Perfect School

Krissy:

I set the table while Michael finished with the pasta sauce. I looked up when Kira came in followed by my niece and my brother. It made my heart warm and swell in my chest. My family. I finished at the table and went over to hug Michael from behind and kiss the back of his neck.

Maleen:

“Southwest of here,” I said shifting in my seat. He wanted to go, I could see it in his eyes. “We could be there in less than an hour. Before the sun fully sets.” I twisted my hands together hoping my plan would work out. That we could all be reunited.

Michael:

I rubbed my wife's arms and smiled at her over my shoulder. "This is going to be our first time. As a complete family." I murmured softly. I had watched our daughter, niece, and then my brother-in-law come inside. Kira vanished down the hallway, only to reappear a bit later. But my focus returned to my wife as I smiled at her.

Krissy:

“Almost complete,” I said, leaning into him. I wish Lexi could be here, seeing her grown children. Helping me to be a mother. And then Jack wasn’t here either. Nor were any other I the people I considered extended family.

“They’re okay?” I asked when Kyle came into the kitchen. “Yes. Just like you and Lexi were at that age,” He said. I nodded when I met his gaze. He was feeling her absence just like I was if not more.

Kira:

I felt better after washing my hands and face. The moment of vulnerability had passed, and in it's wake I felt almost uncomfortable. The cold water helped me to brush it all away and when I returned to the living room to join Kyra and Andrew my mask was firmly back into position.

Michael:

I knew my wife well enough that as I turned myself around in Krissy's arms I could see the muted pain on her face. But I had spent enough time with Kyle that I could see his own, buried deeper, but all the more vast. I pitied them both and knew it was better to stay out of it. I hadn't been as close to Lexi as them. Her loss wasn't the same wound. But I understood and instead hugged my wife while speaking to Kyle. "Want to bring the kids in to sit down? I'll bring the food to the table."

Krissy:

I kissed Michael softly and smiled slightly. “I’ll help.” I grabbed the salad bowl and the plate of garlic bread. I set it on the table while everyone took their seat. I eyed the empty spot next to Kira. “Is Jonah coming?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Kira:

"Jonah...decided to return home." I felt weird sitting at the table along with the rest of them. It was different than sitting with the team in the rare times we all ate together. And different than when I had a formal dinner with Marie and her entourage. "He is calling for a cab to take him to the airport."

Krissy:

“Oh,” I couldn’t hide the pleasant surprise on my face. “He left already,” Kyle said. “We saw him slip out earlier.” He nodded to Michael. I sat down next to my husband. “Well I hope he makes it home without trouble,” I said. It was the most I could wish him.

Kira:

I took a look at all the faces around the table and my eye lids dipped a slight amount. They really didn't like him. I brushed the thought aside and gazed down at my plate for a moment. My first dinner with my family. This was new territory.

Kyra:

I bumped my arm against Kira’s and gave her a small smile to let her know it would be okay. We all dished up then my dad started the conversation off by asking about the trip so far about what they had done. We didn’t put too much stress on Kira but encouraged her into the conversation when she was willing. In all, I thought it was going well.

Kira:

I almost just wanted to step away from the table, sit on the counter, and just observe. But I didn't have that as an option. Instead I had to juggle conversations that didn't have a motive behind them. Genuine curiosity as to how things were going, what we'd done, and plans for the future danced back and forth across the table. And through it all an open invitation stood before me to interject, or react. And I surprised myself by doing it a handful of times through out the dinner. It wasn't perfect, but neither were any of us at the table.

Krissy:

When we finished with dinner Kyra helped me put the dishes in the sink. “Kira, would you like to help me make cookies?” I asked. There was talk of playing games and everyone started moving to the Livingroom.

I stayed at the table, simply observing all of them with a curious lilt to my head. But as everyone started moving to the living room I started to follow along only to stop and turn to face Krissy. "Cookies?" I repeated before giving a slow nod.

Krissy:

I pulled the pan out and started the oven preheating. Then I took a tub of cookie dough from the freezer and handed her a spoon. “Just scoop lumps out like this.” I showed her the size and how to space them.

Joining Krissy at the counter I looked to the tub and then to the spoon in my hand. Carefully I started doing it, trying to make my lumps look just like hers. Ultimately I ended up making a mess on my hands by the time I finished with the pan.

Krissy:

I put the cookies in the oven then scooped a spoonful of cookie dough to snack on while they baked. I offered her one as well. “Are you doing okay?” I asked and gestured to the living room. “With everyone here?”

I stared with slight distaste at my hand that was sticky from the cookie dough. "Hm?" The response was absent until I looked at her and saw her snacking on a spoon of the dough. "I don't know how to feel about it yet." REturning my gaze to my hand I poked out my tongue and licked off some of the cookie dough carefully. The sugary sweetness spread across my tongue and my mask cracked a bit as the surprise radiated out of me. I'd never had cookie dough before.

Krissy:

“I thought it might be a little overwhelming. That’s why I asked you to help me so you could take a little break,” I said with a half-smile. I met Michael’s gaze for a second from the living room. “Are you alright with Jonah leaving?” I asked, trying my best to keep my tone neutral. From the moment they had arrived I had wondered about the extent of their relationship.

I shook my head slowly, "You don't have to pretend Krissy. I'm well aware none of the people in this house care for him." Moving to the sink I started to wash my hand free from the cookiedough. "He likely got something he wanted from this trip, he wouldn't have come here unless he got something, and he helped me. I didn't think he'd leave early though..." I went silent until I was done and then I looked up at her. "I'm okay."

Krissy:

I was silent for a moment trying to word what I wanted to say in my head. “Kira… There’s a reason we- or at least I, don’t particularly like Jonah,” I kept my voice low so the others wouldn’t hear from the living room. “He reminds me of someone. Of the man I told you about. The one who stabbed me.”

I wanted to hop up onto the counter and sit on it, but thought better of it. Instead I leaned back against it, letting my fingers pick at the smallest bits of fuzz from my clothing. "Ah." The word came out carefully and a bit guarded.

Krissy:

“That doesn’t mean that he’s going to suddenly turn on you. I just want to caution you… Eric was obsessive and controlling and when he realized he couldn’t have want he wanted his priorities changed.” I shifted uncomfortably. “I think you’re more capable than I ever was, but I just want you to be aware. Just because someone has always been your friend doesn’t mean they’re going to choose what’s best for you in the end.”

My shoulders hunched as her words. It was almost a perfect match for Jonah and what he'd already done. I'd been tossed aside and he'd tried to bring me low just to get at me. I wasn't nearly a capable to handle him as she might think I was. "I'll keep that in mind...thanks..."

Krissy:

I gave a very small sigh and nodded. I didn’t think telling her would do any good. It was too late for me to give mom advice. She had known Jonah for far longer than she had known me. His stakes were already in. We stood in silence for a couple of minutes before the timer dinged for the cookies.

The silence dragged and it was interupted only by a soft chime from my phone. I checked it then put it away and let the silence continue until the timer dinged. "I have...a gift to give you later..." I didn't look at Krissy, and I fidgeted with my fingers a bit as I stared at the oven.