Forever

Chapter 9

"Okay mom, here we are." I say in excitement.

"So remind me again why we're here.."

"No specific reason. I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. You know, especially without having a dad around to help out."

I give a small hint and hope she'll reconsider her decisions though nothing really seems to happen especially since she immediately changes the topic.

"Well that's sweet. Anyway, lets just get on line."

We get onto the line and wait for only about 2 minutes. We arrive at the desk and are instantly seated in a nice booth for two.

"Enjoy your evening." The women says.

We both take a seat as I anxiously look around for Zac. After a few minutes I finally spot him and dad taking a seat in a nearby table.

Perfect!

"Uh mom, I'm going to go use the restroom quickly."

"Okay, sweetie."

I get up and give Zac a signal by briefly knocking on his table with my fingernail. As I continue to walk I hear Zac talk to his dad.

"Dad, I'm gonna go to the bathroom, k?"

"Alright."

Zac stood up and walked in the same direction as me until we met up in the same corner of the room.

"Hey, how's it going?" I ask.

"Not bad. I'm just hoping they'll both see each other and one of them will make a move."

"Yeah, I'm a little worried about that. I just don't see it happening."

"Yeah.."

We both stop and think for a minute trying to come up with one of our other brilliant plans.

"Oh I got it!" I say.

"What if I went back to the table and had my mom go to the bathroom. Then, we get one of the waitresses to go to dad and say his table was moved to where mom's sitting. He won't know she was even there in the first place and then when mom comes back, she'll have no choice but to say something."

"That's genius, Valentina!"

"Awesome, let's do it."

I walk back to mom sitting all alone at the table, calmly reading the menu.

"Hey mom, I'm back."

"I see that."

"Did you want to use the bathroom before we order?"

"No honey that's alright."

"You sure? I would go even just to wash your hands."

"Good point. Alright I'll be right back."

Yes!!

As I finish up with mom I see Zac out of the corner of my eye giving directions to a waitress. Then, I see the waitress approaching dad.

"Sir, I apologize but the lady who seated you here is new to the restaurant and she accidentally seated you at the wrong table. Would you mind moving over to this booth over here?"

"Oh, sure thing."

They walk over to moms table as I casually walk back to Zac. We both take a seat where dad used to be sitting. Dad sits in the booth and then we see mom. She walks gracefully back to her seat until she lays eyes on dad. She slowly changes her pace to a much slower, more awkward pace as she carefully walks toward him as though she's allergic to him.

"John? Is that you?"

Dad looks up at mom. His eyes widen.

"Oh my god, it's you."

"Uh yeah... why are you at my table?"

"It's kinda a long story."

They look at each other for a long time in silence.

This is good, this is good, good signs here.

"I'm sorry, I'm just in shock.." Mom says politely.

"Yeah me too."

"I don't know what to say. I was just here eating dinner with Valentina."

"Really? 'Cause I was having dinner with Zac. Wow, that's really weir- wait."

"What?"

"Zac has been trying to get me to move back in with you guys."

"Oh.. right... that.. But you're not going to, are you?"

"Well.. I'm just trying to keep away from awkward situations."

"Yeah, I get that."

I turn around and whisper to Zac.

"Zac, it almost seems like mom wants dad back."

"Yeah I know."

We continue to listen in.

"I just don't want that sort of thing to happen again," Dad says, "Especially for the kids."

"Yeah, that's reasonable. But what makes you think that sort of thing will happen again? Why are you so sure?"

"Well, you know, we haven't seen each other in ages. We haven't spoken since the divorce."

"Yeah but so what?"

Dad stops.

"I don't know. Hey, you kind of seem like.. like... um.."



"What?"

"Never mind."

"I miss you, John."

"You what?"

"I miss you. You might not miss me, you might not even care but I want you to know how hard this has been on Valentina and clearly Zac too."

"I know how hard it's been on the kids. But what about you?"

Mom sighs.

"What ever happened to us?"

"I don't really want to remember that. I liked our happier memories better."

"Well of course you do, so do I. Why can't we make more of them?"

"Who says we can't make more of them?" Dad says happily.

They stare into each others eyes and smile. As Zac and I do the same. We high five powerfully and give each other a nice, small hug.

"I think we did it, Zac!"