Christian
I woke up to the smell of waffles in the air. I picked up my head and it spun like crazy. I wasn't in the habit of waking up disoriented or sleeping through the noise coming out of a kitchen. I sit up and look around and see that the TV. is on the news station. Ana is sitting at the other side of the couch smiling at me and I couldn't be more confused.
"Hey what are you doing up so early?" I ask in a rough voice
Ana giggles over her giant plate of waffles and mumbles "It's not earnly...its eleben."
"It's what?" I say in confusion. I cannot decipher her full mouth language. But I think she looks sweet with cheeks full of food struggling to talk.
"Sorry, it's eleven o'clock." she says and points at the clock on her cable box.
WHAT?! I can't believe I slept this late. This couldn't be possible. I do not think that I have ever slept passed eight. This is some kind of miracle or it must just be Ana's house where I get this kind of sleep.
"Are you hungry?" And hands me her plate but she continues to eat as I do. It was nice to have a meal with my girl and then suddenly her dad walks into the room with two plates full of waffles. He hands me one and keeps one for himself. There is already syrup, butter and powdered sugar on the end table in front of us.
I look at them both while eating and they say nothing about last night or what happened yesterday. They just sit in silence watching the news and when they do talk they just talk about the stories or the topics that were just spoken about.
When I finish my breakfast I just continue to stare at them have fun while doing nothing. I don't want to ruin the nice time so I just join in and continue to talk about what they are talking about. By the end of the hour or so Ray picks up the plates and Ana just lies on the couch next to me.
Eventually our peace is broken by me, I really have to go to the bathroom and finish my business in there. When I walk back into the front room I see that Ana and Ray folded the sheets and put away the pillows.
"So Christian how was your sleep?" Ray asks' with a smile
"Really good sir" I say as i sit down next to Ana
"That is good. Ana and I wanted to make sure you were comfortable. I hold no grudge against you or your family for what was said yesterday and Ana explained to me while what your father said hurt her feelings; she knows he was only trying to protect you." He starts off by saying
"...BUT I do wish he had chosen a better way to talk to you about sex. I have had the talk with my daughter and believe me we were both nice and awkward looking in opposite directions when we finished. A parent can get overwhelmed and I understand that." He finished
I look over at Ana and she just nods in agreement with her dad.
"I do know my dad was out of line. The way he spoke about Ana in an indirect way was uncalled for Mr. Steele. I would never disrespect your daughter in a way that would compromise our futures. You know I care for Ana and if she were attached to me and I want you to know from me, that nothing inappropriate happened between me and your daughter last night. She was only trying to help me and I didn't want her getting hurt trying to help." I say all this in a really fast way, wanting to get my point across
"Yeah Dad, I told you yesterday that I did not do anything and me and Christian would not make that kind adult decision. Plus even though you may not like to think about it anymore then I want to say it but HONESTLY who would do something like that in a house full of people?" she said that last sentence with a smile and a little laugh and that even got a cackle out of Ray.
"Yeah yeah kid I don't want to hear that" He laughs and stretches
"Well Christian your mom is going to be here in ten and she is bringing you some clothes. You can clean yourself up in the bathroom while she and I talk some more." Ray rises and goes to the kitchen
"Hey everything is going to be fine Christian." Ana said while patting my hand
"I messed up big time at my house though" I mumble to Ana. I feel like I failed her with my dad and how I reacted by destroying my room when I found out she had gone without me knowing.
"Does this have anything to do with your hands?" she asked timidly
"Yeah but I was so angry with him for what he said to you..." my voice was growing
"You didn't fight with your dad... over me did you?" she looked like she had tears in her eyes. "I don't want to start that kind of trouble."
"No no no I just hit a wall or two before leaving my house. I didn't take you leaving so well and I knew I had to leave or me and my father would just get into IT all over again." I look at Ana trying to get her to believe me.
She nods and holds my busted hands.
"Maybe next time you should wear tape on your hands like a boxer." she suggests
"I will try to remember that next time. "I say with a laugh
I kiss the top of her head and lean in for a good morning kiss when the doorbell rings and Ray yells that it was my mother.
"Hello Ana. And good morning Christian." My mom says with a smile
I rise and kiss her on the cheek whispering "I'm sorry"
She looks like she has tears in her eyes when I stand back with Ana and Ray.
