Moving Forward

Chapter 12: Harry Johnson

Caleb and I sat down at the dining room table waiting on Johnathan to come. Caleb was editing the evites to send out to the people he wanted at his party. He was also making other invitations for the people's emails he didn't have.

He was really focused because we had waited until today to send them out. However, the party isn't until Saturday and we only have 210 guests. He still hadn't talked to me either since yesterday. When I came home this morning and walked into him, all he did was walk off and continue eating his cereal.

He knew what I had done but could you blame me? Chris was excited for his other "plans" and the only thing that can make any one that happy is seeing someone. Now I don't know if he was seeing a relative or something but for him to not tell me was suspicious. I don't like secrets and I don't like being led on. So, I did what I felt would balance things out. However, I didn't want Caleb to be mad at me. I looked over at him and tapped the table to get his attention. He only looked up and glared before I said, "Look I'm sorry but weren't you against this arrangement anyway?"

"Yes, I was," he stated and he was fuming, "I told you that you would do this. You will jump to a conclusion and then you become an asshole."

"Hey, he was the one that got all excited over plans. If he really liked me, why didn't he cancel them?"

"You heard Darrius, he probably promised someone and he never breaks his promises."

"Oh, so now you are going to trust Darrius?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Caleb asked with his face fire truck red. I didn't want to push his button further and I knew bringing up the Alicia situation was a no go. I just took a deep breath and said, "Look you don't know men like I know men. Older men around my age have seen a lot of shit."

"You're only 26, "he said.

"But I had to raise you and I was a teenager at one point too."

He didn't say anything this time so I continued, "Caleb I'm not saying I'm just giving up on Chris but I am saying that I am not about the games. If he wants to have options, I'm going to have them."

"But I don't- "

"It doesn't matter. You don't know Chris like Darrius does so you can't speak on what he can and can not do. I can't either but I know something about yesterday wasn't just about having good plans."

The doorbell ringed and I could tell Caleb had given up on trying to make me see how yesterday was a mistake. Even though it was, I wasn't about to let him know it. I could barely enjoy what I was doing because I was thinking about Chris. Alejandro even was upset with me until I sweet talked him. I don't remember what I said but it made him happy.

I got to the door and opened it. Johnathan had his Bluetooth in now but the conversation he was having wasn't business.

"Yes, I am wearing clean underwear mother," He said passing me a blue binder that was labeled Caleb's 18th Bday Plans. Then he continued to talk as I closed the door, "No, I have not been to the doctor this year."

He paused as we walked towards the dining room. I could tell he was irritated by the way he rolled his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

"Mom I am going to work now," he stated before pressing a button on his headset. He turned to me and said, "Understandable that you don't have your mother and I should be grateful but damn! She asks me the same questions three times a day."

I patted him on the back and just laughed. I still wished that my mother was here to annoy me like that but I know she is still looking after us from up above. My dad too and I know Caleb knew that as well. Johnathan and I moved towards the dining room and once Caleb saw him, he smiled with all 32 of his teeth. He jumped up and ran towards him, "Johnathan! Yes, my party is saved!"