Paperboy. (h.s. au)

34.

I wake up bright and early to the sound of a familiar car horn honking very loudly outside our house. Sighing and heaving my tired body out of bed, I stop. I recognize that horn...

I rush downstairs and throw open the curtains of the kitchen window, revealing my truck, shining and brand new looking parked in the driveway.

I almost pass out at the sight of it. Especially when I notice my father in the driver's seat, smiling and waving. Remembering what my mother said about my dad taking the car to get "fixed," I grin.

I run outside to the truck with no shoes on my feet. Grinning, I open the car door and my dad hops out, his smile never fading. "Do you like it?" He opens his arms up, waiting for a hug.

I oblige, and say into his chest, "Of course I do! Did you do all this?"

"For you, my dear." He pats my back and I step away. "Look at you, all patched up." He lightly touches the pink new scar on my cheek where a gash used to be.

Our conversation is short. He apologizes, I tell him it wasn't his fault. And it really wasn't, it was a long time coming.

Then he tells me about the wedding, if I can handle it, if I approve.

I tell him the truth. That I don't know this woman but if he's happy and wants to marry her, I suppose that I have to approve.

"The wedding is next month. I want all of you to come." He smiles down at me, worry in his eyes.

My father looks at me as if I'm going to burst at any given moment. I try to assure him I won't with a, "That's wonderful. I'm sure we'll all be there. I'm excited!" Weddings are so fun to go to, and this time I might even have a plus one...

"Yeah," he scratches the back of his neck, "maybe you can bring that boy your mother told me about..." He grins.

"Oh, yeah. Harry. Maybe." I laugh nervously.

"I know, I know. I won't ask you too much. But I do want to meet him." Before I can answer, he speaks up, "Listen, I'm just dropping this off before I get to work. Your mother said she would drive me." I mentally grimace at the awkwardness of that.

"Oh, okay. Thanks again, so much. This is amazing."

• • •

My dad left for work with the aid of my mother and I went inside with David after fawning over my beautiful truck, good as new. I called and told Harry about it, and he's just as happy as I am, saying he has to come see it sometime soon.

He asks if I would "fancy" going over to his apartment this evening to watch a movie, eat pizza, and of course do puzzles. He even promises to clean up the place. My mother actually approves of these plans, as long as his apartment stays "well lit" and says she will drive me over later, since I'm not exactly clear to drive it yet.

I spend most of the day busying myself with anything I could find- vacuuming, sweeping, dusting, I even mopped the kitchen floor; the usual things I do to occupy myself.

I talk to David for a bit about our cat and if we should adopt any others. We agree that seven more is too any, but that six is a good number. Then Marie calls.

All of the ladies from the library are on the phone asking how I've been. Overcome with their sweetness, I thank them for the flowers (which I've had to discard due to their withering structure). They say that there's no rush whatsoever to come into work- only that I come in when I feel like I'm ready. I respond to this by telling them that I'm sure within a week I'll be prepared enough to come into work again. They tell me that they suddenly have some business and have to go, but they'll talk to me later.