Lost and Found

by Jennifer Bryan Yarbrough

  They both dropped their bottom lip and yelled at me at the same time.

  "What?" Came out of Cash's mouth. "Oh, I don't think so!" Came out of Claudia's.

  "Thank you. You're both so sweet."

  I took a bite of my bacon, and breakfast was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. I kept looking at the both of them and neither one of them would look up. I laughed all through breakfast.

  ********************

  Cash and I are on the way to Eden's birthday party at his parents’ house. I'm deep in thought about what Claudia did at the hair salon. I wasn't able to manage such an emotional journey without shedding quite a few tears.

  Cash reminded me of a grizzly bear defending his cub when I shed my first tear. He came forward and grabbed my hand and told Claudia that she better not say a word and I looked in the mirror at her and she was standing in the corner crying, so I told him to leave her alone. He looked behind him at Claudia and I saw the shocked look on his face.

  "Wow! I'm in shock! Do you mean to tell me that Medusa actually has feelings?" I'm guessing he's still mad at her from earlier, because that was a rather cruel comment.

  "Shut up, Cash. You obviously don't see the significance of what she's doing. She's cutting the last tie that she has left to Derek and the kids, so quit being such a shit!"

  I know that she is thinking back to my panic attack when she tried to make me cut my hair, knowing what a big step this was for me to do. I look at him to try to motion for him to apologize to her. He walks over to her and hugs her.

  "I'm sorry, Claud. Truly, I am. You've always been the closest I've ever had to a little sister and when I get around you it just comes naturally to give you a hard time. Hey, at least I don't punch you when you annoy me like I do Caleb. Forgive me?" That was sweet of him, but now I'm wondering who Caleb is.

  "Yes. I forgive you, but I don't blame you for punching Caleb. I know he's your little brother, but he's the complete opposite of you. Talk about the biggest geek in the world. Are you sure he's not adopted?" Both of them are laughing again, so everything is back to normal. At least until the next fight.

  "You haven't seen him in a while. He's going to be at my parents for Eden's party. Trust me; he doesn't look like the gangly skinny little geek that used to follow you around everywhere. You knew he had a crush on you, didn't you? I can't wait to see the look on your face when you see him." So Caleb is his brother, sounds like the party might get interesting. Who knows, maybe he and Claud will hit it off after not seeing each other after all of these years.

  Cash stirs me away from my thoughts and grabs my hand and kisses it.

  "Have I told you that you look even more beautiful since you cut your hair? I have to admit. I wasn't crazy about you cutting it at first, but I understand why you had to and it's still extremely long. But like I said, it's your hair, so don't ever feel like you can't do anything you want with it. No matter what you do, you'll always be beautiful. Claudia's turned out pretty good, too."

  "I can't believe she ended up donating hers too. Especially after winning her own bet! At least it wasn't up to her eye balls!" He winced remembering how cruel he was to her about betting against me.

  "Yes, it did turn out great and it’s still pretty long. I'm sorry I argue with her so much. We used to be worse, believe it or not. I think she did it to let you know that no matter what she's got your back and it was a sweet gesture."

  I was absolutely shocked when Marie, the hair stylist, got finished with my hair and Claudia jumped up and said she wanted to do the same thing. I don't know why she keeps surprising me, but she does and Cash is right, it really was a sweet gesture.

  "She does surprise me from time to time. Will you please quit arguing with her? For me? And how come you never told me you had a brother?" I can tell that he doesn't want to have this conversation by his loud sigh.

  "Ok, I'll start being nicer to Claudia, but in my defense, she's just as mean to me as I am to her. Did that just sound childish? Haha. Sorry, like I said, she's like a little sister to me. As far as Caleb goes? Well, let’s just say he's been giving me hell about the kids ever since Vanessa died."

  "Why has he been giving you a hard time?" I'm suspecting why, but I want him to tell me.

  "You know why, Liv. I guess you could say he's been trying to kick me in the ass like you did, except it was way cuter and hotter when you did it. I know I'm going to hear an "I told you so" from him at the party about Mrs. Williamson."

