Little Moments

Chapter Seventeen

“How long until they can come home?” I ask Cole.

    “The baby’s healthy and so is McKenna, but they want to keep the baby for at least four weeks to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

    “How premature was she?”

    “Around two months, she’s two pounds four ounces.”

    “Have you gottten to hold her yet?”

    “No, when she was born she wasn’t breathing. I won’t get to hold until they make sure she’s okay first,” his voice cracks, “I just want to hold my baby girl.”

    “What did you name her?”

    “Julita.”

    I let a tear fall from my eye, “My middle name,” I smile.

    He chuckles, “Ya,” then his voice goes serious, “I’m sorry… for everything.”

“Just take good care of McKenna and the baby, okay?”

“Promise!” he hangs up as some doctors ask to speak with him.

My door flings open and my grandma emerges in her long knitted- green cardigan, maroon tee, and dark brown crocks that peek out from under her denim skirt.

“The bakery is closed today! I was thinking some shopping could do us both some good,” she winked.

“Let me just grab my purse,” I smile.

“You raised yourself well,” my grandma said as we walked out of Forever 21.

“What do you mean?” I ask as we sit down in the food court.

“I know your dad wasn’t always there for you.”

“Try never.”

“You’re a very sweet and smart girl,” she smiled.

“When I was in fifth grade, there was a school talent show. I wanted to go so badly. I didn’t know what my talent was. I honestly don’t have one, but I wanted to get up on the stage and do something wonderful. I wanted people to look at me and listen to me. I’ve never had that before, so I longed for someone, anyone, to pay attention to me for more than five minutes. All the other girls in my class were rehearsing dances with their friends or humming the lyrics to a Taylor Swift song they were going to sing that night. I didn’t have any friends, except for McKenna. I had no mom to do my hair pretty or pick out cute dresses and skirts for me. I was on my own. I would wear the same jeans all the time and t-shirts with stains down the front,” I smile, “You would have never known that I had enough money to buy any clothes I wanted. My hair was always in a crooked ponytail or just brushed and sprayed with water. No one wanted to play with me or be my friend.”

“The night of the talent I rode my bike to school. Everyone was leaving and congratulating their children on what a wonderful job they did. I ran on stage and hit the microphone, getting everyone’s attention and read my poem. The one I wrote when my dad had explained how my mom left and was never coming back. When I finished reading it,there was silence, silence that was interrupted by clapping and smiles and tears. A lady came up to me after and said, “You’re dad must be so proud of you, where is he at?” I told her he wasn’t there and she seemed saddened by that, “It’s okay, he wouldn’t want to hear it anyway.” For some reason I smiled, hopped on my bike and went home. My dad hadn’t even noticed I was gone.”

“I’m sorry, that he was never there for you. After your mom left he just had the hardest time,” my grandma smiled, “Now enough of this sappy stuff. Let’s shop!”

After five hours of shopping, my legs were sore and my arms had indentations from the bags that I carried all through out the mall.

My grandma and I tossed all of our bags on the floor and couch.

“I think we deserve a pineapple pizza after all that walking,” My grandma smiles and dials the number to the best pizza place I’ve been too!

“Holy! Did you guys buy the entire mall?” Drake shouts as he walks in the apartment, followed by Evan.

“Claire always makes me go into Victoria’s Secret with her,” Evan eyes the pink and white striped bag, “The place reeks of perfume!”

“It’s not that bad,” I laugh.

“We went there last week and some girl asked me if I thought the black underwear would be slimming on her! I told her they might if she didn’t have that double cheeseburger for lunch!”

“Evan! You don’t say that to someone!” I tried to stay as serious as possible as Drake burst into laughter.

“That would have been good information to know before she slapped me!”

My grandma came back into the living room, “Okay! Pizza will be here soon! Evan, are you planning on staying for dinner?”

“No thanks, Claire’s expecting me to cook some filet mignon for her birthday tomorrow,” he rolls his eyes, “Well, I better get going, I have a six o’clock appointment at ‘Kid’s  Kitchen’.”

“Kid’s Kitchen?” I laugh, “You do realize that place is for ages four to twelve? And unless Claire is hoping for some burnt brownies or ‘Macaroni Surprise’... Honestly, all I can say is good luck!”

“Thanks,” Evan laughs.

“So, how are you and Kaleb?” My grandma asks handing me a plate for my pizza.

My stomach drops, “Uh, good!” I force a smile on my face and Drake gives me a weird look.

Luckily, my grandma leaves it at that and we go on to having a nice pineapple pizza. I’ve forgotten about the entire thing until my phone buzzes with a voicemail from Kaleb.

“Hey, uh… Sorry, but I have to cancel our plans for the weekend. Something came up, but I’ll talk to you later.!” I excused myself from dinner, put on some sweats and went to my room.

I’ve been laying in bed for almost two hours. I’m so confused. This is the third time Kaleb has cancelled without any explanation at all. Every time it’s just, “Something’s come up.” Something else is going on and that makes me sick to my stomach.