Say You'll Remember Me

Chapter Twenty Six

Hunter’s birthday party came together pretty quickly and easily. I didn’t want to go overboard, I didn’t want to make it this big party that he didn’t want. It was just his family, Aimee and Adam, and me. I invited my aunt and uncle because, well Hunter considered me family and they were my family. Plus I wanted Sara to talk to Travis, I wanted them to have a moment together. It was a surprise, Hunter had no idea that I was busy decorating the house and baking him a cake (with his mother mind you!) while Travis kept him occupied out of the house. They were supposed to come home in an hour, and I still had a lot to do, including get his present.

I had no idea what to get him for his birthday. He said he had everything he ever wanted. Plus I had spent the entire morning in bed with him, wearing only his t-shirt and then nothing else. That was all he wanted, he told me when I asked him what I could get for his birthday every day since the picnic we shared together. But I wanted to get him something. I was terrible at buying gifts because I wasn’t used to getting something for someone else.

The record had been a hit at christmas, but there wasn’t another one I could think of to get him. I thought a picture would be cheesy, so I was at a loss. I was still racking my brain when I realized exactly what I could get him. He would be perfectly happy with it, and I wouldn’t have to go anywhere to get it. I started to make the plan in my head as I hung up the streamers.

“What’s that smile for?” Linda asked as I saw her take the cake out of the oven. It smelled good. Hunter loved chocolate, and apparently she made the best one he told me. So I had taken up the courage and asked her to help me with this. Since Christmas she had been pretty good with getting along with me. I guess she realized I was going to be in her life now that Hunter and I were living together.

I put tape on the streamer and then pushed it against the ceiling, “I was thinking of something I could get Hunter for his birthday. I was thinking about trying to play him a song on the guitar. He’s been teaching me every so often,” I saw her raise her eyebrows.

“Rick told me he’s switching majors. He wants to be a teacher,” she said as she put the icing around the plate the cake was on, waiting for it to cool before she iced the cake, “I have a feeling you have something to do with that.”

I let out a breath, “he told me one night that he wanted to be a teacher, and I told him that if he didn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps then he should tell him. I mean, Rick is a sensible guy, he wouldn’t force Hunter to do something he didn’t want to do. I am proud that he told his father what he really wants to do.”

Linda smiled and it wasn’t one of her condescending ones, “I am too,” she said quietly, but I heard her loud and clear, “he’s never been this happy, this focused. I know I was hard on you, but Charlie you’ve really made my little boy grow up into a man I’m more than proud of. I’m really glad you’re here.”

I smiled back at her as I put the last piece of tape on the banner and looked at the time. The table was set, there were snacks all around and the few presents his mom and dad bought him were there. I clapped my hands together as I climbed off the chair and stood there looking around, “I know I’m forgetting something.”

Linda laughed, “you wanted to change,” she said nodding towards my clothes. 

“Yes,” I smiled, “thank you. I’m going to change and then I’ll figure out what’s missing down here. Aimee and Adam should be here soon.”

“I’ll let them in,” she said smiling as I walked up the stairs and towards the room I had been using when I lived here. It brought back so many memories and I had only been gone for a month. I went to the closet and I decided I would put on something nice for his birthday. There was a green dress that I had seen in this closet that I thought would look nice. It was the same shade as his eyes, and my favorite color. The dress had a V neckline and the sleeves went over my shoulders just a little bit. The fabric clinched at my waist and then fell down to my knees in a cascading pattern. I smiled as I twirled and the dress flew up. It was a lot different than all the outfits I was used to wearing.