Gabi
"So, you're Luke's...?"
"Girlfriend,"
"Ah. Well it's lovely to have you all here,"
I sat between Maddox and Angie on a huge sofa, dad and Sierra on another, while Marco sat in am arm chair.
Despite the grandness of the house, the inside was cosy, and had a lot of personality. It struck me as a very family oriented home which I hadn't expected considering Maddox lived away from home so much, and didn't always feel the greatest about her home.
She had her feet tucked up on the sofa and leant into my side, seeming to enjoy my awkward hug.
"I hope the journey wasn't too bad. Does anyone need a drink? Or a snack?"
"A coffee would be great, and water for Gabi, please," dad said.
"A water too please," Sierra said quietly, "Where is the bathroom?"
"One is just down the hall,"
"Great. Thanks,"
She left, and Angie followed, then the room fell to silence. I felt a heavy weight on my chest, and looked at dad, but he seemed just as nervous as me.
"Gabi, tell my dad about med school,"
"What?"
"Tell him,"
"I heard you applied, how is it going?"
"I got an interview,"
"Well isn't that brilliant! Where?"
"The same place as me," Maddox giggled, sitting up straight again, "So now you don't have to worry about me being alone,"
"I will worry for the rest of my life. Luke gets it, don't you?"
"Oh definitely, especially since she's been my only company for a long time,"
"You're a doctor too, aren't you? For how long?"
"Ohh, about 16,17 years? I had Gabi in my final year of med school. Well not me, I didn't have Gabi but I... yeah,"
"Did you have a nanny then?"
"The hospital has childcare,"
"Oh right, that's convenient. So the brains run in the family huh?"
"I grew up around them, I think it was meant to be,"
"Here is a water,"
Angie interrupted the conversation and passed us all our drinks, then sat bad down beside me and looked me up and down.
"You look a lot like your dad. You're very pretty actually, have you considered becoming a model?"
"Mum, not everyone wants to become a model,"
"I know," she sighed, slouching, "But you are both so beautiful,"
"Did you model?" I asked.
"I did. And I still work in the industry, behind the scenes,"
"That's so cool. Do you have pictures?"
"Come with me,"
She took my hand and I followed her out of the room, heading up a wide stair case to a different room. There was all sorts inside, like sewing and painting, but she pulled out a huge photo book and ushered me to a beanbag.
"I won't show you them all, but these are from when I was your age,"
"Wow,"
"As soon as I finished school I travelled to every shoot, wherever I could get,"
"Did your parents have a lot of money, then?"
"Where do you think this house came from?" she said, a small smile cracking onto her lips, "I was very lucky, very very lucky,"
"You grew up here?"
"I did, just like Maddox,"
"You look like her in these photos,"
"Oh she will hate that,"
Nervously, I laughed, and twisted my bobble on my wrist.
"I do recommend,"
"I think I will stick to becoming a doctor,"
"How is all of that going? Maddox tells me you're very smart,"
"I got an interview, after 5 rejections,"
"Rejection is redirection darling," she said, flicking her hand in the air, "That's amazing,"
"My surgery kind of put me behind on work though,"
"I heard you had a surgery, I didn't know it was so major. Maddox may have told me you can't have caffeine but she kept some things private for you, don't worry,"
"Kidney transplant,"
"Oh no! I hope you're well now,"
"Getting there,"
"Oh wow, I am sorry for bringing it up,"
"It's okay, I'm going back to school hopefully, and all my medication is sorted. Sierra did the surgery,"
"She's a surgeon?"
"Yeah,"
"You are surrounded by doctors!"
"I love it, and I feel a lot better now. You don't need to worry for Maddox,"
"I'm worried for you, not her! Bless you,"
"Oh don't be, it's okay now,"
"Good good. Shall we go and save your dad from Marco? We can make lunch and scatter off, he has crosswords to do anyway,"
**
We all ate lunch together, then Angie insisted that dad and Sierra went and settled into their hotel room.
I said goodbye, dad giving me a tight hug, and then Marco went off as Angie suspected.
Over lunch he had spoken to me a lot, similar conversation to Angie, and he seemed pleasant, but was clearly someone who valued his own space. I got that.
Angie on the other hand has us wait in the kitchen, and began pulling out all sorts of ingredients.
"I thought we could make cookies?"
"Yes please, mum,"
"Is your arm okay? Do you need any painkillers?"
"It's okay for now mum, thanks,"
"How is all of your sport going?"
"It's been good, I'm gonna miss the big games though,"
"I know angel, that's a shame. You can cheer them all on though!"
"I guess,"
"Gabi, do you do any extra curriculars?"
"I did track, mostly. I had to stop a couple of months ago though, I still can't really walk long distances without getting tired,"
"Oh bless you, that must be so hard,"
"I guess. I replaced track with yoga at home though, dad loves it,"
"Does he?" she smiled, "Me too. Are you and him quite similar then?"
"They're identical. Before they told each other about their girlfriends, they both got Michael to cover up for them, then planned to tell each other on Saturday, after lunch. It's so weird," Maddox said.
"I guess when you have grown up so close that happens!"
"Yeah, I spent a lot of time in hospital or at home so," I shrugged, "I take it as a compliment, now,"
"Maddox could never,"
I laughed and leant back into the counter, watching them make the cookies. It was clearly something they did a lot, for they had both picked up what seemed to be their designated ingredients and roles.
It was nice to see Maddox with her parents, and also a relief that they were still close. That she was able to be happy for the most part.
"Your turn,"
"Hm?"
"Well that was only batch one," Angie said, passing me the sugar, "We will take some to the neighbour,"
"You have a neighbour?"
"Of course we do,"
"Where?"
"What do you mean?"
"Gabi has like 8 houses round where she lives," Maddox said, "Our neighbour is like... over there. Mum forgets not everyone lives in a bloody palace,"
Angie covered her mouth and let out a little laugh, then pulled me into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry dear. I understand what you mean now,"
"Private school somehow humbled Mads then?"
Luckily she took the joke and laughed, then passed me a bowl and the scales, watching closely.
We made the second batch, then put them in their second oven, setting a new timer.
Marco peeked inside the kitchen at the smell of them, and gave both Angie and Maddox a kiss on the cheek, before looking at the mess of the counter.
"Where was my invite?"
"You went off to your office!"
"I had emails,"
"There you go then,"
"I want to spend time with Gabi too," he sulked, "She leaves tomorrow!"
"Oh I'll come back. I could get used to this again,"