Growing Together

Chapter 20

He had hidden away because of Pete, but he hadn't stopped to think of what his mother would think of him. Now, that he was there being helped out of the car, he couldn't help but feel a wave of emotions rushing towards him. He was afraid she'd be disappointed in him. He was her eldest and only son and this is how he had ended up. Pregnant and nearly abandoned...

"Pete...I change my mind..." Kao said gripping tighter onto his hand, refusing to take another step away from the car. He could feel his legs shaking and his palms beginning to sweat.

"It's going to be okay, I promise," Pete assured him as he moved his arm to wrap around his waist for support. "We've already made it this far." He knew this was a scary thing to do, telling one's parents wasn't easy—heck he had nearly shit his pants when he had told his own dad. But the worst part of it had been admitting to Mrs. Karn what he had done to her son. The worst part was over, Kao wouldn't have to face it alone. "I'm right here with you," Pete said.

Those words must have put Kao at ease, because he had found his courage enough to keep walking beside Pete, despite the look of wanting to cry. Pete could still feel his hands trembling in his, so he had just fixed their hands so that they were laced together.

When they had reached the front door, Pete had been the one to knock on the door. He had straightened himself out when he felt Kao lean into him—almost like he was trying to hide. It was kind of cute, had he not looked so terrified.

As the door opened, Pete had turned towards it only to see Gift, Kao's sister, standing there ready to greet whatever stranger was at their door, but when her eyes landed on Kao her smile had faded. It worried Pete to see her because he had not seen the younger girl at all.

"Uh..." He began but Gift had only erupted in a huge squeal and ran the two steps down to them.

"P'Kao!" She said startling her brother before she was going on, "P'Kao, thank goodness! I thought I was going to miss my nephew being born!" She said completely elated as she squeezing between them to wrap her arms around both of them in the best way that she could.

It was awkward for Pete to say the least, he had not even kept her in mind when he had come to see Kao's mom. But from the looks of it didn't seem as though Gift was upset with him or Kao. Just one look at Kao had him almost looking a little sympathetically at him. Kao's eyes looked so puffy and red from crying, even now, there were renewed tears streaming down his cheeks as he returned his sister's embrace.

"W-When did you get home?" Kao had asked blinking away the tears in his eyes. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of her either. She had begged to go on this volunteer trip for a few months that he had completely forgotten. Gift had always looked up to him, and he couldn't help but feel that she shouldn't be so happy about this. He was being a terrible role model to her.

Gift had just pulled away from them and focused her attention on Pete as she crossed her arms behind her back, "I knew liked my brother, but I didn't think it would be this much."

Pete, for once, couldn't help but feel shy by her words. His eyes had diverted away from her, while his blood rushed to his cheeks. He couldn't think of a single thing to say to that without feeling like he would giggle like a schoolgirl.

"Gift," Kao had half scolded—though he was also a bit embarrassed and so unwilling to look at Pete at that moment.

She felt a little pleased with herself to see just how sincere their feelings showed on their face. The moment she had arrived home she had gone to find her brother to tell him about all of her adventures. However, when she couldn't find him she had quickly asked her mom about his whereabouts—so ready to go out and find him because she simply couldn't wait to tell him about the friends she had made nor the boy she had met. But hearing about Kao and Pete's situation, she had completely forgotten about it and been so eagerly waiting for them to come home so that she could hear all about the baby.

"Come on, P'Kao, P'Pete, mom was just setting the table!" Gift said rushing back up the steps and waving them in.

Pete couldn't help but chuckle a little as he turned towards Kao, "She seems very excited about you coming home." He said before adding, "See we are off to a good start."

"You're too optimistic," Kao had half smiled as he rubbed his face trying to ride the tears staining them.

The second surprise came once they had been ushered into the dining room. There, sitting at the table was Pete's dad so comfortably chatting away with Mrs. Karn. The atmosphere around the two seemed to be great. They were all smiles and soft whispers being shared between them.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" He asked a bit surprised. Bring Kao to see his mom was one thing, but he hadn't thought of taking him to see his dad just, yet.

Just the sound of Pete's voice had both of them turning their way, "Kao," His mother had said standing up from her seat—seemingly just as surprised as them to see them. Even his father had stood up along with her, but after a moment, Mrs. Karn had come to their side to pull Kao into a seat.

His dad had only smiled at him with that gentle smile of his as he spoke, "What do you mean? Kao is also my son now. As your father, I came to offer my hand to help with anything Kao may need." He had gently patted Pete's arm before he was turning towards Kao. "He's a good kid, Pete, take good care of them."

"I know, I will," Pete had said with a smile as he watched Kao cry into his mother's hands. He hated seeing him cry, but he knew they weren't due to sadness. He must have really missed his mom.