The next day, Stephanie and I unpacked everything with a help from Samuel. Dad and Miranda left for the airport an hour before. Even Kiki enjoyed sleeping with me and Stephanie in our room. She would be coming with us when we go to Mom's. I told her and she was fine with it.
"My mom wanted me and Becky to save the old plates, silverwares, and bowls for last," said Stephanie while we told them the plan.
"Okay," said Samuel.
"I already told her I'd be there later after all the unpacking is done," I said. "She was fine with it."
"And, my grandmother plans to move in the other house that my mom and I just moved out of. My mother felt funny to be living in her old childhood home again," said Stephanie.
"I believe it," said Samuel.
"Yeah," said Stephanie.
We finished unpacking by 3:00 pm. We had breaks in between. Our parents said can we do that if we wanted, especially me during pregnancy. We left my house by 3:45 pm and went over to Mom's.
"That wasn't so bad," said Stephanie.
"Not at all. I'm glad Samuel gets to help out," I said.
"I know," agreed Stephanie.
"Was the other bed comfortable on your first night at my house or should I say your mom's old house?" I asked.
"Very comfortable," replied Stephanie.
"Good," I smiled. "I feel like Dawn and Mary Anne since they became stepsisters after their parents dated for about a year or so."
"I know. Only it took time for them to get used to it," said Stephanie.
"It was because of their differences," I pointed out. "Dawn likes the radio while Mary Anne needs silence during homework when they tried to share a room, so once they had separate rooms, everything got better after that."
"I agree. I know you and I would make out fine," said Stephanie.
"Yeah. I'm glad," I said.
When we got to my mother's, she was making dinner.
"Oh, good," I said. "We just finished unpacking."
"Where are you and your dad staying?" asked Mom.
"We're staying where we are. Miranda and Stephanie moved in with us. Since we have two bedrooms, Stephanie and I are sharing my room, which was fine by us. We didn't mind at all," I said.
"Yeah. We're doing well so far on our first night being in our room," said Stephanie.
"It's like you and I are doing when you're here with me," I said.
"That's so true. I didn't forget about that," said Stephanie as we giggled. "We were excited to become stepsisters."
"I bet," said Mom.
Dinner got served nearly 15 to 20 minutes later.
"Oh, by the way, we decided the old silverware, plates, and bowls with Melinda's. Since that was a wedding present for you and Dad from your parents, do you want them since they were good memories? We saved those for last," I said as we sent down. "If not, we can give it to the poor who don't have anything."
"I don't mind getting them back. It would help to keep my folks alive," said Mom.
"Okay. I'll let Dad know. He said we can give them when he and Miranda get back from Florida," I said.
"Not a problem. I'm not in a rush. It's time for me to get a new set anyway, so that would be perfect," said Mom.
I didn't want to tell her that her parents died of a broken heart after she left me and Dad. I remembered she didn't even attend their funeral services at all because she couldn't afford to travel, but she did send flowers. They were buried in San Diego, which isn't far from Los Angeles. Aunt Beth wanted those sets, but I told her that Mom might want them since it was a wedding gift for her and Dad. Somehow, she understood. It was better than causing a rift like they already had. They haven't seen each other for years because Aunt Beth was angry with her sister. She was glad things are working out between me and Mom since I've been visiting her.
After dinner, we watched a few movies. Then, all of sudden, my back started to hurt.
"Not again," I mumbled. "Thank god my back hasn't hurt me in a long time. It happened a few times. Last time it happened, I didn't go to school because I didn't want to be in pain there. Luckily, I sit in a recliner and it would make my back feel better."
"That's good," said Mom.
"I know," I said. "I'm glad it always helps my back."
It got better nearly two hours later. That night, I felt nauseous. Here we go. First, it was my back and now, I'm getting nauseous. I got up to get water.
"I get morning sickness sometimes, I even get it at night," I said. "I haven't been throwing up, I just get the nausea feeling thankfully."
"I bet," said Mom.
"Drinking water helps me," I said. "Uh-oh. Excuse me."
That was when I rushed over to the bathroom and threw up a little better. Somehow, I felt better after that. Stephanie and I went to bed before 11:30 pm.
We had fun for the next two weeks. I had an ultrasound to make sure everything was okay. I've been going to my house to collect mail and bring it in the house. I had my house keys for it. I've been doing that after school on my way to my mother's.
We had a wonderful Winter Vacation. Stephanie and I spent the week in California seeing her father. We spent a lot of time with our girlfriends. We went back on Saturday while Dad and Miranda were still away in Florida. They won't be back Monday.
A few days later, Dad and Miranda were back from Florida. Stephanie and I were still at my mom's at the time. Dad texted me saying he and Miranda are on their way to pick me and Stephanie up. They arrived nearly ten minutes later.
"Hi. Did you have fun?" asked Stephanie.
"We did," replied her mother.
"Good. I've been coming by and collect the mail every day after school on my way to Mom's," I said.
"Oh, great. Thanks for doing that," said Dad.
"No problem," I said. "Oh, Mom said she can take those sets."
"Okay. We can bring them tomorrow," said Dad.
"I told her we'd do that when you return and she said she's not in a rush. It was a perfect time because she needs a new set," I said. "I can let her know we'll give her our set tomorrow."
That's what I did by texting her and she said okay.
"It's all set," I said.
The next day, Dad and I dropped our old sets off at Mom's. She was at work, so we left them on the kitchen table. I texted her that I came by with them and told her where Dad and I put them. She later replied to say okay and thanked me.
