PENNSYLVANIA, May 2007

"Adelaide?"

She and Maria had barely even made it out of the hallway. The woman forced a smile onto her face, "Hi Aunt Jen! How are you?"

"Oh I'm hanging in there," the older brunette woman replied, "I feel like I haven't seen you in years. How's the boyfriend?"

Adelaide swallowed, "Oh, we aren't together anymore."

"Sorry to hear that darlin' He was—"

"An asshole," Adelaide interrupted, Maria, finding her side a few moments later, "It's fine, I'm much better off without him."

"Such strong language," the woman shook her head, a disappointed look glossing over her face, "Watch out around the kiddos."

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes she pushed past her Aunt, turning back for only a moment, "Is Ma in the kitchen?"

The older woman sighed, "Of course she is."

Adelaide briefly glanced behind her, "I almost lost you in the crowd," she joked, her hand wrapping around Maria's.

The brunette offered her a small, amused smile, "It's very hectic in here."

The two women made their way through the crowded room and into the kitchen. After a few seconds, Adelaide realized she was still holding Maria's hand and awkwardly let go of it.

"Ma," Adelaide's soft eyes landed on her mother, and the woman set a pot of sauce onto the stove before turning around.

"Addy, I knew you would come," she beamed, whipping her hands on the front of her apron and gently opening her arms to hug the younger blonde. She returned her mother's hug, letting go after a few seconds.

The older woman peered over her shoulder, eyes finding Maria, "And who's your friend?"

Adelaide smiled, "This is my co-worker, Maria."

"Maria, what a beautiful name," Barbra smiled, "It's very nice to meet you. Um, Adelaide, honey, can you stir the sauce around a few times, I've got timers going for days and I really just need to step out real quick."

"Sure, Ma."

Maria turned to Adelaide after her mother left the room, "She seems...nice?"

Adelaide scoffed, "You just haven't seen her go full-blown insane yet."

Turning to the stove, the blonde stirred around the pasta sauce, and one of the many kitchen timers rang out. Adelaide's eyes widened, searching for the source of the sound. The older woman would give her some serious shit if she left the room for five minutes and Adelaide managed to fuck up dinner.

"Shit," the blonde murmured, "Help me figure out what this goes to."

Maria picked up on the panic that washed over the woman, and began to look around the kitchen, "Um, could it be the bread? Or uh—the noodles?"

"I don't know," Adelaide rushed out, her cheeks flushing red as complete panic came over her.

One of the doors swung open and Florence stepped into the kitchen, "Dela? Do my eyes deceive me is that you?"

"Ugh, you know I hate when you call me that," Adelaide complained as her older sister smushed her into a hug, ruffling her hair like she would do when they were kids.

Florence released her from the hug, "How's life? I mean no ones heard from you in like—years."

"Um," she paused pulling her hair back, and then she remembered, "Shit the timer."

Adelaide scrambled forward— her eyes searching the kitchen counter, she opened the oven noticing the slightly crispy bread, "Uh, do you know where she keeps the oven mitts?"

Florence shrugged, "I haven't lived here in years."

"Oh, very helpful—" Adelaide reached over searching through drawers and Maria began to help her. 

Maria accidentally bumped hips with the blonde woman, which for some reason made Adelaide's cheeks flush once again. Between the commotion of the kitchen timer and the reunion with her older sister, Adelaide's heart was racing.

"Uh, here you go," Maria awkwardly handed her an oven mitt.

Adelaide accepted it gratefully, "You are a literal lifesaver."

The blonde leaned down pulling the bread from the oven, and Florence brushed past her, swinging open one of the cabinets and pulling out a bottle of wine. The bride-to-be stepped back out of the way and poured the red liquid into her glass. 

After taking a sip her eyes fell on the unknown brunette, "You're new. Dela's friend?"

The woman nodded, "Yeah, Maria. We work together."

"I'm sure that's not all you do together," Florence murmured into her glass, which earned her an elbow to the ribs from her younger sister.

"Why are you always like this?" Adelaide asked with wide eyes.

Florence held up her hands in surrender, a bit of red sloshing over the edge of the cup, "Don't worry, now that I have my wine, I'm getting out of here before Ma comes back."

Seconds after Florence slipped back through the swinging door, their mother reappeared in the kitchen. A gasp fell from her lips as she re-tied her apron, "Why did you take the bread out? Did I ask you to take the bread out?"

"No, but Ma the timer—"

"Then why did you?" the woman shook her head, a bitter look appearing on her face, "You've been demoted, can you at least get the silverware together?"

Adelaide held back what would have been a long drawn-out sigh, "Sure, Ma."

Maria awkwardly scratched the back of her neck backing away from the counter slightly, she was trying her best not to escalate the situation any further. She could tell that every moment in the Pennsylvania house was about two seconds from everything falling apart.

With a screech, the kitchen door swung open again, this time two- no three kids came running through the kitchen. Adelaide sucked in a breath, accidentally dropping the fork she had previously been holding.

It clattered to the floor, and she reached down to pick it up.

"Adelaide," her mother spoke loudly, causing the woman to stand up a bit too quickly and bump her head on the counter.

The blonde winced but still replied, "Yes, Ma?"

"Get those kids out of here."

Maria gently touched the blonde's shoulder, and whispered, "I've got it."

The brunette ushered the three children out of the kitchen, and Adelaide breathed a quiet sigh of relief. 

Two more kitchen timers rang out one after the other, and everything got tense again as the older woman pulled the sauce off of the fire and then pulled a pie out of the bottom oven. 

"Can you set up a cooling rack over there somewhere?" Barbra motioned in the general direction of the other side of the counter where Adelaide was standing.

"Uh, sure I guess," she replied, setting the paper towel holder onto the ground below her and propping up the cooling rack. She then tore off one of the paper towels and began to clean up some of the many messes that seemed to be around the kitchen.

The woman did not understand how anyone could work under the conditions that were currently in the room. Maria continued to wrap some silverware together in the cloth napkins and a loud booming voice overtook the room.

"What's a cooking in here? It sure smells DE-licious!"

When Adelaide looked up it was her Uncle, she resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she continued to wipe down the counters. The man was always one to kiss everyone's ass to try and get his way.

"Adelaide! You actually showed up to a family event?"

"I told you she would," Barbra pipped up, turning towards her brother, "Isn't this nice? Enjoy it while you can, we only get to see her on very special occasions. Maybe once a decade."

"It hasn't been that long," Adelaide muttered.

The woman scoffed, "You know I'm just messing, hon. We all love you very much."

The blonde let out a shaky breath, "Maria and I are just going to go and set the table."

With that, she spun on her heels and nearly ran to the kitchen door. Maria followed closely behind her, not wanting to be in the kitchen any longer than she had to be.

Adelaide brushed past the guests in the living room and through the front door. She lowered herself into a seated position on the front steps and tried to take a few calming breaths.

Maria sat down beside her, blue eyes swimming with worry, "Are you okay...that was a lot."

The woman lifted her head from her hands and looked at Maria, "Yeah, yeah, It's just— Nothing ever changes. I didn't come here since I graduated...and now it's— it's like I never left."

"I get it," Maria noted, her voice gentle, "We can get out of here right now if you want. I'll drive."

Adelaide offered her a watery smile, "As much as I would love to take you up on that offer...I have to see this through."

"Okay," Maria nodded, "And I'll be right here for all of the emotional support that you need."

The blonde laughed, "Thanks."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I swear I didn't mean to vanish for like an entire month...anyway new chapter! What did you think?

— Via <3