My Next Door Neighbor is WHO?!

Many, Many Years Later

Chapter 26:

-14 years later-

PJ is 14 years old. He celebrated his birthday 4 months ago. Peter is a typical pre-teen. He hangs out with his friends almost every single day and he even has a crush. He doesn't like me talking about her but I'm going to anyways. Her name is Ali and she's in the same grade as him. She's in his English and math class. I've never met her but I hear him talking about her with his friends. Oh, young love. Anyways, Toby is busy as ever and he's 37. I'm 36 and I feel old for some reason.

-3:00 p.m.-

"I'm home!" I heard PJ yell.

I walked downstairs and went into the kitchen. PJ was facing the corner, making a sandwich.

"Hi, honey," I said, smiling.

He turned around. "Hi, mom,"

"How was school?," I asked.

"Fine," he said and then took a bite out of his sandwich. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," I said.

"Can Ali come over later?,"

I didn't know what to think. "Sure, if she wants to"

"Thanks mom!" PJ ran over to me and hugged me.

He let go and took another bite out of his sandwich, smiling. I tousled his hair and then started to put the dishes away. Then, Toby walked in the kitchen. He grabbed my waist and I looked back at him. I smiled and e smiled back, then he kissed me. I smiled again.

"How are you?," I asked him.

He was working on a new video with a company today.

"Good" he smiled at me.

I playfully touched his nose and he laughed.

At 4 p.m., Ali came over. I opened the door and Ali's mom and dad were standing there with her. I opened the door and welcomed them in.

"Hi," I smiled and shook Ali's mom's hand.

Then I shook her dad's hand. I saw PJ out of the corner of my eye smiling at Ali.

"We're going upstairs" PJ said.

"OK" I said and nodded.

Ali and PJ went upstairs.

"Would you like a drink?" I asked.

"Sure, do you have tea?" Ali's mom asked.

I nodded and they followed me to the kitchen. They sat down and I got some water and put it in the kettle. Toby came out of the bathroom and smiled. Ali's parents looked at him.

"Hi," Toby said.

"Hi," Ali's mom said.

"Nice to meet you" Toby said.

"The same" Ali's mom said.

After the tea was done, I gave Ali's parents their tea and Toby and I got our tea. We sat down in the living room.

"By the way, my name is Jennifer," Ali's mom said.

"And I'm Justin" Ali's dad said.

"I'm Aurora and this is Toby," I said.

"So, your son seems to have an interest in our daughter?," Jennifer said.

"Yes, it seems!," I said, smiling.

"And you're fine with that?," she asked.

I looked at her. "Oh yes," I looked at Toby and smiled, "Toby and I sort of had a similar situation," I explained.

"Oh, really?," she asked.

"Yes, most certainly," I smiled.

"We just wanted to ask in case you didn't approve," Justin said.

"Oh no, we completely understand all of this. We've had plenty of experience!," I said.

"Ha, how did you two meet?," Jennifer asked.

"Well, Toby go ahead" I said.

"Alright. Well, I moved next door to Aurora in 9th grade. We were just starting high school and I must say she was one nervous little cookie around me. Then, the first week of school, everything went haywire. Aurora's mom got murdered, Aurora got stabbed, and she had to spend quite a bit of time in the hospital. Then, I had to move to California and I hadn't seen her for 7 years until she showed up for my 22nd birthday. I got extremely drunk and acted like an idiot. I felt so bad for treating her that way and before she was going to take her flight home, I had a plan. In the line for getting tickets and boarding the plane, I pulled out a ring and proposed to her. She said yes, and then she said she had to leave but that she would be home. Upset, I left and then being her usual, crazy self, she ran to my house. Then, she stayed and her dad moved to California. In December, we got married. After multiple times of not being able to conceive a child, we finally had PJ. Now, we're here," Toby said.

"Wow, that's amazing! Truly a love story," Jennifer said. She wiped away a tear from her face and smiled.

Toby snuggled closer to me, put his arm around me, and said, "She's my everything."

"It sure looks like it" Jennifer said.

Just then, PJ and Ali came downstairs. We all looked at them. I made eye contact with Jennifer and smiled.

"Can we watch a movie Ali hasn't seen?" PJ asked.

"She probably wouldn't be able to watch it anyways if you're there" I winked.

Ali blushed.

"Mom, come on, I'm being serious," PJ pleaded.

"I'm just kidding, go ahead," I said.

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome."

PJ and Ali walked past and went down into the basement.

I yelled, "Make sure you sit at least 4 feet away from each other!" Then, I giggled.

I heard PJ yell back, "Mom!"

Jennifer laughed. I looked at her and smiled.

-6:00 p.m.-

Ali, Jennifer, and Justin left.

"It was nice to meet you!" I said, waving to them.

"The same!" Jennifer said, waving back.

They got in their car and drove away. I closed the door and sat down on the couch in the living room. PJ walked up to me.

"So?" he asked.

"I like her. Her parents seem nice too" I said.

PJ smiled and sat down on the seat across the room. I saw him smiling, giddy.

We were watching the news. Toby and I came into the living room and sat down next to me.

-9:00 p.m.-

PJ was tired and went to bed. Toby and I laid down together on the couch. He was so warm. Next thing I knew, I heard Toby lightly snoring. He fell asleep. I could feel his slow heartbeat and breathing. I gently closed my eyes and I fell asleep.

I really did like Ali. She was a sweetheart and only time could tell what would happen between the two.