I need to look good!" she said in defensive.

"And you do darling. You all look beautiful. Come on let's go," she said grabbing her purse and walking out the door.

We all got in the van, Genna taking the front seat and I sat right behind them next to Jessica. Avery and Zoey were in the back. "Where's Joley," I asked suddenly just now realizing she was not with us.

"She went to see her family this morning," Diana said as we began driving.

I keep forgetting that Joley is from here and she lived around the block from the Hanson's. "Oh so she isn't coming?"

"No, she is I'm picking up her and dropping off Jessica and Avery," she stopped in front of a cute little picture perfect two story house that I knew almost immediately had to be Joley's.

It was so wholesome and typical that it couldn't have been anyone else’s. I saw Zac kiss Joley and she came running to the car. Jessica and Avery jumped out saying good-bye and Joley hoped in. "Hey guys," she said cheerfully.

"Hey sweetheart," Diana said, "Zac staying here for awhile?"

"Yeah he is gonna hang out with Chuck for awhile. I didn't even know he was gonna be home. I was so happy to see him! It’s been almost a year since he’s been on leave." I knew Chuck was her older brother who was in the army.

"Oh your mother mentioned that to me the other day. They are all still coming for dinner tomorrow right?"

"Yeah they are so excited about us all being together."

"I get to meet your family?" I asked Joley suddenly.

"Yup!"

"I'm so excited about that."

"You girls want to hear something?" Diana asked with a sly smile on her face.

"Oh gossip, I love gossip!" Genna said.

"Jessie and Justin are dating," she was smiling from ear to ear obviously happy for her oldest daughter and her love connection.

"Justin told me about that but swore me to secrecy. He didn't want Zac and the boys to find out till Jessica was ready to tell him,” Joley said with a smile.

I knew Justin was her younger brother and I couldn’t get over how cute that was that Joley and her brother were dating Zac and his sister. “Oh I know. I don’t think the boys know yet. I guess they will find out tomorrow,” Diana laughed.

“You do realize Isaac is going to freak,” I said.

“Yeah, he has always been protective of all his siblings but him and Jessie are close so he’s been a little more protective of her then anybody,” she confided.

“Yeah, I know that’s what he tells me.”

“He tells you a lot huh?” she asked.

I looked at her in the mirror and just kind of shrugged my shoulders. “Yeah, he does,” I looked around and saw Genna and Joley smiling at each other.

“That’s cause you’re his woman,” Genna said with that he cares about you look on her face.

“No... we are close but not that close... We care about each other but...” I trailed off.

“Well, I’ll tell you one thing Rachel, he never brings girls home, so you must be something special,” his mother said and I just stopped.

I had no idea what else to say so I just said nothing but smiled.


********

The mall here wasn't like the mall I was used to at home. It was much tinier but here had a feeling of a community that you do not feel at the malls around me. "Mom, I'm hungry," Zoey said to her mother.

"Ok, how about you girls, are you hungry?" she asked us.

"Yeah, I'm starving," Joley said and Genna and I nodded in agreement.

"Ok then lunch it is," she said walking towards the food court.

"You girls get what you want?" Diana said taking Zoey's hand. "She wants pizza so I'm gonna go get her and I some. Here's twenty dollars." she handed us a twenty and the three of us were shocked.

"Mrs. Hanson. This is not necessary. We can all pay for ourselves," Genna said trying to hand the twenty back.

"Absolutely not! You girls are my guests and I want to do this. Go eat and if you feel so bad about this then you can all help me make dinner tomorrow," she was smiling and we all knew she wasn't going to take the money back.

"Just take it," she pushed one more time.

"Ok," we all said feeling bad but not really having a choice in the matter.

"I'll meet you girls at a table over there," she said as Zoey pulled her off to get her pizza.

"That was so nice of her," I told Genna and Joley.

"Yeah Mrs. Hanson is like that. She really is the sweetest woman," Joley explained.

"I think I want Wendy's," I said as I scanned the food court up and down.

"Wendy's sounds real good," Joley agreed.

"Yeah I could go for one of their salads." Genna said.

"Ok, Wendy's it is," I said.

Once we got our food we walked over to where Mrs. Hanson and Zoey were sitting. I handed her the change of the twenty and we all began eating. "You really eat that?" Diana asked me with a look of amazement on her face.

"Of course I'm gonna eat this!" I joked.

I had gotten two cheese burgers, a thing of nuggets and a large french fry. "Do you always eat like that?" she was still in awe.

"Yeah I do," I laughed.

. "Where does it go girl? I mean you are the skinniest thing and tall. Really I just can't get over how much you look like a model," she was making me blush.

