Gone And Back Again

My Boys

Alicia

 I woke up with a bright light in my eyes and a foot on my face. Groaning, I grabbed the little leg and moved it away from my face as I peered over to my right. Covered in white sheets lied a little angel. My little angel. The sun that woke me up barely touched his light brown hair but he was still rolling around as if he was restles. "Dom, rise n' shine." I cooed and brushed some of his hair out of his eyes as he rolled over into my arms. 

"But it's too early, Mommy." He frowned but smiled as I kissed his nose. "Can we go see Andy today?" I nodded and my toddler shot up, nearly scaring me. Andy, often took care of Dom and myself. He was my best friend since the second grade when I had shoved a acrayon up his nose because he cut off one of my pigtails. Ever since Dominic was born, I had Andy there by my side every step of the way. "I'm gonna go potty, Mommy!"

Dom rolled off my bed and his little feet his the floor with a small 'thud'. As I got up and walked to the kitchen, I heard his footsteps, pattering to the bathroom. I couldn't afford much, so I bought a small apartment in Manhattan. It was close to my school, so I got a small discount. The humming from the bathroom made me smile as I put the hot water on the stove. After the toilet flushed, there was a little bit more pattering, and the bar stool that was pulled up to the island was raked back. 

"Ugh," Dom was struggling to get on the large stool, but managed to get a step stool. "Look Mommy! I did it all by myself!"

"I see!" I smiled at him as I fried some grilled cheese. "So what do you want to do with Andy today, hun?" 

As I turned my back to continue to work on the food, Dominic pulled his plate and fork, that I had sat out, closer to himself. "Can we go for ice cream and to the park? Oh! And can we take Andy's car? It's my favorite color!" Grabbing his plate, I put half a grilled cheese on his plate and passed it back to him. I put the other half on my own plate and began to eat it, when the phone rang. 

"Dom, don't move. I'll be right back." I walked into the bedroom and picked up the phone. "Hello?"

A familiar chuckle filled the line and a gruff "Good morning, Aj." came through.

"Andy!" I walked back in the kitchen to see my son's hazel eyes gleaming with hope and excitement. "Dom and I were just talking about you."

"Good things I hope." I nodded at Dominic and he shot me a toothy grin before digging into his food again.

"Slow down, Sport!" I laughed and grabbed orange juice out the fridge and poured two glasses. "Nothing but good things. Here, I'll put you on speaker."

With a simple press of a button, Andy's deep but cheery voice filled the room. "Andy! Andy!" Dominic took a sip of his orange juice and called out to my friend. 

Andrew laughed on the line and answered. "What's up little man? Taking good care of Mom?" I smiled at his joke and shook my head as Dom tried to become more sophisticated when Andy mentioned a hint of responsibility. 

"Of course," My son puffed out his chest and laughed. "The real question is; 'Do you wanna go out for some ice cream with my mother and I?'"

"Sure, why not? I'll be over in an hour and we'll leave. We can take my car, Dom. I know how much you like it." 

Dom smiled and fist pumped the air with a 'yes!' and ran off to get dressed. "Wash up!" I called out after him as I take the phone off speaker. "I can't believe how big he's gotten, 'Leese." Andy sighed as if he was nostolgic. 

I bit my lip as I put the dishes away. "I know. I feel like it was only yesterday when I found out..." I peered over my shoulder, hoping he wasn't paying attention to me, and he wasn't. Dominic was putting on clothes and typing shoes. "I wish I could shrink him." I sighed as I leaned back on the kitchen island and clutched my phone. 

"God no." Andy laughed through the phone. "I'm tired of changing diapers."

I chuckled and shook my head. "I'm with you on that one, love."

"Hey do you mind if I bring Jess?"

I bit my lip. Jessica. Andrew always had a thing for the regular pale, blond hair, blue eyes, slimmed, and seductive girls. I never liked her much. It's not that I'm racist, I just don't think she's good enough for him. Honesty twisted my hand as I lied to him. "Yeah, we'd love to see her." And the guilt began to overwhelm. 

"Aha. You sound like you're lying, my dear."

"Oh, sorry Andy, but you know I'm not fond of her." I felt bad, but better because I didn't have to lie to my best friend. The heavy sigh that I heard on the line told me that he was frustrated. I wish he'd notice how much of a bum she was. "I don't mind Andrew. Invite her. She makes Dominic happy, so it's cool."

I abruptly hung up and sighed. The shower I took wasn't long, and neither the amount of time it took me to get dressed, but it felt like it took Andy three hours to come get us when it was ten minutes. As I picked Dom up, I made sure his white shirt and gray jeans didn't have stains on them. I also checked his white sneakers. He tends to get his laces dirty. "Is Andy outside, Mommy?" I placed Dom on the floor after I locked up the apartment and bent down to tie my white converse. 

"Yup, we're going down now." I stood up and brushed the knees of my faded boyfriend jeans and picked a piece of hair off my white, fitted tee. Dom held my hand as we went down the elevator and went out to the car. Andy was in his light blue Mustang convertable and had the top down. No Jess in sight. I inwardly smiled at her lack of presence and walked over to Andy's car.

"Hey."

"Hey Andrew." I kissed his forehead as I placed Dominic in his booster seat in the back. He quickly buckled up and fixed his hair as I messed it up before. 

"Jess is going to meet us there..." 

My heart dropped and I felt my smile falter. "Great."