"What a strange woman." Bryan starts to laugh about it. She looks at him and chuckles. "She's ridiculous, and a gold-digger." He takes another bite. Mom sits down and is getting concerned. "Gold-digger?" "Yeah, those are the women who marry a rich and preferable also famous guy for his money." Bryan explains. "How do you know all these things, son? Aren't you too young to know this?" Bryan looks at her face. "I'm old enough to know what's going on in the house I live." "What about your father? He must love her, otherwise he hadn't asked her to marry him." Bryan sighs deeply. "Dad has been brainwashed by her… you remember how dad always did goofy things, and always tries to make someone laugh?" He takes a bite. "Oh yeah, your father always wanted to try to enlighten the situation when your pawpaw and I had a fight, or when Jamie had been doing bad things. He always made sure there was peace here, that's one of the things why girls liked him so much."
Bryan smiles as he listens to her. "Dad isn't like that anymore ever since the Bachelor. He told me that he wanted company." Mom frowns again, he sees her face. "Until a year ago it always had been just dad and I. Everything we did, it was always just the two of us." Mom takes his hand. "He never had a girlfriend in all the time he lives in LA?" She asks. "He had flings, or like he called it like that, you know, having a date and taking her home. It was always just for one time, never a second time. I remember when he told me he signed up for the Bachelor, he wanted to settle, having a complete family. Someone who can be my mother." "Your real mother is not really a good mother." "I know, but I sometimes talk to her on the phone, she actually offered me to move to her." Mom's frown gets deeper. "Don't worry, I said no, I want to stay with dad. I don't believe that mom can take care of me." Mom is more concerned in how mature Bryan is for his age. He's still incredibly young and should be enjoying his childhood.
"But why her?" Bryan sips some juice. "I normally don't say this quick, but she was the best one of all those women that were in the show. Then I mean the most decent and you see how she is… there isn't more to it than what you see." Bryan explains. "I never watched the show, because I just couldn't understand why he wanted to do such a show." Mom says as Bryan stands up. He gives her a kiss. "I'm going outside." "Enjoy the time here, sweetie, try not to be bothered by her too much, okay?" Bryan nods and smiles. He went outside. Mom sighs deeply and starts cleaning the table. She needs to get some errands and see if she can arrange the banquet hall in the town hall for the anniversary. A lot of people are invited. She walks outside and smiles.
"I'm gonna go to town to do groceries. Is there anything you want?" We look at her and smile. "Can you buy spareribs? The boys wanna barbeque today." Mom smiles and nods. "I'll get everything for the barbeque. Why don't you invite Jamie and Jack to come?" My eyebrows go up and Jamaal looks at me. "Sure, it would be nice to have the whole family together, I'll see if Franny wants to come too." Dad says as he stands straight. "All right, I'm going." Mom gives him a kiss and walks away. "Can you handle this alone for a bit, boys?" We look at dad and smile. "Sure, pa." Dad walks to the house. "You're not looking forward to see Jack again?" I look at Jamaal. "I don't know, I haven't seen him at least in a decade." I rub my hands on my shorts. Bryan looks at me and smiles. "I think you'll be really surprised when you know he has changed. Hold this, Bryan." Bryan did as Jamaal tries to fix the fence. "What about Billy?" I look at Jamaal again.
"Doesn't he still work at Kellerman's? Last time I saw him was when Bryan was about three." I miss Billy. He and I have always been close, his father, uncle Paul, has a painters' union here in Pampa, but he has been expanding and eventually he has moved to Houston. "I hope he comes for the anniversary." Jamaal says, I nod and smile. "Gonna be a big party." "Yeah, ma has invited nearly the whole town." We laugh about it. "Typical ma… I'm gonna get something to drink, you two want some too?" They look at me and nod. I walk to the house and went inside. I see dad sitting at the table. He looks pale and is panting. I got worried. "Are you okay, pa?" He looks up and stands quickly up, but then grabs the table and sits down again. "You're not okay, we need to go to the hospital." Dad shakes his head and hold his hand up. "It's my sugar level, I just need a moment." I start to frown. "What do you mean?" He looks at me and sighs. The doorbell went off. "Stay here." I walk to the front door and open it. "It's the weekly check-up..." She stops talking when she sees me. I try not to stare at her.
