Family Means Everything

Chapter 18

Sam

Streaks of sunlight penetrate the window and blind me. I groan annoyed and pull the expensive sheets over my naked body. "Sammy. Sammy." I could hear small steps rushing down the hall. Before I could prepare myself, the door is being pushed open. "Wake up." A small body falls onto my body. "Momma said get up. Now." Slowly and reluctantly, I uncover my face. I blink, close my eyes, and blink again.

Piper is sitting on top of me fully dressed. Her hair is pulled up and into an elegant bun with a beautiful Silver bow that matches her silver dress. "You look fancy." I say.

"I am a graceful Princess." Piper replies.

I chuckle and toss her off me playfully. She falls beside me not so gracefully, her back on the bed and her legs waggling wild in the air. She rolls over and pushes herself up. "Hey." She shouts. "You mess up my hair."

I laugh and sit fully up, careful to not let the sheets fall off my naked body. "My apologies your majesty. Go tell the Queen I'll be ready in a second."

Piper pushes out her lip and narrow her eyes and damn she looks like Nathalie and Miranda in one. It's oddly adorable and scary. However, she jumps off the bed in a non-graceful manner and runs down the hall screaming Miranda name.

I take my time while taking advantage of the silence and prepare myself for a long day. Graduation is approaching soon, and my mother is throwing me a celebration party.

She invited everyone.

Including my grandmother.

My mother is so naïve and when she called happily to inform me that everyone in the family is coming I knew they only wanted to be nosy. Since Christmas, we all purposely avoided family gatherings and holidays.

The door to the bathroom is pushed open. Goodbye silence. "Sam." Miranda's voice is stern, and the velvet voice pulls me away from my thoughts. "If you're not ready soon I'm going to strangle you."

I pull back the luxurious shower curtains. Jesus. Everything in this freaking condo is expensive as hell. "What will you tell my family?" I joke with a charming smile.

Miranda stands there in a power suit with her arms folded. She looks piss. I guess she's not in the mood to joke around. I step out the shower and quickly dry before walking into the bedroom to throw on a pair of jeans and a shirt. "You're not wearing that." I tell her. "And Piper is going to change also."

Miranda narrowed her eyes before glancing herself over again in the mirror. "Excuse me?" She questions.

"This is not an upscale dinner, Miranda. It's in my mother backyard." I explain. "Piper is going to be uncomfortable and unable to have fun with the other kids." I pause and look her up and down again. "And you look like you're about to go take someone company. This isn't war."

"This is war, Sam." Miranda cuts me off. "I will not let your grandmother ridicule me again."

I kiss her lips softly, "I can handle nana." I kiss her again. "Change."

Miranda huffs and I almost laugh at her pout, but I control myself. She turns away and walks into her closet that is the size of a master bedroom. I walk out of the bedroom and down the hall to find Piper in the kitchen desperately trying to clean the juice stain on her dress.

She looks up at me in panic. "Mama's gonna kill me."

I pick her up. "It's okay." I kiss her forehead. "Come on." We walk into her room and she switches out of her dress and stands in her undies.

"What shall I wear?" She questions.

"Whatever you want." I tell her. "It's all up to you kid."

She thinks long and hard. "I don't think I wanna be a princess today. It's hard work."

I laugh, "I agree."

Piper goes through her clothes and chooses a pair of blue jeans and an interweave design tee with a cute Cattitude slogan on the front. She grabs her favorite pink vans and slips them on before jumping up in excitement. "How I look?"

"Amazing." I tell her.

[][]

Miranda changes several times before we are heading to Joy place. The girls run out of the house when we pull into the driveway. Piper shrieks loudly and Miranda cover her ears annoyed. "Cheer up." I nudge her shoulder. "Today is about me." I give her a charming smile before kissing her cheek.

She ignores me.

I step out the car and greet Joy before helping her strap the girls in.

"I like your shirt." Lily say to Piper before turning to face me. "Hey Sam!"

"Sup Lily." I wink. We shut the door and the girls immediately begin to chat. I glance at Miranda in the front seat. She's still pouting. "Talk to Miranda." I tell Joy. "She's freaking out because she has to meet my family again."

Joy cock her head to the side. "Are you not nervous?" She questions.

"What? No." I shrug my shoulders. "There is nothing to be nervous about. The only acceptance I need is my mother's and I have that."

