My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 3 - You want me to forget?

            I eat the rest of my breakfast with my parents and we all get to talk about everything. They've missed my seventeenth birthday and since I was in another country it's so much more difficult to get presents over to where I was living, so my mother feels like it's her duty to give me a surprise today. "Come on, come on!" Her voice echoes through the kitchen as I put my plate in the sink and I glance at dad, who is silently laughing. I stick my tongue out at him and walk down the hallway following her, wondering what she has in mind. "You better love it!"

         "I bet I will," I carefully state, as she opens the door and stops in front of it, turning to face me.

       "Now this better prove how much your father and I love you," she quietly lets out as I grin.

       "Mom, I know how much you both love me." 

       "Alright. . . I'm just making sure," she softly says, tears filling her eyes when I honestly don't expect it. "You've been gone for so long and I've just missed you so much."

      "Aw," I whisper, as she wipes at the corner of her eyes and walks outside onto the porch, as I slowly follow behind her. She stops and keeps her eyes locked with mine and I patiently wait, before getting the hint that it must be right in front of me. I glance around the porch and can't find anyting there until she loudly clears her throat and gazes off towards the front yard.

        "So, what do you think?" Her voice is calm and excited, but I'm still clueless.

        "Uh, you cut the lawn?" I barely let out, obviously joking around.

         "Very funny," she mumbles, as she wraps her arm around my shoulder and that is when I see it. Out in the street, parked against the curb in front of our house, is a yellow convertible! I wouldn't have even guessed that it would be for me but I do because there's a pink bow on the hood!

       "Shit!" I yell practically at the top of my lungs, putting my hands on my head in complete and total shock! My own car? I get my own car? Oh my god! "Mommy, this is amazing!"

       "You're welcome Izzy," she rushes out as I dart into her and tightly embrace her in a long warm hug. "Aw baby, you should have known there would be a surprise for you waiting for you to come back home!"

      "It's so beautiful," I quickly tell her, as I open my eyes and realize my father is standing behind her in the doorway, leaning his shoulder against it and widely smiling. "Daddy!" I exclaim, running straight over to him next and wrapping my arms around his neck as he lifts me off the ground.

      "You deserve it, Isabella. You've gotten all A's on your report card and are doing the best in your school, so we just had no other choice but to do something big for you on your return for the summer," he deeply tells me, kissing the side of my head as I release a small laugh. 

        "I love it, daddy." I smile once he places me back onto my feet and then I look at my mother who  is suddenly crying, tears falling down her faces as I gasp. "Mom, what's the matter?" I question, walking over to her as she shakes her head. "What's wrong?" I gently take her face between my hands and wait for her to answer.

        "Nothing, sweetheart." She closes her eyes as another tear leakes, and she quickly steps back and wipes it away.

       "Jeanette," My father sternly lets out from behind me as my mom finally smiles. "Please, Jean. Don't ruin this for her. Do not do this to her."

       "Dad," I gently scold him, honestly not meaning to. His face drops when I look over at him, begging him to not be mean. "She's clearly upset about something. Be nice, please."