The two families with kids already left and I'm pretty thankful that there's no more noise around. James and I continued our jobs and cleaned up the tables. While I stack the dirty plates, I heard a loud bark coming from outside. I looked at the window and saw a beautiful golden retriever trying to get in. Caleb, who is still munching on his veggies, stands up with a piece of bread and went out. I instantly followed him, leaving the dirty plates on the table, excited to see a dog. I saw him sitting in front of the door and feeding the dog some bread.
"Is this your dog?" I asked enthusiastically and squat beside him.
Caleb looked at me with a dazzled expression because of the sun then nodded, "Yes, his name is Rochel. You can hold him if you want"
Gently and slowly, I stretched out a hand to pat his head. His fur is so soft and I started massaging his whole furry chubby body to the point that I'm already hugging him. I just love dogs, but I never got the chance to actually have one for my own. My grandpa isn't really into pets. He says that they spread germs and that they need their masters all the time.
"Anyways, do you think your grandfather would let him inside our room?" he asked.
Rochel starts licking my face when I answered him, "I'm pretty sure he'll say no. But, he's welcome to stay at our garage."
We both walked towards the garage along with the hyper Rochel running around. The garage has an old blue pickup truck inside and other carpentry tools inside. But for a dog, it looks like a good place to sleep in.
"How did you even get here?" I suddenly asked and looked at him.
He smirked again with those dazzled eyes, "Obviously a cab"
"Where did you get Rochel? I mean, you didn't have him when we were in the academy"
"Sam took him"
"I see. So, where are you both heading this vacation?"
Caleb shrugged his shoulders, "Just…around"
"Do you have a leash for him?" I asked, squatting to massage Rochel's cute big face again.
Caleb shook his head, "Rochel doesn't like being leashed. Don't worry, he won't leave this place"
I got up and clapped off the fur on my hands. "Oh okay then, I'll show you and your friend your room"
Caleb went back to the diner and called out his friend Sam as I accompanied them towards our house. I led the way up the stairs and they followed me quietly. It actually feels so strange to see Caleb again and this time, in my house. I mean, we basically just met yesterday in a not so nice manner and we're not really that close. I wonder what god has in store for me and why I have to be stuck with him. We have reached the third floor and I opened the door for them.
"Well, here's your room" I said nicely and moved aside to let them in.
It's kind of big actually since it accommodates two beds, a big closet, and a desk with a TV on top. Sam lies down on his bed already, maybe feeling a bit tired from the trip, while Caleb puts his bag down and looks around.
"The bathroom is just the room across." I said, pointing at the other door outside.
Caleb then looked at me, "Where's your room?"
"Huh, what?"
Why does he even need to know?
"Your room, in case I need something"
Stupid Abbey, what was I even thinking?
"Oh, uhm, it's just downstairs. The second door to the right. You can also find me in the diner if you can't see me around the house"
Then he smiled at me, "Thanks Abigail"
"Uh, Sure"
I closed the door and drew a deep breath. This is just so weird, knowing that he's staying in the same house as I am. Gah! I think I might go crazy especially that he just appears out of nowhere most of the time. Anyways, I walked back to the diner to continue helping out. I saw my parents, grandpa, and Percy sitting around one of the tables, laughing.
"Oh, here she is now" grandpa said and called on to me.
Were they just talking about me? Hmm, that's sort of strange. I shyly approached them and I saw a thin black guy looking at me, surprised.
"This is Abigail Combs, Michael and Rebecca's daughter" grandpa introduced me. "Abigail, this is our friend Kyle Williams"
I shake hands with him and Mr. Williams keeps on looking at me as if I'm some kind of a new discovery that's been dug under the earth.
"It's a pleasure meeting you, Abigail" he said.
I forced a smile, "Err, same to you"
"You look so heavenly just like your parents"
I felt my cheeks heat up with blood and I just sheepishly smiled, "Gee, thank you"
"Okay, peppercorn. You join James at the kitchen first for some breakfast. I'll call you if we need any help" grandpa told me and pushed me away towards the kitchen.
