Time Away

Family Day

Once the family visit was over. We said our goodbyes and went back home. I still didn't feel right about Michelle, but I trusted Daniel enough to let it go. Things with Daniel were still pretty offbeat but we were better than before. No more arguing, more time spent just talking and laughing. He was talking to Josiah more too. He was talking about Si's first birthday coming up soon.

"One more month babe! Did you get the decorations I sent you? I thought those would be cool to set up." I said, smiling widely into the phone. Josiah was with my mother downstairs.
"Yeah S, I saw them. It'll look great." Daniel said, he seemed a bit distracted but I couldn't contain my excitement.
"You're right. It's gonna be great." I fiddled with my fingers with a big smile on my face. Daniel was watching intently , chuckling to himself as I tried to control myself.
"You're hilarious." He said still smiling widely at me.
I looked at him shocked realizing what I was doing.
"You know you do that a lot when we go out to eat too. Dancing in your seat when we get food. The way you move just makes me happy I guess." He smiles to himself as he starts writing something.
I looked a bit puzzled with a goofy grin on my face.
"Thanks D." We were quiet for a moment.
"You working on something?" I asked.
"Thinking about it at least." He said still thinking.
"Well I'll let you be great, me and Kale have a lunch date today. He finished the semester with all A's so I wanna do something nice for him." I said.
"That's so awesome! Tell him I said congrats! He's gotta keep it up." Daniel said.
"No problem, he's a freaking genius. Ooh!" I shushed myself.
"He's got a girlfriend now babe. I'm supposed to be meeting her today too."
Daniel laughed again.
"This is what I'm talking about. You just shushed yourself!" He began laughing hysterically. Once he controlled himself, he said,
"That's cool though, let me know what you think love."
"You know I will. Okay, bye babe."
"Love you."
"Love you."

I ran to Kale's room, banging on his door.
"You ready?!" I hollered. Kale swung open his door posing in the doorway.
"What you think?" He said with a sly smile.
He wore a black polo t shirt with khakis and black & white Nike SB's.
"Looking good little bro!!" I popped his collar excitedly.
"You're such a dork," he chuckled. "Where we going sis?" He asked.
"Umm.. Olive Garden?"
He shook his head. His curls shook on his head, Kale and Daniel were growing out there hair together for some odd reason but their curls were gorgeous.
"Gabriella's?" I asked.
"Uh, I guess. Yeah! I'll text Kiana."
"That's her name?! Aww! Kale and Kiana!" I skipped to my room as Kale followed.

...

We parked at Gabriela's and waited outside. Kiana waved as she approached us, embracing us both in a hug.
"Hey love!" She kisses Kale as he sheepishly smiled.
"Hey baby." He looked down at her so happily.
"Aww!!" I said excitedly. We all laughed and Kale held the door open for as both as we headed in. The host got us a table and we were looking at the menu.
"So Kiana, do you go to college too?" I asked.
"Yeah actually. I'm in my sophomore year as a Marketing major." She smiled as Kale held her hand. I think she was a bit nervous.
"That's awesome! Kale is just starting out but that's so cute. How'd you meet?" I asked.
" umm, I actually met him when he was walking through the park with his nephew." She giggled, smiling at him. "The baby was screaming and he seemed to be a bit stressed out so I ran over to help him." Kale squeezed her hand, nervously looking at me. I gave him a nasty look.
"Oh, did I say something wrong?" She asked.
"No baby, you're fine. The baby was my son Josiah." I calmed myself and replied,
"I'm glad you were there though." I smiled and she smiled back weakly.
"It's fine. How long have you guys been dating?" I continued asking more questions over the lunch. Kiana was a really sweet, timid kind of girl so it was interesting to see her personality with Kale's. They were very goofy and in love and it was so apparent. I was happy for my brother. It reminded me of when Daniel and I first started dating. It made me wanna be close to him. I sighed heavily to myself.

