“Oh-my-gosh, Sara. I’m so sorry to hear this,” she responded sadly.
“It’s hitting me hard. I think about it every day hoping he gets better.”
“I wish I could be there. Keep me posted.”
“I will. Riley doesn’t really know what’s going on, but I know if Dad passes away she will take it hard not knowing where he daddy is.”
“Awe, how’s your mom handling this?”
“She’s taking it day by day.”
“Awe, Sara, I… I don’t know what to say other than I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. Your support is more than enough.”
“How’s Kaden? Is he helping you through this?”
“He’s great and he sure is. He said he’s going to be there for me, my mom and Riley if we need him.”
“What about when you two move to Rome?”
“We’ll have to see. I hope my dad will survive, but my heart is telling me he’s not going to make it.”
I heard her sniffle. “I know this is hard for you and if you need someone else to talk to please call me I’ll drop what I’m doing and give my time to you.”
“That’s good to know. Thank you.”
“I’ll do anything for a good friend.”
“Kaden I are going to watch Riley this upcoming weekend.”
“That will be fun I bet!”
“She adores Kaden.”
“Awe, that’s too cute.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.” I laughed.
“Kaden is going to be great dad one day and you’re going to be a great mom.”
“Thank you. You and Jake are going to be great parents too. You two just better bring that bundle of joy over to see us one day.”
“We have a while before that time comes.”
She giggled. “How is school going?”
“It’s going good. I’m getting out a year early, so this year is my last.”
“That’s wonderful! What about college?”
“I’m not going.”
“Really? What made you change your mind?”
“I don’t want to follow my dad’s footsteps.”
“What did your mom and dad say about this?”
“They’re really upset with me, so I have some more thinking to do.”
“Well, what do you plan to do after school if you don’t go to college?”
“I’m not sure?”
“Have you become more relaxed about moving to Rome?”
“Well, whether I want to or not; in the end I would have to go. But I’ve come to love Rome after Kaden and I took a week trip there this past summer.”
“That must have been nice!”
“Yeah, it was so much fun! I meet Kaden’s cousin, Kyle. At first he bugged the shit out of me, but as the days went by we became good friends!”
“That’s great!”
“Yeah, Kaden suggested I hook him up with Lucy.”
“Oh-my-gosh! I think Kaden needs to go in a mental institution. No offense to you, Sara, but come on!”
I giggled. “I thought he was nuts for suggesting this too, but I think it’s actually a good idea.”
“In this case I think you both need to go to the institution.”
I laughed. “Susie, Lucy has totally changed. She is a better person than she’s ever been.”
“Just let me say this. If she turns on you and Anna again then I have the right to first beat her ass then tell you two I told you so. Deal?”
I laughed heartily. “Deal, Susie.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but this mama has to get some sleep. I enjoyed our talk, Sara.” “I enjoyed our talk too. Bye, Susie.”
“Bye, Sara. I’ll call soon.”
“Please do. Bye.” We hung up.
I walked into the kitchen where Kaden had already started cooking dinner.
He kissed me. “How is she?” Kaden asked.
“She’s good. Jake finally asked her out,” I replied.
“That’s good.”
“What are we having for dinner?”
“Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and corn.”
“Yummy. Sounds really good. I like that you know how to cook.”
“Really? Why?”
“Because you help me out when I need it.”
“I try my best to help you. I always will.”
“I miss Susie so much!”
“She probably misses you too.”
“I wish she didn’t move away.”
“Well, no one likes when a friend has to move away.”
“I’m just glad she still stays in touch ever so often.”
He smiled. “We need to go grocery shopping Friday before Riley gets here.”
“Go, you’ll be home.”
“Well, I’m going to be sort of busy that day I was wondering if you’d go after you get out of school if I make a list.”
“Sure. Why not?”
He smiled. “Thank you, Baby.”
“No problem. I hope next year I have nothing but happiness.”
“I hope so too. I’ve been meaning to ask you something. I was wondering if you’d reconsider the thought about your parents moving to Rome with us.”
“Why would you want them to move there? Besides I don’t think my dad is going to make it much longer. Every time I see him he’s skinner and paler.”
Kaden sighed. “I thought you Dad would enjoy some time there.”
“There’s no point in planning this.”
“What do you think we should do then?”
“I’m not sure? I don’t know what I could do? When dad passes away Mom might want to stay in the house to maybe feel close to him?”
“That’s true, but do you think you should still ask her if she wants to move to Rome with us whether your Dad gets better or not?”
“I will mention it to her.”
“Alright, it was just a suggestion.”
“I know.”
“You seem sad now. What’s the matter?”
“I’m fine.” I hugged Kaden.”
After we ate dinner Kaden and I climbed into bed cuddling under the covers with the pugs at our feet while we watched TV.
