Only One

Chapter Sixteen

[edited]
I sat in front of the fire I built until dawn adding piece after piece of wood onto the already burning pile of logs. The fire was burning low. I haven't added a log in a while, but it was enough for me. I was letting it burn out now. I should clean today since I didn't do it yesterday. I spread the logs out with the poker I bought a long time ago. It will eventually die out on its own, so there isn't anything to worry about. I stood up and collected the chairs and s'mores supplies. I set it back into the shelf and slowly walked up to the house. I slipped the housekey out from my phonecase and unlocked the front door. I opened the door and looked around. The TV in the living room was on, tuned in to the news. That meant mom was in the kitchen. I stepped further into the house and saw mom looking in the fridge. At least she ate.

"Hey mom," I said siting down at one of the chairs at the island. She whipped around and looked shocked.

"When did you get home?" she asked closing the door behind her.
"Around one, but I went and built a fire and sat around it up until now," I state. She looked angry after I said it, but she didn't say anything.

"Are you doing anything today?" she asks, going over to the coffee maker next.
"I think I'm going to clean and do yardwork," I say. She nods her head and pours the coffee into her thermos.

She raises the pitcher. "Do you want some?"

"Sure, thanks," I say quietly. She gets out my mug from the cupboard and pours a cup for me. I take the mug and bring it to my lips. This was different. I haven't sat down with Mom in a long, long time. It was awkward. I didn't know what to say. Frankly I didn't wan to say anything. "So do you know what we are having for dinner?" I finally ask.

"What do you want?" She comes and sits down next to me.

"Can we make home made pasta?" I ask. "Like we used to?"

"Sure honey. Of course we can," she flashes a smile, but I don't think she fully understood what I wanted.

"Like together," I say.

"Oh we can do that. Will you start making the sauce at five and then when I get home I will start the noodles?" Mom asks.

"Yeah I can do that," I smile. It felt nice to do something that we haven't done in a long time. That is if she actually will commit to this.

"Look I got to run. I'll see you around 5:30 okay?" mom stands up and kisses the top of my head.

"See you then," I stand up and hug her. Surprisingly she hugs back with even more force. I let go and she walks to the door leading to the garage. "Mom," I say. She turns around and tilts her head.

"Yeah?"

"I don't want to sound mean, but why are you like this now?" I ask.

"Like what?" she asks.

"Like you care," I whisper.

"I got promoted," she smiles a wide smile.

"Mom that's great!" I exclaim.

"I know. I'll see you later now alright?" She turns around and opens the door. I watch as she walks out of it. I stare at the closed door and hear the sound of the garage door opening and her car starting. I couldn't stop smiling. My mom was slowly starting to come back. Even if we were just making dinner in our kitchen it was something to smile about. Nothing was going to bring me down today. I won't let it happen. I turned around and walked upstairs. I changed out of my current clothes and turned around in three full circles looking for something to wear. The outfit didn't need to wow anyone. It just needed to be comfortable. I decided on wearing another one of my cut off tank tops and shorts to match. The shirt said "when in doubt sweat it out." And the shorts, well they were just black.

I put my iPod in the media pocket of the shorts and then I went downstairs. I entered the garage and started gathering things I would need. There is going to be a long day ahead of me.