"Well, thank-you. I honestly do always eat like this, but I work out a lot. I like to stay in shape." I explained to her.

"Really Rachel, girls would kill for a figure like your's and it's just a natural thing for you." she told me.

Killing for a figure like this, I knew that all to well. "Yeah I know,' I said trying to get off the topic of my body.

"Now see when I look at Genna and then see her eat a salad, I know why she has the figure she does." Diana joked.

"No, I honestly don't like french fries so the salad is the next best thing. Look at the size of this bacon cheeseburger I'm about to eat," she said holding up a fairly good sized burger.

"Well, me I love french fries," Joley said as she ate hers, "And that's why I look like this," she said jokingly.

Or at least I thought she was joking. "Stop that. You are beautiful. You all are," Diana said touching Joley's shoulder.

"So tell me Rachel, did you ever think about modeling?"

"Umm.. actually yeah. I used to model but it was to much pressure to be extra thin and I decided to get away from that business before it destroyed me." she nodded and smiled.

"That was a smart move."

"We didn't know you were a model?" Joley said.

"Yeah that's a part of my past I keep in the past."

"Does Isaac know?" I stopped.

I had not told him about the modeling. Nor did I plan to. There were things in my past I had no desire to relive or resurface as I'm sure he did. "No, he doesn't know."

"Oh Isaac would love that," Diana said suddenly.

I looked her strangely, "He has always had a thing for models even when he was five or six." she laughed and I could tell she was reminiscing about those moments.

"Well, I like to just for get about it. I was like fifteen so..." I didn't want to be rude and be like I am not telling him so I figured trailing off might do the trick.

"But you know what honey. I really don't think it matters if you were a model or a mechanic. I can tell by the way he looks at you that you mean something to him." I was shocked.

Is she trying to tell me that Isaac really cares about me. I mean I know he cares obviously but I think she was hinting to more. "I don't think so," I said, “I mean we both care about each other a lot but it doesn't go any farther then that." I was playing with my food now cause they were making me uncomfortable.

"Honey," Diana said, "My Isaac never brings girls home especially for a week long trip unless they are very special to him. He must really have feelings for you," I almost fell out my chair.

I could not believe what she had just said to me. "Oh no, no I don't think there is feelings," I said sounding panicked.

"Oh I think he does," Joley said agreeing with Diana.

I gave her a look and she just smiled back like I needed to face facts that it was what it was. "Don't be uncomfortable," Diana said.

I couldn't help it I was but then again why should I be. If he cares about me what is so bad with that. Maybe I should just face it and go with it as far as I'm ok with. There was silence for a few moments, "So did you girls bring your swim suits?" Diana asked obviously trying to change the subject.

"No, I didn't think I had to it's November," I said.

"We have the indoor pool," she said to me like I should have known that.

Isaac probably forgot to tell me. "Oh my god that's right I completely forgot that you guys had finished the pool. I didn't even bring my swimsuit either," Joley said.

"Yeah neither did I. Oh well," Genna also said.

. "Nah, come on. Let's go get you girls some bathing suits," Diana said jumping up from her seat.

"Mrs. Hanson, it's ok really we will be fine. We can make due," Genna said with a laugh.

"I said lets go girls. It's my gift to the three of you. Now I want to buys these for you so please let me?"

We all looked at each "OK," and we followed her to the store.


********

"These are three I like that most," Genna said holding three different bikinis.

. "Ok well, go try them on and show us." I told her.

"Ok," she said happily running into the dressing room, "This is the first time since I got pregnant that I am going to be able to wear one." she sounding like she was bouncing off the walls.

I walked away for a second to see what Joley had found. She was being kind of strange today. After lunch we had stopped at Carvel and got an ice cream but after the group of us talked for like three minutes she threw her ice cream out saying she didn't want it.

I saw her looking at some bathing suits my grandmother would wear. They were the one piece with shawls and skirts to cover you the most ways possible when wearing a bathing suit. "What the hell are you looking at these for?" I said to her.

She jumped a little obviously not expecting me to come up behind her. "I'm picking out a bathing suit," she said still skimming threw the racks.

"You have got to be kidding me, you are gonna wear one of these things that do nothing for you. You will look horrible." I said laughing.

She didn't laugh. Suddenly, Genna came out calling my name, "Rachel, I love this what do you think?" She looked unbelievable.

It was the skimpiest white bathing suit you will ever see your life. The panties didn't leave much to the imagination. They hugged her tight little butt for all it was worth. They were low dropping down way below her belly button. The top wasn't even really a top. It was a piece of white fabric crinkle into ruffle design and a snap on the back. There were no straps and for someone like myself or Joley that are rather large in that area we could never wear it because it gave no support but for Genna it was perfect.