  I cringe every time I hear that evil woman's name. I've been waiting for Gideon to open up to me on how bad she had treated him, and prayed that she wasn't beating him like I suspected. So far it sounds like she just withheld dinner from time to time and a lot of other things, like swimming and he wasn't allowed to play any sports. He's never been allowed to go to any of his friends’ birthday parties. I am very thankful I showed up when I did.

  "I can understand him being upset with you, but you were grieving, doesn't that account for anything." He looks over at me shaking his head.

  "Liv, let's face it. I was a shit to the kids and my parents, for having to pull my weight. There's no excuse for it. Yes, I was grieving, but I know now that I was dealing with it the wrong way. I should have been grieving along with my family and the kids. I wasn't the only one that missed Vanessa."

  "I understand that, I do, but they're your family. He'll forgive you. When was the last time you talked to him?"

  "A year ago; when I missed another one of Eden's birthdays, he came over to my house and found me wasted and we got into it so bad, I thought I was going to kill him. He said he was getting a court order to take the kids away from me, because I was neglecting them by ignoring them and he knew that the nanny was mistreating them. I punched him and he punched back and we tried to literally kill each other. The last thing I told him was that I would put a stop to funding all of his missionary trips and stop donating any money to the villages that he helped out, if he attempted to take them away from me. He knew I had him

  by the balls and that I would do it, so he left and I haven't spoken to him since."

  I can tell that he's ashamed of himself and was sorry, so he needs to make it right with his brother. I reach over and grab his hand to my heart.

  "Cash, you know you have to make it right with your brother, right? Even apologize to him?"

  I look up and realize that we've turned into a private driveway and I'm so happy that the house looks normal and isn't another castle. It's a three story colonial styled house with a big front yard, and I can already picture the back yard being even bigger than the front.

  "Yes Babe, I know I do, but I hope I can do it privately. But if I know Caleb, he's going to make a big deal out of telling me that he was right. Thank God there isn’t going to be very many people here, but family and speaking of family, Claud just pulled in behind us. Perfect timing. Are you ready for this?"

  "Yes Cash, I am and I can't wait to see the kids, I didn't realize how much I've missed them since just seeing them yesterday."

  I open my door and reach for some presents from the back seat and Cash walks back to the trunk to get the rest. By the time we have all of the presents out, Claudia has caught up with us and even though her hair is shorter, she's still absolutely gorgeous!

  "Okay, okay. I might have gone overboard, but I forgot how much fun I used to have shopping for the kids. I hope you two don't mind, but I got Gideon a few things too."

  She does have tons of gifts with her and I can tell that she's just as excited about having the kids in her life just as much as I am. She was always such an awesome aunt. I hear Cash chuckling at her.

  "Don't worry Claud, we got Gideon a few things too and if I know my parents, they did as well. It looks like we may be starting a tradition of spoiling them both on each other’s birthdays." All three of us are laughing, as we head inside the house.

  I immediately hear Eden giggling when we walk in and she comes around the corner of what looks like the living ro
om and runs up to me, and I immediately drop the presents and wait for her to make her usual leap into my arms.

  "Owibia! Caudia! Daddy! You all made it! I'm so happy now!"

  She gives me the tightest squeeze and I look at her and she looks like a little princess in the dress her grandmother had her wear. She even has a tiara on top of her head, which makes her look even more beautiful with her dark brown curly hair surrounding her face.

  I'm so glad I decided to buy her some princess dresses for her birthday, because I know she's going to love them. She reaches for her daddy and he takes her from my arms and she hugs him just as tight around the neck.

  "I wove you, Daddy. Did you know that Uncle Caweb came aw the way here from Afica just for my birthday? He said he woves me that much! He said Afica was aw the way across the word. Is it rewy that far, Daddy?" He's beaming from ear to ear and gives her a little kiss on the tip of her nose.

  "I love you too, Princess and he's right. It is very far and you should know that everyone loves you, Sweetheart." He gives her tons of kisses while she's giggles.