"Johnny?" I only nod. It was like my voice is gone. She's so much more beautiful than I can remember. Her brown curly hair looks a little messed up, but she always had that. "Johnny!" She let her bag fall on the ground and grabs me in a tight hug. I automatically hug her back. I close my eyes and smell her scent. Lavender soap. Britney came downstairs and looks at the front door. She sees us and starts to frown. "It's been such a long time." She whispers as we keep hugging. "Hum, hum." Britney came closer. I let her go and look at Britney. I see that Britney crosses her arms, pouting her lips as she chews on the inside of her cheek. "Who is this?" I put my hands in my pockets. "I'm Frances Houseman, the doctor. I'm here for the weekly check-up on John." I start to frown. I get worried again. Frances sees my face.
"Where's your father?" "In the kitchen, he's not feeling well." Frances picks up her bag and quickly walks inside. I look after her. "Hum, hum." I look at Britney again. "So, this is Baby?" "Yeah, that's Baby." I close the front door. I want to walk to the kitchen, but she grabs my arm. "Stay away from her, okay?" look at her face again and inhale deeply through my nose. "What's wrong?" She let my arm go. "I can see how she looks at you, stay away from her." She points at me before she walks to the kitchen. I went into the kitchen and look at dad. "Baby, I'm okay." Frances is doing a blood test to see how high his sugar level is.
"What's the matter with pa?" I sit down. Frances looks at me and smiles. "A few years ago, I've discovered that your father has diabetes type 2. It's not a huge problem yet but he actually needs to take pills to keep the sugar level in control… but you know your father." She looks at dad again. "I'm okay, I don't need pills." "Pa, stop being so stubborn. Diabetes is a serious illness, if pills will help, you should start taking them." Dad snorts and shakes his head. Frances looks at the test and sighs. "It's low this time." She opens a cupboard and takes some gummy bears from the candy jar. "Here, eat this, you'll feel fine in a minute." Dad looks at the gummy bears. "I don't want gummy bears." "You want gummy bears, or do you want a few sugar blocks? Your choice." He looks at her serious face and sighs. He takes the gummy bears and starts to chew on one.
I hear a car and open the back door. Bella ran inside and looks up at me. "Beebee! Where have you been?" Britney lifts Bella up, who starts to growl at her. "You're getting too wild, come with me." Britney walks outside. Frances' eyebrows went up as she looks after Britney. Dad snorts, shaking his head. Mom came inside. "Oh, hey Baby, how are you today?" Frances gives her a short hug. "I'm great, I'm glad my son is back home." My eyebrows went up. Mom looks at dad. "His sugar levels?" "It's low this time, and he's still stubborn." "I know, he'll always be stubborn." Mom sighs, she looks at me with a smile. "Son, you want to get the groceries out of the car?" I nod and walk outside.
Frances looks after me and smiles. Mom watches her with a smile while dad eats the last gummy bear. "He seems to be doing great." Mom chuckles. "He does, he's famous now." Frances looks at her and smiles. "I know, I've seen the shows." "You too?" Dad asks. Frances nods. "He has changed." "He has, but mostly because of his fiancée." Frances never has heard that tone from mom before. "You mean, the blond woman?" "Yeah, Britney, she has won the Bachelor last year." Frances thinks. "I remember, I've been watching the show… it's a horrible show." Frances checks on dad again. "I'm fine, Baby."
"You should start taking this serious, John." Frances sits down. He looks at her face and sighs. Bryan came inside and went to wash his hands. Mom gives Frances something to drink. "Can I do something else, mawmaw?" He looks at mom. Frances looks at him as well. She is a little surprised. Mom has seen the reaction, though she smiles. "Go and help your father with the groceries, he's at the car." Bryan nods and went outside again. Frances looks after him. "That's our grandson, Bryan." Frances looks at her and sees her smile. "Johnny's?" She couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, he's twelve." "Same age as Sean." Mom smiles.
