After All • Calum Hood (Sequel to ISTTY)

35

Madeleine's p.o.v

Everything was going good on our evening, we were eating and drinking a pair of beers, anything over the top.
Crystal Leigh had joined us since she was close, and she was really nice, we haven't shared that much before because we've seen each other only once, but this time we spend more time together than the last. Crystal was a really nice woman and funny, she also handles sarcasm very well, in conclusion: the best woman for Michael

—How did you handled being in charge of  drunk men and a baby? -Crystal asks me out loud, making all of us laugh-

—Let me answer that for you -Calum speaks- she was drunk too -Crystal gasps in surprise-

—You're probably thinking that it was bad that we all were drunk having a baby here but only four of us were drunk -Luke chuckles-

—And you took care of Wyatt? -she directly asks Calum, he nods with a proud smile on his face- Now that's amazing, Mad you just won at life -she looks at me and we giggle-

—I know, right? I have a considerate boyfriend -I brag out-

—Crystal does too -Michael rolls his eyes while rocking Wyatt on his legs-

—I haven't said she doesn't -I say putting my hands up in peace, they all laugh-

—Mad, you haven't told us. How was it like to see your parents again? I barely found out they're back in your life

That question took me off base and even though it made me feel a little bit uncomfortable, why would I hide something? I mean, someday they'd find out my dad has cancer

—How'd you know? If you abandoned me -I joke, he defends himself saying that it wasn't true- well, I'd like to say it was pretty and the best thing that ever happened to me but I'd be lying -I pause to find the words- it was nice, but it was tragic too -the attention of the room was placed on me, Calum pulled me in closer and now I was sitting on his lap, his hands were intertwined over my lap, he left a couple of kisses on the bare part of my shoulder- my dad has cancer, stage 4 I think -I say without any hesitation, feeling a little bit relieved over the fact that I finally said that out loud-

—Mad, I don't even know what to say, we didn't know about it -Luke's eyes show compassion-

—I know -I smile trying to calm them down- but don't worry about it, I just didn't know how to bring the subject -I pause- but yes, my dad's sick -an uncomfortable silence fills the room-

—But what about the treatments? There isn't a chance that he'll cure? -Michael asks and I shake my head-

—No, it's a very aggressive cancer, the only thing I have left is to enjoy him while I can -my eyes start to fill with tears and there's a knot forming on my throat, Calum caresses my leg- I'm sorry

—You're sorry? Are you crazy, Mad? We're the ones who's sorry without knowing what to do to help -Ashton's face show how worried he is- but I do want you to know that we're your friends no matter what and we'll always be there for you

—I know, and I appreciate that a lot -I wipe my tears- I'm sorry that I didn't said it before, it wasn't lack of trust, it's just that... I guess we're not born knowing how to say your dad's suffering from a mortal illness, right? -I lightly chuckle, feeling the tension on the air erase a little-

Crystal was sitting there, her mouth partly opened still shocked for what I said, I guess she didn't know what to say either but her face expressed her concern

—This is a pill hard to swallow -Luke says- but you'll always find a shoulder where to cry with me, I'm that older brother you never had -I smile at his words-

—What have I told you about calling her sister? Quit that shit, this relationship isn't incest -Calum jokes erasing the tension, making us laugh-

—Wyatt can't grow up listening to you calling his dad brother and his mom, sister -Michael jokes too-

—The poor kid is gonna grow up beyond confused -Ashton adds-

We ended up laughing, and in those kind of moments I was thankful for friends, the loyalty, love and family. Because even when you're crumbling down, they're there to pick up the pieces you're missing... While we were changing the subjects in between conversations, we ended up laughing at old stories of each one of them, I admired them in that moment, not only Calum but all of them, they don't love just my boyfriend, they love my son and they love me.

~

—Babe -Calum gets my attention while I was feeding Wyatt his pudding-

—Mhm?

—Would you leave Wyatt with Mali?

I stay there thinking the answer for a bit

—Why'd you ask that?

—Ladies and gentlemen, Madeleine: the #1 expert on answering questions with another question -he simulates he's talking to an audience-

I let out a laugh due to Calum's silliness

—Dork -I giggle- yes, I think I would leave him with her even though I'd be calling her every 5 minutes to check on him. Now you answer my question

—Ah, because Mali was telling me the other day how much she and my mom miss Wyatt, and that they wanted to take him out

—The two of them? -I ask- I'll be more confident if Joy is there too since she has double experience with kids -I chuckle a little-

—Then I'll tell Mali they can take him out tomorrow -he winks at me-

—Wait! -I stop him before he leaves- but you didn't say it was tomorrow

-—-Oh... You're right -he pauses- well babe, tomorrow we'll leave Wyatt with my mom and my sister because they want to take him out because they miss him -he approaches me and quickly kisses my lips, then leaves, I stare at him amusingly and giggle at his dork being-

And know I'll have to clean Wyatt. He's way too curious, he wants to touch or grab everything... Food is not the exception, his whole face was full with pudding, as well as his hands and his high chair. My shirt also had one or two stains of pudding, I breath out while processing the whole mess caused by feeding my son, he was looking at me with a amused expression while jumping, it's like he planned it all out... Sometimes I even wonder, do babies think more than we actually believe they do?