"It's not that simple for Miranda." Joy explains with a sadden expression. "It took ages for her to start a new relationship with her family and it's still sticky. When her mother calls she only speaks about potential grooms if she ever decides to change her mind about you."

"What?" I ask surprised.

Joy eyes widen for a second, but she covers it quickly. "Family means everything to you right."

"Of course." I say.

"Miranda wants you to have everything, Sam. That includes acceptance from everyone. Your grandmother is a tough nut to crack." Joy explains. "Cut her some slack, have her back and let her be the Miranda Grayson we all know and love."

I turn back to see Miranda pulling at her blouse and shifting in her jeans that I forced her to wear. I sigh. "Do she have any clothes in her bedroom?"

"The guest bedroom." Joy corrects me with a smile. "Yes. Follow me."

I roll my eyes. I swear the two of them wouldn't admit that Miranda stays here sometimes.

I let it go.

I sit on the guest bed and wait for Miranda to finish changing. I can hear the twins and Piper running around downstairs. Miranda finish her touch-ups and turn around with a wicked smile. I look her up and down. She's wearing St. John luxe pants, that sits high on her waist, with a sailor button front. She slides her hand in her pockets that shows off her sleeveless Alexander McQueen silk georgette blouse that is tuck in her pants.

She licks her red painted lips. "See something you like, Ms. Madison?"

[][]

We arrive at the house a few hours later. The girls were waking up from their nap and excited to get out the car and have fun. Before we could knock on the door my mother is rushing outside to pull me in a big hug. "Mom." I whine. She continues to place kisses all over my face. I can hear Piper and the twins laughing behind me. My mom pulls back and glances down at the girls. She squeals in excitement and bends down to get eye level with them. "You must be Piper." She grabs her cheeks. Piper smile but hurry and run behind Miranda's leg.

"Piper." Miranda says her voice stern. "We speak when we are spoken to."

"Hey." Piper keeps it short. I bend down to pick the girl up and Piper yelps excited.

"She has to warm up, mom. She's shy." I kiss Piper forehead.

"I've never met a shy Piper before." My mom says. She is dressed in a colorful dress and her bright red hair is down in curls. She moves closer in Piper's face. "I'm sure there's a fun bunny in that belly of yours." She tickles Piper and the smaller girl squirms and laughs in my arms.

"Everyone is not like you, mom." I laugh.

"All Pipers are fun!" My mom argues. She then moves away from me and pulls Miranda in a big hug. "I've missed you so much!" She tells Miranda. I shake my head amused as Miranda pat my mother back softly.

My Uncle Matt finally presents himself and he's still charming and handsome. "The Devil in Prada is back for round two huh?"

I smack him in the chest, "Ouch."

"Don't hit your uncle Sam and shut-up Matt." My mother yells at us. She then throws her arm around Miranda neck and smile, "Come. Let's meet the family."

Miranda looks like a deer caught in headlights. "Will there be any champagne?" She asks.

Uncle Matt chuckles, "I have something strong. Jack Daniels."

"Chilled please." Miranda stands tall and walks into the home as if she owns it.

[][]

As promised, Miranda is being questioned by every member of my family. I stay stuck to her side like glue and narrow my eyes at any cousin or auntie who has the audacity to say anything sarcastic or mean. Currently, we are speaking to my Aunt Gloria. She is a mother of three little boys and worked as a social worker. She will always be my favorite even though I never see her much.

"Are you enjoying motherhood again?" Gloria questions with a smile.

Miranda beams, "I cherish every moment. It's only been a few months but she's already growing up too fast."

"I understand. Michael, my baby boy is now a teenager and only worries about hanging with his buddies and girls. I remember he never once wanted to leave my side." Gloria replies.

I tune out and glance around to notice my mom and uncle sneaking off. "Are you okay?" I whisper to Miranda. She nods, and I kiss her cheek before disappearing to find my Uncle and mother. I walk out the side door and I roll my eyes as I catch Matt and my mom sitting at the table rolling a joint. "Shut the door Sam. The Canadians will be able to smell this." He grins. He turns to his sister. "Hurry Pipes."

"Shut-up, Matt." My mother replies before rolling her eyes. She never liked being rushed. "Take a seat, honey. You've been standing all night by Miranda side. I'm surprised you left her alone."