"The boy has seen too much in his life already, it's time he gets something stable." Dad interferes, they look at him when Bryan and I walk insides with the bags. "If you like, Baby, you can come for dinner today. We're gonna barbeque." "The rest of the family is coming too." Dad adds to mom's sentence. Frances looks at them and smiles. "Sounds lovely, if I can take my son with me." "Of course, I think Bryan would like to have someone of his own age around." Bryan looks at her and then at Frances and became curious.
I stand with my back against the counter and have my arms fold while I keep looking at Frances. She is so beautiful. I just couldn't keep my eyes off her. Bryan looks at me and sees the change on my face. He looks back at Frances and smiles. "I'm Bryan Castle." Bryan extends his hand. Frances smiles as she shakes his hand. "Nice to meet you Bryan, I'm Frances, but you can call me Baby, everyone does." Bryan nods and remembers the talk I had with him about the girl I loved when I was his age. "Nice to meet you too, Baby." "You're just like your father." "Except the blonde curls." Bryan points at his hair. "A minor detail." She winks and closes her bag. Dad looks at her.
"What do I owe you?" "Nothing, I want you to start taking those pills." "Come on, Baby, you always say this. How can you earn money when you refuse to get money?" "I've got more customers, John, and you're like a father to me. I want you to feel good at all times and that only can happen when you take those pills." "Dad, listen to her, you need those pills." Dad looks at me and stands up. "I'll think about it." He gives Frances a kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you at dinner. I need to get back to work." He walks outside.
"Can I go with pawpaw?" "Sure." I smile at him. Bryan walks outside. I look back at Frances. "Let me take that and put that in the pantry." Mom takes the bags and walks away. I know she leaves Frances and I alone on purpose. I sit down and she drinks some juice. "Don't you need to go?" She looks at her watch. "Not yet, I need to go to the Schumachers for a check-up." "Are they still alive?" My eyebrows go up. "Yeah, both nearing the hundred." We both start to chuckle about it. Though it would be amazing to get this old with the one you love most. "So…" I start, she sips again as she looks me. "Are you married? Boyfriend? Divorced?" I have to know. "Divorced, about three years now." "Really? Why?"
Frances giggles about my questions. "You're very curious." She winks. I smile at her. "It's so good to see you again, Baby." She looks in my eyes and smiles back at me. "I can say the same, Johnny. You look good." I chuckle a little. "Just the goatee doesn't really fit on you." She gestures at it. I let my fingers stroke it a bit and she giggle about it. "Brit loves it." I look away. She keeps watching me. "You don't seem happy to be engaged." She nearly whispers. I look back at her. "I don't know, I mean, it's only a week ago that I've asked her but somehow back then it felt right, then ma calls to remind me of the anniversary, and I had some good talks with my son."
I think about the talks and phone-call. "And suddenly it doesn't feel right anymore?" I look in her eyes. "Yeah, I don't know why." I drew out a deep breath, laying my arm on the table. She leans in and grabs my hand. "Sometimes, when you think you finally found what you've been looking for, you get thrown back and realize it isn't what you really want. It happened to me too." I keep watching her face. "You mean your marriage?" She nods. "It wasn't all that bad. Honestly, I thought I finally had someone who wouldn't cheat or lie, but when he finally got an opportunity to become a big vet, he needed to move." "What do you mean?" I am a little confused. "My ex-husband is Will Tyler, Ben's son." My eyebrows went up. "The acne boy?" She starts to giggle about it. "You haven't seen him when that period was over." "How did you two?" I am curious now. I know that Will got bullied a lot at high school for his acne.
"Oh… just one night I went out and we bumped into each other and somehow there was a spark. We got married about a year after that, we got a son, he's twelve. But about three years ago he got an offer to take over a vet company in LA, and without talking to me first, he accepted the offer. We had a lot of fights and discussions because he wanted to take my son and I with him. I didn't want to move because I took over dad's business when he died. I love it here in Pampa ever since the first day I moved here. I think about a week before he left, he laid the divorce papers in front of me on the table and gave me a pen. I signed them, he left and now we only call each other when it's about Sean."
