The morning sun peeked through my curtains, casting soft light across the room. I stretched and sighed, the events of last night still swirling in my mind.
Downstairs, voices floated up. Mom chatting with someone. I grabbed a shirt and headed to the kitchen, where I spotted Taylor sitting at the table, eating breakfast like she belonged.
Mom looked up and smiled. "Morning, Amelia. This is Taylor, Greg's daughter." Taylor gave me a cautious smile, and I nodded in return. I tried not to let it show, but yeah, I was surprised.
They invited Taylor to eat with us, and it felt a little awkward but mostly normal, considering. As we ate, I noticed the subtle way Mom and Taylor talked, like they were still figuring things out too.
We sat together quietly, the house filled with the awkward but familiar energy of a family trying to find its rhythm.
I caught sight of Nicholas downstairs, leaning against the wall, talking about business with Greg. I blinked, not sure if I was really seeing him there. But there he was, part of this messy new picture whether I liked it or not.
Later that morning, I found Mom in the living room, scrolling through her phone. I hesitated a bit before asking, "Hey, Mom, do you think I could swim in the pool today?"
She glanced up and smiled. "Why don't you ask Greg?"
I nodded and made my way to the backyard where Greg was tending to the garden. I cleared my throat. "Um, Greg? Is it okay if I use the pool?"
He looked up, his face calm but kind. "Sure, Amelia. Go ahead. Just don't wear yourself out."
"Thanks," I said, unable to hide the smile on my face. This is the first time I've swum this year because none of the houses we've been to before had a pool. It felt like torture to me, because Mom knew how much my dad and I love to swim it was like she didn't want me to remember that memory.
Changing quickly, I slipped into the pool, the cool water enveloping me like a soft shield. As I dove beneath the surface, the world's noise faded completely. All I could hear was the muffled rush of water, and the sunlight filtering through the ripples made patterns on the pool floor.
This was the one place I could truly forget no pretending, no tension. Just quiet, steady calm.
When I finally surfaced, gasping for air, I noticed Nicholas standing nearby, sipping a drink and watching me.
"You swim like you're training for the Olympics," he said with a smirk. "Ever just chill and float?"
I laughed, shaking water from my hair. "Floating's okay, but I like the challenge. Underwater, it's quiet like everything else disappears."
He nodded, taking another sip. "Yeah, I get that."
We stood there, not saying much, just letting the quiet fill the space between us.
I opened my mouth to ask him what had happened at the party before we left, but just then, Taylor appeared and called out to him.
"I'm going to the mall to buy some new bags," she said, her voice sharp.
Nicholas glanced at me, then gave a quick nod. "Guess I better go. See you around, Amelia."
I watched him walk away, a strange mix of relief and disappointment swirling inside me.
Maybe it was better to keep my distance. With all the stuff going on with Mom, Greg, and now Taylor, I didn't want to get caught up in anything messy. Sometimes, it's just easier to stay out of it and keep my head down.
I was floating, eyes closed, letting the water carry away everything. When my phone buzzed loudly on the lounge chair. I groaned, the sudden noise snapping me back. I pushed off the water, I climbed out, the cool air hitting my skin and making goosebumps rise. Wrapping the towel around my shoulders, I grabbed the phone.
"Hello?"
"Amelia…" Valeria's voice was soft, almost breaking. "He called. Said he's sorry."
I swallowed, leaning against the chair, feeling the weight of her words. "Val… he cheated on you. Twice." I couldn't hide the frustration in my voice.
There was no softening it. The frustration bubbled up inside me, annoyed and protective. How could she let herself believe him? How could anyone forgive a cheater?
I closed my eyes for a moment, as if holding back because she might not like what I was about to say.
When I looked back at the phone, my voice softened. "You deserve so much better than that, you know that"
There was a long pause on the other end, filled with unspoken hurt. "I just… I don't know what to think anymore. I want to believe him, but it hurts so much."
"I get it," I said gently, squeezing the phone tighter. "But sometimes, 'sorry' isn't enough. If someone's gonna cheat twice, it's not only about mistakes. It's about disrespect. You deserve better than someone who treats you like an option"
Her shaky breath came through the line. "I'm scared I'll never find that."
"Hey," I whispered, my heart aching for her, "you will. You're stronger than you realize. And I'm here, okay? No matter what."
There was a quiet moment before she shifted the conversation. "Enough about me. How's the new house? Is it any better?"
I let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of the day settling in my chest. "It's nice," I said, not wanting to sound too eager "Bigger than before. And Greg...My step-father he's rich. Not that I care about money or anything. But it does mean fewer fights about bills and moving out every few months."
Valeria snorted from the other end of the line. "Wow, living the dream, huh? Must be nice to have someone else footing the bill."
I laughed, shaking my head. "Yeah, right. I'm just waiting for the butler to show up and hand me coffee in a silver tray." I joked "But you know what? At the party last night, there was this girl named Taylor. Turns out, she's my new stepdad's daughter. She kind of almost went after me because she thought I was flirting with her boyfriend." I rolled my eyes. "Awkward, right?"
Valeria chuckled. "Drama already? Sounds like you're in for an interesting time."
"Tell me about it," I replied, the hint of a smile on my lips. "Well, this place is already complicated enough."
Just as I was about to ask Valeria if she wanted to keep chatting.
"Amelia, could you help me with the groceries? The pantry and fridge won't fill themselves." Mom called from the kitchen.
"Yeah, just a sec," I said, wiping my face on my towel.
"I gotta go now, Val," I told her softly. "But we'll talk later, okay?"
"Definitely. Call me anytime," she said before I ended the call.
I headed upstairs to my room and slipped into fresh clothes. A loose tee and some shorts. I ran a hand through my damp hair, still smelling faintly of chlorine, before making my way back down.
In the kitchen, Mom was unpacking bags, arranging cans and fresh vegetables on the counters. I grabbed a box of cereal and started filling the pantry while she worked on the fridge.
As we moved around the kitchen, I finally gathered the courage to ask, "Mom, do you think I could get a summer job at that café down the road? I want to save up for senior year."
She paused, looking thoughtful. "That's a good idea, Amelia. It'll teach you responsibility and give you a little independence."
I smiled, relieved. "Yeah, I thought it'd be nice to have something to do."
Mom's face softened with a hint of nostalgia. "You know, I worked at a restaurant during the summer before my senior year. It's where I met your dad, actually. I was saving up, just like you."
I blinked, picturing Mom in her younger days hopeful, maybe a little nervous behind the counter.
"It wasn't always easy" she continued, "but it was one of those times that will change you. Makes you realize what you want in your life."
I nodded quietly, the weight of her words settling in my chest. "I guess it's a good place to start."
"Come here, my Angel" She smiled gently and pulled me into a quick hug, like she was saying without words that I wasn't alone in this. "This is our life now," she whispered, "new house, new family. It's okay to be scared. Just... trust it a little. Let it happen. Trust me, honey"
I stood there, letting her warmth soak in. It didn't fix everything nothing that big ever does but somehow it made the chaos feel less suffocating. Like maybe, just maybe, I could breathe here.