Page 10 of Dear, Carson McDermott
“I’m going to miss you when you’re gone, Munchkin.”
I inhaled his scent.
I would never stop hugging my father as if I was still that little girl. Well, in a sense I was, he was much bigger than I was, he’s always been. Even though we just celebrated my father’s forty-fourth birthday, he still looked like he was in his early thirties. Mom hated the fact that young women in their twenties hit on my father. It wasn’t his fault that he was handsome and those signature Di’Maggio blue eyes took over. I blame mom for not letting him cut his hair. He appeased her by not cutting all of it off. Now, it stopped at his jawline, but he always had it up or pulled back with a band over it.
My father still looked like he could fight every boy that came my way, but I was pretty sure he wanted to fight the men that hit on mom even more. Mom was now forty but ask me if she looked it. The termblack don’t crackwas very much true, she didn’t look a day over twenty-eight. She was still so beautiful and youthful even after having five kids. You wouldn’t even think she had that many kids. Most people thought she was my older sister and I had to let them know that my daddy wouldn’t appreciate that shit being said.
“So, what is this? Giving your dad all the love when you know I’m your best friend?” I heard mom say from behind dad.
I chuckled, giving dad one more tight hug as he kissed the top of my head. I let him go and poked my head out to the side. Mom was smiling at me, she looked beautiful. She was more relaxed because she was working from home today. She wore her yoga pants, a big tee which I was sure belonged to dad and her hair was up in a bun. Mom looked passed me and I knew she was looking at Carson then she eyed me with the biggest smile on her face. I had called her and told her all about what happened today, she truly was my best friend.
“Mama, I have got some news for you!” I exclaimed and moved to her forgetting all about the boys. “We’ll be back!” I announced as I dragged mom out of the kitchen to her home office.
“Bring me my wife back, Munchkin!” Dad shouted.
“Yeah, yeah Old man, I’ll bring her back in one piece.”
“Appreciate’ it,” he said, and I shook my head at how corny he was.
****
When we got to her office, Mom shut her door and then she clapped her hands.
“So, you and Bubba are finally a couple huh?” She said as she sat us both on her couch. “How do you feel?”
“Oh sweet, sweet mama, it gets better.”
“How so? Do tell munchkin,” she teased.
I shook my head, laughing.
“Mama, you and I are practically the same height.”
“You’re the shortest one in the house Kitty, so you can’t even fault me. You won the name fair and square.”
She was right. Gabriella was turning fourteen and she was taller than both of us. Even the twins, who were twelve years old looked me in the eye. They were taller than me by an inch. It ticks me off sometimes when the boys including Tony and dad gang up on me. They put all the food that I like on the higher shelves, and one time, they stuffed me in a damn box thinking it was funny, but I was pissed. I fought the twins and almost killed Tony, but dad pulled me into his arms calming me down and promised me that he would buy me a new gun. A custom made one too, I had never calmed down so fast before but that was because I was thinking of shooting Tony with it.
I snapped out of the memory and concentrated on Mom once more,
“True,” I agreed. “Oh yeah, so guess who’s going to USC with me?”
“You’re lying! Bubba? I knew he would get in! he’s so damn talented! I never doubted him. Do you know how many schools wanted him? That kid is going to be something else.”
I eyed my mom with a fascination.
“Are you a McDermott fan, Ma?”
She had the nerve to giggle.
“What? It’s not my fault he’s talented. I’m telling you; he’s going to make it far as hell. Further than his grandfather did. Did you know that his mother’s father was a great football player and so was Bubba’s uncle? Now, it’s his turn to make them proud. I’m so proud of him.”
I pursed my lips shaking my head,
“you weren’t even this happy when I got in. You barely pay attention to when the band that I’m in performs at the games,” I rolled my eyes.
Mom leaned in, kissing my forehead.
“Aww, don’t be jealous honey. I’ll always be proud of you unless you drop out of school. I’m not about to be cool with that.”
