Coming home from school one day, I actually found my mother dancing in our small kitchen. Lost with her own world for the first time in weeks.
"What's going on, Mom?" I laughed to myself as she turned down our "brand-new" stereo. Cheap from goodwill apparently.
"Nothing. Just wanted to cook dinner tonight without awkward silence. I'm pretty much lonely when you're not here." Mom eventually admitted her truth. I understood, especially given our circumstances.
"Aww. Sorry. Well, school's gone well. I've pretty much done all of my homework with tutors every day before Vinny picks me up in that cab." I slipped off my backpack and dropped it right onto my bed for the time being.
"Good for you. I'm proud." Mom walked over to kiss my cheek as moved towards the living room.
"Thanks, Mom. How's work at the restaurant?" I questioned while flipping through television programs.
"I'm exhausted today, but it's still worth paying rent for George, honey. How's Reece?" Mom spoke up while the gas stove continued flaming directly underneath.
"She's good. We've been hanging out together on campus for the most part. She practically knows everyone, too. Why?" I turned off the television to answer Mom.
"Oh, no reason." Mom teased within seconds. I just knew at the moment she would gush all about this comment.
"Mom?" I questioned my mother again. Silence fell between us, but she then caved. I rolled my eyes while sitting on the couch.
"All right. I know exactly where this is going. Do you like her, Nathan?" My mother turned off that stove soon enough.
"Well..." My voice honestly debated telling. At the same time, I couldn't even fabricate anything about this complicated situation.
"I know you wanna say something. Just tell me." Mom placed both hands on her hips after stepping away from the cooling stove at this point.
"I do have a crush on Reece, but what difference would it make? She probably has a boyfriend and I just don't know it yet." I sighed out loud. Silence fell between us again and Mom shook her head.
"Don't assume anything. Like I said, you never know. Now, let's eat." My mother opened cabinets. I stood up from the leather couch to quickly set that kitchen table.
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That next day, I said goodbye to one of the tutors and noticed Reece zipping up her backpack. Her table even situated near mine for whatever reason.
Few students filled this area after school, leaving us somewhat alone to an extent. Silence fell for the umpteenth occasion.
"Hey." I cleared my throat when she glanced over one shoulder and locked eyes with me again.
"Oh, hi. Didn't see you there, Nathan. I'm about to leave for the day. What's up?" Reece spoke up before slipping on her backpack.
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"Could we talk outside or something? I need to get this off of my chest to be honest." My heart only jumped once more at the time.
Silence fell between us again. A lump then formed in my throat Butterflies even swarmed within.
"Sure." Reece answered. We walked out and noticed pinic tables in this beautiful courtyard.
"Okay. How can I even say this? Um..." Sitting across from her, I somehow braced myself for the worst case scenario. Her pretty brown eyes didn't help anything.
"Take your time." Reece almost grabbed my hand to calm down nerves. As if she already knew my upcoming thoughts.
"Reece, this might make you uncomfortable and I completely understand why if you backed off from my question, but I've been wondering. Would you?..." My words trailed off at the sound of this car horn suddenly blaring twice across the grass.
Reece and I immediately turned heads to face the driver. This individual even rolled down his window at the time.
"This campus is beautiful! Come here, Nathan. Hola, Mijo." ("Hello, my son"). The engine rumbled between his words by now.
Dad? My thoughts immediately questioned. I didn't even know what to think.
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"So sorry." I apologized to Reece before jogging across the grass towards my father. She nodded before even watching my steps.
"How are you, Nathan?" My father questioned while almost draping his arm out the window.
"Good. What are you doing here? I thought we wouldn't see you again until Thanksgiving." I folded both arms. He understood.
"Had a free weekend and I haven't seen you or your mother since this move, so..." My father quickly trailed off his voice for some odd reason. I still struggled to understand at the time.
"Does Mom even know you're here?" I narrowed my eyes while walking around to enter the passenger seat at this point.
That passenger door slammed shut as I thought of Reece again. She'd already left the picnic table to leave and my heart dropped.
My father never even realized that he'd just interrupted something very important and special to me.
"I called your mother this morning. She knows exactly what's going on. Don't worry, okay?" Dad spoke up with his noticeable accent while looking ahead to eventually face the upcoming road.
I simply remained quiet and nodded he rolled his car out of the nearly vacant parking lot.
___
"It's good to see you again, Javier. How's home?" My mother responded honestly as we all sat down for dinner that night. I glanced around around smiled.
"Feels strange not seeing you two around anymore, but it's for the best." My father answered between bites at this point.
"How are...the kids?" Mom cleared her throat while almost dreading these words.
"Fine. Lydia had her fifth birthday yesterday and Sophie finally started walking not too long ago." Dad smiled. I grinned to fight back tears.
"That's sweet. Well, how's Katie doing?" Mom braced herself to mention the woman who'd change everything for all of us.
"She's good. Still at home with the children. Sends her love to both of you." My father rambled.
"So, Nathan finally adjusted with school and guess what?" Mom changed the subject to hopefully shift our tension right now.
"What?" Dad turned to face me with the biggest smile on his lips. I faked my own grin at the time.
"Well, when you pulled up to the campus, I was sitting with this girl and..." My voice trailed off.
"Oh...I didn't realize you were talking to a young woman. Sorry, Mijo. What was her name?" My father smirked laughed to himself.
"Reece." I put down my fork and blushed right at the table. Mom reached out to hold my hand.
