Love Is Us

Chapter 2

"Linda please...yes I know honey. Just calm down", my dad said to my mom.

My dad decided to close the cafe earlier today so he could go and figure out how to reach the COS and my mom couldn't be angrier.

"Jack, you know how much this business means to us, and you're just going to give it up like that?!", my mom yelled back.

My dad sighed and scratched his head.

"Honey please calm down. Everything will be alright. We're about to pull up and we can talk about it then."

Before my dad could hang up my mom ended the call from her end.

"Jesus Christ", my dad let out.

As we pulled into our driveway we saw my mom standing by the door with her coat on.

"Let me see the keys please", she asked my dad.

"Honey, what on earth do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going back to open the cafe. There is no way I'm letting some jerky car dump take away your fathers business."

She reached for the keys but my dad snatched them back from her.

"I know you're upset, but there is no use to opening up the cafe knowing it's going to get shut down", my dad said.

Me and my mom gave him a surprised look.

My dad is giving up? Is he really just going to let them take away my grandfathers cafe?

He sighed.

"Look, I know I said I would try to contact the COS, but based off of this guys credit, it wouldn't matter. He's got way more money on this than I do."

"So that's it?", my mom said.

"That's it."

She shook her head and stormed in the house. I couldn't lie, I was a little disappointed in my father as well. I thought he would put up a fight to save the cafe.

"I'm going to go and check on her", he said and went inside.

I thought about my life and how this would impact me. I didn't start working with my dad until the second week of June, but I've known and visited the cafe so many times before that. If it gets shut down, would a part of me die? Or would I survive?

These questions stayed on my mind for the next thirty minutes.

I decided to call my best friend, Taylor.

I got my phone out and dialed her number. Sadly for me it went straight to voicemail. I knew she would be busy now that she's in college, but she always answers her phone. Then it dawned on me. Her new boyfriend, James, whom she met at orientation for Stanford University. A tall, stocky blonde guy who so happens to speak three different languages. No wonder she wouldn't answer my calls. We haven't had a real conversation since Thursday of last week and it's Monday. It really isn't like her to not answer or reply to my texts for three days.

I walked downstairs to check on my mom trying to not look too much into the Taylor situation.

"Hey mom, are you okay?"

She looked up at me still kind of irritated.

"Yes, I'm fine sweetheart, just a little confused.

I sat down on the couch beside her.

"About what?", I asked.

"Megan, before you graduated high school, we made a promise to you that we would support any career path that you choose. But that all changed when your grandfather died. And since then, me and your father have been so fixated on the fact that we need to keep the family business going for his father. And three months ago, you did graduate, and instead of letting you go to college, we practically forced you to help us with the cafe. And we know how much you wanted to go to Weston Lake, and still wanted to choose your path for you. And now we're shutting it down, and we couldn't feel guiltier than now."

She paused and wiped her tears.

I touched her leg.

"Mom, what are you saying?", I asked intently.

"I'm saying we want you to go to Weston Lake University."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was this for real? Am I really going to my dream college.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, we just got off the phone with the admissions agent and she said you could still enroll. As long as it's before the end of the month", she replied.

My face lit up. I was so excited to finally be going my own direction and taking my own path. I hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. In return she squeezed my hand.

"Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome. Now get upstairs and start packing because you're not commuting. You're staying on campus."

This was music to my ears. I can live on campus?! Yes!

I quickly ran upstairs and began packing. Since Weston was only 45 minutes away I didn't need to do a lot of preparation. I started with my clothes. I wasn't a big fan of all the girly fashion so I kept it simple. Just some shirts, shorts, and pants. I also wanted to keep a few hoodies as well. Next I went on to my accessories and other necessities. I packed my feminine products first and then my hygiene products last. And before I ended, I made sure to hide my diary where no one would find it. Not even my little brother who is very good at hide and seek.

"Okay done", I said plopping on my bed.

"This is it. This week I start a new journey. A journey where doubt is your worst enemy, failure is your biggest fear, and God is your greatest friend. To a place where people roam. Both mean and nice. And the only person you can trust is yourself. The next big step in my life where my decisions will dictate my future and my actions will show my character. I'm going to Weston Lake University."