She didn't have very large breasts so it was enough coverage. The way looked against her naturally dark skin and the long dark her made her look even more exotic. "Don't try on anything else," I said.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking!” she said almost skipping back into the dressing room.

“That’s why I’m wearing one of these things,” she said rolling her eyes and going back to these hideous piece of clothing.

“What does that mean?” I asked her.

“It’s nothing Rachel. Really just go try on your bathing suit,” she said gesturing to the string bikini I was holding in my hand.

“No, wait,” I grabbed her arm, “What the hell is this all about,” I knew she was being weird.

Just as I had grabbed her arm Genna came over. “I’m not as tall, or as beautiful or as thin as either of you. I’m gonna look like a beached whale if I put something on like that on. So I need to stick my fat ass with these bathing suits.”

“If I wore that I would look horrible too. Genna looks good because it fights her body type and I wear this cause it fits mine.”

“And I’m gonna wear these cause they fit mine,” she said.

“Joley, you have a great body. Like really, you have unbelievable curves that I wish I had,” Genna spoke up suddenly.

“That you do Joley. Your so pretty and your skinny and you have a great body. Come on don’t get upset about something so isn’t true. You’re not fat,” she stopped and looked at me.

“Your just saying that.”

“If I thought you needed to lose weight I would tell you,” I don’t hold shit back.

“Thanks guys,” she said with a smile.

“Come on. Let us help you find the perfect bathing suit for your body type,” I smiled hoping she would follow and cheer up.

“Oh no you’ll put me in something a little revealing,” she said with a laugh.

“And Zac will love it,” I saw that twinkle in her eye.

“Ok,” she said as we went to search for the perfect bathing suit.

Zac
My mother had picked up Joley to take her shopping or wherever the hell they were going. I decided to stick around for awhile and hang out with Chuck. Chuck was Joley's older brother and after a few years of wanting to beat me up, he started to deal with the fact that I was dating his younger sister.

Now, him and I are cool and even though I don't real see him with him being in the army and all, we hang out when we can. Joley's mother is like a second mother to me. She made me a delicious lunch we talked for awhile about everything.

Chuck and I then went into the backyard and that's when I saw what almost made me freak out. Jessie and Justin laying on a blanket under a tree. "Ugh," I said as I pointed in there direction.

That was all I could do, all I could say. "What?" he asked.

"Why are they lying together like that?" Chuck laughed.

"Oh you don't know yet. It's mini Joley and you." I looked at him and I was almost positive that I knew what he meant, but I didn't know if I could believe it.

"Jessica and Justin are together?" I asked probable sounding like I was about to fall over.

"Yeah, they have been for awhile," he sounded so nonchalant about it.

"Oh I can't believe this," I said staring some more at them.

"Oh, see Zac, now you know how I felt," he told me putting his arm around me.

"Are you thinking about grabbing him and throwing him against the wall. Telling him he better watch himself with your little sister? Well that's exactly what I wanted to do, say to you, but look," he said smiling at me, "I got over that. We are cool now."

He was enjoying this too much. I mean we are very cool now and He has no issues with Joley and me but she is still his sister and he wants to protect her. "It took you like two years to deal with me and Joley," I told him.

"I know," he said,” Let's go back inside," I said feeling a little nasus.

I couldn't sit here and watch my baby sister be affectionate with a man. I walked back in the house and got my keys. I said goodbye to Joley's mother and promised I would be back for dinner and left. What are my brothers going to say when they find out about Jessica.


********
I waked in the front door to find my father and Isaac sitting in the couch in the living room in nothing but their boxers smoking a cigar. "Hey guys," I sad giving them a strange look.

"Hey, Zac my boy," my Dad said inhaling the cigar.

I smiled a, little weirded out by the scene in front of me. "So how were the Richard's?" my Dad asked.

"Oh they were good. They were so happy to see me and Chuck was home so it was nice to see him." I said.

"Did you see the women?" Isaac asked, closing his eyes and taking in another deep breath of smoke.

Just watching him made me want to cough. "Yes I did. They were going shopping."

"Aha," Dad said sounding so relaxed that I wondered if the cigar might have been laced with something else.

"That means male bonding can keep going," Isaac responded.

"Male bonding?" I asked.

Honestly, I would much prefer to bond with Joley then with another man especially my brother. "Yes Zac, Cause when the woman are away the boys will play," Isaac said looking like he was some retarded philosopher.