Without complaining, I went inside the hot kitchen and saw James sitting on the sink with a bowl of pork and beans and a piece of bread. I took a bite from the bread he's holding and feeds myself a spoonful of yummy hot pork and beans and accompanied him on sitting on the sink. I sneakily peeked through the kitchen line. I saw that Mr. Williams talking to my parents and seems to be amazed with them as much as with me.
"Hey James, who's Mr. Williams?" I asked, still looking at them.
"Mr. Williams is a good friend of theirs" he managed to say even with his mouth full. "He comes here once a year. If I'm not mistaken, they've been friends even when we're not yet born"
"Seriously? But, how come he looks at me strangely? Do I look strange?"
He looked at me and tried not to laugh, "Do you really want to know?"
Before I could even slap him on the arm, a beeping sound alarmed me and James got up to pull his cellphone out of his pants. He looked at some message and smirked.
"You have a girlfriend?" was my instant question and I'm really eager to see a nod from him.
James smirked and puts his phone away, "No, smartass. It's my parents"
Speaking of parents, I haven't seen Uncle Jeep and Aunt Charlie since yesterday.
"Where are they anyways?"
"They've been working in Las Vegas for almost three months. They're going home today" James said then we heard a honking sound outside.
Just in the nick of time.
I heard grandpa, mom, and Mr. Walker getting all excited calling out for Uncle Jeep and Aunt Charlie. James also went out to welcome his parents and I followed. James's parents went in and they were warmly welcomed with hugs and kisses just like me. Even Mr. Williams greeted them like they're a long lost relative. Grandpa and the others have so many questions about their stay in Vegas and uncle jeep and aunt Charlie couldn't do anything but smile. James hugged his mom and dad for awhile and told them that he's been helping around the diner.
"With a lot of arguments before he does it" grandpa added.
Everybody laughed.
Uncle jeep then saw me standing like a complete idiot behind the crowd.
"Abbey! I didn't know you're here already" he said excitedly and approached me for a hug. "When did you arrive?"
I hugged him back and smiled, "Yeah, I just arrived last night"
"Well, Charlie got you a little something. Give it to her, sweetie"
"Sweetie? Bleh!" James muttered.
A present? Oh god, I love receiving advance Christmas presents. Aunt Charlie pulled out a thick book out of her suitcase and handed it to me.
"We think you'll like it" aunt Charlie said sweetly.
Angels: Who and What They Really Are. I squealed in delight and hugged them both so much. I've always loved reading books about angels and this is going to add to my books of angels!
"Thank you so much Uncle jeep, aunt Charlie!" I said.
Uncle jeep mussed my hair and grandpa told me and James to stay here in the diner while they go to the house and take care of the guests. On the way out, I can hear mom asking a lot of things about Uncle Jeep's stay in Vegas and he politely obliged tell the story to his younger sister. In a minute, the diner fell silent with only James and I. We went to the kitchen and there's a few more dirty dishes needed to be washed. I volunteered to wash it while James will be the one to dry it. I opened the faucet and made sure that the sink is full of water. I put on a pair of yellow rubber gloves and put the dirty dishes in the sink.
I scrubbed the first plate thoroughly and dipped it on the other side of the sink with clean water.
"Your dad and my mom are pretty close, huh?" I suddenly said, breaking off the awkward silence.
James stood up from the counter he's sitting on and stood beside me to dry the first plate.
"Yep, considering that your mom was just adopted" he said.
Yeah, my mom told me that she was adopted when I was like ten. She never knew her real parents and eventually grew up with Grandpa. My blood doesn't really run through their veins. We're practically strangers to each other but, they accepted us as their real flesh and blood.
"I know right, wouldn't it be cool if we have siblings and be just like our parents?" I shared.
I've always wanted to have a sibling…to boss around. Haha, just kidding.
James made a not-really-face and winked at me, "Nah, I don't think I need a sibling anymore. I already have you to annoy me. You're practically my sister already"
"Is that supposed to be sweet?" I asked, almost about to laugh.
He snickered. "Uh, yup"
While the two of us are goofing around, the little bell on top of the door chimed again.
"Oh, a customer" I said, surprised.
"Go on, I'll continue this" James told me.
I pulled off the gloves I'm wearing and quickly ran out of the kitchen to see the new customer.