Stuck in the Past

Chapter 17

When I got home, I didn't see anyone either in the kitchen or in the living room, which was strange because my mom's car was at the entrance and that meant they were already home. The further I went, the more noise I heard and I realized that the noise was coming from my room so I put my things on the kitchen table and went to see what was going on.

When I got there, I saw my parents just finished putting together a bunk bed. They hardly noticed that I had already arrived,  but when they did, they smiled and my mother came to hug me.

- Sorry we entered your room like this, but we wanted to install this as soon as possible. But I think your father is not very good at it!

- Of course I am! It is almost all assembled ... Now, this piece goes here ... That one goes that way and it's done.- said my father smiling when he saw that the bunk bed was already assembled.

- No problem, I just thought you would wait for me before assembling it. I could have helped!

- That was the idea my love, but your father insisted that he could mount it alone. We've been in this for two hours and twenty minutes!

- What matters is that I did it, - said my father, proud of his work, but me, my mother and my new brother just laughed.

- Mom, do we already have a name for him? We cannot continue to call him a boy. We have to get him a provisional name!

- The truth is that I already gave him a name. We had to think of one when the social worker came up with the adoption paperwork. But we won't reveal it until your sister arrives.

"Okay, so do you want to take the one below or the one above?" I asked, kneeling in front of him.

- Low.- replied sitting on the bottom bed and I just laughed at his attitude.

- Well, I'm going to take our little prince here to the bathroom for him to take a long and warm shower.- said my father taking him in his arms.

- Henry ?! Thanks again for agreeing with this decision. We know it's a big change and you've just given up your privacy.

- You don't need to thank me, mom. You would do the same for me, if the situation was the other way around and I needed a house and a family. I am very proud of you, Caitlin Snow Allen!

"Me too, Thomas Henry Allen!" Exclaimed my mother, smiling and I just hugged her.- "Soo proud of my little baby!"

- Very well now I got home and no one notices my presence? Does anyone else fit in this hug? - Dawn asked at my bedroom door.

- Come closer, jealous.- I replied, making room for her.

While Junior, the name I gave him until our parents announced the name on the register, had just taken a shower, I had to fix up my dresser and wardrobe to make room for his clothes and then I went to the living room , sitting next to my sister.

When it was time to cook dinner, I got up from the couch and went to help my mother cook and when it was almost done, Dawn went to set the table. With the table set and dinner ready, we all sat down at the table and started eating.

- Well I know that both are wondering what will be the name of our little prince. We wish that you could have been part of the decision to choose the name, but unfortunately we had little time to decide.- My mother started.

- Your "brother" is called Ron.

- Ron? It is a beautiful name! I like it, - said Dawn.

- Me too and as he is small we can still call him Ronnie.- I said smiling, but when I looked at my mother I saw that tears were falling on her face.- Is everything okay? Did I say anything wrong?

- No dear! You just reminded me of one person, that's all!

"Uncle Ronnie?" Asked Dawn.

- Your mother chose the name Ron as a kind of homage to your uncle.- replied my father.

"What's going on, Cait?" Asked Ron quietly.

- Nothing is wrong, my angel. There was only one thing in my eye, but don't worry.

The rest of the dinner was quieter and without tears, and after helping my mother to clear the table, I went, together with Ron, to our room. I helped him put on one of the pajamas on the bed and then he sat on the bed with a coloring book.

I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and put on my pajamas and when I came back, I sat next to Ron on his bed and helped him color an image that he had already started. I was halfway through painting the house when someone knocked on our bedroom door.

- I can enter?

- Of course, mom.

- I just came to see if you needed anything.

- We don't need to, but you can stay here for a while.

A little while later Dawn and my father joined us and we spent some time with the family just talking and coloring some drawings from the book that my parents had given Ron. As it was already getting late and we all had to wake up relatively early the next day, they left this room and we all went to rest.

In the morning I woke up with the alarm clock, causing Ron to wake up too. He still didn't have much clothes here at home, so I took a sweater and some pants that were mine when I was about his age and gave him to wear, while I got something for me to wear.

Already dressed, we went downstairs and headed for the kitchen to have breakfast. I made some toast with strawberry jam and others with mango jam, a bowl of cereal for Ron and I also made coffee and took the orange juice we had in the fridge. A little while later, Dawn joined us at the table.

"I have to leave or I will be late, will you help Ron with whatever is necessary?" I asked getting up from the table and putting my dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

- Go, little brother, I'll take care of this beautiful little pest.

- Tell the parents that I'm going to STAR Labs this afternoon. I have the afternoon free!

- Okay, I thought you were late, - said Dawn laughing and I took the hint to leave the house.