x marks the spot {Completed}

Chapter 31

They stood there, with their hands out.
I walked into their embrace.
They had gone on a trip to California for a distant cousins wedding.
They car wasn't here. But they were.
"How was housekeeping?"
"It was good. How was the wedding?"
"It was so beautiful, Lilianne was so gorgeous and Scott was stunning."
I nodded. I had no idea who she was talking about, but I wasn't about to ruin her fun.
"Come on, in you go."
James ushered me inside.
Gina followed quickly behind him as she pulled my hands.
"Now don't scream."
James cut her off.
"We got you a little surprise."
I was about to question it. There were lights on. But I didn't see anything gift wrapped. I was about to settle on the fact that they were trolling me but something invaded my trail of thought.
Matter-of-fact, it also invaded my personal space.
"What on God's green earth is touching me!"
I jumped a few feet in the air.
"Don't squash her!"
I heard Gina say from somewhere behind me.
"Pass me my money, I told you he's scream like a girl."
James bursted out laughing. I couldn't believe they bet on me. But what I couldn't believe even more was that they got me a dog.
They must really believe that I'm lonely. I don't blame them.
"Whatcha gonna name her?"
I didn't even think. It just came out.
"Lilac."
"Ugh so girly."
I heard Gina squat James from where I sat.
I had no idea what breed of dog she was. The only thing that was apparent was her beauty.
"It's late. Go up to your room and change for dinner."
Gina interjected.
"Unless you already ate by Miss Pascal?"
I shook my head.
"Then what were you doing out there?"
She continued.
"It looked as if you were coming back from her house to me."
"That's cause I was."
She blinked. Then he blinked. Seconds past before she asked another question.
"Why?"
I decided to be partially honest.
"Her daughter arrived last Sunday. I took her to meet my friends and they were kinda mean to her. It took me a while to realize and now I'm trying to apologize."
"We've only been gone for a little while and you're already out here breaking hearts."
James shaked his head in disappointment.
Gina was silent. She was also the one to break the silence.
"Invite her over."
She looked me in the eyes.
"That way you can give her all this food you brought for her and so sloppy dropped outside."
I forgot about that. The food. Dinner with Amber. Parents randomly showing up and ruining my plans.
I was supposed to genuinely apologize.
They ruined it all. But at least she'd get the food I promised her. Maybe I could still give her the good news. I didn't know I had dazed off until she snapped her fingers in my face a couple of times.
"Well what are you waiting for? Get going!"
I opened and closed my mouth as she basically pushed me out the door, little Lilac folllowing behind.
"Be kind!"
She slapped the door so hard I'm pretty sure the whole neighborhood heard.
I walked over to Amber's door, Lilac running in and out my legs totally hyper. I was about to knock but then Lilsc knocked for me as she ran straight into the door. I bent to retrieve her only to bump my head too.
"Oh my goodness are you okay?"
There she was.
I tried to get my bearings. I couldn't have hit my head so hard that I didn't hear the door open. But that was literally what happened. My ears tinted pink with embarrassment.
"Luke are you o-
Awwww is that you're doggy? She's so cute!"
She gushed, then her face turned just as pink as my ears.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to assume her-it's um the dogs gender."
She looked so flustered. Her hands were frantically moving while she rushed out her words.
"Lilac is a she dog."
Her eyebrows knitted. Then unknitted.
"She's beautiful."
She said with a smile.
"I know she is."
I wasn't talking about the dog and I knew she knew too. She waved me off.
"Where's my cinnamon bread sticks?"
"At my house?"
"We're having dinner at you're house?"
"Yep we're having dinner at my house with my parents."
"At you're house, okay cool, with you're parents, nice."
She turned to close the door.
"With you're parents?"
"Yeah so come on."
I tugged her out the door.
"But I'm not presentable!"
She whined. She stopped whining however when I filled her arms with a squirming Lilac.
I heard Amber singing to her like she was a baby as we strolled up the porch.
I turned to to her once we reached the door.
"My moms name is Gina and my dads is James, they just came back from a wedding to see me walking over to you're house and thus we're here now."
She nodded. I turned to open the door, but it was already open.
"You must be Miss Pascals daughter.
It's so nice to meet you, you can call me Gina. My husband, James is setting the table."
I was baffled.
"It's very nice to meet you Gina. My name is Amber."
"Well come on in pretty girl!"
Gina dragged her inside, being sure to send me a wink when she saw Lilac in Amber's arms.
I followed behind them, closing the door before walking to the dining room.
Gina sat Amber down opposite her, and pointed to the seat beside her for me to sit while she walked into the kitchen to help James out.
"Does Lilac eat with you?"
I looked across to her and answered honestly.
"This is her first dinner."
She looked over, surprised, her mouth forming a 'o'.
"She was a gift."
I nodded.
"I'll ask Gina then."
She went back to patting Lilacs head.
"Alright, let's eat shall we?"
Gina walked in with two plates of food.
She placed one in front of Amber and the other in front of  me. Then she sat back down in her seat opposite Amber.
James walked in with two trays, one held food and the other held drinks.
"Before you ask, I was a waiter for some years."
He laughed and I heard Amber laugh along.
"That's some real skills."
"Well thank you, and what night be you're name?"
"Amber."
"Pretty name for a pretty girl."
Her face turned slightly pink and he laughed at that. James and Gina weren't that old, matter-of-fact they were only a couple of years older than me, a dead giveaway that they adopted me.
He placed a plate in front of Gina and then in front himself before sliding cups over to everyone at the table.
Gina was about to say something but st the same time Amber spoke up.
They both closed their mouth, waiting for the other to speak.
"Go on hunny, we're listening."
"I just wanted to know if Lilac was going eat dinner with us."
James took that time to look down at Ambers lap where Lilac laid curled up.
"Oh how rude of me, I'll go get her some dinner."
He let ik a laugh before excusing himself.
Gina looked at me once he was gone.
Her eyes were twinkling.
"So Amber, Luke wanted to apologize."
Amber looked up from her lap.
"He did, did he."
There was amusement in her voice.
Gina then looked at me, eyebrows risen.
"I did.
I'm sorry Amber... but I have good news."