It was a long couple of months before I saw my niece Jessica again. She had decided to stay in her home state to go to school which we were disappointed in. However during her many phone calls to us she laid out the ground work that her parents were going to pay for her college, her room and board plus other expenses in agreement that she not come home. This shocked us because we couldn't believe they would do such a thing. With my dad having such a big heart, my parents made her feel like the daughter that my parents always wanted. They treated her just like she was their child. They would buy her things, invite her up for holiday's and all that jazz. Her first Thanksgiving in college she decided to stay there and hang out with some friends that weren't going home either. This didn't make us to happy but a week after Thanksgiving she called and said she wanted to spend her winter break with us. This made my parents happy as hell and to tell you the truth I was happy that she was coming up.
Over the next couple of days, they started planning things for her trip up here and started cleaning up the spare room even cleaning out the dresser so she could use it. My parents started thinking of things for us to do together for Christmas and everything else. She called about a week later telling us that she would be coming up after she took her finals which would end on Monday of the following week. The time went by slowly but the day before Jessica would come up, my parents did a lot of last minute things but wouldn't discuss any details with me about Jessica coming up. I thought this was strange but just ignored the whole thing. They day she was flying up was exactly two weeks before Christmas. All of us drove out there with my dad always keeping an eye on me for some reason. We reached the gate and waited for what felt like forever. Finally the plane started unloading and I saw my niece.
She now had streaked blonde hair which was pulled back into a ponytail. She also seemed to have gotten a nice little tan while in California. She was wearing a warm-up suit with a little bag on her shoulder. She put her bag on the ground and ran over to us, giving us all a little hug before walking back where she dropped her bag and picked it up. A few seconds later another girl came out as my niece signaled to her. I looked at my parents who didn't seem surprised so something was going on. They both walked toward us as my jaw dropped at what I was staring at.
Jessica's friend looked the same age as Jessica with beautiful brown hair. As she came closer into view it was the first time that I noticed she was Asian with lightly browned skin. She smiled at us with these almost perfect white teeth as Jessica introduced her to all of us.
"This is Laura," Jessica said pointing at her.
"Laura this is my Grandfather, Grandmother and my uncle," Jessica said as Laura shook all of our hands.
Soon my dad and I picked up their bags and went down to the baggage claim for the rest of them. It was a quick but noisy ride home as everyone was talking all at the same time about what was going on at school and what was going on in the family. Once we got home I helped bring the luggage in as I heard my parents talking about sleeping arrangements for the evening.
"I don't want the girls sharing the room because its going to be uncomfortable for them," I heard my dad saying as I put the bags down.
"Why doesn't Jessica sleep in my room, Laura in the guest room and I will sleep on the couch. Or it could be Laura in my room and Jessica in the guest room," I said sitting down with everyone looking at me now.
The discussion continued for a few more minutes without any decision being made. Soon the discussion started in the direction of Laura as she told us more about herself. We found out her parents were successful with their business in Arizona and California. They were spending part of break in the mountains so she was going to be around the area all break but had to go to the mountains tomorrow.
"I am sure Mike will have no trouble with driving you up there Laura tomorrow," my dad said staring at me.
"I also wanted to invite everyone up to the mountains for some skiing before I have to go back to college if anyone was interested," Laura said.
My dad and mom shook their heads no but Jessica and I were semi interested in the prospect even though I have never been skiing before. My father asked Laura to call her parents to let them know she was here as I went to set the table for dinner. At dinner everyone was talking about what was going on but all I could do is stare at Jessica and Laura as the two just had a glow about them that wouldn't stop. After dinner I helped with the dishes when Laura took a shower quickly followed by Jessica once Laura was out. Time continued to move on through the evening with the talking and watching TV but the decision was still to be made where people were going to sleep.
"Uncle and I can share a room and Laura can have the other one. Or Laura and uncle can share a room and I take the other one," Jessica said before laughing as my dad gave her a look that would freeze hell over.
" I think they are old enough to make their own decision on sleeping arrangements," my mother said getting up from her seat.
I looked at my dad who had an angry look in his face for a minute but soon lit up and smiled as he got up from his chair.
"I agree darling. You kids decide what you want to do but not to much noise because we have to get up early tomorrow. Night kids and happy to meet you Laura," my dad kissing her hand before leaving the room.
The three of us sat there looking at each other before Jessica smiled and went to the fridge where she got three sodas. Once she was out of the kitchen, she motioned for us to follow her. Laura got up first, going into the hallway before I got up from the couch and went toward the hallway. When I reached the hallway I saw that Jessica had closed the door to her room so I went into my room and sat down in the chair. A few minutes later they both came in laughing when Jessica tossed me a soda. Laura was now wearing a robe while Jessica was in a tank top and some lounge pants. They sat down on the bed with their sodas and starting flipping through some channels. They finally settled on some stupid movie which we watched for a little while before starting to talk again.
"So would you mind driving Jessica up so we could go skiing while here Mike?" Laura asked smiling at me.
"If she wants to, we can make it happen but it can't be until after Christmas," I said smiling.
"Speaking of which, I need to go shopping for some people. By the way how is Brin?" Jessica asked smiling and then taking a sip of soda.
"Fine I guess. I haven't spoken to her in about a week but things are weird."
"What do you mean?" Laura asked interested in the conversation.
