Chapter NINE

My Mom was in the kitchen when I went downstairs the next morning. I'd forgotten to close the curtains in my bedroom, and the sun was shining directly in, waking me up too early. I was sluggish as I walked in the kitchen, but I could smell coffee brewing, so I smiled at my Mom. Her hair was wet and she was wearing a robe, her glasses sitting down on her nose a bit.

   "Good morning," she said, happy to see me. "I didn't hear you come in last night. Was it late?"

   "Oh, um, a bit after midnight," I told her, pulling out a stool to sit on. I wondered immediately if she was going to be upset about this. I didn't even really know what kind of parent she was.

   "Don't worry, Kels," she said, reaching over to touch my hand. "I'm not going to send you away." She let out an awkward laugh. "How was the game?"

   "Oh, good. They won."

   "And the party?" she added, sipping her coffee. 

   "Party?" I looked away for a second.

   "Kels, high school football games end at 9 p.m."

   "Oh, right. I went to the after party for a bit..."

   She finally relaxed, smiling. "Great. I knew you'd get along with everyone here."

   She didn't care that I'd gone to a party only after being in St. Cloud for a week. She was actually happy that I had.

   I drank a coffee - with her weird almond milk - and then went to the living room to see what kind of homework I had. The room was modern and sort of rustic at the same time. It was large, yet tucked near the back of the house. I sat on the soft, brown sofa, glancing around the room. There was a large TV on the wall, along with book shelves and a cabinet.  

   I didn't have much homework, and my mom joined me a little while later, once I had packed up my school bag again.

   "I have a little work to do in the office, but we were invited to my neighbour's big backyard party this afternoon. They say he's turning seventy, but I swear he looks not a day over sixty." She laughed at herself, then went on, "I'll be home around two and then we will head over   there -"

   "Oh, uh, I'm sort of... I have more homework -"

   "You have an hour later to drop by with me, don't you? Sue and Bradley have been so excited to meet you."

   "Oh," I said, nodding. "Sure, yeah."

   "Great! And tomorrow, we are going to lunch with my friend, Pete."

   "Your friend?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at her.

  "Yes. Lunch. It's a fancy place, so wear that nice dress we got-"

   "Mom. You're planning my whole weekend?" I asked, then forced a laugh.

   "No, no. Just one hour, later today. And tomorrow, two hours, tops." She winked, which confused me.

   I nodded, and a few minutes later she was yelling goodbye as she slipped out the door to head to work.

   The room felt familiar, for a moment. I had a flash back to Kennedy and I sitting there, watching a movie, all those years ago that we had visited. Back then, I was mad at her for leaving us. The visit had been mostly a disaster, with me being an emotional, angry fourteen year old. But then, I didn't know she had tried to come back. I just knew that she had left us. I wanted a real mom, like my friends had; not one that lived in a different state, making a new life without me.

   HEY, I sent a text to Kennedy before going to take a shower and get dressed for the day.

   HEY BACK.

   HOW'RE YOU DOING? I asked him.

   IM FINE. ITS SO WEIRD WITHOUT YOU HERE, he sent back.

   I took in a breath. MISS YOU

   YOU TOO. MAKE ANY FRIENDS YET?

   YEAH, SORT OF.

   COOL. DAD'S CAMPAIGN IS RAMPING UP. REALLY ANNOYING SEEING HIS FACE EVERYWHERE.

   I let out a laugh. I BET

   Our dad was running for our district council person, second year in a row. He had always been a businessman, and had been in politics a long time. But this campaign was to "provide change" and and he was "for the people". But not his own daughter, I guess.

   MAYBE YOU CAN GET ARRESTED AND HE WILL SEND YOU HERE, TOO, I sent to my brother.

   NOT FUNNY. MY FRIENDS ARE ALREADY BUGGING ME ABOUT IT.

   SORRY.

   I showered, got dressed and slipped on my shoes to go for a walk. The neighbourhood was tree-lined and dated, but it felt cozy and safe. I kicked some dead leaves off the sidewalk as I walked, taking in the spring air.

   There was still snow on the ground, but not a lot.  By mid April, things were really changing. The air was different here. Better. Two blocks from the house, I walked past a little row of shops - a cafe and a small bookstore and a bank. On the way back, my hands were cold, so I shoved them into my sweater pockets.

   I didn't expect to like it here, let alone enjoy a quiet walk alone in a new city. It was partly Tab and Franky, partly the change in season, making this all feel like a new beginning. Maybe it was even a little bit my mom, and how we were back together again. Maybe we could actually make this work.

   I didn't think much about the neighbour's backyard party until it hit me that it was Anderson's grandfather's birthday party, and he would be there. My mom was home, and it was only half an hour before we were supposed to leave, but my stomach was in knots. I knew how awkward it was going to be, especially when my mom found out that Anderson and I met on the plane. I couldn't stand the thought of her finding out now - I just knew she would make it a big thing.

   "Ready, honey?" she called up to me, sooner than I thought she would.

   I swallowed hard. I was ready to go, but I still wanted to get out of it. "I'm actually not feeling well -"

   "Oh, you're just hungry. It's a BBQ, Kels. Come on, it'll be fun," she said, when she saw me.

   I slowly went down the stairs, then followed her through the house and out the front door, because I knew I didn't have a choice.