angel baby (heavy editing)

19.5

Kathy arrived home a week later.
"Kathy has shown tremendous recovery and we think she can go home now. There might be constant headaches but that's completely normal but if it gets to a point where she can't handle it, make sure to bring her in"
Lia recalled what the doctor said to her the day before.
"Mom, I'm fine. I can walk on my own", Kathy groaned out for the nth time as they walked into their home. Lia was aware she was breathing down her neck but she couldn't help it. If she could help it, neither of her kids would get sick again.
It had been  a week since Oliver showed up to her front door and she had made no effort to tell Chris the truth which troubled her. She promised him she would. She was even more surprised Oliver hadn't said a word about it to Chris at school. She honestly didn't know what to do. But she would stall no farther. She would tell him in the night.
"Mommmm!" Kathy whined.
"Kathy"
"I'm fine"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Why don't you go lie down while I make you something to eat?"
"I know you're trying to help and I know I had a life threatening illness but I'm fine now. I don't want to lie down, I don't want to be treated like I'm still sick"
Lia understood but she still worried.
"But-"
"I'm fine. I know I lied to you about my health in the past but not anymore. I was given a second chance. I'm not going to take it for granted"
Lia sighed. Perhaps, she had been doing too much.
"Okay, I'm sorry. Well, you kids go do some kids stuff while I make something for us all to eat", as she walked to the kitchen, she spoke, "Kathy, I called the school. You're going to take your Midterms with your exams. Aren't they considerate?"
No, they're trying to kill me, Kathy said in her thoughts. She shook her head refusing to dwell on that. She had bigger fishes to fry.  She turned to face Chris who sat by a corner in the small living room with his stuffed animal.
"Okay she's gone, start talking"
Chris just stared at her squeezing the stuffed animal to his chest.
"Oh come on", she walked towards him and sat cross legged before him.
"Enough with that selective mutism shit, talk to me. Now!"
"You look different. I don't like it"
Those were the first word Chris had spoken to her in days. She frowned.
"Well, I'm bald now, not completely. That's what happens when one has surgery on the brain. It's just hair. It'll grow back"
"You look really different. I really don't like it"
Kathy rolled her eyes.
"Oh come on. Can't you be thankful that I'm alive?"
He didn't reply. He continued to stay at her still squeezing his pet animal as if it was going to protect him from the stranger in front of him.
"So, what do you want me to do? Disappear until my hair grows back?" Guessing he was about to reply, with an answer she'll probably not like. "That was sarcasm, Christopher. Whatever, I won't talk to you anymore. Find someone else to accommodate your weird self"
She proceeded to stand but the hand on her wrist stopped her. Fighting back her smile, she looked up at him.
"Have you finally acknowledged you can't live without me?"
"I missed you".
The raw truth (which was rare) in his voice made her serious for a second.
"I really thought you were going to die. The internet said the survival rate for brain tumors is low. I was really scared"
He went on the internet, Lia wanted to cry.
"Well, I'm here and it'll take at least 30 years before you get rid of me but for now I'm not going anywhere"
"You promise?"
"Of course. You're stuck with me. Even your future husband doesn't stand a chance while I'm around"
"I have a crush on the school's nurse"
"No shit, you little shit. Have you told Irene you're gay?"
He shrugged.
"She doesn't talk to me anymore. I thought I did something wrong but Vivi said it's because it's because she's a bitch"
Kathy almost snorted. That was probably his first swear word. She then frowned realizing Vivi only said so because she was interested in Chris. Why everyone was falling for baby faced socially awkward Chris would never cease to surprise her.
"I think it's because of my autism"
Kathy was surprised again. That was the first time in a while Chris had acknowledged his disability. It wasn't like he denied it or was ashamed of it, as far as she knew, he wasn't but it came as a surprise. He was even more vocal that day, more than he had been in months. That alone was enough for her to thank her lucky stars to be alive. She was blessed to have a brother like Chris.
"It doesn't matter. She's a very stupid girl. You drew a portrait of her once and she stuck to you like glue. Why did you even paint her in the first place? She also stole your first kiss! That bitch!"
"I didn't mind. I wasn't keeping it for anyone", he said back to her.
"Still. You're not even attracted to her. Bet you would have loved Derek to be your first kiss"
The blush that appeared on his cheeks made her blink twice.
"Oh, you've got it bad for him, don't you?"
"He's very handsome. He brought me to the hospital to see you. I haven't said thank you. Mom says it's important to say thank you. Oh I have to say thank you"
"Oh calm down. You can go see him tomorrow at school"
"But I have to say it now"
"No, not really. Do you have his cell number? His home address? What's his last name?"
"But I have to say it now"
"Chris, just wait till tomorrow"
"But I have to say it now"
"Oh god, it's nearly eight at night. And stop repeating your sentences. What did I say about that?"
"It's a weird habit"
"Exactly. You can thank him tomorrow. I'm sure he'll understand"
"But-"
"Chris"
"Kathy, stop picking on your brother. Dinner is ready" Lia said from behind them.
Chris immediately stood up and went to his mother. Kathy rolled her eyes, groaning out loud.  If there wasn't a paper and pills he frequently took that confirmed his diagnosis, she would have said Chris was faking his neurological disorder to frustrate her. Still she wouldn't ask for a better version of him.

(I feel everyone is eager to read about Oliver and Chris and I am so eager to write about them ;-) just a little chapters more and their story will kick off)