When it ends

Chapter 15

                                                                                 ---One Month Later---

       "How are you feeling?" My sister Reba asked. "I'm good, how're you?" "I'm good, so look I wanted to know how you were doing obviously but I called for a reason." "Oh?" "Yea, we got a letter from dad." "What!?" I asked shocked. "Yea, I was not expecting it either." "Well what did he say? Because if he's had a change of heart, he's a little late." I said. "No, it wasn't that. Here just give me a second I'll read it to you." Paper rustled. 

       "Dear Mac and Reba. I hope you are well. I wasn't even sure I was going to write this letter at all because of the weirdness of the whole situation. But I needed you to know I could never be the father that you guys needed. And it has nothing to do with you. I'm sure you are both very wonderful girls. I wasn't in the place to raise children. But I have failed you in the fact that I expected someone else to pick up my mess and not help where I could. So I have enclosed a check for each of you. I will send more to take care of the things you need. I hope you are both well. -Jack."

       "Holy crap! I never thought we'd ever hear from him again." "Yea me either. But he sent a lot, one hundred thousand dollars. I'm gonna buy so many things..." "No you're not! That's going towards college." My grandmother said. I giggled. "Well since you want to chime in so badly here." Reba said handing the phone to her. "Hi, honey. How are you?" My grandmother asked. "Better than Reba I guess." I said. She chuckled. "Yea, I am hoping she will use it for college. I'm going to put whatever he sends her in a bank account and when she's eighteen she can do what she wants. I just hope she uses it wisely." 

       "Hey I'm with you. I'm going to use my money on college. I don't want to have to take out student loans. And I know you guys would have helped more if you could. I'm just so grateful for everything you guys have done." I said. "Honey, any decent person would have done what we did. Couldn't have you guys going to live with strangers. And I always did wish that your parents would have done a better job. And I love you momma to death. I didn't raise her to be like this. I don't know at what point she took such a left turn. I just wanted better for her and for you kids."

       I can't imagine how my grandmother must feel. The day my mom called her and told her that her life was over my grandmother didn't hesitate to take us in while my mom got her life together and I'm sure at some point she probably thought my mom would get her life together and come take us back with her. But she never did, and my grandparents didn't really get to enjoy their golden years. "I know, so did I. I used to wish when I was a kid that they would come because everybody else had two parents. And I always felt so different. But then I realized when it came down to it, all that made a family was somebody who loves you and takes care of you, and we had that." My grandmother sniffled.

       "I'm so glad to hear you say that, because there were so many times that I doubted if we were even enough. If we were  doing a good enough job or if you always felt like you were missing out and would rather have your parents." "Sure at some point every girl want's to be like her mom. They want to learn from her. Get that maternal love. But my mom...no offense is a crack pot." My grandmother snickered. "That's my daughter, but you are right." "And you and Grandpa showed me the kind of person I want to be. Kind and loving, someone who would do anything to help where they could. And you did that. I wasn't missing out. I had a great life and that's thanks to you." I said.

       She sniffled on the other end. "Well, honey you just made my day." "Good." I was sitting on the edge of the fountain outside of the student union waiting on Carter. I saw him coming towards me. He got a big grin on his face. "Tell Grandpa I love him, and Reba too. I'll see you soon okay?" "Sure thing sugar.  Love you." "Love you too. Bye."

       "Hey gorgeous, how are you?" "Well, I'm doing alright. You are not going to believe what happened." "Well what do you say we go get some pancakes and you tell me all about it?" He asked. "Sure, let's go." He grabbed my hand and started walking to towards the diner close to campus.

       "So my dad sent a letter to me and Reba..." "What? No way! I thought we'd never hear from him again." "You and me both." "What did he want?" "No, he didn't want anything. He just wanted to explain why he was never around. But get this. He sent a check for a hundred thousand dollars!!" I said. "What? Well you're buying the pancakes. That's crazy. Like huh?" "I know, I was super shocked too. I mean it's one of those "I feel bad for not being around, not bad enough to actually BE around but bad enough to buy you off?" Ya know?" "You really think he was trying to buy you off?" He asked.

       "I have no idea, maybe? Maybe he was feeling guilty. Or maybe he really just wanted to do the right thing and help. I'm not really sure. But either way, I don't have to take out student loans i guess?" We walked over the curb and into the parking lot where the diner sat. I could smell bacon wafting out of the diner.

       He held the door open for me and we walked inside. Yum, it smelled heavenly. After we had been seated and placed our order he looked at me sweetly. "What's that look for?" I asked. "No, sorry. Nothing. I'm just...curious. Where did you see yourself six months ago?" "Dead?" "I'm serious!" "I am too! Look I knew getting a kidney was a long shot. I knew my dad probably wouldn't help me. He had no reason to. If anything this was one last trip with my three best friends."

       He cleared something in his throat. "Gosh Mac I'm so sorry. I'm so so glad you're still here with me. I'd be lost with out you." He choked on a sob. "Hey no it's okay, I'm here." I walked around to his side of the booth and sat next to him. He held on to me so tightly. "I can never lose you, you are such a beautiful soul and this amazing, caring person who means everything in the world to me." "And you mean everything to me. I love you." "I love you too." The waitress cleared her throat politely. "OH sorry." I Said embarrassed as I scooted back to my side of the table.

       "No problem dearie, I was young and in love once until he ran off to Vegas with his twenty four year old secretary. They'd do it in the mud if they had too. Anyways here are your pancakes. Enjoy." "Oh, thank you." I said to stunned by her admission to say anything. She walked off. "Really Carter, you'd do it in the mud?" "What? Not me! She said!!" We both burst out laughing. "I feel bad for her though, she seems nice." I mused. "Yea, I don't get some guys. Do you think he's happy with his secretary? I mean sure she's probably cute and all but where's the substance? You know the stuff that makes love worth it. There's more to it than being hot." He shook his head.

       "And that's why I love you. If I thought you were gonna run off with somebody better I wouldn't still be here." "You're gonna be here for the long haul aren't you?" "Yep, and there's no where else I'd rather be. You and I are gonna dream big and do a lot together." "I can't wait."