AUDREY
When we began preparing a plan together the room was silent, everyone's face either serious or determined. Mother, Margo, Matthew and I knew we had until around eleven this morning before Emma came down for breakfast and it is currently nine, we have two hours.
"When will the plan take place?" Jackson asked, still reading through the list we came up. We were hiding in the movie room with a laptop and the projector running, the white wall now a screen for our plan.
"I think after Christmas, normally Emma spends until New Year's here before going back and that also means she has a week alone, we should do it the week after Christmas," my mother replied, going to the laptop and pulling up the calendar, "we have until the day we leave to make this happen, after that day it's up to Emma and her man to keep it going."
"It'll be so romantic, they get together, we leave, they have the cabin to themselves and get to celebrate New Year's Eve together, some hot steamy nights by the fireplace, amazing." Margo cooed, clasping her hands together.
I snickered, shooting a playful look to my sister. "Wow, Margo. Are you trying to tell us something? How's Logan?"
"Shut up Audrey! And he's good." She responded before muttering under her breath. "Very good."
Apparently I wasn't the only one to hear that as my mother scowled before smiling and rolling her eyes and uncle Matthew seemed to drift off into space, probably thinking about his wife.
"Anyway, back to the operation...Matthew? Matthew!" At this he jumped up and looked attentive, trying to mask his shock.
"I don't blame you, uncle Matthew, your wife is very fine." Margo released a whistle.
"I agree," I joined in, making an okay gesture and sending him a wink.
I heard y mother release a heavy sigh before looking at the King brothers. "Why are my children like this?"
"We would also like to know Mrs Parkinson," Jackson replied, avoiding Margo's hand as it went swinging towards him.
Just as the hour struck ten we had come up with a plan and backup plans, making sure to cover as many possibilities as possible. We all made our way to the conservatory facing the garden to enjoy nature from inside where it's warm and beverages together, sharing memories and laughs. It was nice to hear my family laughing for once, normally I wasn't around to hear it, I was usually stuck in my room studying or in recent years making phone calls and having online meetings.
All was going well, so well that for once I didn't even notice Sebastian's parents, uncle Matthew's wife or even worse, my father, walk in. Apparently his alpha domineering aura was switched off today because I didn't feel the usual sparks down my back or the hair raising on the back of my neck. In fact, I only knew he was there when he began to contribute to the conversation.
"You think that's bad? ou should have seen Margo when she was thirteen, she entered into her goth phase, you remember that Margo? What was it you said? It's not a phase, was it? Anyway, you should have seen her, she wore black eyeliner like a panda."
"Oh and those awful striped long-sleeved tops under the t-shirt?" My mother chimed in.
"Yes! And the chunky pink strips of hair? If you saw both of my daughters in the same room one looked like an angel and the other spouting her goth poetry."
At this point, Margo was curled into herself covering her hands over her face begging them to stop. I could feel her soul leave her body when my mother quoted her. "She used to just walk up to us and go 'it's not a phase, rawr XD', like sweetie this is dinner and you just walked through the door."
I looked over to her in pity. "You will be missed Margo, forever in our hearts. May you rest in peace."
"Oh, shut up Audrey!" She removed her hands from her face, fanning her red cheeks in embarrassment.
"Let's not forget about Audrey when she was younger." My father began.
"Hmm? What are we not forgetting?" I asked, my attention at the ready.
At this point Emma joined us, taking her place next to her parents. "What're we talking about?"
"We're on to Audrey' embarrassing phase in life," Margo replied, her cheeks now down to a subtle pink.
"Yeah, when she was younger and I'd say maybe six to eight, she was obsessed with wearing poofy dresses, think Cinderella or a princess but now a child, that was Audrey." My mother explained, going so far as to bring up a picture on her phone. Now it was my turn to be the tomato from Veggie Tales because only God could save me now.
"She was my little princess, I couldn't help but keep getting her the dresses, she looked so happy a pretty in them." My father looked at the picture in endearment, this I am not used to and now I have no idea what is going on. He was the one who kept buying me the dresses?
"Poor George was absolutely heartbroken when she grew out of that phase, I think he just looked at a picture for like an hour trying not to cry." My mother giggled as my father smiled at her.
We continued on, thankfully taking the attention away from me and giving everyone else their fifteen minutes of embarrassment. But of course, this would have to wait until after our business is done to continue, we have a plan to carry out.
We all got ready to visit the town together, a family field trip with an ulterior motive. We all arrived and parked our cars, gathering together to listen to my father to give out the plan.
"If you are going to go on your own somewhere, make sure you have a ride back. Dinner is at half six so make sure to be back before then, apart from that, have fun." At this, we all went our separate ways, Sebastian stuck with me and we walked around the town square.
"This place is beautiful, I love the fairy lights." He commented, gazing around the square.
"It really is, I remember when I was younger and there was a proposal here, they were a cute couple, I wonder how they're doing?"
We walked around, going into a few shops and just having a lovely time. I felt my phone vibrate, taking it out of my pocket.
'She's gone into the cafe, I'm at table 13
- Margo'
"Emma's in the cafe, shall we go?" I asked, putting my phone back in my pocket.
"Yeah we, oh wait, I need to get something, I'll meet you there," He replied.
He held both of my hands in his, our shopping bags hanging on our wrists. "Are you sure, do you need help with anything?" "No, don't worry. I'll see you soon, it shouldn't take long." He reassured, placing a quick kiss on my lips.
"Okay, I'll see you there." With this, I began to make my way to the cafe, my own plans forming in my head.