angel baby (heavy editing)

25.5

   "So, that’s about everything. Wow, your belongings are even smaller than I imagined. I’m taking you shopping as soon as possible”, Chris’ mother said wrapping her arms around him in a side hug as they stood in his new room. He wouldn’t be sharing a room with Kathy any longer. He didn’t know how to feel about that.
He arrived from his lunch date with Derek abut an hour earlier and his mother helped him unpack since he wanted to be there when she did. He hadn’t really helped with unpacking for the whole house because of his date. He was so excited the previous night, he could barely sleep. His mother had eagerly sent him off to the date while Kathy sent him off with a glare so powerful it could have drilled holes through him because she was stuck unpacking while he was out. It made him giggle. It wasn’t a pleasant reaction to the situation, but he was too excited to about his wonderful date for his mood to be ruined.
Read the room, Kathy would say.

The lunch date with Derek was everything and more. He had the best time of his life. He felt like a prince. It was even more exciting because the day was one of the days Chris spoke vocally without inhibitions. They spoke like mature adults. They had conversations. The food was good. Chris particularly enjoyed the dessert. Derek called him beautiful when he smiled so he smiled all night. He smiled so much, Kathy and everyone would say it was creepy but Derek wasn’t dismayed. He wanted to go on dates with him every day but he wasn’t stupid. He knew dates weren’t something that happened every other day.
When Derek dropped him off, he did with a kiss on his cheek that made the things in his stomach go off. It was the best feeling.
“So, what do you think baby? This is good, right? You like this, right?” She pulled him and they both sat on his bed.

Chris thought about it. It was good, sure. The house was bigger, in a better environment and with better ventilation but did he like it? He wasn’t sure. He felt uneasy and slightly uncomfortable. But his mother was really happy. Kathy seemed to be too. He would try to get used to it. He didn’t want to think much. He felt an headache coming in.     
"So tell me, how was your date?" She said
Chris felt himself blush under her questioning gaze.
"That good, huh?" She exhaled loudly looking around the room.
"People might say I'm a bad parent letting a man that's basically a staff at your school hang out with you  but I see the way your eyes light up when you think of him. I want to see that light in your eyes all the time"
He didn't say anything to that. His mother looked so happy. He loved it when she was.
"So, are you meeting with Oliver tonight?"
He turned to face her suddenly. How did she know? She wasn't supposed to.
His mother smiled at him.
“Of course I know you’ve been sneaking out to meet Oliver every night for the past week or so. Saying you have homework and retiring to your room 7:50 every single night is kinda of suspicious, isn’t it? I don’t why you had to sneak out though. I would have let you go, you know? Oliver is a nice boy”
Chris didn’t say anything. At this time, he would be at the rail road with Oliver. Oliver would talk and he would listen. He hadn’t freaked out yet. He didn’t know why he hadn’t because past experience told he should have been. Perhaps those days were over.
“You can tell me anything, baby, I hope you know that. I’m here for you. I’m always here for you. I know I haven’t always been”
His mother looked close to tears. A minute ago, she was smiling at him. He was so confused and his head was starting to hurt. He didn’t like when people did this.
“Oh, my boy I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get all emotional. I’m just happy about this development. I love you so much, Chris. You and your sister”
She opened her arms to him. Now she wanted a hug. Her hugs were nice though so he allowed her to wrap her arms around him.
He felt her kiss his hair. That was nice. Her hugs were always warm and comforting.
She pulled back after a few minutes and she had another emotion flashing in her eyes, one Chris couldn’t pin point. He didn’t like it.
“I was going to let it wait till morning. I honestly should but I think it’s better if I told you now”, she took a deep breathe and continued, “earlier today, I received a phone call from Jessica Borghese and she would like us to come over for dinner next  week Tuesday as a way for everyone to get to know each other. Is that- is that okay with you?”
Was that okay with him? He didn’t know. He was so not in touch with his emotions, he couldn’t even feel scared.
He nodded, since he was sure that was what she wanted and he was right. Her face immediately shone brighter.
“That’s good”
It was short lived though. That same intense look came out. His headache got worse.
“Chris, I want you to understand something. We’ve not really had that conversation and I’m sorry for that. Chris, I’m your mother. I raised you and I love you with my whole being but I also want you to know that I’m not your biological mother. I didn’t give birth to you. Do you understand that?”
He did. He wasn’t stupid. He hated it when his mother spoke to him like he was.
He nodded.
“I’m tired”
Those were his first words to her all day.
“Of course, of course. I’ll get out of your hair”
Another emotion shone in her eyes. his headache was almost unbearable.  
“Goodnight, my love.  I love you so much”
She kissed his temple, stood up and walked out of his room.
     As Chris lay in bed later, he expected it, the freak out. It didn’t come. It never did.