That's one hell of a story. I don't know how to react to it. "Okay." Is all that came out. Will is an idiot to let her go. I see her smiling. I let my thumb unconsciously caress her knuckles. She looks at our hands. "It's really good to see you again, Johnny." "Yeah, I agree." I smile again. I can't help it. I wish I could sit like this forever. Looking at her and holding her hand. I heard Britney coming down and I let her hand go. "Beebee, come back!" Bella runs into the kitchen. She came to me and I lift her up. "What's going on, Beebee?" She barks once. Frances looks at Bella and smiles. Britney sees us sitting at the table and crosses her arms. I look at her for a second.
"Sweetie, we need to go back home." "Why?" She sighs in an annoyed way. "Beebee is getting wild." Bella tries to lick my face. "I finally have a bond with her. You want to destroy that?" I look at Britney again. "Maybe it's better if I go." Frances says as she stands up. I look at her with a half grin. Britney makes little eyes. "The Schumachers need me." I watch her taking her bag. She looks at Britney, who is only glaring angrily at Frances. She looks back at me, gives me a smile and walks away. I put Bella down again and stand up.
"She's not even pretty." I look at her again when Frances was gone. "I'm going to see if I can put up the swimming pool." I walk outside before she could say something. I don't feel like discussing this matter. Actually, I just hate it how she is judging Frances. Mom sees me coming into the garage. I look for the pool. "What are you looking for, son?" She came closer. I look at her. "The pool, it's hot, so I want to put the pool up. It would be nice to cool down a little." She smiles and points. "There, on the top shelf." I reach out for it.
"I saw the way you look at Baby." I stop reaching and turn my head. "What do you mean?" "I mean, that you still look the same way at her as you did when you were young." I take the pool as I think about her words. "I'm confused." I try not to talk about this. "Son, I know what you feel for her, and I think she feels the same for you too." I turn and walk to the door. She follows me. "I can't, ma, I'm engaged." "To a monster, I tell ya. She's gonna make you feel really miserable when you're married to her." I didn't reply to it. I know she is right, but I try to have the benefit of the doubt here. "We'll see."
Mom helps me. I take the hose. "You don't marry and then see how it goes. It doesn't work that way." I look at her for a moment. "Well, I never had any luck when it comes to love. I want to form a complete family with my son." "I know that, but it's not a reason to just marry the first woman you meet." I turn the hose on. "Just think about it, okay?" I look at her and see her serious face. "I'll think about it." I inhale deeply. "I forgot to bring Skittles and my son something to drink." Mom smiles and came closer to me. "There's a logical explanation for that." She winks. I snort a little and she chuckles. "I'll bring them some." She gives me a kiss on my cheek and then walks to the house.
I watch how the water swirls a little as the pool is filling up. My mind is somewhere else. Rosco came to me and sits down. I look at him and smile. "Hey, old bastard. I heard you became a dad again." I stroke his head a little. He keeps looking at me while having his tongue out and panting heavily. "What have you been up to? You're making advances at Beebee?" I watch him and his head moves a little when I said Bella's nickname. "You like her, don't you?" I smile as I look at the water again. "Will you be careful with Beebee? You're like twenty times bigger than her."
I start to chuckle when I think about that. Bella ran outside and barks. I watch her running a few circles in the garden and then she came to us. She looks up at Rosco and sits herself between his front legs. He lowers his head and they gave an Eskimo kiss. I couldn't help but smile. They look cute. "Beebee, don't destroy the old bastard, okay?" Bella looks at me and starts to pant with her tongue out. Britney came outside. She's dressed in her bikini top and denim shorts. She has her sunglasses on and came to me. "You're going to the beach?" I tease her. She laughs in a fake way and looks at the pool. "Is this it? Your mother told me you're putting up the pool." "Yeah, this is it. My parents never had the feeling to get a swimming pool. This pool is only to cool down. What did you expect?" She looks at me and sighs. She turns and lays the towel down on the grass. I watch her laying down on her back and I look at the two dogs again.