Page 115 of Waiting For Fate

“Well get out of here then. Tell Loretta and Allen I say hello.” Taylor grins at me and I roll my eyes. She’s fully taken on the task of calling them by their first names like Mom told her to on Thanksgiving and it is so weird.

I pull up to my parent’s house and hope my dad hasn’t already gone to bed. It’s just past nine so I’m hoping maybe he stayed up if he knew I was coming. I walk in and head straight to the living room to see my parents both sitting on the couch together, even though Dad has his arms crossed over his chest and is doing the dad sleep.

You know, when they’re in an upright position but are passed the hell out. That one.

“Hiiii,” I sing out softly.

“Hey sweetheart. Allen wake up,” Mom greets me first then elbows my dad in the side. He doesn’t get startled or jerk awake, his eyes simply pop open, and he scans the room until he sees me.

“Hey Sweetpea. Good to see you.” He pushes himself up off the couch and walks over to wrap me in a hug.

“Hey daddy, it’s good to see you too. How are you?”

“Oh I’m right as rain.” He gives me a playful shake and I smile at him.

“How about you? You good?”

“I’m really good,” I assure him.

“No drives necessary then?” He grabs his keys from his pocket and spins them around his finger, making me realize he’s still in his street clothes and not in his pajamas like he always is at this hour.

“None necessary, but always appreciated.” I lean up on my toes and kiss his cheek, pulling him in for another appreciative hug.

“Maybe we’ll go just for fun when you get back next week, huh?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Good, I wanna hear all about this new exciting life you’re living.” He gives me a wink and kisses my head. “Alright, your old man is going to bed. I love you Sweetpea.”

“Love you, Dad.”

“Love you, Lettie.” He calls to my mom, who is still snuggled on the couch knitting.

“I love you too, dear.”

I hope Sawyer and I stay in love for as long as they have.

I kick my shoes off and join Mom on the couch, snuggling under my blanket like I always do.

“Fill me in, Honey. What have I missed?” I let out a sigh, thinking about all the things I’ve done over the last two months—that I can comfortably share with my mother.

“Everything, and nothing.” She laughs like she understands. “How is that possible? How does life feel so different but still the same?” She looks over at me, placing her project in her lap as she takes my hand in hers.

“I’m sure if you took a step back and really looked at it, you would see just how much your life has changed since you fell in love. It’s just that your life with Sawyer is your new normal so it feels natural, almost as if nothing has changed at all. And that is a truly beautiful thing to experience.”

Does everyone’s mom just know everything about everything or is it just mine?

“I love you, Mom.”

“Oh, I love you too, Sweetheart.” She leans over and kisses the top of my head. “What time do you need to leave?”

“I’m in no rush.” She returns my smile when I answer.

“Then grab that remote, get Aaron Hotchner on the TV and make some popcorn.”

“Yes ma’am.”

I love coming home.

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