Trying to Survive (The Kiser #1) Read Free Page B

Beth set out the plates and
silverware.   Not long after, we were all
sitting around the table.   I    looked at each person, thankful they were
here this year.   Life is short and you
never know what the next year holds.   Mom
passed the food to dad. Beth and her husband Scott helped the kids fill their
plates.   I looked at Austin and smiled,
knowing we were both grateful even though we still missed Graysen.  
         The food was delicious, but I ate way too much.   I always loved Thanksgiving, I still do but
it’s not the same anymore.   When mom
stood to clear the plates, I got up to help her.   “Here mom let me do that.”   I tried to take them from her, but I should’ve
known better.
         “Nonsense Lana.   The day I let
someone clean up my mess is the day you better take me to the hospital.”   She kept gathering the plates so I headed to
the kitchen and ran some dishwater and started with what was there already.   Mom soon joined me, rinsing while I
washed.   “Lana, I’ve been meaning to talk
to you about something.”   I swallowed
hard, already knowing what she would say.   She’s hinted before, but this is the first real conversation.   “You need
to get out more.   I know you still miss Graysen,
but it’s been two years and it’s not healthy to just sit in the house all day.   So for Christmas, James and I decided to send
you on vacation.”
         What could I say?   I didn’t want
to go anywhere.   I liked being at
home.   “Mom, I appreciate what you and
dad are trying to do, but you know how it is, I could be sick at
Christmas.”   With my disease, I stay
tired a lot, but thankfully, my health has been better this year with no
hospital stays.   I still have a lot of
medicine to do every morning and night, but it only takes me about twenty-five
minutes.
         “And you could still be just fine.   Just think about it.   You’re still
so young sweetheart.   Maybe you’ll meet
someone if you go on a trip.   Austin
could stay here with us and one of your friends could go with you.   What do you think?”
         That’s my mom, always the optimist.   Shaking my head, I said, “Don’t get your hopes up.   I accepted the fact a long time ago that
nobody would want a wife that’s sick.”   Her face fell.   “It’s okay mom,
really.”   Maybe I shouldn’t be so
honest.   I know she just wants what she thinks is best for me.
         “Regardless, you still need to get away.”   It would be nice to go on a trip.   Living out in the country was great, but it
felt monotonous at times.   Don’t get me
wrong, I love sitting on the back porch drinking coffee and watching the birds
eat from the feeder.   We live so far out
in the country; it took twenty-five minutes just to get to my two red-light
town and driving through it literally took less than five minutes.
         “I could see if Megan would want to go with me.”   Giving in and really thinking about it.
         “That’s a wonderful idea.   We
don’t get to see Austin enough so he can stay here.   You can leave the day after Christmas and
stay through New Year’s!”   Mom sounded
excited, more excited than I did.
         “First I have to ask Megan.   I am not
going on a trip by myself.   Second, I
have to make sure Austin’s okay with me being gone on New Year’s because we
always bring it in together.”
         “Oh he’ll be fine with it.   What
eighteen year old boy wouldn’t want to be with a girl at some party on New
Year’s?”   She had a point.
         “Okay, I’ll talk to Megan.   I
haven’t spent much time with her the last two years so it would be nice if she
could go.   If she can’t, I’ll find
someone.”   Moms beaming smile was answer
enough.   We finished the dishes, made
coffee to go with the apple pie, and joined the rest of the family in the
living room.
         The homemade apple pie was delicious, and went well