RAISING SUMMER

THE NEIGHBORS

Luke and I sat in the kitchen while Summer  played on the floor. I made more tea while waiting for my tired eyes to respond to the first cup. I stood in my pajamas shorts not particularly motivated to get into actual clothes. Who cares, it wasn't like I had anything planned for today. A loud truck interrupted our morning. I looked at Luke and Summer curiously. Luke shared the same look as we raced towards the living room window. This window gave us the view of the whole street. We pulled back the drapes and peeked through the blinds.

We watched as a moving truck pulled up to the newly sold house next door. I watched as a young woman about my age jumped out of the moving truck. Three kids followed behind.

"Oh no, not more kids!" Luke complained. "Hey but at least she's hotter." He smiled, but I rolled my eyes. She turned around to the side where her baby bump was exposed. "Okay, maybe not that hot." He shook his head. She caught a glimpse of us spying on her through our window. She squinted and I quickly snapped the blinds back together and closed the drapes quickly.

"Shit!" I shouted.

"Did she see us?" He asked with his body pinned to the wall under the window seal.

"Gee I don't know? Your head's so big it's without a doubt destined to be seen." I taunted. I heard footsteps approaching the front door. I sprinted up and pretended to be busy as Luke followed. Not even a few seconds later the doorbell rang.

"I'm coming!" Luke stumbled his way to the door. I rolled my eyes and grabbed Summer out of her bouncer following Luke.

"Hi." The woman greeted me.

"Hey." We smiled enthusiastically.

"I just wanted to come by and meet you guys." She smiled.

"Oh how sweet of you, you must be the new neighbor!" I said a little too eagerly.

"Yeah actually neighbors." She grinned rubbing her baby bump.

"Yeah I can see, how precious how far along are you?" I asked.

"What? I'm not pregnant." She started with a serious, offensive look on her face.

"Oh my gosh I am so sorry. I just......." I explained sheepishly.

"Ha, ha, ha." She snickered. "I'm just messing with you." She waved her hand.

"Ohhh, thank God." I sighed in relief. "You nearly gave me a heart attack." I released a breath chuckled warmly. "I'm Jane." I smiled warmly, reaching out my free hand. "This is Summer." I announced bouncing her on my hip. "And this is Luke." I said dryly.

"I'm Lucy, I have four little monsters checking out their new rooms." She grinned.  "It's so nice to meet another young couple there's not very many people here."

"Couple?" I looked at her and Luke.

"Yeah." She continued.

"You think we're a couple?" I asked.

"Yeah, are you not?" She asked, a little embarrassed.

"Me and him?" I laughed uncontrollably. "Lucy, you really are funny."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to assume." She tried to shake it off.

"No it's totally normal we're, um..." I tried to think without oversharing.

"Friends." Luke stated.

"Oh okay." She smiled. "Well I gotta get back to the kids. It was nice meeting you all. I look forward to getting to know you all better."

"Yeah, absolutely. Stop by anytime!" I cheered. Saying our goodbyes Luke closed the door.

"Jane!" He scolded. "Stop by anytime. Seriously, do I have to remind you we don't like people?" He whispered.

"I was trying to be neighborly, I'm sorry I panicked." I dropped my face into my palms. "She seems nice. Hopefully she will forget how awkward we were." I paced.

"Doubtful, that was next level nuclear!"

"Nooo, it can't be that bad, they could be Summer's future friends, did we just condemn her?" My eyes went wide. Luke shook his head. "I can fix it, I will fix it." I pulled out a muffin tin and a cookie sheet and got to work. I baked blueberry muffins and chocolate chip cookies, easy, simple and allergy friendly. Before gathering my courage to knock on Lucy's door. She emerged with a toddler on her hip.

"Oh Jane!"  She smiled warmly, pushing her red locks out of her bright red face.

"Hi Lucy, I'm sorry I don't want to bother you. I just wanted to apologize for the awkward interaction and welcome you to the neighborhood properly. "Blueberry muffins and chocolate chip cookies, no nuts or anything, didn't know if anyone in your family was allergic." I stammered.

"Oh Jane, thank you, that's very kind of you." She smiled.

"Anyway I'll let you get back to it. I'm sure you have lots to do." I turned ready to leave.

"Wait, Jane!" She raised her voice and I turned back to her.

"Yea?"

"Do you maybe want to hangout sometime, like a play date with the kids or coffee. I don't really have any friends or anything and you seem really nice." She smiled shyly.

"I'd like that." I smiled and she relaxed a bit relieved. We exchanged phone numbers before I retreated back to my house. Luke sat on the edge of his seat by the door. He leaped up as I closed the door behind me.

"Well?" He questioned.

"She wants to hangout." I smiled.

"Yes!" Luke cheered. "Summer's first play date!" He chanted loudly through the house.