I turn around and see the beige and white house slowly get smaller. I just keep walking. I'm not sure where to, but I keep walking. I walk out of the neighborhood and take a right. It's getting cold but I don't care. I just need to get away for a little bit. I have been walking for about thirty minutes and I see a park on the other side of the road and cross the street. I walk past the playground and notice thats its empty due to the coldness and think maybe I should go back... No. stay. So I listen to my thoughts and stay . I keep walking and there's a trail. I take a right turn on the trail and at the end of it, there's a big beautiful sleeping willow tree. It would be so much prettier in the spring when all the leave are there. I go and sit under the tree not caring if I get dirty. It's cold outside, but it's peaceful. There is a gust of wind and its freezing. Ok, maybe I'll go back now. I get up from underneath the tree and dust off my leggings. I wrap my arms around my torso trying to stay warm and walk faster but my legs feel frozen. It takes me almost fifty minutes to get home and when I check my phone, I have five calls from Robert. Oh, so now he cares? Just as I'm about to call him he calls me again and I pick up. "Hello?"
"Where the hell are you? I drove around looking for you! I called you! Five times and no answer!" Now you know how I feel.
"I went for a walk."
"Well you scared the hell out of me." doubt it.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't sorry me. Where are you?" I need a few more minutes.
"I'm almost at the neighborhood."
"Fine. But when you get here go to the kitchen. We need to talk."
"Ok." I hang up and run past the house hoping he doesn't see me. I walk to the end of the street taking my time and make my way back to the house. I walk to the kitchen as I was told but he isn't in there. I was about to walk up the stairs up to my room but I hear a voice.
"I'm not up there you know." Robert says aggravated.
"I didn't see you in the kitchen." I say walking back down the stairs.
"I was with Victoria...You know us arguing isn't really going to help anything."
"I know." Do I really?
"Sit down." He points to the stairs. So I sit and he takes a seat next to me and were practically touching arms. This is too close for my liking. "This isn't good. Victoria is stressed out and she has the baby and its bad for both her health and the babies." Now he cares about stress being unhealthy? "I'm trying Christina. I really am. I want things to be better for us. I know that I wasn't the best father. I know I was never there for you and when I was I was drunk off my ass. But I've changed. I'm more responsible. I don't drink... or not as much. I don't smoke anymore. I don't fight. I'm a changed man. I have a family now. I want to make it up to you. I want to show you that I can be a good father. But you have to give me a chance." Wow he is really good. I almost believed that he wasn't lying.
"Ok." If I agree can I leave?
"So you'll give me a chance?"
"Yeah."
"Thank you Christina. I will not let you down." I've heard that way too many times. I just nod my head and he gives me a hug and I tense up. It's too weird. I awkwardly bring my hand to his upper back and pat him. "Ok. Well, um... I brought your stuff to your room."
"Thank you."
"Do you want to go shopping? Christmas is next week and I wasn't sure what to get you so I figured I'd just take you to go buy some stuff."
"Didn't we go shopping already?"
"That was food. I mean other stuff that you want."
"Um... sure I guess." We both get up and he grabs his keys off of the key holder and we walk out to the red Audi I have become very fond of. We take an hour drive to the mall and I just follow him inside not really sure which way to go.
"There's a few gifts I was going to get you but I wanted you to pick which one you wanted so at least you'd possibly like it." He walks into the Apple Store and he stops in front of these white laptops. "I have the same MacBook at home. They're really good. I just wasn't sure which color you'd like."
"There's colors to choose from?"
"Yeah. Here." He grabs the tag with different colors and I see the price tag of $999. My eyes grow wide and he laughs. "Don't worry. It's fine. They're on sale." On sale at that price???
"I can't let you buy this for me. It's a nice offer but I can't."
"It's fine. I have a friend up there who can get us a discount on it." I'm hesitant and just look at it. "It's fine. Really. Pick a color."
"Thank you... White?"
"I thought you were going to say that. We can get a bag for it too." We walk over to the MacBook cases and I grab a similar one matching the bed set I have at home. He also takes me to the iPhone's and tells me to pick one out and recommends the iPhone 5S and again, the price is ridiculous. I guess he doesn't like my flip phone. He insists even though I told him I didn't need it and without any luck he grabbed me the silver one to kind of match my new MacBook and takes me to the cases and he grabs a case matching the MacBook case. He goes to the register and I feel so bad that he is buying me all this. Is this his way of making it up to me? Because gifts aren't just going to do that. He has to show me that he has changed.
"$1,449.99" The cashier tells him. Robert hands him his credit card.
"Thanks Jake. Lunch Wednesday to watch the game? It's on me." Robert says.
"Yeah. Just let me know when and where." Jake smiles and we leave.
"Do you want to grab some food for dinner?"
"Doesn't Victoria have food at home?"
"She does but she's at a friend's house so she'll be eating dinner there."
"I guess we could." We walk to the food court and we both order some Chinese food. I order general Sao chicken with white rice and sprite and he orders beef and broccoli with friend rice and Dr. Pepper. We sit down and make small talk. I told Robert about school and Kelly and Katie. I didn't tell him about Justin though. He doesn't need to know that. Justin is my past and I want to forget about him. Robert tells me about his position as manger at this factory that is really popular because they make organic and healthy gym foods like protein bars and shakes and stuff like that. He created the company and has had the position for four years which explains why he has so much money. He was also telling me about Victoria and that she is a cardiologist which also explains why they have such nice stuff. His eyes got brighter when he talked about her. He must really love her. He told me about his two stepchildren, or soon to be stepchildren who will be coming home in two days on Friday along with their grandparents who will be staying with us for a week for Christmas which is nine days away. I wish I could have spent another Christmas with mom. It's almost eight which is almost two o'clock in the morning Minnesota. We head home and I fall asleep in the car to be woken up by Robert tapping my shoulder informing me that were home. I decided to take a shower and I pull a t-shirt over my head hopping into bed with just a t-shirt and underwear which if you ask me, is the best pajamas in the world. I look at my nightstand and see my phone and I forgot to call Katie and Kelly telling them I made it safely. It now almost four in the morning over their and I decide to just call them tomorrow. I french braid my hair before hopping into bed falling asleep instantly.
~~~~~
So I think I'm caught up! If you read the old version, the last chapter will be spread out and she will encounter this new person differently. Thank you for putting up with all the changes. Please comment, vote and share. It helps you know because I've said it five other times already. I love you all! xx Alyssa
