Callie POV
May 29th
On the day on moms birthday, I got home little after 5. I had to stop at the bakery and buy the special birthday muffins that basically are regular muffins.
The story behind it is very simple. First year living here I wasn't aware of Amy's birthday. I only realized it, when she was receiving many calls and text that evening. Once I realized that it was her birthday, I went to kitchen, thinking that I would bake the cake, but we didn't have all the ingredients. But we did have muffins. I had found old birthday candles in one of the drawers. I worked with what I had and it worked out perfectly, to my surprise.
Mom wasn't home when I arrived, so I just put away the muffins and decided to watch some TV till mom comes homes. She arrives home little over 6. When I look out of the window, I see how mom walks to the back of the car and takes out two grocery bags. I quickly hurry to the door and open them for her, letting her in.
"Oh, Hey! I thought you would be home later" she said happily as she stepped inside. Mom wasn't waiting for me to answer, she just walked down the lobby to the kitchen.
I get my shoes on and hurry out to help with the rest. I grab the last two bags and lock up the car. Mom by the time is up to me and she takes one of the bags from me.
"How was school?" she asks when we walk inside together
"Normal" Mom gave me look, she hated that answer. It gave her no new information on my life what so ever "Boring. Nothing happened" I added walking inside kitchen
We lift the bag on the table and then mom looks around "Did you get the flowers?"
"Um…there were flowers?" I ask her back while I was peaking inside one of the bags, where I saw some apples inside
"Can you go fetch them…front seat. There should be a small box too" she says starting to pack everything out
I return shortly with 13 red roses and a small box. I grab a vase and put the flowers inside
"Is this from your Mystery man?" I ask when I am arranging the flowers
"It is" she replied without hesitation while she put something in the freezer. I sat down at the table, just waiting till she is done.
"Thanks for helping me" she says sarcastically when she places two packs of rice in the cupboard
"You're welcome" I grin back "It looks to me you have everything under control" mom just shakes her head back at me, but doesn't ask me to help her
"So um…did he like, came over to your work or did you went to meet him someplace? What did he get you?" I ask glancing again to the roses and the gift on the counter
"I don't know what he got me, I haven't opened it yet. We met up in the city. He hasn't been to my work. Nor he has been here" She reached back in the shopping bag, took out two carton of milk and then pushed then to me changing the subject "You know where these go, right?"
"Maybe" I smirk back taking the milk and walking to the fridge
When I see that mom is arranging out the last shopping bag, run out of the kitchen and head to my room to get the gift. When I get back down, I stand right behind mom, holding the gift in my hand. Mom was putting some spices in a shelf. She turns around and we are now just few inches from each other.
"Ever heard about a thing called - private space?" She smirks back, looking right back at me
"I have!" but then with my eyes, tell her to look down to my hands
Mom looks down to my hands and a big smile appears on her face when she sees the wrapped up gift
"Happy 41st birthday! You are one year closer to being a middle age woman!" I call out cheerfully. Mom lets out a small laugh. I place a quick kiss on her cheek and wrap my free hand around her "Happy birthday mom" I say quieter once we are hugging
"Thanks, baby! You didn't have to get my anything, you know that, right?" she says hugging me back
"I know" I say still in hug "I wanted to!" I lean out of the hug and wait till mom takes the gift
"What is it?" Mom looks at the small wrapped up gift in her hands, I take a small step back to give her some space
"Open it and see!" I said barely unable to contain my excitement. Mom walks over to the kitchen table and sits down. I sit down at the opposite side and watch how she with excitement opens it up. She does it very carefully, not ripping the wrapping paper or the ribbon.
When she gets to the small box, she looks up to me with a big smile on her lips "Open it!" I nudge her
She slowly reaches for the box lid and takes it off. Her mouth opens slightly when she sees what is inside. Her right hand places the lid on the table while with her left she already reached for the bracelets.
"Callie…" she breathed out, eyes on the gift
"You like it?" I ask leaning over the table, pressing on my elbows
It looked like it left mom speechless. She hasn't touched the bracelet yet. Her left hand just lingers over them, she was enjoying the gift only with her eyes for now.
"How much did this cost you!?" she looks up to me, concerned that I overspent. I did, but she didn't need to know that.
"Not much" I lie and point to the bracelet "Try it on! Yours is the one with my name on"
"How much?" mom didn't let go of the subject
"It is not important, mom! I had some help" I said back tapping my fingers on the table
"Help? From who?" she asked still not looking at the bracelets
"Stef. Now please…try it on, I want to see how it looks around your wrist"
"I'm going to whoop your ass if you spent more than 50 on this" she said reaching for her bracelet finally
"Then your right hand will be sore after a massive ass whooping" I joked back taking my bracelet
"Callie!" mom groaned back not liking how much I spent on the gift
"Shut up and try it on! You are ruining the gift trying on part!" I reply back not missing a beat. Mom sights back, shaking her head back at me and then puts the bracelet around her left wrist.