"Alright guys! I'm full and ready to go!" I said. Kale grabbed the check as we all got up and he paid as we walked outside.
"Hey Sloane, I'm gonna spend the rest of the day with Kiana okay?" His hand was in hers, once again.
"Sure Kale. I'll see you later." I hugged my brother and Kiana as I walked over to my car and drove home. I dialed Daniel's number while I was in he car and waited as the phone rang. And rang. And rang. I called twice but no answer, so I decided to leave a message.
"Hey it's Daniel, you know what to do." His voicemail went off and beeped.
"Hey babe! I just got back from the lunch date with Kale and Kiana, Kale's girlfriend. Call me back, love you." I hung up as I parked and walked into the house.
"Hey mommie! Hey Si!" I hollered as I ran towards them. My mom was watching House again as Si played on the floor in front of her.
I kissed my mother's cheek and picked up Si.
"Ma-ma." Josiah said to me wiping his slobber on my face.
My mom looked at me as shocked as I was!
"Oh my goodness!!! Yes mama!! Oh baby! I love you so much! Can you say it again?! Say mama!" I was talking so fast I don't think I even heard myself.
"Si baby, say mama." He looked at me again and said it a bit slower this time as to mock me.
"Ma-ma." I kissed his cheek several times and began to call Daniel on FaceTime.
"Let's hope daddy answers Si! This is so exciting." Once again, Daniel didn't pick up.
I tried to record it for him but Si wasn't having anymore of my nonsense.

What is Daniel doing?

...

Later that night I got a call around 2am from Daniel. His voice was slurred, he had been drinking.
"Hey Daniel." I sighed into the phone.
"Heeeyyyy baabbyyy." He said, making kissing noises into the phone.
"I-I-I m-miss you baabe. You wanna c-come to my room?" He made the kissing noises again.
"Daniel you are literally miles away from me right now. Are you in your room?"
"Y-yes." He replied sadly.
"Did you get my calls from earlier today?"
There was a long pause. I think he was trying to see them on his phone.
"Oh yeeaaahhh. I'm soorryyy baby. I was in the studio.." he paused again, "and, and.. and then we went to the club.."
"Okay, baby it's fine. I had to tell you something today but clearly you are not capable of conversation right now. Can you please call me in the morning?"
"Baby, slow down you're talking to fast."
"Slow down? Daniel just call me back in the morning." I chuckled lightly to myself.
"Baby I w-wanna hear what h-happened." He said sweetly. I pictured him laying against my chest as he listened to what I was saying.
"I went on the lunch date with Kale and Kiana."
I said.
"Oh yeah, his giiiirrlllfriend. I got that m-message." He burped.
"Sorry baby, go head."
I laughed. "She was great baby. Really sweet and kinda timid but they were so in love, it reminded me of us."
"Aww." He said.
"I love you Sloane."
"I love you too. And guess what D?"
"Hmm?" He said.
"Josiah said his first words!!"
"WHAT?!" Daniel hollered into the phone.
"Yes baby! He said mama! I tried to FaceTime you but he wasn't trying to say it and you didn't pi-"
"Oh baby no! I should've answered. Babe I'm so sorry. You told me I'd miss these things."
He whines lightly into the phone.
"Baaabbyyyy." He whined again.
"Love, it's okay. I mean, it's not but you'll be home in 3 weeks. And I'm sure he'll say it again, I'll try and record him. Maybe he'll say Daddy when you get back." I replied.
I wish I could hug him and say it's okay but I told him this would happen.
"I guess this is a bad time to say Kale and I have been training Si to walk now."
"No it's not." I could feel his frustration at this point. There was another long pause, guess he's sobering up.
"Hey S, I'm happy Josiah is growing up. I'm gonna try to be home longer so I can walk and talk with him too."
"That sounds great love. I'll be here." He chuckled lightly.
"One more thing, I have a show the day before Si's big day so I just need you to pick me up the next morning around 12pm."
"I'll be there." I say lightly. I'm secretly happy that he's coming back but something in my gut feels wrong about getting excited.
Daniel chuckled again.
"Okay. I love you baby. I love you so much." He said to me.
"I love you too D. Good night honey." I said.
"Night love."
We hung up and I slowly drifted off to sleep.