  "Come on Daddy, today is my birthday party!"

  He looks at me and Claudia and we follow him into the living room. I'm a little nervous about meeting his brother after what he told me about him in the car, and I still haven't met his dad, because he's never been with Amelia when she would pick up and drop off the kids on the weekends. When we walk in, all eyes are on us and Gideon's eyes about pop out of his head. He runs across the living room and hugs all of us and sees all of the presents.

  "Are all of those presents for Eden?" He's looking at all of us and I'm sure he's hoping that some of them are his. I can tell by the arch of his brow that is identical to Cash's what he's thinking. Claudia answers for us.

  "Of course they're for Eden; it is HER birthday after all. Here, will you put them with the rest of the presents please?" He drops his head, shrugs his shoulders, mutters something under his breath, and then he looks at some of the bags and turns around and looks at us.

  "Hey! I see my name on some of these!" He looks at Claudia and grins. "You got me, but I'll pay you back, Aunt Claudia!"

  "Oh, I'll be ready, Mr. Gideon!"

  Oh, those two together are going to get into so much trouble together. I can already picture it like she and Jeremiah used to be with each other. He walks off pilfering through the rest of the bags and yells "yes" every time he sees one with his name.

  A blonde headed man about mine and Claudia's age that has the same blue eyes as Gideon and Cash walks up to me and extends his hand out to me, while Claudia whispers "OH MY GODDDD" behind me.

  This must be Caleb and what I'm seeing is not a scrawny little geek in front of me. He is just as buff as Cash and looks a lot like him, but a blonde headed version. I reach out and shake his hand.

  "You must be, as Eden calls you, Owibia. I'm Caleb, Cash's little brother and I must say, I've been excited to meet you, but I had no idea how beautiful you were. I think you're working for the wrong brother!"

  He winks at me and raises my hand up to his lips and kisses my hand right in front of Cash, and I saw him tense up and start coming to my defense, but I shake my head at him not to.

  "Nice to meet you, Caleb and I believe you remember my best friend Claudia here from college." He shakes his head at Claudia and gives her a very tense hug.

  "Hello Claudia, or didn't I call you Cruella a time or two? Have you been pulverizing men's hearts lately? I remember that was your favorite hobby back then." I see ten different thoughts run through her mind and thank God she went with the nicest response.

  "Oh Caleb, you know me, I'm down to breaking hearts once a month now, instead of the same one every day." She walks around him, as if he was invisible and goes and talks to Cash's parents. Caleb turns back to me grinning.

  "She sure hasn't changed. Still only beautiful on the outside I see. So, I hear I have you to thank for coming to my niece and nephew's rescue and for opening my brother's selfish eyes. I don't know whether to hug or kiss you." Cash was closer than I thought, because he's in Caleb's ear quicker than a heartbeat.

  "A thank you will suffice little brother. You're lucky I let you get away with the kiss on her hand."

  Caleb grins at me, while Cash looks like he's ready for a fight. Jealousy. I never had to deal with it with Derek, because he knew I never looked at anyone but him, but seeing it on Cash has me rather turned on. Caleb can't seem to keep his mouth shut.

  "Oh, so THAT’S how you got his eyes to open. I'm impressed, very impressed." He turns around and he and Cash are at eye level. "Nice to see you big brother, looks like you're doing well for yourself. Oh, and I told you so! About that bitch you called a nanny, that is." He walks off and leaves Cash standing in front of me seething with rage.

  "Don't do it, Cash. This is Eden's birthday party and he's just goading you. Let it go and talk to him later away from everyone, okay?" He nods at me and starts calming down. His father comes up to us with a grin on his face.

  "I've been waiting for these yahoos to finish their conversation, so that I could introduce myself. I'm Gideon Kingston and I'm so happy to welcome you to the family."

  Where Cash looks more like his mother, Caleb favors their father, who is blonde headed like him with the same blue eyes and a little bit of grey in his hair. I see where the boys get their height from, because he's maybe an inch shorter than they are. He reaches out to shake my hand, but instead picks me up into a great big bear hug, which has me giggling and trying to get down.

