Verna, Kiko, and I step over to Maggie to comfort her. She turns with so much sadness that it breaks my heart. She breaks down more coming into my arms placing her head on my left shoulder.
“ Why Ellie, why did I miss so much of this summer with my son. I feel so bad right now.” Maggie tells me as Verna and Kiko place a hand on her back
“ I don’t know hun except your boyfriend is asking to much keeping you away from what’s most important and that’s family.” I tell her getting a nod
“ I think I need to rethink things before next summer. I love my son so much.” Maggie tells us getting nods
“ We know hun as we do to. That is why we took him home for his birthday. I couldn’t stand seeing him alone on his 16th birthday.” I tell her as she nods on my shoulder
“ Thank you for that as I am sorry for not being there. I love you all so much.” Maggie tells us as we say the same back
“ We love you just as much Magpie.” I say calling her my pet name for her
Verna, Kiko, and I comfort our best friend for a bit until Maggie says she has to go. We walk with her out the front doors of the airport followed by our husbands. Once out the front Maggie gives us each a hug before we watch her walk to her SUV. Once to the SUV she waves after getting in only to sit there for a moment. I know she is still down and upset, but there is nothing else that we can do. As we get to our cars I watch Maggie drive off and out of the parking lot. I look up to the sky and make a prayer that my Best friend and once lover gets her mind straighten out. I get in the passenger side as Mike get’s in the driver side. Before he starts the car I turn to look at his eyes as he notices mine.
“ Baby what are you thinking about?” I ask as he looks at the letter he kept
“ I don’t know who wrote this bullshit, but I plan to find out one way or another.” He tells me as I nod
“ Well who ever it is they messing with the wrong family. I just hope what ever is happening doesn’t hurt Heath.” I tell him feeling his hand on my left thigh
“ Honey we are not going to let that happen. Heath is our son also being his god parents.” My loving husband tells me
He leans over to me placing his lips on mine. I return the kiss before he breaks it smiling. I give him a smile in return telling him to get us home as I needed him at that moment. He shows a big smile as he starts the car to take us home to a empty house. On the way home I think of my godson and hope he stays happy as I never want to see him sadden over what hurt he has had the past months. I look out the window and hope Greg stays close to keep a eye on his son from above.
First week of high school was nice as my classes were educational. Chris, Selena, Tiffany, and I started our online business. We called it CHST Inc. as we sold what my god father let us sell. It was starting off very well. Tiffany was Secretary and Selena was the treasurer. Chris and I were sales and started to get pretty good at it. I had a few classes with Tiffany which was nice. As well as a few with Chris and Selena. Chris and I had weight training together which helped as we spotted for the other. The weekends we spent time together going on the town in which Jason the limo driver drove us around to a few places. I asked him if he could teach me to drive. He showed a smile on his face telling me he would be honored. It seems Mike and Ellie told him things about me, because he sure took to helping me that following week. After a month of studying I took the written test in which I passed. Tiffany kissed me congratulating me. Chris and Selena gave me hugs with smiles. Jason told me he would let me drive via lening me his Lincoln town car and letting me drive him around on weekends. We laughed at that comment. Jason was a good man as I took him in as my uncle. He told Chris, Selena, Tiffany, and I that he thought of us all as his nephews and nieces. We all hugged him before he returned us to school that day.
The days and months passed as it was Christmas already. It was the Monday before Christmas in which like usual Mike dropped me off. After getting hugs and a kiss from Tiffany I watched as they drove off. I walked up to the front door around 4 p.m. to let myself in. Once in I dropped my bag in the foyer stepping into the living room.
“ MOM, MICHELLE, TRAVIS I’M HOME!” I yelled out to let them know
I stood waiting to hear any comeback or footsteps. There was neither of the such as I looked around. I noticed a tree with what looked like gifts underneath it. I made my way over to the tree that stood on the other side by the back door. I kneeled down to see who’s they were. There were three gifts all with my name. Two were small as one was long and flat like a dvd. I let them be as I stood to silence. Making my way to the kitchen I noticed a letter on the table. Picking it up I started to read it. Mom told me she would see me after Christmas that Tyrone took Her, Michelle, and Travis along with his kids to his mothers in another state. I stood there dumbfounded as to why she would just leave me like this. I shook my head as I crumbled the letter. I made my way to the fridge to find hardly any food. I slammed the door without knowing my strength. I stormed out of the kitchen to the living room taking a seat on the couch. As I sat there pondering to what was going on I turned to look at the gifts. Three measly gifts to god knows how many they were getting. I let out a sigh thinking of what I was actually going to do. Why of all things would my family do this to me? What did I do to them except love them? I sat there for I figured 10 minutes before I decided to not let them make this ruin my vacation. I got up going to the tree. Even though mom wasn’t here I figured I would just take them with me. Making my way to the front door I squatted down unzipping my bag. I placed the gifts in then zipped it back up. I stood making sure I was bundled up. I picked my bag up leaving the house making sure it was locked. I figured walking in the cold air would help me out and think. I made my way to the one place I have felt a home. It was about a 15 minute walk, but worth it.
Once up to the front door of my adopted families house. I knocked on the door feeling my hands numb because of the cold air. The door opened with a confused mother on the other side.
“ Heath what the..” Ellie says as I stand shivering
“ Momma Ellie….can I….come in?” I ask shivering watching her move to the side with concern
I walked past her feeling the warm air from the house hit me hard. Ellie shut the door only to help me inside. Once in the living room Mike stood to only see the red on my cheeks.
“ Heath what are you doing here son? Where is your mother at?” He asks as Chris comes down the stairs quickly
“ In another state with Tyrone. As is Michelle and Travis guess I wasn’t invited.” I say as Chris comes over to get the cold bag out of my hand
“ Oh god Heath your frozen.” Ellie says helping me out of my jacket
“ Yeah it’s cold outside but for some reason i don’t really feel it.” I say with a chuckle