It was five o'clock, so I decided to do my homework so I could relax.
Luckily for me there weren't a lot of math exercises to do and they were pretty straightforward.
I liked this material, only when I understood them.
I wanted to have this evening all to myself, take a nice hot bath with some soft and relaxing music to calm my mind.
I was about to shower when my mom called to tell me we were going somewhere to celebrate my birthday.
Ah! Well, too bad for my relaxing evening.
It was going to be for another day.
It was true that becoming an adult was no small feat!
We had to celebrate! I could make decisions, mine.
So I chose to put on a dress that my mother had given me at the Mall.
I wasn't too much of a heels style, just sneakers. It was so much more comfortable!
My mom had begged me to put it on, so I took one of her pairs.
I also decided to wear dangling earrings. I had curled and pulled my long brown hair over one of my shoulders, applied mascara, blush and lip gloss to my lips.
As I finished my makeup, I gazed at my reflection in the mirror.
When I heard my mom knocking on my bedroom door, I took a deep breath, grabbed my bag, and opened the door for her.
Her eyes widened and found herself speechless in front of me.
- But where did my daughter go? Give me back! she said laughing.
I was also laughing.
- That's too much, doesn't it? Should I take the earrings off instead?
- You ...
... You are just beautiful my darling and you will not take anything off! she breathed.
- Thanks Mom ! How long do you think you will be ready?
- In about twenty minutes. Time will see your brother and see if he is doing it with his shirt on.
A shirt ?
Oh okay, they hadn't done things by halves.
I hated being late so I was ready an hour before.
I knocked on Liam's door, it was like that with us, we didn't allow ourselves to come in without knocking.
- I can enter ?
- Two minutes ! I put on my pants and you can enter!
- Okay, I wait.
Next to her bedroom, there was a small cabinet where my mother had put pictures of us while unpacking the boxes.
There were also some with my father.
I missed him a lot.
- It's okay Emma, you can come!
- I'm coming Liam. I said, heading to his room.
- You are so handsome ! All you need to do is put on your sneakers, some gel and you're ready to go!
Do you want me to help you ? I suggested.
- Yeah ! You put the gel on me and I put the shoes on.
Ever since he was little he liked to control everything and wanted everything to be perfect.
Like my father.
I had no idea where we were going.
• A restaurant ?
• Movie theater ?
• To the beach ?
However, the beach was interesting!
Eating under the stars is not a bad idea!
Once all ready we got in the car.
- Mom, we're on the road there, you can tell me where we're going, right?
I didn't know all the places in Miami, and in addition it was already starting to get dark so no need to blindfold me ...
- No, it's a surprise.
Put on some music that you can add to the mood! You are much too calm!
Ambience? I had never seen him like this since my father died.
And yes normal that we were too calm, Liam was on his tablet watching a cartoon and I saw nothing. Total black.
I couldn't even see through the glass.
I wondered what was waiting for me for my birthday.
It was like this that Liam had read my mind.
- You'll see you'll love it! he said to me, his eyes riveted on his iPad.
When he was with his cartoons I could tell you that he was very wise!
- Mom, how soon will we get there?
I'm sick of it, this road is too long, it never ends or what ?! he got angry.
Ah bah no! I had spoken too quickly it was gone for a headache.
- Soon, in seven minutes according to the Waze. Keep watching your movie. my mother told him.
- It doesn't work anymore, the wifi is zero here!
- It's weird, take my phone. she said, turning around quickly.
I suddenly removed the blindfold that was spoiling my view.
By the time she turned around a catastrophe had almost happened.
I do not believe it !
A truck was behind our car and had driven off when my mom turned to continue driving. He was about to crash into us and I would be forever grateful for Liam.
I pushed such negative thoughts out of my head.
- I'm sorry mom. Forgive me, I shouldn't have distracted you. Liam apologized.
When we were little, my parents couldn't stand being distracted when they were driving and it was totally understandable.
Road accidents, especially at night, were fatal!
- As long as we haven't had anything, it's the main thing and I was at fault, I shouldn't have turned around. she replied, shaking her hands.
When she was shaking it was really not a good sign.
We were finally living without any problem, why was she shaking then?
- Mom, let's take a break, do you want to? Park next to the gas station and go get some fresh air with Liam. I suggested.
My mom and Liam got out of the car for a moment.
I was pressing my head against the glass when suddenly my mother's phone rang.
But who could it be? And in particular at this hour?
I didn't think it was his job, they never called their employees at night except if it was for an extreme emergency and a simple text was not urgent.
My curiosity had prompted me to see who this message was coming from.
Dialed number.
Luckily, I remembered the numbers very well and was sure it was Victoria's.
Wait for Victoria? Victoria Johnson?
The girl who was in my class?
Our neighbor?
My new friend?
***