18 Years Later:
I was shopping for our birthday.. Today was my 38th birthday.. Young? Not so much. But life's good, some hardships, but it's good now.
"You just took the last bag of marshmallows" A deep voice said from behind. I turned around to say Tough Luck but I saw an old friend of mine.. ex-Boyfriend. "Hey" He said with a smile on his face "Remember me?"
"How can I forget you Tobias. I tried to find you, but I couldn't.. You Kipleys just disappeared."
"I know right?" He scratched the back of his neck. "So what are you shopping for?"
"Our birthday" I told him "We still celebrate them.. Wanna come? It would be so much fun" I said. "I mean.. If you have nothing else"
"No I don't have anything really. I was just coming for icecream"
"Great" I said.
I stocked the car with plenty of items and I started to drive.
"It's been a long time" He started to talk.
"Yeah.. So you married?"
"Nop. You?"
"Me niether" I stated closing the subject. "So how's Tom and Kayla?"
"Good.. Kayla got married and adopted a girl.. Tom is still the way he is. What about your siblings?"
"So many things happened.. All the girls are married.. James got divorced twice."
"Twice? Isn't he 38?"
"I know right? Anyways Jermy got married and you'll never guess who Steve married"
"Who?"
"Beth!! You remember her?"
"Yeah your bestest friend from school. How did that happen?"
"It happened a couple of years earlier.. We were 32 and I don't know.. Emma was 14 and she always liked Beth which made Steve like her and ask her out which resulted in their marriage and 2 adorable kids."
"I would never imagine them together"
"Yeah? You'll see them in a bit" I said. We remained silent until we arrived to my parents' old house.. It's the family house, dad got married to a woman older than me in 2 years which means she's younger than Zack and they have a child together. Mom and Kev got married with no kids.
"Hey sis.. Ooh you have a guest.. Is that?.. Are you?.. Tobias?" Jermy asked while helping with the groceries. "Hey man.. Welcome back to America"
"I'm back since forever but thanks" He smiled.
"Really? Since when?" I asked.
"12 Years" He told us while holding some bags.
"Oh."
As we entered the house and into the backyard we instantly smelled the food on the grill.. Kids screaming and running.. Sounds of laughter. I just love my birthday.
"Mommyyy" My little 5 year old Adam hugged my legs. "You took too long" He said with a hint of sadness. I picked him up and kissed him.
"Thought you said not married" Tobias stated with hesitation.
"I'm not" I said.
"Boyfriend?"
"No"
"D-I-V-O-R-C-E-D?"
"Try a Widow" My daughter's voice sang in my ear.. "Hi, I'm Stephany, her daughter and you are??" This girl acts as my protector.. She's defensive around me when guys are around.. She just misses her father..
"Honey this is Tobias. An old friend of mine." At the sound of his name my siblings came over and started to greet him.
"Stephany what is wrong with you?" I whispered to her ear "Be nice"
"Why so he could jump into our lives and act as a dad?"
"I told you he is a friend from highschool.. Just met him at the supermarket."
"So mister what's your name?" Adam asked politely.
"Tobias and you?"
"Adam.. Nice to meet you"
"So I hear you're mom's friend from highschool" Steph said "Did you know my dad?"
"Your dad?"
"Yeah.. Dylan Grey." Steph said.
"Seriously? You married him?" Tobias asked me like I was cheating him.
"Yeah. We met on a blind date"
"Oh.. So if you don't mind me asking.. What happened to him?"
"He died" I said.
"I know but.."
"Here eat a sandwich" Andrieh, Jade's husband, saved me from a question that I spent two years trying to answer without crying.
"Hey you guys started the party without me" Emma arrived.. She is twenty years old.. Time flies fast. "Everyone" She got our attention "This is Rony"
"Hi." A tall black haired, green eyed guy appeared from behind wearing a seductive smile on his face. Steve won't like him at all. I headed towards him and so did Steve and Beth.. This guy looks familiar. I just can't remember where I saw him.
"Hi I'm Steven.. Em's dad" Her father started.
"I know.. Emma has told me so much about you" He said.
"Funny she didn't even mention you" Beth said.
"So Rony what's your real name? Or do you like to be nicknamed like a chick."
"Dad!" Emma whisper yelled "His name is Rony"
"Hah" Steven said "What kind of name is that"
"Oh my God Ron?? She told me about you but I didn't know it's you" I said hugging him.
"You know him?" Steve asked.
"Yeah I do. Remember Ronda? From my cancer group support? She's his mom."
"Wait." Beth said "You've told Hilĺary about him and you didn't tell me?"
"Well.. She caught me talking to him so I was forced to tell her.. I wanted him to be a surprise" She said "That's why I told her not to tell. Right aunty?" She looked at me begging me to lie.. The truth us that Hillary tells me everything and Beth is jelous that she doesn't have that with Em.. "Yeah. Sorry Beth but she made me promise" I said and Beth nodded not believing us.
"So Rony" Steve said still annoyed "How's your mom?"
"She died a couple of years back" He said with sadness in his voice.
"I'm sorry" I bet he feels like a jerk.
"It's nice seeing you Ron.. I'm glad that you ended up with my niece"
"I'm glad I ended up with her too" He said taking her hand and kissing it which made Steve scrowl.
I dropped an ear on Tobias's and James's conversation "My first wife Evlyn left me after 2 years from our marriage.. We had twins, Carlos and Maria.. We just didn't get along. Most of those two years we were fighting but as soon as we got a divorce we were friends for the kids.. That wasn't the case with my second wife Josaphine.. She hated my guts, we were together for 5 years for our daughter Elena who begged us to get a divorce at the age of 5."
"The kids get along?"
"The kids adore each other.. the twins are 16 and Elena is 10.. I was 22 when I got married for the first time and 28 the second.. I'm telling you marriage is hell.. I don't know how the others did it"
"You just don't know how to choose a wife" I said "You just marry the ones that plays hard to get." I said.
The day went on.. Tobias didn't stay long.. He got a phone call and excused himself.. It was nice meeting a ghost from my past..
