After we went to lunch Ellie drove me back to my car at the shop. We hung out there briefly before I had to go. My mom would be home from work any minute and I needed to be there so I can make things right. Sure when we give each other space it usually helps but this time I went too far so I had to make it right. After explaining all of this to Ellie she gave me a hug and in that moment when I was in her arms there was this spark. I know it sounds crazy like some sort of fairy tale. I felt warmth in her arms and as she squeezed me tighter. Then the hug ended she got in her car and left. I spent the next few hours finishing working on and cleaning up Ivy. I was also preparing myself for this evening. Kendal is amazing and this is a once in lifetime chance to take her out; well maybe not actually once in a lifetime but I never thought she would be into me as more than what we had. By that I mean we have messed around with each other before and this time it was more than sex. I honestly wasn't even wanting that tonight. I finally made it home and my mom was sitting in the living room on her computer. I sat down next to her hoping I could get her to look at me for more than just a second.
"Is there a reason you're staring at me" My mother asked looking up from the screen of her laptop. I gave a soft smile.
"Well.. I need to apologize to you and I want you to really listen to me. So do you think maybe we can move the laptop?" I asked looking at her. She closed the laptop and sat it aside looking at me intently.
"Okay, I'm listening" she said making eye contact.
"Okay well What I said before I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said any of that, It isn't any of my business but mom I am worried about you. When I was a kid you used to be so happy and full of life and now you aren't and I get it dad broke your heart and he broke you but you still get to be happy. You can't let him take who you are away from you. I get that it's hard to be happy after something like this but mom you have to move on past this. I'm here to help but you have to quit drinking so much it isn't healthy. And I know you know that because you watched your dad die from alcohol poisoning. I'm just worried about you mom and I don't know what I would do without you. You are my best friend and I need you. So please go to an AA meeting. I'll even go with you if you want me to" I said calmly holding back tears. I placed my hand on hers and swallowed hard. She nodded and she finally knew that I was worried and that I didn't mean to hurt her.
"I love you Steph. I will go to a meeting, but I need to go alone" She said as she leaned her head on my shoulder and let a few tears fall.
"Thank you. I love you too but I have to get ready for a date" I said standing and looking her closely waiting for a reaction. She smiled and opened her laptop back up going back to work. I knew she would most definitely have questions about it or me later.
I hadn't ever been as nervous as I was in this very moment. I'm supposed to be picking up Kendal to take her out on a date and I don't even know what to wear. I know I planned the date but I didn't exactly tell her what to wear and it's not like we are doing anything incredibly fancy. I didn't know what to do so my first reaction was to call Ellie. I asked her to come over and help me find something to wear.
"Hey mom, so Ellie is going to be coming over for a little bit" I said just as our doorbell rang. I opened the door to and welcomed Ellie inside. The look on my mothers face was priceless when she realized who I was talking about.
"I didn't realize you guys were friends" my mom said as she stood and walked to the office. She was giving me a disapproving face as she did so.
"So what's the problem?" Ellie asked as we walked into my room. I left the door open so my mom could hear us clearly. I knew she would want to be nosy and know what her employee was hanging out with her daughter.