“Tell your Mom she can have her own house in Rome,” Kaden stated.
“If I were her, I’d want to stay,” I replied.
“That’s you. She may not want to.”
“I’ll ask her. I’ll see what she says.”
“Don’t forget to invite Lucy over tomorrow.”
“I won’t.”
“Are you sure you’re alright? You’re not acting like you usually do.”
“I’m fine.”
“I’ll take your word on it.” Kaden kissed me, turned off the TV and rolled onto his side facing away from me as he fell into a deep sleep. I laid there wide awake. I wasn’t okay. I was worried about my dad.
Every time I heard the word Dad I felt depressed. Dad and I were just starting to get close and now this happened to him. It was going to be tuff for me, but like Dad said, “I have Kaden to help me.”
The next day of school went on as normal; and I invited Lucy over to hangout. Once we arrived at my house Kaden greeted me with a hug and a kiss then he said, “Hello” to Lucy. Kaden ran off to play golf and I thought he was crazy for wanting to play golf when it was cold out, but he didn’t think anything of it. Lucy and I went into the kitchen. I poured both of us a glass of lemonade then I sat with her at the table.
Kaden came into the kitchen. “I thought you left?” I quizzed.
“You’re right. It is a bit too cold to play golf. I think I’ll run to the grocery store instead.”
Kaden informed me.
I giggled. Alright,”
“Good-bye, Lucy, in case you are not here once I return.”
“Good-bye,” Lucy said. Kaden left. “What have you two been doing lately?”
“Just normal things, but I want to ask you something. When I went to Rome, I meet a guy named Kyle-”
“Oh, is he hot?” She exclaimed, but then she covered her mouth. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
I laughed. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Alright, go on.” She encouraged.
“Well, Kaden and I thought that you and Kyle could become friends.”
“Really? I don’t know about all that?”
“I told Kaden this was a bad idea,” I replied angrily.
“Don’t get me wrong. I am pleased that you would do this for me, but he’s in Rome, I’m in Coopersville. That’s a longs ways apart.”
“I didn’t realize that. Well, maybe if we can get Kyle here, maybe you’d want to hang out with him then?”
“I’d love to! Can you tell me more about him?”
I smiled. Here’s my chance to make Kyle sound irresistible! “Kyle is a strikingly handsome twenty years old with brown hair and has muscles to die for! He has an upbeat personality that lures in anyone that’s in his presence. He loves to joke around, so don’t take offense to something he says that’s out of the box. He has a passion for drawing and is quiet good at it! He just started attending John Cabot University to make something of his talent.
“Oh, Wow! He sounds amazing!” Lucy said as if she were already in love.
I smiled. “I’m not done yet.”
She giggled. “Oops!”
I laughed. “He lives with Kaden’s parents because his father convinced his mother that he was a useless son. Kyle wishes for his mother to return, but knows deep in his heart that she never will. He was engaged, but they broke-up last year and Kyle is still having a hard time getting over her.”
“Sara, He sounds like an amazing guy! Whoever his ex was must have been really dumb for leaving him.”
“So you like him?” I asked happily.
She smiled. “I like everything about him, but I don’t think it would be a good idea if I met him right now because he’s still hurting from a past relationship.”
I grinned. “You’re just going to be his friend, remember?”
She giggled. “Yeah, but what if I fall in-live with him? His heart is set on his past love. There is no way that he’ll look twice at me.”
I grinned mischievously. “We’ll just have to invite him over and see what happens.”
She sighed. “You are really determined to have Kyle and I meet.”
I grinned. “Would you like to see a couple drawings he drew for Kaden and I?”
Her eyes sparkled. “I’d love to!”
I gestured her to follow me into the living room. “Here is a drawing of Mackenzie; a horse that was given to him, but it just so happens that she doesn’t like guys, so Kyle gave her to me.”
“The drawing is beautiful and so is the horse! Where is Mackenzie?”
“In Rome.” I giggled. “Where else would she be?”
“I thought you would have brought her home.”
“No. Kyle does an amazing job caring for her. I’ll bond with her when we move to Rome.”
I pointed to the drawing of Kaden and me hanging inches from the first drawing. “This is a drawing of Kaden and me.”
“Wow! That is an amazing drawing! I would love for him to do a drawing for me! This is so inspirational!”
I smiled thinking I had finally convinced Lucy to meet Kyle when she said; “I still don’t think I should meet him just yet.”
I sighed frustrated. “He’s hot.”
She giggled. “Do you think he’ll ever like me?”
“He would be dumb if he didn’t.”
She laughed. “Okay, I’ll meet him, but if I fall in-love with him and he doesn’t have the slightest interest in dating me I am going to come back here and torture you.”
I smiled. “Just become friends. Take it one step at a time.”
“When are you and Kaden able to have him visit?”