"She's fine." I reply by taking a seat at the table. "She's talking to Gloria."

Matt snorts and lights the joint. "I bet that's boring."

He takes a few puffs before passing it to my mother. After a brief moment of talking to them, I decided to leave because Miranda would kill me if I smelled of weed. I walk back into the room and quickly shut the sliding doors. I glance into the living room to see Piper and the twins playing with the other kids and puppies. I then find Miranda surrounded by most of my family.

"How did Nathalie recover from such disappointment and heartbreak?"

My stomach flips. That is my grandmother's voice. I push through my uncles and aunties to see Miranda standing in the middle of the living room with her head high. However, her eyes are blazing in rage while she is squeezing her fist.

Nonetheless, when she speaks her voice holds authority, "That is none of your concern. I believe it will be best if we didn't speak of my daughter. Let's not cross dangerous lines that will interrupt this lovely gathering."

My grandmother is not in the slightest affected. "If I'm not mistaken it was you and your daughter that interrupted Christmas. Piper may be naïve, but I am not. You do not belong here."

"Nana." I hiss and pull her by the arm. "You're being rude."

"Rude?" My grandmother holds her chest dramatically. I roll my eyes. "She has the audacity to show her face in this home she destroyed."

"She didn't destroy anything, Nana." I clench my jaw. "Miranda is the love of my life and I will not let you stand here and embarrass her. I do not need your blessing, Nana. However, family means everything to Miranda and she has sacrificed so much for us. I won't stand for this. Either you get yourself in check or you will never see us again."

"She means that much to you?" Nana asks in disbelief.

"Yes." I push. "You're staring at the woman I will marry one day, raise children, and grow old with."

My older Uncle Jason snorts, "I'm not sure how that last one is gonna work."

The family laughs at the joke. Miranda continues to keep her head high, but I know that comment hit her deep. She's always insecure about her age.

"I swear Jason I will choke you." I seethe. "You know what." I throw my hands out. "I don't have to do this. Clearly, this was a horrible idea. You all came here to make fun of our situation." I look around at my family and then lay eyes on my grandmother. "You're the ones that just destroyed this family. I'm out."

I turn around and Miranda is standing there in shock. I grab her hand and we brush pass Uncle Matt and my mother who was standing there confused and high. We grab the kids and get into the car but before I could speed off, Miranda is placing her hand on top of mine.

Halting me.

"You shouldn't drive emotional." She says softly. I chew on my bottom lip in disappointment. I run my fingers through my hair. I was so focused on not caring but in reality, I actually cared a whole lot. I've been lying to myself. I wipe the tears from my face and squeeze the steering wheel. I couldn't scream in anger or shout because of the children but all I wanted to do was bash something.

I look at Miranda and her eyes are soft and understanding. "I'm sorry." I whisper. We switch spots and she never let my hand go.

[][]

We arrive at Joy house and the kids are excited to get out the car. I'm still emotional but I force myself out the car. We grab the kids bag and snacks and I help Miranda get them into the house. When we walk in the house it smells delicious, my stomach growls and it dawns on me that I didn't get a chance to eat at home.

The twins run towards Joy and she squats down and kisses both of their cheeks. Lily greedily take in the attention, but Delilah tries to wiggle herself out the death grip. I chuckle. Piper hugs Joy and the kids run into the living room and power up the game. Rose and Nathalie come out the kitchen holding hands and Nathalie rushes toward me pulling me in a deep hug. She kisses my cheek.

Austin is sitting at the table on the phone and tapping away at the laptop. Probably finishing up work for Miranda.

The doorbells rings and Joy goes to pull it open. My mother and Uncle Matt walks through the door and my eyes widen in shock. I look to Miranda in confusion. I can hear my mom and uncle Matt telling a dramatic story of how they kicked everyone out.

"Hell yeah!" Uncle Matt cheers. "Go Piper! She raised her voice, Sam! She yelled 'you disrespectful fuckers' it was hilarious."

Everyone in the room chuckles and suddenly I feel warm inside. Miranda approaches me and squeezes my hand. "Family means everything. If our family won't accept us, then we shall make our own."

A single tear slides down my face and I pull her into a deep kiss.

"Ew," Piper screams covering her face. "Stop licking each other faces."

*Life has been a bitch. Happy Holidays.*