Snowflakes and Second chances

NAIL SALON

Conversation goes easy with Sebastian as I watch him work, reminiscing in the times when he'd come over to help me fix my car or Julian's in our teens.

We get to have one healthy conversation since my return, managing not to snap or lash out at each other and keeping our emotions in check and past behind us for the main time.

Times goes by unnoticed, and hours later, dad's truck pulls up in the driveway just as Sebastian finishes up.

Dad invites him to dinner, something I had thought of but didn't know how to go about asking without coming off weird and all.

He doesn't stay though, saying that Sophia's sitter had told him earlier she'd like to leave early because she had some things to attend to. And so we make a meal of some leftovers he packed us from the dinner and then retire to bed for the night.

I'm up early the next morning to make us breakfast before we head out, but it seems dad already beat me to it as I walk into the kitchen to see him making eggs.

“Morning munchkin.” I smile at him going in for a hug as he ruffles my hair lightly.

“Morning dad, why are you up so early?” I yawn taking a butter knife and the loaf of bread on the counter and beginning to butter them up for the toaster oven figuring we were having toast and eggs for breakfast.

“I have a meeting with some of our suppliers, I have to get there early, oh and Mandy said she'll be coming over, don't worry you can stay home today, I'm sure you girls would love to hang out.” I giggle at the funny face he makes with an exaggerated hand gesture to look girly.

“Sure thing dad.” Mandy drops by just as I finish making our coffees and we eat together. Julian had already left for work, and she wasn't going in today, wanting to take a day to herself.

I tease her about the misuse of pregnant privileges to which she smiles sheepishly with zero guilt promising she'd forever pull the exhausted pregnant lady card until the baby came out.

Seeing as I hadn't been to town since my return, we head out to the town mall with plans to fit in a pedi, mani and maybe a mini facial session while at it.

“My back keeps killing me! Thank God for Julian though, he gives the best massages. They're days I feel like the baby has a grudge with me from how intense the kicks get.” She jokes as we get to the mall and begin looking around thinking of what shop to go into first.

“My baby nephew doesn't have a grudge with you, I promise, I mean how could he with how much we love you? If Julian wasn't giving you massages whenever you requested, I'd be having dad come over to whoop his ass after I gave a whooping of my own.” She laughs at this as we decide on a cute dress shop and head inside.

“Your family is so sweet, I don't think there's a bigger fan of I and Julian's ship out there than your dad. He believed in us even when we started having doubts because of distance and all. I might've just hit the in law jackpot with you guys.” She entwines our hands as we walk past the racks and mannequins.

“That's dad for you, always the biggest cheerleader. And I know for sure that I hit the sister-in-law jackpot with you.” I smile and she grins, poking my side.

“You're just saying that because I'm your only sister-in-law.” I hum, pretending to be in thought as she gasps in mock heartbreak and I laugh.

“Maybe, but I've never see Julian happier than he is around you. It really sucks that I missed your wedding, but I'm here now, and I'm all for watching you boss my puppy eyed brother around, it's crazy to see him so sedated by you!” She blushes with a small shrug stopping to check the size on a cute dress in the maternity section we were now standing at.

“Sebastian always says the same thing. Speaking of a certain young man, I can't keep my nose out of it anymore! Please tell me there's a story behind the tension you guys have going on because what?!” She exaggerates wiggling her brows at me and I snort looking away before she can see the color painting my cheeks.

“Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about! During dinner last time, I was very surprised he made it through the night without pouncing on you right there at the table! Your brother felt it too!” It was that obvious? And here I was thinking I was the only one staring at him that night.

“What? Oh my goodness, would you look at that? Time's flying by, and we haven't gotten our nails done yet, go test that out if you like it.” I say lamely, trying to avoid her statement as I take the dress off the hanger and steer her off to the dressing room as she continues singing of how she was only just getting started with us.

We finish shopping for clothes and a bunch of other things we definitely didn't need and against all her protest, I pay wanting to treat her to a nice day.

We walk into the nail salon and get seated as a tech is assigned to us, and they get to work while we slurp up our complimentary drinks making small talk.

“Amelia Davis.” Wanting to enjoy an entire day free of unnecessary drama and unwanted faces must be too much to ask, and I sigh in irritation at the voice as I look up to see Jacob's mother.

“Mrs Wilson, to what do I owe the displeasure?” I give her my most sarcastic smile, not bothering for pretence like I always had.

I can see the confusion on Mandy's face as her eyes switch from me, to Jacob's mother and the young lady who was her personal assistant or something of sort standing behind her with her bag, drink, and tablet.

“Imagine me walking in for a nail appointment and the irritation and absolute repulsion I felt seeing you seated here, don't tell me you're now stalking too?” She says in a condensing tone as she adjusts her finely pressed designer dress making sure to flash all the pricey jewelry on her in the process too.

I just scoff and roll my eyes wishing to be anywhere but around her as people begin to look out, if not for the scene she was trying to create but from the power of her presence, it was indeed a matter of awe to run into a Wilson…if only they knew the sort of vile monsters they were.

“Watch your mouth, woman, I don't care who the hell you think you are, but you have no right to just walk up to us and start talking so rudely.” Mandy beats me to a reply, earning a long look from Mrs. Wilson before she begins laughing dryly.

“Pathetic people stick together, don't they miss Mandy Bell? We'll be going somewhere else because I honestly can't stand the sight of either of you for another second without puking my guts out.” And with that, she struts right back out like she owned the place, but her silly bully attitude wasn't what was on my mind.

I turn to Mandy, my face a mirror of my question as to why she knew her name and I expected her to look confused too, but there's a look on her face that tells me there's a story there.