Caught Up

Chapter Two

Caught Up

Chapter Two

"Mommy, I'm home!" I yelled as I walked through the front door of my home on Wednesday evening. Despite my state of mind last night, today had been a good day. I had woken up feeling refreshed, volleyball practice had been amazing, and Connor had been surprisingly tolerable. Plus, I had my mother's home cooking to look forward to- and let me just tell you right now, if she hadn't have found a career in interior design, professional cooking could have been her calling.

Duke was absent however, and I had felt silly when I got disappointed because he didn't show up for second period. By volleyball however, I was proud to say that his pretty face wasn't even on my mind.

Eyeing the trench coat and purse tossed haphazardly on the leather sectional as well as the wine glasses and magazines strewn about the coffee table, I smiled to myself at the cozy feeling that having my mom home gave me. For someone who felt so passionately about home decor and neatness, it sure didn't bother her to leave her stuff laying around.

I located her in the kitchen, slaving away at the stove with a "Mother Knows Best" apron tied around her waist and her hair pulled back into a messy french braid that made her appear younger despite the laugh lines on either side of her mouth. Plopping down on the closest bar stool, I rested my cheek on my hand to watch her. She twisted her head around to smile at me warmly before asking me how my day was while she stirred.

It was times like this that made me wish she was home all the time. I missed her a lot, and weirdly enough, it was the times that she was home that was the hardest because all the sweet, motherly things that she did while she was home just made me think about when she would be gone again.

"Your father called. He won't be able to come home tonight. So, it'll be just us two." Mom's voice was cheerful as she spoke, but I could tell that she was slightly disappointed at the fact that she would be leaving tomorrow morning without having seen her husband at all.
I nodded, unsurprised by his absence, "Yeah, he was gone last night, too. Said something about tracking a suspect over in Towson." Wanting to distract her from the negative feelings, I added, "What are we gonna do?" It worked.

Immediately, a bright grin lifted her full lips (the very same ones that I had my own set of). "Well, I'm glad you asked, my dear. For I have provided." And she went jogging out of the room only to return holding a redbox case. "Check it out".

Catching it in the air, I opened it and giggled excitedly at what stared back at me. "Magic Mike XXL! Ugh, I've been wanting to see this for forever!"

Laughing at my eagerness, she flipped off the burner and set the taco meat to the side before turning towards me, "Well, let's eat first. Then, we'll watch the movie, but I'm afraid to say that that's probably all we'll be able to do because it's been a rough week and I crave sleep."

"Sounds good", I giggled, sliding out of my seat and placing the movie case onto the granite counter before making my plate.

*****

"Nope, they're still together!" I informed before hollering out laughing at the befuddled look on my mother's face. Her eyebrows nearly hit the ceiling.

"You. Are. Kidding." She enunciated in shock. I shrugged at her, continuing to giggle. "I swear, they are the weirdest. Like, I don't condone judging people, but those two are on a whole new level." Ever since seeing this couple that I go to school with in the grocery store feeding each other strawberries and baby-talking each other, Mom had made a point to ask about them every time she came home.

Taking our plates, I set them in the sink before grabbing Magic Mike XXL off the counter and skipping to the living room to get it ready. Mom followed me after a few minutes and we cuddled up on the couch with each other to watch the male strippers dance across the screen. After about an hour, I looked over at my Mom who had fallen over asleep about twenty minutes prior. Sending one last longing glance at Channing Tatum's half-naked body, I switched the tv off, placed a blanket over my mother, and made my way into my bedroom tiredly.