Vitamins and lunch

Candance laid her purchases on the bed in the hotel room, and pulled out the dress Bailey picked for her and held it up to herself in the mirror. A warm smile came to her face seeing the pretty blue dress next to her. She then hung It in the closet along with her other clothes and did the same for the red dress. She was so happy to have had a day like today with Bailey, she had friends back home, but no one she connected to like did with her. Then there was Bailey’s aunt who she could tell wanted to help her, every time she spoke for Bailey, she always looked to her to make sure it was okay. Both of them had lost a parent. Candance recalled going through and trying on her mother's old clothes little over a year after she passed and remembered the feeling of it just being right. The clothes of course didn’t fit, but she felt like they fit who she was. Becoming who she was today took plenty of work with not having anyone to turn to, daddy was hopeless at that stuff. She tried to imagine what it was like for her friend, who had such a pretty mom and aunt to go to for guidance. With her being a tomboy till just recently it had to be her trying to cling to the memory of spending time with her dad. That and not growing like she thought she should, considering how well-endowed her mom and aunt were. Poor thing was wearing breast forms, they looked so real too, she wondered how much Aunt Meg spent on them.

A thought hit Candace like a lightning bolt and went to dig through the medicine bag. “Daddy is horrible about throwing things away, I bet they are still in here..” she said pulling bottles out until she found what she was looking for. Holding a bottle that read ‘Bust Bunny’ she smiled knowing she was going to be able to help her best friend. “These worked for me I’m sure they can help her. No wonder she kept looking at my chest when we were at the picnic.” Putting the bottle in her purse she tried to think how she should approach the subject, Aunt Meg said how shy she was about it and to not bring it up. Then there was the issue of her only being here for a week. It wouldn’t be honest, but fibbing a little to get what she wanted was okay if she was doing it for a good cause. Just like convincing Aunt Meg to have lunch here so she could still pay for her lunch as a thank you, just like daddy wanted. With that decided she left the room and headed to the elevator after swapping the contents of her pill bottle for another.

Outside Megan had just gotten out of the car and looked over to what appeared to be a pretty young woman. “When we get inside, I want you to order a small salad and remember to take small bites like a proper lady.” Bailey scowled and opened his mouth to retort, but her eye contact cowed him. “Here now hold my hand as we go inside and remember to smile Bailey, you had a great day.”

“I’m not a little girl and I did not have a great day. My feet hurt from these shoes and the ones you made me walk in that we bought. I can’t use my hands right with these talons you got me and my fucking stomach hurts because you got it pierced.” unlike before when he vented to Megan he was not yelling and instead he spoke softer more to himself then at her.

“Missy, I don’t like that attitude at all. We will have a talk about that when we get home, but if you can make it through lunch acting like a proper niece you will be rewarded.” the reply to Megan was a happy, but fake smile as he walked up and held Megans hand. “I like just can’t believe how much we got today Auntie, you are like the best and I’m lucky to have you.”

The two didn’t have long to wait when they saw Candi come up to them from inside the restaurant. “I like got us tables already and have water on the table. Come on!” she said almost skipping off being excited to have lunch with them. When they got close to the table, she pointed to one seat next to where she was about to sit down. “Sit next to me Bailey!” she said trying to make sure Bailey sat where she needed so the right person would drink the water, she had stirred three of the pills into. While looking at the menu Candi went on about some of the different things that were good on the menu and what she didn’t care for like some of the options with spinach.

When the waiter came Megan was the first to order. “Could you please get me the steak salad with creamy balsamic vinaigrette and a little extra avocado please.” at the sound of the word steak Bailey’s stomach let it’s hunger be known to those at the table as he hadn’t eaten all day and barley had anything at the picnic yesterday.

“Oh.. Steak sounds so good right now, Larry could I get the filet mignon, medium rare with a side of duck fat fries.” she said to the waiter who she had met more than once eating here. “You both need to try these fries, if they were like any better you would need a prescription to have them.” hearing what Candi was getting Bailey steeled himself thinking about what he would eat from the fridge when he got home to make up for this so-called lunch. “Umm, can I get the strawberry arugula salad, please.” when the waiter was writing it down Candi put her hand on top of Bailey’s.

“We all heard your belly girl; you can get more you know.” looking over to Megan then back to Candi he shook his head. “No, like I have been junk food like a lot at home and I’m trying to be strict now with a diet. Need to look good for the bikinis.” Bailey said wanting to crawl up into a ball and die to let this nightmare end.

“Well, I can’t let my little sister be on a diet and not support her. While I’m around I will help! Sorry Larry could I change my order to the same thing as Bailey.” the waiter nodded before leaving the table. Bailey wasn’t one for salads, once referring to them as the taste of sadness. This one was pretty good and had eaten ever last piece of it, though at the end he was still very much still hungry and wanting to get the taste of the water out of his mouth, it tasted odd. When the waiter asked if he wanted a refill, he declined not wanting to taste it again. When the waiter returned to see if they needed anything else and wish them a good day Megan looked perplexed that no check was dropped off, but looked to the pretty blonde sitting across from her who smiled mischievously. “I had it billed to daddy’s room, I told you he wanted to thank you for taking us today. I also really wanted to thank you...” Candi said trailing off at the end and tearing up a little. “Today was just so nice, having you with us today was like.. Was like having my mom back for a little bit and you saying I could call you Aunt Meg.. It like meant the world to me to have more family.” the outburst of calm but sincere emotion caused Megan to cry and the feelings were not lost on Bailey. He remembered losing both of his parents one right after the other and how Amanda had been there for him. A few moments later anyone who looked could see three women standing next to a table holding each other and crying softly.

It was when Candi was walking the two to the front door that she handed Bailey a bottle of pills that said vitamin C on it. “I like know I can be a ditz sometimes too, but you seemed out of it more than I am and I thought you could use the extra energy. Can you like promise me you will take one of these pills every morning? With these and your.. I guess our now. You will be looking fabulous in our swim suits!” doing his best to contain an eye roll he looked down to the pill bottle and then back to the green-eyed girl. “Like thank you, you really are like a big sis always looking out for me.” more hugs were exchanged between them all before Megan spoke up.

“Speaking of looking good in your suits girls, I know Bailey is coming over here to spend time at the pool with you. But I have some great news! Amanda texted me to make sure I got a swim suit for Bailey because when you two won a race yesterday, you won tickets to that nearby waterpark Wild Island. It seems your dad Candi talked my workaholic sister to take a day off for the four of you to go on Wednesday. What do you think of that?” the excited teenager’s face just lit up and pulled Bailey into another tight hug. “This is like the best day ever I swear!”

“I thought you would like and I saved the news till the end so you girls would have someone else to look forward too. It sounds like the two of you have a busy week together.”