Chapter 3 - The Mothership

Elisa Muse

Daddy picked us up from the airport. The air felt heavy, and as soon as I stepped out of the car, the memories hit me like a ton of rocks. An avalanche prevented me from taking a deep breath. I felt dizzy, and Colette held my hand.

"You are a b***h; you can do this," she encouraged me, and I finally could take a deep breath. We will be here for three weeks... I can do this... I pep-talked myself.

I gave her a tight smile, "Are you ready to meet the whole circus?" I asked, and she laughed,

"I was born ready..." she said, making me laugh.

We climbed the steps. The snow was starting to set, and the house looked like it was on a Christmas postcard. As soon as I opened the door, the fuzz, buzz, yelling, and laughter filled my ears. Everyone, and I meant it, was there... my grandmother, Buddy, my Aunt, and her entire family... Mom and I were sure Eddie was hiding somewhere in there... Dad stood proudly behind me... Like the prodigal son, my whole family was waiting for me to return. Well, in my case, the prodigal daughter...

"Hey, I'm home!" I yelled. Suddenly, the noise faded, and everybody turned to stare at me as if I were a weird foreign specimen.

"Oh, Darling... Welcome home!" My mom gave me a tight hug, choking me almost to death under her deadly embrace.

"It is good to have you here, Ellie..." she kissed my cheek, and I almost cried.

"Everyone... this is Colette Dubois... my roommate and best friend." I introduced Colette to everyone, and my mother gave my father a side-eye. Then, she softly smiled at Colette.

"Well, it is our pleasure, honey... You are adorable... and I am sure your French accent is sexy as hell..." My mother said when I heard from the kitchen,

"Who is sexy as hell?" The familiar male voice warmed my heart...

"Eddie!" I yelled, and he laughed,

"I am sure Mom was not talking about you. She would not tell you are sexy. Quirky, oddly looking, a weirdo, yes, but sexy..." He squinted his eyebrows when my mother barged in.

"I was talking about Colette..." Mom pushed Colette forward, almost causing her to trip into Eddie's arms. Typical of her, she wanted to see us settled so severely that she would not miss a chance to pay matchmaking. Thankfully, this time, it was Eddie.

"Eddie, this is Ellie's roommate, Colette..." Mom introduced them, and Eddie nodded.

"Welcome to the mothership..." He laughed, and Colette elbowed me in the ribs.

She leaned forward and mumbled, "Why didn't you tell me your brother was this hot?" I rolled my eyes. I knew Colette was a f*****g nympho, and indeed, my brother wasn't going around life wearing a chastity belt, but please don't let them hook up; that will make me feel extra f*****g lonely.

"Because he is my brother..." I mumbled, and she laughed. "It would be weird if I found him hot..." I laughed, and she nodded.

After that, I made a round greeting to everyone, getting hugged and squeezed at will. I knew my family had missed me, but this was ridiculous. I endured it as much as possible until Mom called everyone to the dining table.

"You look gorgeous, a bit sad and lonely, but you have my beauty..." Grams opened the conversation in her usual blunt way. I squinted my eyebrows, confused about whether that was a compliment. Indeed, it didn't feel like one.

"Well, Thanks Grams..." I sighed,

I took my spot on the table and patted a chair beside me, so Colette could sit nearby. Somehow, having her around made me feel a bit better. She has been my family for five years and my buffer as I navigate the mothership.

The dinner was loud but delicious. One thing I have never missed was the noise these people could make! It is unbelievable how they never shut up. They are always talking, laughing, fighting, or, worse, running the gossip mill in town.

After clearing the table, Mom yelled at Eddie, "Eddie! Be a dear and give Colette a tour around the house. I need Ellie to help me with something." Mom winked, and Eddie rolled his eyes. Colette laughed, and Eddie sighed, defeated. My poor brother has signed his death sentence... my mother had her eyes on him and Colette. Colette graciously smiled; of course, she wanted to bang him... Eddie has been working out and is now totally Colette's type: handsome, built, and not permanent.

"Come on... Let me show you around," he said, and I looked at my mother with strained eyes.

"Mom, don't meddle... Colette is my best friend, and Eddie is my brother... Please..." I said, and Mom nodded.

"Although, Grams. Don't you think they are a fine couple?" Mom asked, and I grunted. Seriously? We just landed; Colette has been here for about five nanoseconds, and they are now adamant about playing matchmaking.

"At least someone is going to have fun this Christmas..." Grams sighed next to me, and I scrunched my face... No, I didn't want to go there... I never considered how awkward and messy things could get with all of them around.

"So, Mom... What did you want me to help you with?" I asked her, and she looked around and sighed. I laughed, knowing it was all a pretext to force Eddie to give Collete a house tour. I chose to zone out.

"Ellie, I am going to the airport..." Eddie yelled over everyone's voices,

"Huh?" I was back in the mothership.

"I said I had to go to the airport, " he said, and I nodded. Colette wanted me to take her to the pharmacy to buy things. Do you want to come?" Eddie asked, and I sighed.

"She is having quality time with me and Grams..." Mom yelled; I was so tired that I wouldn't say I liked joining them.

"Yeah, you go..." I sighed, and Colette waved at me playfully. Yes, that one was going to happen. I wonder if, around the tour, they had already kissed.

"Mom, where are we staying?" I asked her, and she sighed.

"The entire house is already taken; I am sorry..." she paused, not showing remorse.

"Really? There is nowhere for me to stay?" I asked, and my mother sighed...

"I get it; I will stay at the pool house." I huffed. Of all the places, it had to be there.

"But..." Mom said, and Grams pinched her...

My dad opened his mouth, and Grams stomped on his feet. "That is so nice of you, honey," Grams said sweetly, and I nodded.

The pool house was the place that haunted my memories. It was the place where my heart was crushed, stomped about, tossed, and spat at. It was the place where Noah cheated on me with the slutty Adrianna. It was where my dreams and hopes were chased away, and my entire life shifted and went down the drain. Speaking about facing some demons... I was going to be a demon slayer during my stay there... Un-f*****g-believable.

"Are you sure?" Daddy asked, and I nodded. The place holds so many memories. Aside from the nasty ones, it was the place where Noah proposed to me, the happiest memory of my life, that turned into the most painful.

"Positive," I sighed, and he nodded,

"You are going to love our renovations to the place!' Mom said, and I nodded,

"Go settle down," she said, and when I picked up my last piece of luggage, she yelled. "I hope you don't find sharing!"

Wait, what? Sharing? Sharing what? With who?