I just shook my head and walked into the kitchen. I heard my father pat Isaac on his bare back and say, "Good line son. Good line," Taylor was sitting at that table trying to get Jason to eat.

"Jason I know your hungry eat!" he yelled.

I rolled my eyes. He had a great way of talking to a baby. So soft was his tone. If I were Jason I would want to eat too. "Maybe if you yell a little louder he'll eat," I couldn't help but say.

Things between Taylor and I have been strange. I mean we haven't fought at all, but there really hasn't been any dialogue. I guess we actually agree that keep peace requires us to not speak at all. "You know what Zac when you have a baby then feel free to come in here and tell me what you want," he snapped back.

I could tell he was frustrated and honestly, he had no right to be. Maybe now he will know what Genna went threw everyday while he focused on himself. "Jason! Daddy is getting angry," he yelled again.

"Hey" my father's voice said startling both Taylor and I as he came into the kitchen. "There is no reason to yell at him like that. He is a baby. You should know better Jordan Taylor."

My father glared into Taylor and I saw Taylor look away defeated. My father wasn't happy when Genna got pregnant but he never let that affected his feelings towards Genna or Jason. He was a proud grandfather and Genna will always be a part of the family in his eyes. He just will always think Taylor had a dumb moment as we all pretty much do.

Taylor didn't really say anything he just kept trying to feed poor little Jason and Jason just kept turning his nose at it. He probably wasn't taking it cause he was used to his mother feeding him. "Eat!" he yelled again trying to force the spoon in his mouth.

"TAYLOR!" my father yelled again. "If I see you do that ever again. I will smack you so hard I don't care how old you are." he bellowed.

What an asshole Taylor was really. "Fine, you know I don't really think he's hungry. I'm gonna go put him down for a nap. I bet he is tired." He said picking him up out of his highchair and taking him up the stairs quickly.

"Zachary, does he always do this?" my Dad asked as he wiped his hands on a dish towel.

"Don't know, he never spends anytime with Jason for me to tell," I said bitterly.

I didn't mean to start anything I just, if that was my kid even right now, I would spend all the time in the world with them. "I'm really gonna have to talk to that boy," my father said with a sigh.

I think it's more then just he doesn't want tot see his grandson treated badly, but I think my father takes it as a personal insult to how he raised us. My parents were so good. They never neglected any of our needs, even now they wouldn't. They would make personal sacrifices if it meant making us happy. I know he thinks he taught us better then that and since Taylor is the first one of us to have a child, the only one of us to have a child he doesn't have anyone else to look at and see if he really did a good job.

"Taylor's just an ass, Dad, really? He does this crap to everyone," I said wanting to make my father feel even a tad better, lord knows he's done that for me to many times.

"That's not very nice to say," but he laughed a little.

“I know but that's what he is," I laughed back.

My father didn't say anything else he just straightened up a little and then as he turned to ask me something Taylor walked back in the room. "He's asleep already?" Dad asked.

"Yeah, I knew he was tired." My Dad just nodded and I thought I could tell he was thinking maybe he isn't as bad of a care giver as he appeared.

"So what do you boys want to eat," he asked.

I guess trying to lighten the feeling in the area. "How about that Italian place down on 33rd?" I asked.

They had the best chicken parms I have ever had in my entire life. "Oh yeah that does sound good," Taylor said.

My dad went over to get the menu and we sat down looking at it. No more then five minutes later did Isaac come into the kitchen holding a sobbing Jason. "Taylor, what the hell did you do!?" Isaac asked him looking angry as he held him.

I got up and went over to Jason, "Here Isaac give him to me,” and Jason came to me snuggling into my neck.

“I put him down he was tried,” he was acting like it was no big deal.

“Well, he was scratching on the door. SCRATCHING ON THE FUCKING DOOR!” Isaac was in his face.

“I told him to lay there,” he really was the most incredible fucking asshole on the planet.

If I wasn’t in my father’s presents I think I would have laid him out. “Are you telling me that you put a one year old in a room with the door closed by himself while he was awake?” my Dad asked so calm that I knew he was about to explode.

“I put him in the bed,”

Dad closed his eyes and Isaac stormed out. He was pissed. “HE IS A BABY! DO YOU KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED!” he yelled running at Taylor.

Taylor looked shocked. “Are you kidding me? I didn’t do anything wrong,” he didn’t get it.

He just didn’t get it. This is why there should be a test before people can reproduce. “Other room now, we are having a big talk,” my Dad said pointing to his office, “NOW!” he screamed when he didn’t move.

“I got him Dad,” I said as he looked at me silently asking.

Taylor followed with his head hung low and I put Jason in his highchair. Needless to say he ate for me.




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