Sweet Caroline (Corey Crawford)

Like Mother Like Daughter

Caroline

November passes us by and nothing happens. A few weeks into December and people are starting to get worried. We would have been two months into the season by now. They can still have a shortened one but it would be a packed schedule and it wouldn't be pretty. But nothing is impossible and I would be stupid to think otherwise.

I wake up early one morning and decide to lay in bed for a while. Corey was still sound asleep next to me and like always I had a lot on my mind. So I stare at the blank ceiling and started to think. Think about where I have been, where I was going. I think about why I'm even here and what I'm going to do.

Eventually he turns over and grabs my waist. He pulls me over and snuggles his face into my chest. I lightly run my fingers through his hair as he starts to wake up a little more.

"What's the plans for today" he asks.

"I have a meeting about my book later on" I tell him and he finally opens his eyes.

"That's right, you're meeting with a publisher at Chicago Cut at three" he remembers.

"That is correct" I nod. "So what do we do until then" I ask.

"Well I have to figure out what to get you for Christmas so if you can drop some hints from now until three that would be amazing" he mumbles.

"I don't want anything" I insist.

"Everybody wants something" he argues.

"And it is not always obtainable" I say.

"So what do you want? World peace, end world hunger, no violence" he asks.

"I want people to find reasons to be happy and not sad" I admit.

"What do you mean" he wonders.

"Think about it. We can meet a person for the first time and easily lost off ten things we don't like about them before five minutes passes. And we do that a lot, say her hair looks bad or his teeth are crooked. Maybe we don't like the way they said caramel or doesn't make eye contact. But ask someone to say ten nice things about someone after five minutes and it is not as easy.

We have become so judgmental and entitled that we can't step off of our high horse and see eye to eye with certain people. It's just kind of crazy that there is so much hate in this world. It has been judge first and ask questions later for far too long and that's so sad. Because there is a lot of amazing qualities in people and we spend so much time worried about the bad ones that we can't see how beautiful people are, deep down.

I wish the holidays could be a time where people aren't so selfish. So scared of loving people. We should be happy but a lot of times were not and it seems like a waste" I shrug.

"So what can I do to make this dream come true" he asks.

"It is not something you do, rather it is someone you are. And the greatest gift I have ever received was watching you become this amazing man that is holding me in his arms right now" I smile. He presses a soft kiss to my nose and he rests his forehead on mine.

"When is your next doctors appointment" he randomly wonders.

"The 15th" I tell him.

"How about right after that we head up to Montreal for a extended holiday. Hang around with our parents and relax for a little" he suggests.

"That sounds nice" I admit.

"Let me go talk to my parents but it sounds like a plan to me" he insists.

"Sounds like a plan."

We eventually get out of bed and get ready for the day. I pull on some black slacks and a white sweater. I adjust my glasses to my face as they threaten to fall off my nose. I pull on some nice shoes and a coat before gathering up everything I needed.

I start to head to the door before Corey appears. He was still in his pajamas that was covered in cat hair and his hair a mess.

"Good luck" he smiles and I smile back.

"Thank you Crawford. I will be home in time for dinner" I assure him as I rest my hand on his chest. I step up to my tippy toes and place a soft kiss on his lips. He kisses me back before I slide out the door and to his car.

I drive over to a Chicago Cut and check into the reservation I had arranged to meet a publicist. I had talked to a bunch of different ones but this guy was special. He was the one who published my moms book but I don't think he knows who I am. Like always I never used my last name and I stay out of the spotlight as much as possible so it would be hard for him to know it's me.

I find him in a corner drinking wine and reading a magazine. I shake his hand and introduce myself before sliding in the seat across from him. We had been emailing back and fourth but this is our first time actually meeting.

"It's nice to finally meet you Caroline" he says with a smile.

"Thank you Michael. The pleasure is mine" I insist.

"I have to say... you look mighty familiar" he says squinting at me.

"Does the name Susan Roy ring a bell" I ask and he gives a soft smile.

"She was the most brilliant person I had ever met. Such a bright future ahead of her. She was young when she came to me but wise beyond her years. I would have loved to see where she would have gone" he admits.

"That was my mother" I explain and he stops. He sets his drink down and moves closer to get a good look at me.

"I knew your writing sounded familiar. The words you used and the style you wrote. There's only one other person that could tell a story like you did" he insists.

"I still have all her stuff. A lot of that is in that auto biography so that is why it sounded familiar" I explain.

"That's not why. It sounded familiar because what you have is great. Because just like your mother you got me to feel what whoever you are talking about was feeling. Your mom wrote fiction, but this is real life. You wrote something that people all around the world would love to read. No matter if they like your father or hockey. This book is more than that, it's your mom too and it all makes so much sense now" he insist.

"So did you like it" I wonder and he smiles.

"I loved it. It's the best thing I have read in a really long time. I would love to edit it and eventually get it published" he claims.

"Really" I gasp.

"Yes really. You're going places."

After our meeting concludes with a decision to have another meeting I go home. I park in the garage and take the elevator up to Corey's place. I let myself in but stop when I see how dark it is. There were a few candles lit but that was about it. The blinds were shut and the lights were off which was weird.

"Corey" I call out.

"In the kitchen" he replies. Okay... even weirder.

I go in there and see him with a apron on. Where he got that from is beyond me. But it was covered in food as he had about five pans on the stove and something different in each pan.

"What is this" I ask looking around.

"I wanted to do something nice for you and make you dinner but all I have made is a mess" he claims and I giggle.

"It might be a little easier with the lights on" I insist.

"But then you can see how bad the food looks" he argues and I shake my head.

"You're such a mess" I insist.

"Am I at least a hot mess" he teases.

"The hottest."