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I was silent and in shock.
Allison has been at my mother’s house…with Callie? She’s there now? This was unbelievable.
Caleb kept talking as his voice competed with the numerous thoughts floating through my head. “I played dumb, Cedric. She told me she was assigned here after Callie’s Tuesday-Thursday person suddenly quit. She has been working here for a few weeks now.”
I stayed silent in shock as I exited the elevators and walked aimlessly out the revolving door onto the noisy hustle and bustle of State Street. I ran my fingers through my hair again as I absorbed what I was hearing, looking up at the evening sky.
“Cedric…are you still there?” Caleb asked.
After a long pause, I responded in an exhausted and dazed whisper. “Yeah.”
“Cedric, she’s amazing with Callie. I have never seen Callie so content. Callie is looking at her in the eyes and they are feeding each other dessert. It’s really cute, actually. And you were right about how you described her…holy Jesus. You have to get down here.”
“Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, Caleb, I don’t know. I told you what happened when I went to the diner. She acted like she never fucking wanted to see me again. I still can’t figure out what happened. I’ve been a mess these past few weeks. I almost made a huge mistake tonight in my office with some girl because I have been so fucking down in the dumps over this. I can’t even process anything having to do with Allison right now, let alone show my face there.”
I closed my eyes for a few seconds and opened them.
“Well, I think she is only going to be here for about another hour, so if you decide to come down, you need to do it fast,” Caleb said.
“Ok, thanks.” I hung up the phone abruptly and walked in a daze down State Street to the garage where my car was parked. I disarmed the car and got in sitting there in silence for a minute, before starting the engine.
As I drove out of the garage, I hadn’t made my mind up about whether or not to go to my mother’s. I just started driving.
It made sense that Allison could have been assigned to work with Callie, but the possibility that it would happen had never occurred to me.
I decided to stop at home and change out of my work clothes, which reeked of Peggy-Rose’s vanilla scent.
I threw on a plain fitted white long-sleeve shirt, my fa
vorite Levis, some brown shoes and a brown leather jacket.
I went into the master bath and threw some water over my face and wet down my hair.
I sat back on my bed bouncing my knees nervously. Should I stay or should I go? (Go ahead, sing the song.)
Without thinking further, I shot up, grabbed my keys and ran out the door.
Speeding down the side roads to my mother’s house, I had no idea what I was going say to her if she was still there, what I was going to do when I saw her or how she would react when she saw me. I wondered if she had even figured out that this was my family. Would she be shocked to see me show up out of the blue? So many thoughts raced through my head. But more than anything…I was excited to have a reason to see her again. Maybe she would be cold, maybe she didn’t want me in the way I wanted her, or would treat me like she did last time at the diner. But to be able to see her face again was something I simply couldn’t pass up.
I pulled into the spot across the street from my mother’s house. I could see the Christmas tree was lit up and the house was covered in lights. The bright lamplight from the living room shined through the window and silhouettes of people moved back and forth. As I approached the front door, I could see right into the house. No one noticed me looking in like a creeper.
Through the glass, I saw my mother and our family friend Bruno sitting on the couch talking.
I saw Caleb walk from the living room into the dining room holding a beer.
I waited continuing to stay by the window. No Allison. I was too late. She was gone. My heart sank.
I rang the doorbell and was greeted by my mother.
“Cedric! What a surprise, honey, come in. Did Caleb call you?” She beamed.
“Hi, Ma.” I hugged her tightly never wanting to let go.
“I didn’t even think to call you over, because you said you had been working so late this week. I am glad you decided to join us, honey.”
“Me too,” I sighed into my mother’s neck.
I greeted Bruno, Maria and Kurt who were now all sitting in the living room. Caleb must have been in the bathroom because I didn’t see him in the dining room or kitchen.
