“Why argue about it now? We have time to think about this.”
“Can you believe were getting married next June?”
“It doesn’t seem to really take an effect on me right now. I mean I know it’s going to happen with all the planning for the wedding, but it hasn’t hit me yet.”
“I think its going to hit you the day of when you’re getting ino your dress.”
I smiled. “What about you? Has it hit you yet that you’re getting married.”
He grinned widely. “I’ve been waiting for the right girl to come into my life so that I can get married and have someone to love the rest of my life, but now that’s its coming true it seems like it’s more of a dream than a reality.”
I smiled. “Being married to you is going to be so great!”
“So great that you’ll want to do it all over again?” He grinned.
“I don’t know about all that now.” I giggled.
He chuckled. “I would do it every day!”
“We’ll see about that when the day is over with.”
We kissed. “Have you had anymore thought about college?”
“I don’t know if I want to go.”
“I thought you were all for college?”
“My dad was. Not me.”
“I think you should go whether it’s for your Dad or not. Going to college can do great things for you.”
“Thank you for your encouragement, Kaden, but I’ll think about it.”
“It would spark up your Dad’s spirit if you told him you were going.”
I sighed. “I want to make this decision for me though. I won’t mean to hurt my dad’s feelings if I don’t go, but I have to make this choice based on what I want in life.”
“I can’t say anything else to convince you to go, so it’s all up to you now.”
I sighed. “I hate when I have to make decisions when people are involved that I love and knowing I might hurt that person makes my decision so much harder.”
He took my chin in his hand and turned my face toward him. “I know this is hard on you, but you’ll get through this. This won’t be the hardest decision you’ll make in your life.
I took his hand from my chin and held it. “It’s close enough.”
The next morning Kaden and I sat down and ate breakfast together.
“I was going to cook lunch for my parents today. Then you and I are going over there to eat with them,” I told Kaden.
“That will be a nice thing to do!” Kaden exclaimed.
“I’ll call first to make sure they’ll be home. I don’t think I want to tell them I’m bringing lunch though.”
“What if your mom cooks lunch not knowing you’re bringing them lunch?”
“Good point. Maybe I’ll tell her I’m making lunch.”
He laughed. “Then it won’t be a surprise.”
“Well, tell me what I should do then?”
“Tell them that I’m bringing some leftover food for them to try that we had from last night.”
“Good idea.”
“Thank you. I know I’m brilliant.”
I laughed. “Only you, Kaden, only you.” We giggled.
After we ate I phoned my parents to find out that they were going to be home and were very happy that we were bringing leftovers; at least that’s what they thought we were bringing. Kaden and I went to the grocery store to purchase items to make grilled chicken, pasta and salad. When we arrived home we had about an hour before we were supposed to be at my parent’s house so we started cooking the food.
“I never asked you how you learned to cook,” I told Kaden.
“When I was little I would go into the kitchen and watch the cooks prepare meals for my family. The cooks were realizing I was coming in there more often as I got older so they decided to start letting me help them cook the meals. One day when I was ten I decided to go to the kitchen and have the cooks help me prepare a meal because I was hungry, but they were on break so I took it upon myself to cook my own meal all by myself knowing that I could get into deep trouble; so when my mom walked in on me I thought she was going to get mad at me, but instead she tried the food and was amazed at how well it tasted.”
“Wow! That’s nice that the cooks let you help them.”
“I would get bored some days so I would just wander into the kitchen and after a while it became a normal everyday thing.”
“My mom taught me.”
“She did a good job.” He smiled.
“She sure did. I would like to give Mom and Dad a break. We could have Riley stay over one weekend.”
“That would be great! Do you think she will?”
“Worth trying.”
“I’ll ask Mom today.”
“Hopefully, she does so she can spend some alone time with your Dad.”
“Yeah, it will be nice having her over.”
“We already have a room for her we just need to see if she’ll ever use it.”
I laughed. “Well, maybe she’ll use it one weekend soon.”
When the food was done we put the dishes in my car and went over to my parents. My parents greeted us as we entered their home. I walked over and hugged my dad as Kaden set the dishes on the kitchen table. Kaden came over and shook my dad’s hand then he sat on the couch with Riley on his lap as I went into the kitchen with my mom.
“How are you, Mom?” I asked as I helped her get out the plates and silverware.
“I’ve been good. Holding it together for Dad and Riley,” Mom replied as she took the lid off of the dishes. She sucked in air. “This is not leftovers!”
I smiled as I glanced over toward Kaden who turned around and smiled. “We tricked you. I cooked the pasta dish and the chicken. Sara, made the salad,” Kaden said.
“Well, thank you both so very much,” Mom stated happily.
My dad must have thanked Kaden because I could hear Kaden say “you’re welcome.”