"Well…?" I ask extending my left arm so I could look at it from distance. Mom ran her finger over the engraved name on the plate
"This is beautiful" she said with an emotional strain in her voice, tears in her eyes
"I wanted something that you don't have take off when you go to work. That you could have on 24/7 and that reminds you of me. I have the same one, just with your name on" I explained the reason behind the gift
"It is perfect. I love it" she looked up to me and then I saw the tears in her eyes, she was trying to hold them back, but once I smiled at her, one tear rolled down her cheek
I got up from the seat and walked around the table and hugged her once more. It was a long, tight hug, mom was still sitting. This hug is one of the rare hugs that mom needed more than I did.
Amy POV
We both were getting ready for the birthday movie. We went with the movie Caching Fire. Neither of us have seen it, but the word around the web is that it was good.
I was in the kitchen, while Callie was setting up the movie. The popcorn was popping in the microwave. I had sent Cooper a photo of the gift Callie got me. He hadn't replied me yet. I walk over to the roses and his gift to me. I smell the roses first, before I reach for the small box and open the gift. There was a note inside
I wasn't sure what to get you, so I kind of went with the boring gift card. I hope you like boring gifts
I look down at the card. It was a gift card for 50$. I glance down at the card and read the last part
P.S. I hope Victoria secret has something that you like and I can enjoy later on too ;) Hopefully in color purple, I loved that color on you
"Mom! Are you coming or not!?" Callie called from the living room. She scared me a bit so I just shoved the card and gift back in the box. I let out a frustrated chuckled to myself as to how jumpy I was. That was only because I hadn't told Callie who I was seeing. Right then the microwave beeped, telling me the popcorn was ready.
"Coming!" I call back to Callie and quickly text Cooper thanking for the gift he got me
I get the popcorn in the bowl and head over to living room. Callie is already sitting in the couch or should I say, she is slump down on the couch. Her feet up the coffee table, the glass of Cola on her chest, she was using the straw to suck in the beverage, pillow behind her back
"Well finally" she said reaching for the remote and hit play
I join her down on the couch, I sit in the same manner as her. I place the popcorn bowl between us, the sound system was up and running, room was dark for more effect. This is the best way to celebrate birthdays, at home with people I love, comfortable slouched down on couch.
The movie ends. I turn on the light back. Callie pours herself some more Cola and comments on the movie "I think I liked the book better" she sucked in the beverage thought the straw loudly
She leans back in the couch when I place the empty bowl popcorn on the table. I sit back in the couch at the other end. Right then my phone buzzed in my pocket
-I am glad you liked my gift. Callie's gift looks amazing. That kid really loves you, no doubt about it. I'm kind of bummed I couldn't see the look on your face when you opened the gifts…maybe next year ;)
I read the text over and over again, I smiled at myself as I looked at the last part of it. I was also kind of bummed out that Cooper wasn't here with us, eating our birthday muffins with us, watching movie, eating popcorn and drinking ice cold Coca cola.
Things with Cooper have been going amazing, I never thought they could be going this good actually. He amazes me every time, I find out something new about him every time we talk. He is so easy to talk to, he isn't shy about his personal life. There is never a dull moment with him. I like spending time with him and I miss him when we don't see each other for longer period of time. I think I was falling hard for him.
"It's him, isn't it?" Callie asks nodding to my phone. I look up to her confused as to how she knew that"You smile when you read his texts. I don't know what he writes in them, but your whole face lights up"
"Yeah" I drag slowly back. I look down to my phone and reread the last part of the message "You know what?" I place the phone down on the couch and sit up straighter
Callie looks curious to me "You have a right to know, you are old enough to know. I think I should have told you the morning after. I hate keeping this from you…I hate that he knows you, but you don't know who I am seeing almost every other day"
Callie sits quietly, gripping the glass tightly in her hand, looking at me. But then it hits her.
"Wait, you said…he knows me? Are you saying I have met him?" she sits up straighter, places the glass on the coffee table and turns to me
"You do, you know him pretty good actually. You have met him more than once" I reply back not taking my eyes off her. I could see the wheels turning in Callie's head as she tries to figure it out on her own. I was sitting back to the end of the couch, leaning at the arm holder, legs crossed under me.
"It is Cooper" I tell her right then and there, because I don't want to torture her or make her guess. I hold my breath waiting for her response. It felt good to finally tell her. Callie's face instantly changed.
"Ellis?" she asks back "My physical therapist…Cooper Ellis?" Callie looks shocked, surprised, confused and in a way a bit grossed out by the thought too
"Yes" I confirm it. She just stares back at me. Brows frowned, her mouth slightly parted. I can't really tell if this went good or bad. She looks utterly confused and uncertain about the news.
"Say something…" I say after a minute of silence from her
She shifts on the couch "Yeah, um…I- uh…I need some time" she says standing up
"Callie…" I say gently trying to reach for her hand when she walks pass me. She pulls her hand away, not allowing me to grab it and walks away, not looking back at me. I hear her walk upstairs and close her bedroom doors behind her. I sight and fall back to the couch.