At home, something must be wrong because I noticed Stephanie was upset, so I went to her and said, "Is something wrong?"
"I just found out that my father died," said Stephanie.
"Really," I said. "What did he die from?"
"They don't know the cause. The police claimed he committed suicide," said Stephanie.
My jaw dropped and said, "Seriously? Why did he do that for you? He always seemed to be happy when you and I spend other weekends with him. We just saw him during Winter Vacation."
"I know. I think something was up with him because he looked depressed," said Stephanie.
"Odd. And, he never mentioned about killing himself," I said. "If he did, we'd handle that right away, not letting it happen."
"You got a good point," agreed Stephanie.
"Looking back, I wonder if he started to feel that way when you and I became sisters. Was it because he misses your mother? I'm suspecting that might be it," I said.
"That's a good question. They still got along after they got divorced. He wanted to come down for the wedding and Mom wouldn't let him. That's what he told me," said Stephanie.
"Why can't she let him for your sake?" I asked. "You're his daughter."
"I know. I got mad at Mom and she didn't realize I wasn't speaking to her since they came back home," said Stephanie.
"Oh, my goodness. I don't blame you for being upset," I said. "I would be, too."
"At least your father didn't stop your mom from going to the wedding, although she couldn't make it because she was work late," said Stephanie.
"I agree with you," I said.
Poor Stephanie. I felt bad for her. She didn't talk to her mom at all. Dad had no idea on what was going on. I told him what Stephanie told him while her mom wasn't around.
"Is her father telling her the truth? Miranda would never do that to her daughter," said Dad.
"I'm not sure. He was depressed while we visited him. That might be why he killed himself," I said. "But she was the one who told the truth, I don't blame Stephanie for being mad."
"I'll ask Miranda about it," said Dad.
Later, we found out Stephanie's father was telling the truth.
"But why would you want to stop her father from coming here for the wedding?" I asked. "He wanted to be here to see his daughter being in the wedding with me. Why did you think Stephanie wasn't talking to you the whole time? As a result, he got depressed and committed suicide. That's why I noticed she was upset about it."
"Becky's right. I didn't stop Beth if she wanted to see our daughter being in the wedding. She just couldn't make it because of her work schedule. Becky understood about it," said Dad.
Stephanie was still mad. She and I flew to California to attend her father's funeral. She learned I was right that he was upset about not being allowed to attend the wedding. To me, that was wrong of Miranda about doing that. We found out why: He has been drinking and her mother was doing that for her own daughter's safety. Her mother was worried he could've been drunk and abusive.
"Why Mom didn't tell me the reason?" asked Stephanie.
"I know," I said. "I'm glad we just found out."
"If she did tell me, I would've understood why she banned him from attending the wedding," said Stephanie.
"I agree," I said.
Two days later, we were back home and she was mad at her mom even more.
"Why she's still not speaking to me?" asked Miranda.
"Well, she had another reason. You didn't tell her why you forbid her father from coming. We learned he was drinking too much," I said. "Why didn't you just tell her last time?"
"I did that to protect her," said Miranda.
"Tell her that," I said. "Even if you told her from the beginning, she would've understood. She told me. If that was my mom in the same situation, Dad would tell me and I'd be okay with it."
I walked away to go see Stephanie and was shocked why her mother didn't tell her that.
"She should've told me anyway," said Stephanie. "Mom usually tells me, but I didn't know Dad has been drinking. I don't remember him doing that while you and I visited him during Winter Vacation."
"Neither do I," I said. "I find that strange."
"I know," said Stephanie.
Later, Miranda managed to talk and apologize to Stephanie for not being honest with her in the first place. Luckily, Stephanie forgave her mom and we are glad things are better now. The next day, Stephanie and I were walking to school. Samuel was sick and wasn't going to school today. We decided not to say anything about this.
"I hope Eliza won't ask us to say something. She could easily repeat that to everyone," said Stephanie.
"Tell me about it," I agreed. "Not bringing it up is a way to pretend that never happened."
"I know," said Stephanie. "At least you can trust Samuel."
"Yeah," I said. "Thank goodness he can keep secrets."
"I agree," said Stephanie.
"It's up to you if you want to say anything to Samuel or not though," I said. "He noticed something was wrong between you and your mom. I didn't want to say anything, so I just tell him it's something personal."
"That's okay," said Stephanie. "I wouldn't mind explaining it to him, but I don't want to mention him in front of Mom."
"I can always text him later," I said.
"Good plan," said Stephanie.
At school, I think Eliza suspected something happened to Stephanie and asked me about it.
"It's none of your business on what's going on," I said.
"Is it, too," said Eliza.
"It's between me and Stephanie," I said. "You have no right to ask about stuff."
At lunch, I told her about it while Eliza was in line and Stephanie was glad I was right to make the right choice.
"Why did she want to know about me and my mother?" asked Stephanie.
"Don't ask me," I replied. "I don't know she must have suspected or something."
That was when Eliza came and said, "Why can't you tell me?"
"Why do you want to know?" asked Stephanie.
"Because I said so," replied Eliza.
"I have flash news for you: you're not the boss and you're not going to make us to tell you stuff," I said.
"That's right," said Stephanie.
"You wouldn't like it if we ask you anything personal," I said.
Stephanie and I got up to go sit somewhere else.
"Boy, imagine if she tells someone to spoil any secrets? The one who tells the secrets would be mad at your cousin, not at their friends," said Stephanie as I agreed.
"Yeah," I said.