Imperfections Read Online Free Page B

feel like a grown-up woman for once and it wouldn't have happened here. My family means well but when you're the youngest, sometimes everyone is sticking their noses in your business, as if they all know what's best for you. Telling you what to do and how you should do it and if they were you what they would do. Let me breathe, let me figure out for myself what I want to do, who I want to be. I'm not saying "I'm woman hear me roar" but I don't feel like such a little girl anymore.
    I have a little more life experience now, if I don't like something, I'm free to say I don't like that and I don't want it, without feeling as if I'm going to offend or make anyone angry. And the thing about freedom and independence is, sometimes when you get it, it's not all you thought it would be. Sometimes you just want someone to hold you and take care of you and make the hard decisions for you.
    I'm the last to finish eating breakfast, I'm stuffed. Sasha is still sitting on my lap. Sophie comes in to clear the table. As soon as she sees me she comes over and gives me a hug, and kisses me on the cheek. Sophie has worked for my family since I was four years old. She treated me like I was one of her kids. She would let me help her cook when I was a little girl and I always enjoyed spending time with her. She was our housekeeper slash nanny.
    "Oh, my sweet girl, it's so nice to see your face, I missed you!"
    "And I missed you too, Sophie. No one could make a strawberry cheese cake like you, I missed your cooking."
    "Sweetie, as long as you promise to stay in New York I'll make you a hundred cheese cakes."
    She looks down at Sasha in my lap drinking her orange juice and kisses her on the forehead. "I said good morning to this little one already but I can't get enough of her, she is so precious."
    We smile at each other as she starts to clear the table. "Let me help you clean up."
    She waves her hand at me.
    "No, it's your first day home; besides, now that you live here, you'll have plenty of time to help me, if you want."
    Sophie is the best. She sent me a cheese cake every week the first month I left home. I give Sasha a kiss on her cheek and hand her back to my brother who takes her upstairs to get cleaned up. He's spending the morning with her before he goes to work. The doorbell rings and my mother starts to get up.
    "Don't get up I'll get it, Mom." I walk to the door and ask, "Who is it?" I hear an unmistakable southern drawl making me smile from ear to ear.
    "Honey, one of the best girlfriends you have!"
    Barely containing the excitement inside of me, I open the door to see Ava Alexander and Nick. Ava is Nick's cousin and one of my best girlfriends. We used to have so much fun together in the summer and holidays; she would come up from Nashville every year. I throw my hands up in the air over my head and let out a squeal and she does the same. "What are you doing here?" We throw our arms around each other like we haven't seen each other in years, bouncing up and down. The last time we saw each other was the last time I came to visit my family.
    We have the kind of friendship where even if we don't see each other for ten years, I can pick up the phone at any time, day or night, and she will answer and it will be like, "Hey, what's up with you? Are you okay?" And we just pick up right where we left off, unlike most people who would be mad and say, "You didn't call me. Why didn't you call? I called you and you didn't call me back right away." We understand life happens and sometimes you're not able to call back right away.
    "Girl, wild dragons couldn't keep me away from welcoming you home!"
    In my best imitation of a southern accent I say, "I sure am happy that you came, dragons and all." There was only one dragon and he was standing behind her looking at us like we've lost our minds.
    "How long are the two of you going to stay out here jumping up and down? Even though I do like what I see. Very much."
    I stop bouncing and glare at him. Ava