Chapter 5

It isn't constant.

There are no weird moments of my mother intruding on private aspects of my life. None of my other aunts had spoken to me. Just her. There are no specific moments, I can't ask to talk to her; I don't understand how it works. She just comes in, and sometimes it's just to check in, and other times it's long-winded conversations filled with laughter and jokes. She's my best friend, even when I don't speak to her for months. Knowing she is with me is enough.

It all got quiet after Saskatchewan. Helena and Mark surprised everyone by getting married. They did it quickly at the courthouse, neither wanting to be in a church for long. My cousin came a year later. Helena is one of the most caring mothers I know. Art buried himself in a bottle. He died when I was twenty-four of a heart attack. Uncle Felix handled my mother's death like he handles most heartache, by getting overly involved in Auntie Alison's life. He moved in a couple years after Saskatchewan into an apartment above the garage. Alison long ago gave up explaining Fee's "guests" to the neighbors.

I live with my dad in a cabin in a location I'd rather not put to paper. He keeps telling me to move out, be on my own, but we live a simple life. We have chickens. It was my request. Mom seems to speak to me most when I'm out feeding the chickens. I don't know why, but I'm grateful.

We go to Auntie Alison's for dinner every Saturday.

"How old was it this year?" Alison asked.

"Twenty-eight." I replied

"Well, we'll have to make this dinner a big one"

"It's just twenty-eight, nothing special, and besides, it was two weeks ago" I dismissed.

"Non!" My Aunt Delphine interrupted. "You are so young, so full of life! Think of all the exciting things that can happen at twenty-eight!"

"She's right you know," my Aunt Cosima added, "You could get swept off your feet by a beautiful blonde." She winked at me and nudged Delphine.

Delphine blushed, "Were you really twenty-eight? It seems like so long ago."

"Woah, Not THAT long ago!" Cosima came back with a playful glare.

"No fighting at the table you two!" Aunt Alison called from the kitchen. She was preparing dinner. She never let anyone else cook, not since Helena brought over "Goldfish Surprise" a couple years back.

"We're not!" Cosima yelled back with a knowing grin, "We're flirting!"

"Definitely none of that." Alison said as she brought in a casserole.

Dad and Felix walked in the door mid-conversation. Grey had begun to creep from the sides of dad's hair to speckle his beard. Felix still had the hair of a 20 year-old and would fight anyone who questioned the authenticity of it.

"Is this one staying a while?" My dad asked.

"Oi, no one 'stays a while' with me, can't tie me down." Uncle Felix said, glancing at me sideways with a smirk.

"Let him sow his oats Cal," Cosima added, "some people can't handle just one lover."

"Some can't handle the one they have!" Delphine spat back before kissing her.

"Is anyone going to let Kira talk on her own birthday?" Alison said.

"No worries, Auntie Alison, you know me, I like to observe." I said.

"Yes, I know that. Just like Bet-" she said stopping herself mid-word. Her face blushed and she turned away. My dad noticed the awkwardness and spoke up.

"It was simply a belt-issue on the van, Ali. I tightened it and it should be fine. If you hear any other sounds just let me know. Felix is starting to get pretty good at helping, maybe next time he could take care of it."

"And miss seeing you acting all lumberjack and masculine? No, no, I only help out for the view big boy." I held in a giggle at Felix's words.

The night went on much like this with jabs and jokes. Oscar and Gemma showed up later, and the eight of us sat around a table eating Alison's amazing cooking. As I looked around at those who I loved most, I knew I would do anything for them. Twenty-eight was an important year in their lives, and maybe for me it would just be a random year, or maybe it would be something big, but I was happy to have these small moments where we all came together for a meal. I was happy to have a family.

"Happy birthday, Monkey" my mom said as Alison brought the birthday cake out. Every time she entered my mind it sent shivers down my back and tears to the corner of my eyes.

"Thank you, mom." I whispered back.

"Happy birthday." Beth said, sending me stiff in my chair.

Then they all spoke-up: Katja, Jennifer, Aryanna, all of them, for the first time spoke. For the first time after having a part of them, I heard their voices, their accents. Each was unique and beautiful and I felt... whole.

I blew out the candles, not needing to make a wish, because all of my wishes were already answered.

Maybe twenty-eight would be a quiet year. But something inside me said it wouldn't. I don't know what really, let's just call it: "good intuition."