Shady Acres

Family is Family

Monday through Thursday flew by faster than I thought it would. It's Friday afternoon. My mom and her boyfriend should be here no later than 5, and the rest of the family, who’s coming, should be in tomorrow. It didn't take long for me to get into the routine of how things ran around here. Monday through Friday, their schedule is wake up no later than 8, then breakfast, Pal would head off to work after work was dinner than family time. While Pal has been at work, which is just in a building a few meters away from the main house, I've been helping Cat clean and get things ready for the cookout this weekend. I've helped prep food, clean rooms, shampoo carpets, chase after a 5-year-old, and a ton of baking from cookies to cakes. They are expecting a couple hundred people to show up between the actual cookout and people wanting to ride the trails.

This amount of prep is exhausting, but between me, Cat, and her mom, we've been getting it done. I started to hear a noise that sounded like my bike, I glanced over to the clock and realized it was 5:15. It should be Mom and Leo. I walked around the house where they would park, and sure enough, there was a 2018 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE SPECIAL - CANDY APPLE KILLER - 124" FAT TIRE HOT ROD BAGGER pulling up the driveway. Man, that thing is a beauty. I can't wait to be out on the open road again. I need some serious wind therapy.

"Man, I don't think I've drove a smoother bike Kar." Leo said killing the engine.

"Well, I've worked hard to get him the way I wanted so the drive should be smooth like butter." Hugging Leo as he gave me a weird look.

"What?" I said, "Men can call their machines her and I can't call mine him?" I questioned giving him a look daring him to state an argument while we waited for my mom to park her powder blue Rav4.

"Hi baby." My mom Sharon said stepping out of her car.

"Hi Mom, I've missed you!" Embracing her. My mom is my favorite person in the world. I wouldn't be as successful as I am without her support.

"I've missed you too sweetheart. You know who else is missing you...."

"Mom don't ruin this weekend by bringing him up." I interrupted her quickly.

"Well, hunny, I only have his side of what happen and according to him things weren't bad enough to warrant a divorce and you won't tell me your side." she said sternly. I ignored her snatching my keys from Leo. Jumping on my bike and taking off. Normally I wouldn't even think of jumping on this without a helmet but if I didn't get away from her talking about him, I was going to flip my lid. I didn’t want to tell anyone what happened to cause the divorce, I've been saying it just wasn't going to continue to work the way we were going. And where does he get the nerve to even talk to her about what happen especially after everything he did, painting me to look like the bad guy. I knew my mom always had a special place in her heart for him, but seriously what happen to “always having your daughters back”.

Hours had flown by before I pulled back onto the road leading to my cousins’ property. I drove back to sneak up the outside stairs no matter how much I hate them it's better than trying to walk through that house being cornered by my mom again tonight. Cat must have been told what happened because when I walked in there was a note on the fridge telling me that dinner was in the microwave. Mentally thanking Cat because I was starving. I knew tomorrow was going to be a long day because the rest of the family was coming in, which meant more questions to answer and I was not mentally prepared for it.

Friday Morning

The women woke up early Friday morning to get the meats marinated and non-last-minute food items prepped and ready for Saturdays cook out. It was dinner time before the majority of the rest of the family came in. Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, you name it, they will probably be here. Everyone had sat down to eat the pizza we had ordered for dinner. I was helping Cat set everything out and I overheard different whispers as I walked by people.

“I knew he was too good for her.”

“Yeah, he told me he wanted a divorce since she’s never around.”

“… She is too ugly for him.”

“I always knew it would never work, I wonder if he is seeing anyone yet, I would love to take him for a spin.”

“They are getting a divorce” or “he left her”

The more I listened the more aggravated I got. I decided it was just best to make an announcement and get it out of the way. These people are supposed to be my family, it kind of hurts to hear them talking about me. But family is family.

"Hey guys!" I shouted nervously over the 30+ people that was currently in the back yard. "I know you all have heard the murmuring, and I just want to clear some things up. Yes, I just got a divorce. No, I will not be discussing with anyone what happened. And no, no one has been told the real reason all you need to know is some things happen, and it made me realize it wasn't going to work out between us. That is all I will say about it so please let's enjoy this weekend and not bring it up!." Whisper broke among the crowd as I walked back into the house I'm exhausted from today and have to be up early tomorrow. I went to my little apartment as I glanced out the window. I watched the crowd dispatched to go to some of the different cabins that were on the grounds. I decided to go ahead and lay down and head to sleep early.