Floating by

Chapter 21: This Is Not Goodbye

It was suddenly Tuesday and Zach was slightly freaking out. He had forgotten that he had a minor activity in the morning and had to tell Kayla the night before that he wasn't able to join her till the afternoon. She'd been totally cool with it, saying that she wanted to spend some alone time with Margaret anyway.

But now that Zach was standing there, waiting for Margaret to say something back to him, he was having a mini panic attack. Meeting Margaret was probably just as important as meeting Kayla's parents. She was fond of the older lady and he wanted her to like him. If the stare she was giving him was anything to go by, he was not in a good position.

"So you're him...." Margaret said, breaking the silence.

"Yes...?" Zach answered, unsure if that was a question.

"Hmmmm." Margaret hummed as she looked him up and down then wheeled around him. Making him highly uncomfortable.

"I guess you're okay." Margaret finally said as she stared into his eyes again.

"Thank you?" Zach says, still unsure.

"Alright! Let's go get something to eat. I'm starving!" Margaret demands.

Kayla makes to grab hold of Margaret's wheel chair but Zach beats her to it.

"I'll do it." Zach says as he smiles down at her. She smiles back and they go off in search of a place to eat at.

||

As the day went on, Margaret started to open up to Zach. Though she was pretending to dislike him in the first place, just so he wouldn't get too comfortable too quickly. It was her way of testing him in a sense.

They were now sitting at a picnic table in a park. Margaret's wheelchair at the "head" and Zach and Kayla sitting opposite each other, on the same side as Margaret. Kayla and Margaret were  between topics, Zach couldn't really keep up but when he heard something he recognized he gave his two cents.

"You! Boy! What are your plans with Kayla?" Margaret suddenly asks Zach.

"Uh. What?" Zach asks confused.

"What. Are. Your. Intentions." Margaret slowly says.

Zach starts blushing and looks down at his hands on the table before he shyly says, "I-I really like her. I-I have this-this urge to always protect her. I want to know everything about her. I want to be there for her. I want to get to a point where I can love her...I think."

This shocks the two ladies, not expecting him to say any of that. After awhile Margaret breaks the silence.

"Well then, I approve." She says with a firm nod as Zach looks up at her.

And that was that, Margaret asked Zach a different question and soon they were deep into a discussion. Kayla however was still processing what Zach had said.

Next thing Kayla knows, it's time for Margaret to say goodbye.
So they walk back to the cruise port in silence, where Margaret collects her luggages and they make their way to the pick up bay.

"It was really nice meeting you Margaret. Thanks for inviting me today. I had fun. I hope I'll see you again back home." Zach warmly smiles at her.

"You too kid. You too. Take care of this one, yeah?" Margaret looks at Zach seriously.

"Yes ma'am!" Zach mock salutes. Then leans in to whisper to Kayla. "I'm going to wait over there. Take as long as you need." He gives her a quick peck on the cheek before waving at Margaret one last time and walking away to the cruise bridge.

They watch him walk away for awhile before Margaret says, "he's a keeper that one." And Kayla turns to look back at her with tears in her eyes.

"Oh, don't start this now. I'm not dead yet!" Margaret says, trying to lighten the mood but only makes Kayla sob harder.

"Don't say things like that Mar! I'm really going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too kid. But hey, you have a competition to win! I expect to hear all about it when we next see each other." Margaret says while pointing a firm finger at Kayla.

"You will. I'll talk your ear off Mar. I really wish you'd be around to see it. But I promise I'll get someone to film it for you."

"I look forward to it."

There's a car horn that goes off behind them and they both turn to see an elderly man stepping out of a small vintage car, walking towards them.
Margaret turns back to Kayla, "That's me. That's my cousin Tito."

"Tito?" Kayla asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Family nickname. I guess this is it stubborn girl."

"I guess this is it old grouch."

"See you in 3 weeks."

"3 weeks."

"You want to hug me don't you?"

Kayla just nods her head vigorously and Margaret answers by rolling her eyes but opening her arms out wide for Kayla to bend down and hug her. After a minute they pull apart and Kayla notices Margaret has a tear rolling down her cheek but doesn't say anything.

"Have fun Mar! Tell me all your adventure stories, okay?" Kayla forces out, wanting to end on a happy note.

"I will."
"Hey Tito! Help me with my bags will ya?"

"Sure thing couz!"

Once Margaret is nestled into the passenger seat, she turns to look out the window to give a final wave to Kayla before her cousin drives off and Kayla shrinks as they get further away.