Car ride
815 Words
"This burger joint was where I worked while in college. I have lots of fun memories here."
"I hope to have lots of fun memories working for you, Daddy."
"Oh, I am sure you will." He says with a wink.
When we finish eating I don't want to go home. I have to, though. I wish I could tell my mom that we are in love and we are done with her.
I stop right in my tracks. We are in love? Is this love? Does he love me?
"Baby girl, why did you stop? The car is
over here."
"I just really like you, Daddy. I just had to tell you that." Ugh, I am a coward. how do you tell someone that you love them. what if he doesn't feel the same way.
He walks back to me and holds my waist.
"I really like you too." He kisses me, and I kiss him back just as hard.
When he pulls away, my knees feel weak.
"Let’s get you home."
"Okay." I mope back to the car.
The ride home feels too fast, and we get there too soon.
He walks me inside with all of my clothes. Mom is in the living room drinking a glass of wine. There doesn't appear to be anyone else here.
"Edith, why did you go through the trouble of getting those clothes. You know that you don't have a way to get to that job."
"What?"
"Don’t think I forgot about taking your car away. Or maybe I should say my car."
I look at Daddy, and he is not happy.
"Don’t worry, Edith. I will find a way to get you around. Hard work will do you some good."
Mom gets up and puts her arms around his neck. I feel a ping of jealousy. I just have to remember that they are the married ones. Even though it doesn't really help.
"Honey, please let me discipline my own child."
"She's not a child, Marie. She needs a job and school at this point in her life."
"Well, she still lives under my roof."
"What did she exactly do anyways."
"Well, she.. I..."
"Uh huh! Well, be ready by 8am Edith. I will have a driver pick you up. He yanks her arms off of him and heads for the door.
"Ross, she must be back in time to help with dinner."
"She will be honey." He closes the door, and she looks right at me.
"You have a lot of cleaning to do. You left this place a mess this morning."
I am fuming at this point. I bite my tongue and head into the kitchen. Sure enough, everything was disgusting after sitting for the whole night.
I have to get all this done so I can go to bed early.
I spend over an hour scraping dishes and washing them. I had to scrub the floor where the wine spilled. Once I am done with everything, I take the trash out.
When I walk back in, mom is looking a little drunk.
"Ross isn't coming to eat, so fend for yourself."
I make myself a sandwich and grab some chips. I sit in my room alone and eat. I hope my new job is fun. I hope I get to see Ross a lot. I take my time putting away the clothes he got me. I even try to walk around in the heals some. It is a little scary, but I think I can get used to them. I end up daydreaming about Ross seeing me in these heals. I hope he ends up liking the way I look. I still can't believe I almost told him I love him. What if he had rejected me. I would never come back from that.
I pick up my phone and call my friend.
"Addie, do you have time to talk."
"A little bit of time."
"I spent the day shopping with Ross. He got me a job working with him."
"Your mom is letting you?"
"She kind of got overruled on this one."
"Wow, I never thought I would have seen the day."
"Yeah, but I have something I need to confess to someone, or I will explode."
"What?"
"I have feelings for him."
"Like more than a crush?"
"Yes."
"OMG! Did you tell him."
"No. I chickened out. I think it’s too soon."
"You should let him know how you feel, though. "
"Well, I did tell him that I really like him."
"What did he say?"
"He said he really likes me."
"Sounds like you can't go too wrong telling him how you feel then."
"I don't know. I need the most opportune time. It has to be special, and I need to know he feels the same way."
" something tells me you will know when the time is right."
- Writer