"Well here you go honey. A nice set of clean clothes and undies..."
"MOM!" Can she be more embarrassing in front of Ana and her father?
"Oh sorry honey" she says with a guiltless smile
I excuse myself to clean up and Ana follows but sits in her room knowing our parents wouldn't be too happy with her walking into the shower with me. Oh... how I love to shower with her
This train of thought is dangerous with parents around so I start to think of presidents and their great accomplishments.
I finish changing and go and sit it on the bed next to a sad (and freshly changed) Ana. I open my mouth to say what was wrong and them I hear our parents continue to talk in the kitchen.
"Carrick is just being uncompromising. He just says he won't let him in the house if he doesn't pay for each and everything he broke and he even knows he was in the wrong for what he said. He wants to teach Christian a lesson for some reason. I KNOW he has to see what kind of changes that our son has gone through since knowing your daughter." My mom cries
"Well ma'am I think I have a solution for paying back what he owes. I am a carpenter and I can guarantee that he will not only repay but make the replacements of what he broke. Now I can't help him rebuild a TV. but he can work for me for the next two weeks of Christmas break making a new dresser, desk and chair." I am beyond shocked that Ana's dad just proposed this.
I stare at Ana with wide eyes.
"Well I will tell Carrick right now. I will drive to his office and talk to him. I will not have my family ruined over some pissing contest between father and son." My mother says angrily
"Wow you got a really diligent man to be working on a Sunday." Ray jokes
"Oh no. I wouldn't let him sleep in the house last night after all this mess. He slept on a very uncomfortable couch after that stunt he pulled." She said with a chuckle.
"How about your son stay here tonight. I want there to be some kind of agreement before anything else ends up broken? I have a bedroom and bathroom above my garage and he is more than welcome to use it. After defending my daughter and being there for her when she was in the hospital it is the least I can do." Ray says
This day is just shocking me left and right
"I will talk to my husband. I doubt this will last any longer than just tonight. These two are just too hard headed for their own good sometimes." She says. Next I hear scrapping of chairs and footsteps coming towards Ana's doorway. I look over to Ana and see her getting herself together.
"Hey guys I assume you heard what we were saying?" Ray says as he stands in the doorway
"I am going to learn carpentry?" I say with a smile
"That's right son. I will start getting what we need and you can talk to your mother now." Ana and Ray walk out of the room.
My mother sits right next to me. She looks at me and starts with "I love you so much, first off. I know what your father said was out of line and I can understand why you did what you did. But son you need to control this anger of yours because your room will stay that way until you clean it. And I want you to know that this kind of action will not be tolerated." She stops to take a breath.
All I can do is nod.
"And I know Ana makes you feel better and that is the only reason why I don't mind you having her in your room. But from what I have seen her stitches are getting better. But you will need to apologize to your father for what you did." She finished
"Why should I apologize?" I am amazed
"Because you yelled at your father and destroyed your room. No matter how wrong he was, he is still your father." Damn she had a point.
"Okay but he needs to apologize to Ana first." I won't have anyone disrespect Ana and that includes my dad
"Okay he will do that tonight. I will see you at dinner." She then leans in to kiss my cheek.
But I surprise her by putting one arm around her shoulders and kiss her forehead. I am not exactly ready to completely embrace her but I am getting there.
"Okay just call Ray and let me know." I release her
She rises and walks out into the hall and I follow. Ray, Ana and I walk her to the door and wave her away.
"Come one Christian lets finish this paper!" Ana excitedly drags me to the kitchen table and we discuss what we think has changed from the book to now.
"I think the expectations have changed!" I say when she tries to argue that they haven't
"Well look at it this way. The actions may be different but the devotion is the same. Two committed people may show their responsibilities different but I can honestly see that the emotions behind actions are the same. Like when you took care of me. Back then a man would leave a maid but would still love his wife. Instead now you stay and that still shows you love me." She says
I smile and just say "Your right" and I continue to write my section.
"Oh and Christian we are going to have company in an hour. The girl who was Mia's friend yesterday was actually a family friend's daughter. She and her brother are going to stop by." She said with a smile.
"Okay my wife. I guess I can share you for one afternoon." I hold her hand and continue to type with one hand.
So tell me what you think!
Review please