“How’s dad?” I asked as Mom and I fixed everyone’s plate.
“He’s not doing well at all. He’s weaker. He can’t feed himself without making a mess all over himself, he can’t drink anything without a straw, he needs help going to the bathroom and changing his clothes.”
My heart started to hurt from everything my dad was going through and everything Mom was going through.
“Kaden and I want to help you by taking Riley one weekend.” I suggested.
“Dad and I would love that so much!” Mom exclaimed.
Once everyone was seated we all began to devour the food. I watched Dad as he tried to feed himself, but he continuously dropped the food on his fork on his lap. Since I was sitting next to him I helped him. I had to hold back my tears so I wouldn’t upset Riley.
“Dad, I talked with Mom about having Riley spend a weekend with Kaden and me,” I explained.
Dad smiled. “That would be wonderful!”
After we ate Mom and I washed the dishes while Kaden, Dad and Riley sat in the living room talking.
“Mom, I’ve made up my mind,” I said.
“About what, Sweetheart?” Mom asked.
“I’ve decided I don’t want to go to college.”
“Why? You need to go to please your father.”
“Mom, I don’t want to live Dad’s dream! Just because he went to college doesn’t mean I have to. I don’t want to go!” I replied angrily.
Mom put down the dish she was washing, wiped her hands and turned to face me. “Why would you not want to go for your father’s sake?”
I was becoming angrier. “Mom, I’m not going to go for Dad! Forget it.” I replied furiously.
Kaden came to my defense. “What’s all the fuss about?”
Mom sneered at him. “You did this
! You convinced Sara not to go to college. Didn’t you?”
I peered at Mom shocked she’d say such a thing. “Mom, Kaden has nothing to do with this!”
“I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, Alana. I tried my best to convince Sara to go, but there’s only so much I can do,” Kaden explained.
“Well, apparently you didn’t try hard enough!” Mom replied angrily.
I became angry. “Mom, Stop this nonsense!”
“Why don’t we let Joe and Sara talk about this instead of us standing here bickering over this situation,” Kaden suggested.
Oh, that’s a really smart thing to do prince boy! Haven’t you been in touch with the real world lately? Joe is ill and I will not have this upset him,” Mom spoke sternly.
“Mom, stop being so rude to Kaden! What is the matter with you?” I asked Mom meanly.
“Don’t sass me young lady! You may not live here anymore, but I am still your mother so you need to respect me!” Mom replied bitterly.
I started to cry. “Mom, you’re disrespecting Kaden and me too. Don’t you think we should rationally discuss this situation with Dad?”
Mom sighed as she looked away. After a few moments of silence she looked back at me. “Fine. But if this discussion upsets Joe we’re stopping right then and there. Understand?” Mom said.
“Yes, Mom,” I replied.
“Kaden would you take Riley into her room to play while we talk?” Mom quizzed Kaden.
“Sure,” Kaden grinned.
As Kaden took Riley’s hand leading her to her room Mom and I sat side by side on the couch.
“Dad, I have something important to tell you,” I told him.
“What’s on your mind, Sara?” Dad quizzed.
I looked at Mom as I was beginning to have second thoughts, but she nodded encouraging me to continue. “Dad, I have been thinking a lot about going to college and lately I have decided I don’t want to go,” I said this without looking at him knowing he was probably angry with me. When Dad didn’t respond I looked at him wondering if he had heard me or not, but when he looked at me and sighed deeply I knew he’d heard me and wasn’t happen with my decision.
“I don’t understand why you don’t want to go. Do you think you don’t have to work now because you have a rich fiancé?” Dad quizzed.
“No, Dad. That’s not the reason at all!” I replied.
“I’ve tried to teach you that you need to work for what you want. Whether it’s big or small. You need to be well educated if you want to live comfortably.”
I felt like I had really disappointed my Dad. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
“I’m sorry too, Sara. I wish you would not have made this decision. I wanted you to have the finer things in life.”
“I can still have that without a college degree.”
“Maybe so, but that college degree will get you into another department if the one you’re in fails. If something happens with your non college job there’s no guarantee you’ll get another so easily.”
“I just don’t feel like I need to go to college.”
“Well, I’m sorry you feel this way.” Dad began to cry as he turned away from me. I got the feeling he wanted me to leave so I got up and ran out of the house crying my eyes out.
“Sara,” Mom hollered behind me. I stopped, but I didn’t face her. “I hope you know that you really hurt you fathers feelings,” Mom stated smartly.
I faced her. “Like I don’t know that already, Mom!”
She began to walk back to the house when she suddenly stopped and faced me. “I hope you’ll make the right decision. Knowing you’ve upset your father over this this would make me think you’d want to go to college.”
