Through Thick And Thin

Chad wasn’t sure whether her voice was shaking because of the wild org*sm or the fact that she was overly emotional. She opened her mouth to say something but instead of words, she erupted in tears. Chad draped an arm around her and pulled her into himself. He cradled her as she cried her heart out. He knew she needed to do this if she was ever going to move on. Even though she had been trying hard not to cry in public all day, sneaking off to the bathroom every time she wanted to cry, he knew she was not nearly done.

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed into his shoulder.

“Don’t be. Just get it all out. I’m here for you,” he reassured before kissing her forehead.

“I just hate for you to see me like this, baby. I just don’t…” Amelia started before he held the side of her face and looked into her puffy eyes.

“I have seen you at your worst and I am still in love with you. Nothing would ever make me see you differently.” He gently brushed off her tears using his thumbs. “You get it all out, baby,” he comforted her as he pulled her into his arms.

*****

Mark had just covered up a casserole dish and was holding it in his hand as he stood in front of the fridge.

“Honey, get that casserole in there. We still have like a million dishes to put away,” Amanda said as she pulled a cling film foil over yet another casserole.

“Well, I’m trying to honey but there just isn’t enough room,” Mark said as he put the casserole dish back on the counter. “We have so much more food than we have fridge.”

Amanda looked at him and sighed. He was smiling at his joke but she wasn’t probably because she hadn’t got it or the fact that she just had too much on her mind.

“Why does everyone have to bring food?” she muttered under her breath. She had meant for it to be a whisper but she was loud enough for Mark to hear.

“That’s what people do for a wake honey. They bring food,” Mark said matter of factly.

“I know. But do they all have to bring food. I mean, I live like ten blocks away. Amelia too…what the hell are we going to do with all this food?” she wondered as she looked at the dishes on the counter.

“Well, we can always give it out. There are like three homeless shelters within the vicinity of Leila’s house.” Mark began rubbing her arms. “Don’t over think everything. We will be just fine.”

“I just…” Amanda started before her words trailed off. She was crying. Mark was finally relieved to see her cry. This was the first time she was showing her emotion ever since she learned of her grandmother’s passing. Mark held her close and just then, Amelia and Chad walked in.

“Sorry guys,” Amelia said in a low voice.

“Don’t be,” Mark said as Amanda pulled away from him. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “Crying is an important part of the healing process I believe,” he added before he murmured something to Amanda and she nodded.

“Sorry, I had to take off,” Amelia announced as she took a muffin from the counter and bit into it. “I just couldn’t handle all the apologies…I mean, it’s not like saying ‘I’m so sorry, Leila was such a wonderful soul’ is going to bring her back or anything.” She bit into the muffin again. “Not that I’m trying to be a bi*ch or anything.”

“No one said you were, little sister. You said it yourself,” Amanda said as she brushed off another tear. Amelia shot daggers at her.

“So,” Amelia started as she bit into the muffin again. “Is everyone gone?”

“Most of them are,” Mark said as Chad walked over to the door.

“Yeah, I can only see a handful,” he said.

“The big problem we have now is figuring out where all this food is going to go,” Amanda said.

“Easy. The fridge,” Amelia said as she took another bite. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out, Mandy.”

Amanda didn’t say anything. She walked over to the fridge.

“Behold little sister,” she started as she opened the fridge.

“Holy sh*t. This place has never been that full. Not even during Thanksgiving weekend,” Amelia said.

“I know, right?” Amanda said in a soft voice. “We have literally run out of fridge.” She smiled and looked at Mark.

“You got it, finally?” Mark asked and Amanda nodded.

Chad looked at the casserole dishes and bowls of stew on the counter.

“You know, if I didn’t know any better, I could have sworn the Gold family was Jewish,” he said.

“Actually, we do have some Jewish relations.” Amelia said matter of factly. “But we are not Jewish ourselves though.”

“Well, the Jewish thing explains the food,” Chad said, still looking at the food. “You have enough food here to last you a lifetime.”

“Tell me about it,” Amanda sighed.

“Just wondering, your grandmother’s friends know that you both have your own places right?” Chad started as he looked at Amanda and then Amelia who were both nodding. “So why would they bring all this food to a dead…here?”