Dad.
“One day you’ll forgive him,” she said. It’s almost like she knew what I was thinking.
“How can you be so sure, Mom?” I questioned.
“Because you’re my baby boy. I know you, Gabe. You can’t hate him. You aren’t that type of person. He hurt you and that hurt often times turns to anger.” She shook her head. “But never hate, Gabe. He was an amazing father to you. I’m sure one day you two will be able to talk about all of this. But for right now?”
“Yeah?” I whispered.
“Pray for him.”
“Why, Mom? After everything he’s done to you especially, how could you say that?” I said angrily. My mom was always so thoughtful, thinking about others before herself, but this? This was just fucking ridiculous.
“Because a long time ago,” she paused to smirk at me, “I fell in love with him. I chose to marry him, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. Would you like to know why?”
“I have a feeling I know what you’re going to say.”
“Because I have you,” she said as she smiled at me, cupping my face with one hand and running her thumb along my cheek. “Gabe, in life we’re all given paths to choose. I’m sure at some point people have wished they could see both paths they are given because they want to know their options. Unfortunately, and yet luckily, life doesn’t work like that. I loved your father. I still do. For twenty-three years he gave me a very good life. He gave me a great one when we had you. If I hadn’t married him, I wouldn’t have gotten you. So I wouldn’t change that for anything.”
“I love you, Mom,” I said as I wrapped my arms around her.
“I love you too, baby.” Letting go of my cheek, Mom smiled. “So, tell me about this girl…”
“Mom, we’re just going star-gazing.”
“Star-gazing?” she questioned. “And you joke that I’m old,” she said with a giggle.
“It’s for Astronomy class.”
“Sure it is,” she joked. “So come on. Tell me. What’s she like?”
“Her name is Sarah Thompson. She’s beautiful.”
“What’s the catch?” Mom questioned.
“She hates me,” I blurted.
Shaking her head, Mom said, “I don’t think she hates you.”
“Yeah, she does,” I countered back. “I’m pretty annoying to her.”
“Gabe,” Mom said. “She likes you and I know you like her. That’s how girls act when they like someone. I’m sure it also might come into play that she’s not another one of the girls that follows you everywhere you go. Am I right?”
“Yeah. I really like her, Mom.”
“I know, baby.”
“So what do I do?” I seriously asked. I had no idea what I was getting myself into or what I was supposed to do.
“Just be yourself. Put her first. Don’t always joke around with her and try to have some serious conversations. Listen to her when she speaks and acknowledge it. Show you care. Because Gabe? If you do that, I have no doubt she’ll care for you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said. Feeling the vibration of my cell going off in my pocket, I stood up and pulled out my phone. Sliding the screen to unlock it, I smiled.
“Is that her?” Mom asked.
I glanced back at Mom. “Yeah.” Tilting my head towards the door, I said, “I should probably get going. She’s going to wring my neck as it is.”
Giggling, Mom said, “Okay, baby. You have fun tonight and be safe.”
Giving Mom one more hug, I said, “Okay, Mom. Love you.”
After hearing her say, “I love you,” back, I opened my phone.
“Hello?”
“Gabe! Where are you? I don’t want to be with you all night,” Sarah said loudly.
“I’m leaving my house now, Sarah, so I’ll be at your house in about five minutes.” I didn’t hear anything on the other end of the phone and when I pulled it from my ear, I saw that she had hung up.
“Oh, young love,” Mom sang from behind me.
Turning around, I said, “Yeah, she’s a pain in my ass, this one,” as I waved my cell in the air.
***
“Where were you?” Sarah said the second she opened the passenger side door.
Shrugging, I said, “Sorry, I lost track of time.”
She slammed the car door shut and buckled herself in. “I’m serious, Gabe. I need an A in this class.”
Nodding, I turned and smirked at her. I couldn’t believe that this was the girl for me. “I know, Sarah.”
Looking at me for a second, she asked, “What are you smiling about?”
“Nothing,” I joked.
Letting out a huff, Sarah sat back in her seat and crossed her arms. I was surprised she decided to stay quiet but it wasn’t for long. “So what took you so long?” she questioned.
“I was talking with my mom about some things,” I said quietly.