“Nice to meet you Leah. In the little that I speak to Chase lately, your all he talks about and I can see why, you are a beautiful young woman. He’s told me about that little guy too, sounds like he’s a pretty special kid.”
If my cheeks could, they would be beet red by now with the way Chase and his dad are both staring back at me with the same matching goofy crooked grins on their faces. “I’ll catch up with you in a bit Dad, there’s a ton of people I need to introduce Leah to.”
Charlie reaches over and pats Chase on the back. “Ok son. Congratulations again, I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks Dad.” Chase turns and gives him a hug before grabbing up my hand once again and dragging me off.
Mary had outdone herself of course with the party she threw for Chase. Chases two older sisters, Amy and Katie, had gotten married right after high school and hadn’t went to college so this was the first chance she got to go out with a bang she had explained to me while she gushed over how proud she was of Chase. I had gone over a couple of days before while Chase was at his last gig with the band and helped her get some of the veggie and relish trays together.
Since Chase was already employed for the fall he figured him and the guys should cut ties now even though they would still hang out. Mark and Teddy had already found a new guitarist, Tyler, who was good but he didn’t have half the looks or talent Chase had and I’m sure the guys would lose some of their regular groupies once they found out Chase wasn’t there to gawk over anymore.
I managed to find Caleb through the crowd and let him lead me away by the hand while Chase stopped to talk with a group of friends from high school. Mary had gotten a bounce house for the younger kids and after some persuasion he convinced me it was a good idea to come with them.
“C’mon Mommy. You just sit since you look all pretty. We’ll jump around and bounce you all over the place. It’s so much fun!” I followed him through the small opening and a whole group of about twenty kids under the age of six came in and I was bounced around like one of those super balls you get out of the quarter machines while they all screeched in glee.
“Leah!” I hear Ally shout from the edge of the bounce house and I crawl on my hands and knees over to the netting that encased the bounce house and pushed my nose up against it.
“Um having fun?” She asks with a wry smile. “Oh this is a blast, let me tell you,” I say at the same time I fall over onto my stomach after being knocked down by some massive jumping happening right near me.
“Well I certainly didn’t expect to see you hanging around all the kiddos, that’s not usually your cup of tea. You can normally only handle Caleb and that’s about it.”
“With Chases family it had to become my cup of tea or else,” I teasingly reply. “His sisters have grown on me and I’ve actually come to like kids a little more.”
“’Kay well that’s always a good thing. Chase sent me to grab you. Mary’s bringing a cake out for him.”
I turn back to the group of kids that has seemed to double since I agreed to come in here.
“Caleb, Caleb,” I call out trying to get his attention but the kids are now having some kind of contest to see who can jump the highest. I put my fingers up to my mouth and let out a shrill whistle.
“Listen up, its cake time,” I shout out. I should have been timing that with a stop watch. I think the place literally cleared out in under ten seconds. Even Caleb stranded me. I thought I was his favorite.
Apparently the promise of cake out rates me. My stomach stops bouncing around and I finally make my way to the exit. Never going in one of those things ever again. How is that fun?
I smooth out my dress and run my hands through my hair, trying to tame the frizziness of my curls but know it’s a lost cause. A crowd has gathered around the tables Mary has decked out with food and I figure there all anxiously waiting for the cake. If these people know Mary at all, they know the cake will most likely be a slice of pure heaven.
I stand on the tip toes of my white wedge sandals trying to get a peek of the cake and see Chase sitting on a stool with his beloved guitar in his hand. Even though he said he’s done with the band, I know he’ll always have his guitar close by. It always turns me on when I see him playing it with his big hands and long slender fingers splayed over the strings.