As she turned around to continue towards the house Kaden walked out of the door. Mom stopped and briefly spoke with him. After Mom hurriedly went inside slamming the door behind her Kaden walked over to me, hugged and kissed me then he opened the car door for me. After Kaden got into the car we drove home. On the way I thought about what I’d done.
I knew I really upset my dad, but I couldn’t understand why he was pushy about me going to college. I understood the importance of college, but I just didn’t know what the big deal was if I didn’t go and got an office job instead. Yeah, I could get laid off or something and have to start all over again in a different career, but that doesn’t always happen. I just wish my dad would accept what I want to do, but I know that it’s never going to happen and he’ll never let up unless I go.
When Kaden and I got home we sat on the couch with the pugs.
“I hope I’m not letting my dad down. He was so upset tonight,” I stated.
“I still think you should go, but nobody can make you go. You have to make the decision,” Kaden replied.
“If I don’t go I think it will haunt me forever!”
He chuckled. “Well, it looks like you have a lot of thinking to do.”
“I didn’t like leaving the way I did tonight. He could pass away and I’ll feel horrible for leaving tonight without making mends.”
“You’re Dad isn’t going anywhere, but I still suggest you make amends with him as soon as you’re able to.”
“I absolutely will! Don’t you worry.” I smiled. “What was my mom talking to you about before we left?”
“She was telling me that you and I could watch Riley next weekend and that she hoped I could knock some sense into your head about the positive views on college.”
I giggled. “Of course she would drag you into this.”
He smiled. “You can’t blame them. They’re only looking out for your well-being.”
“They have always been like that. I would like to make some decisions on my own for once.
“Well, now’s your chance.” He smiled.
I smiled back. “It’s going to be exciting to have Riley over for the weekend. How are we going to entertain her while she’s here?”
“I have some activities up my sleeve.”
“Of course you do.” I giggled. “It’s so cute how much Riley loves you.”
“I’m the best. What can I say?”
I grinned. “You’re going to be just as good with our kids in the future.”
He smiled. “Yes, I will be, but I’ll never match up to you.”
I smiled. “I honestly can’t wait to have kids with you. But I want to have our life situated first.”
“I’m glad to hear that, but I very much agree that we should be situated in life before we have little Kaden’s and Sara’s.”
I giggled. “Our big family is ahead!”
He grinned widely. “It’ll be happening sooner than we think. Have you decided when you’ll be telling Lucy about Kyle?”
“I plan on inviting her over tomorrow to tell her about him.”
“So you finally feel like it’s the right time to tell her?”
“She seems sweet now. But I don’t know how she’ll react to me telling her
I’ve found a guy for her.”
He chuckled. “Girls.”
“Boys.”
“You can’t live without us.”
“Oh, yes I can!”
“I would love to see you go without me for a week. I bet you, you will beg me to come back.”
I smiled. “You’re right. I would.”
He chuckled. “Have you talked to Susie lately?”
“No, I really need to call her. Her baby girl will be born in a couple months.”
“She doesn’t have much longer.”
“No, she doesn’t.”
“Why don’t you give her a call? I need to call my parents anyway so this would be a good time to speak with her.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Kaden kissed me then he went into the kitch
en to phone his parents.
Susie didn’t take long to answer the phone. I think the most it rung was three times.
“Sara! I’m so glad you called!” Susie exclaimed.
“I’ve missed you a lot! How are things going?” I asked.
“Things are going great! Jake and I are finally dating!”
“Congratulations! Were you planning to call me to let me hear this good news?”
She laughed. “I was going to call you tomorrow, but you got to it first.”
I giggled. “Well, I’m happy for you. You and Jake are making good progress.”
“We got our own place too! It’s just an apartment, but it’s going to be better living here when the baby comes because my room would be so cluttered at my mom’s!”
“That’s great!”
“Are you planning on working after you have the baby?”
“I am, but Jake works so I will have to schedule my hours around his.”
“Where do you want to work?”
“I haven’t made a decision yet.”
“Your due date is approaching fast so I think you should explore your options.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I guess I should.”
I smiled. “How’s the pregnancy going?”
“Great! I’m so ready to see her though! I’m tired of waiting.” She giggled.
“You’re going to come visit me this summer, right?”
“Absolutely. What have you been up to lately?”
“Well, for one, Anna and I befriended Lucy again.”
“Why would did you two do that for?”
“She explained to me why she did what she did.”
“This has got to be good.”
“She got in with the wrong crowd and got on drugs.”
“What! That’s a total lie.”
“I believe her.”
“Well, I still don’t like her. I’m sorry, but that’s what I’m sticking to so let’s get off that subject and onto another.”
“Well, my dad is not doing well at all.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” She sounded worried.
“He had a stomach problem. Then when he went back to the doctor to get checked they found out that he has stomach cancer.”
Love Goes On Page 32