“I’ll talk to Kaden about it when he gets back. I’ll call you later to let you know.”
“Alright! I’m excited to meet him.” She hugged me.
“I’m excited for you to meet him too!”
“Are we friends again?”
“I thought we already were?”
She grinned. “You’re a great friend. I’m thankful to have you.”
“No problem, Lucy.”
She grinned widely as we hugged. “Well, I had fun talking and even though we haven’t hung out long I’ve got to get home to help my mom cook dinner. She’d ring my neck if I’m not back to help.” She got her book bag, put her glass in the sink and hugged me one last time. “See you soon, Sara.”
“You better hurry home and be safe walking since you never let me drive you.”
She giggled. “I enjoy walking home.”
I smiled. “Make sure you text or call me to let me know you made it home.”
“I will.” She hollered as she began walking down the driveway.
“Bye.” I called to her.
“Bye.” She yelled back.
I closed the door grinning as I thought about what a great time I had hanging out with Lucy. As I finished my drink Kaden stepped in with two arm loads full of grocery bags. I quickly set my glass in the sink; ran to him and took an arm load from him. We set them on the kitchen table and started putting them away.
“I saw Lucy walking home,” Kaden said.
“Yeah, she told me her mother expected her to be home to help with dinner,” I replied.
“I offered her a ride home, but she refused; calming she enjoys walking?”
I giggled. “She never lets me take her home.”
He grinned. “Did you have a good time hanging out with Lucy?”
“Yeah, we had a good time. I told her about Kyle and it took me some time to convince her to be his friend. She finally agreed to meet him and asked when we could have him visit.”
“Well, at least she is willing to meet him.”
I smiled. “Could you ask him if he’d want to come for a visit one weekend?”
“I’ll call after dinner to see what weekend he’ll be able to come. Since he’s in school he might not be able to visit for a while.”
Kaden and I took out steaks, potatoes to mash and broccoli with cheese for dinner. I started pealing the potatoes while Kaden prepared the steaks and broccoli with cheese.
“You know you should probably wait on cooking those until I get the potatoes peeled, mashed and halfway cooked,” I informed him.
“Not with two of us doing them,” Kaden said as he sat down with me and started peeling potatoes. In no time we had them peeled, mashed and on the stove cooking.
“What do you think Kyle will say about Lucy?” I asked while I sat back down because
Kaden insisted on cooking.
“He’ll probably like her, but we’ll never know until they meet.”
“If so, may it be a match made right?”
“If it is; we should become match makers.”
I giggled. “I hope it is. They seem so right for each other like you and me.”
He grinned. “You and I are one of a kind match.”
“It will be so great if they fall in love!”
“It would, but it’s probably going to take time.”
“I hope Lucy can wait if Kyle’s not ready to date yet.”
After we ate Kaden and I let the pugs outside while he and I stood on the porch waiting for them to come back. As w
e stood there I realized I forgot to check my cell phone to see if Lucy had made it safely home. I ran into my bedroom and retrieved my phone. Lucy had texted me an hour ago saying she made it home. I texted her back saying; “That’s good to hear. Sorry, I didn’t answer until now I was talking to Kaden about
Kyle,”
No sooner than I sent the text she responded. “What did he say? Is he going to call him?” Lucy quizzed.
“Yes, he is. He’ll possibly have him over this weekend.”
“Really! I have to go get me a bomb outfit.”
I giggled. “You have more enthusiasm now about meeting Kyle than you did earlier today.”
“I’ve just been thinking about meeting him and decided what harm it could be to meet him and see where things take us.”
I smiled. “That’s good.”
“Will you go shopping with me if Kyle says he’ll come?”
“Definitely.”
“Thank you.”
“Not a problem. Have a good night.”
“You too.”
I put my phone back on my dresser and went into the living room and sat beside Kaden who was enjoying a movie called G.I JANE.
“Comfy?” I asked.
“Yeah, I was until you sat beside me.” Coco climbed onto my lap, I petted him.
“I forgot to check my phone to see if Lucy made it home.”
“Did she make it home?”
“Yeah, I told her you might be able to get Kyle here this weekend.”
“I’ll try. It depends on what his school schedule is.”
“What do you think will happen if they do end up falling in-love?”
“I’m not sure? We’ll have to see if that time comes.”
“You usually are the one telling me it’ll happen, but now you’re not.”
“I’m not Lucy and Kyle. I can’t tell you if they’ll fall in-love or not.”
“I can’t wait for Sadie to have puppies!”
He chuckled. “It’s about that time that she should conceive.”
“Well, Coco you better get to work on that.”
“They know when it’s time.”
“I think that’s so neat how they know.”
“I wish humans had that ability.”
“It would be very handy.” He winked.
We laughed. “I’m going to miss this house when we move.”
Love Goes On Page 33