  "It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Kingston. Gideon? So it's a family name. I love when family names are continued on from generation to generation."

  "Yes ma'am, three generations. Cash and I, and little Gideon over there."

  I have an odd look on my face, because I had no idea that Cash was a Gideon as well. He noticed the look on my face and rolled his eyes.

  "Yes Liv, we are all three Gideon Cash Kingston, except I'm the 2nd and Gideon is the 3rd."

  I laugh at him, because he seems embarrassed. Amelia announces to everyone that it’s time to start the party and everyone starts heading to the dining room. Claudia comes up to us and shoos Cash away, so she could talk to me.

  "Quick, O! Will you stomp on my foot or something, so I can leave? Or how about you kick me like you did Cash!" She is truly panicked and looks scared and I don't know whether to laugh or be concerned, because I've never seen her like this.

  "Claud? I'm not stomping on your foot OR kicking you. You can't leave, because it would hurt Eden's feelings. What is your problem?" She looks at me like I'm an idiot.

  "Are you kidding me? What do you think my problem is? One word! Caleb! He keeps grinning at me and it's driving me crazy! I have to leave. NOW!"

  "Am I kidding? How old are you? You're acting like you're scared of him. What's the deal?"

  "Olivia! You don't understand. I was so mean to him in school and I took advantage of how he felt about me. He was like the size of a 15 year old then and it flattered me of course, but I had no interest in him. But now? If I would have known that he was going to end up looking like, well, a freaking Greek God with blonde hair, I never would have been that mean to him!" This reminds me of a conversation we both had a few weeks ago.

  "Hmmm. So, I couldn't run away from Cash, but you can run away from Caleb? I. Don't. Think. So. Tuck that tail between your legs and let’s go celebrate Eden’s birthday party, which happens to be going on right this minute, young lady!" If looks could kill, I would be dead.

  "I am so paying you back for this! And it's going to be a very big payback!"

  Lord help me. But it's nice to be bossing her around for once and I tend to love watching her squirm from time to time.

  ***********************

  Eden ended up with tons of presents and with every present she opened; she graciously thanked everyone for each gift. Gideon on the other hand was such a boy about everything he got and would yell "cool" and "yes" and "awesome".

&nb
sp; No one would have ever thought that their father was a billionaire and could give them anything in the world that they wanted, because they were so gracias and thankful for what all they got from everyone.

  I would give Cash the credit, but looking at his parents cuddling with each other on the back porch swing, I would have to say that they deserve all of the credit.

  Amelia noticed me watching them and waved me over. Claudia and I have been spending time with Eden in her playhouse, while she was playing with her new toys. I tell them to give me a few minutes and that I'd be back. As I'm walking towards Amelia and Gideon Sr., he gets up leaving me an open spot on the swing next to his wife.

  "I'll let you too ladies chat, while I go play some ball with the guys. It's time for this old man to show them up."

  He winks at me and heads towards the brothers, who have been helping Gideon hit the ball. I'm just glad that they seem to have buried the hatchet.

  "Please sit with me, Olivia. Are you cold? I can grab us a blanket from inside the house." She starts to get up and I wave her down.

  "No, I feel fine and the weather is perfect."

  I sit down next to her and we start slowly rocking, and I look out at the beautiful scene before me. I hear Eden and Claudia giggling in the playhouse and all of the guys showing Gideon the correct stance for holding the bat. I chuckle, because all three of them are standing differently and Gideon is looking at all of them and shaking his head. I notice Amelia taking it all in as well.

  "I've got to say, Olivia. I have never seen anything so beautiful, as to have all of my kids and grandkids under the same roof and playing outside and getting along. I wish I could pause this moment in time and watch it in slow motion. It's all because of you, Dear and I just wanted to tell you thank you, from the bottom of my heart." She looks at me with happy tears in her eyes and grabs my hand and pulls it close to her heart.