I looked up into the air and took a deep breath. I could smell the salty air and I could hear the roaring waves of the ice cold beach water. I threw my hands and my head back, the sun beaming down directly onto my face, and I dug my feet into the hot sand, while the wind blew through my hair. I was about to step forward so I could feel the water in between my toes when I heard the annoyingly sweet voice of my step-mother, Dana.
“Christina, can you please come into the house!”
I groaned inwardly. Why does she have to always ruin a perfectly good moment?
“Coming!” I yelled as I looked up at the sun. It had to be about lunch time. I sighed and ran to my summer beach house.
Once I was inside, I could see that my father was nowhere to be found, so he must have had an emergency work meeting that would last about three to four hours. I could smell something burning, so I made my way to the kitchen. Standing there was my pregnant step-mother trying to take out a burnt pizza out of the oven with only one oven mitt on. She had a red apron wrapped around her body making her belly look like a swollen red apple. She turned and I could see her flawless caramel skin and her soft green eyes. Her brown curly hair was tied up in a bun, but a few strands were falling out in the front.
“Oh there you are Christina. I was hoping we could have lunch together, but I’m pretty sure that the pizza is burnt. So, I was thinking maybe we could order Chinese?” she asked with a soft voice and a smile.
Eww! Why did she have to be so pretty and kind? Step-mothers are supposed to be flat out mean and ugly.
“Umm, no thanks Dana. I have better things to do than have lunch with you.” I said rather bitterly. Why am I so mean to her again? Oh I remember, she took my dad away from me when my mother died and didn’t give her a year, but six months to lie peacefully in her grave.
Dana looked at me and I could see the hurt in her eyes.
“Oh okay, I guess I could have Chinese by myself.” She sounded so sad that I almost regretted talking to her like that. But, I remembered my mom and all thoughts of regret disappeared.
I walked out of the kitchen and made my way to my bedroom. Since, it was a beach house, it had the perfect outside view of the beach. It used to be my mother’s room because she too shared my love for the beach. I walked over to my bed and plopped down onto it. I reached under my pillow and pulled out my photo album. I flipped through all of the pictures and each time I saw my mother, my heart broke a little more. This album was the only thing that I had left of her besides this house. All of her other things were given away by my dad because he couldn’t face being reminded of her. He even sold our house, but when he tried to sell this one, I put my foot down and threatened to leave if he did.
I placed the album back under my pillow and wiped the stray tears that made their way down my cheeks. I looked at my bedside clock and it said that it was now two o’clock meaning my dad should be home in an hour or two, which gives me just enough time. I ran to my closet and grabbed some jeans and a sweater. There was no need to go to the place I was going in some shorts and a tank top on. I got into the jeans and sweater with the addition of some socks and tennis shoes. Once I was all finished, I made my way towards the front door with my car keys in my hand and my purse with my wallet and cell phone inside.
I almost made it outside when I heard someone crying. Dana was sitting on the couch with the television on. It seemed like she was watching an old romance movie. Well that was typical for Dana. I turned my head before Dana could see me, I was out the door.
Once outside, I went straight to my old Honda Civic and got inside. I took a deep breath and smiled. This car always smelled of my mother’s perfume. I started the car and drove until the beach was no longer in sight. When I made it to Flora’s Flower Shop, I stopped and bought a dozen white roses. I then got back into my car and took a right turn and I was there at my destination, the cemetery.
I got out of my car, locked it and made my way inside. It looked abandoned. There was now a slight breeze and the sky was now gloomy giving it a haunted look. I walked and walked and when I finally made it to the crooked tree and the statue of an angel, I stopped. There was my mother’s grave.
Lillian Marie Evergreen
May your memory be carried on
September 13, 1972- July 23, 2010
I grabbed the dead wilted flowers that lay on her grave and replaced it with the white roses. They were my mother’s favorites, so I know that if she was alive, she would love to have them. I took a step back and then drew in a deep breath.
“Hey mom, I came to visit you again. Today will be a year since the cancer has caused you to go to heaven. Guess what? I think that dad forgot about you. He didn’t even take a day off of work to come and visit you. It’s like he doesn’t love you anymore. You know why? It’s because of Dana. Ever since he married her he stopped loving you. I just wish I could see you again. Then you would be able to straighten things out.”
I don’t know what happen then because all of a sudden I became really sleepy. So sleepy that I decided to lie my head near my mother’s tombstone and fall asleep.
I walked around in my beach house bedroom when I came across this full length mirror. It was strange because this was never there in my room before. Feeding my curiosity, I looked into the mirror. There stood my mother. She looked so beautiful and healthy. She was wearing a white dress that flowed down to her bare feet. Her brown skin was shining, her black wavy hair was down, and her brown eyes were bright. She looked at me and said.
“Honey, I don’t have much time, but I have to tell you something. I will always be with you.”
I looked at her confused “What do you mean mother?” I had tears in my eyes. I was so happy to see my mother. It was like she answered my request.
“I mean that I am always with you. I know it may not seem like it, but I sent Dana.”
“Huh? What?” I now was so confused.
“I sent Dana when I died because I saw how sad you and your father were. So, to help you guys feel better I brought Dana into your life. She was supposed to help your father stay away from committing suicide, since he was so heartbroken and she was to help be your mother and to protect you. Dana and your father remember me too. They even visited my grave to get my approval for marriage in which I granted them. ”
I looked at her shocked. All of this time I have been treating Dana mean because I thought she was replacing my mother. Well, she was but because my mother wanted her to, so she could help me and my father.
“I have been so mean to Dana mom.” I said on the brink of tears
“Well, you know what to do. I love you Christina.” She was fading away fast and before I knew it the mirror was empty.
“I love you too mom.” I said and then I looked around. I was lying on top of my mother’s grave. It was all a dream, but I know what I must do. I got up from my position and wiped the dirt off of my pants. Once I was dirt free, I made my way back home.
When I made it to my home I noticed that my father was home. Great! This would be my perfect chance. I thought. I came in the house and my father and Dana were on the couch together watching that same movie Dana was watching earlier. Wow! I can’t believe Dana saved my father’s life.
“Oh daddy!” I jumped towards him in a bear hug trying not to hit Dana’s belly at all.
“Well hello there Chris, you’re jumpy today.” He said with a frown on his face.
“Can I borrow Dana for a second?” I asked as Dana looked towards me.
“Sure.” He said as I helped Dana up. I led her outside to the beach and we began to walk.
“I am sorry Dana for the way I have been treating you. I have been selfish and mean and all you have ever been to me is nice. I just wanted to know if we could be friends and if you forgive me?” I looked at Dana and I could see the happiness in her eyes. She looked like a child on Christmas day.
“I forgive you Christina. And I will always be your friend.” She said as she walked towards the beach’s shore.
“I just love the beach.” I said as I linked my arm into hers.
“Me too” She said. I looked at her surprised. She had her eyes closed and she had a great smile on her face.
“So about that Chinese food offer, is it still up?” I asked and she turned towards me.
“No.” She said as she looked towards her feet. “Not tonight, because I’m pretty sure that my water just broke.”
She looked back up to me as I looked at her. I smiled and then yelled for my father to come outside.
