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- As Things Change
- Part VIII
The next day…
Bo and Rex wander into Rodi’s and find a table. The waitress
takes their order and leaves. Rex crosses his arms, grinning
at Bo. “So, what’s really behind this ‘business’
lunch?”
-
- Bo shrugs. “Can’t
we just have lunch together once in a while?”
-
- Rex shakes his head. “Nope.
Is it Nora or Matt – or both?”
-
- “What makes you think
it’s my family?”
-
- Rex rolls his eyes. “It’s
always about them. What’s the squirt done now? I know about
the fight. Anything else going on?” The waitress drops off
their drinks and Bo takes a sip, avoiding the question. Rex sighs.
“You might as well tell me. You know I’ll find out
anyway.”
-
- Bo takes another sip and
sets his drink down. “Nora thinks she wants to adopt a kid.”
-
- Rex nearly spits out his
drink. “Serious? What kind of kid are we talking about?”
-
- “A little girl she met
at the Center. She thinks she’s about 3.”
-
- “That came out of nowhere.”
-
- “That was my take on
it.”
-
- Rex chuckles. “So Mrs.
B wants you to chase a 3-year old again? What’s that about?”
-
- Bo takes a deep breath. “That’s
what I need to figure out. I mean, we’re in the home stretch
with Matt. Yeah, we have to deal with the fighting and camp issue
and the girlfriends… But that’s teen stuff and in a
couple years, he’ll be out of the house and Nora and I will
be free to do the things we’ve always talked about and never
get around to doing.”
-
- “Like what?”
-
- “Well, like going to
the ranch, for one. I wanted to let you know that we’re
leaving as soon as Matt gets out of school.”
-
- “Good for you. For how
long?”
-
- Bo shrugs. “I’m
going to play it by ear. At least 2 weeks but we may stay until
Matt leaves for camp.”
-
- Rex grins. “So he’s
going?”
-
- Bo nods with a frown. “Nora’s
decided she’s fine with him going. Since it’s so rare
for her to loosen the strings, I’m not going to fight it.
I don’t like that he quit the team but I can’t make
him play. The camp sounds harmless enough despite the girls in
bikinis. I figure after the trip to the ranch, we’ll all
be ready for a little break and the camp will be perfect.”
-
- “Speaking of loosening
the strings, shouldn’t you be teaching Matt to drive by
now?”
-
- Bo stops mid-sip and frowns
at Rex. “How do you know about the driving thing?”
-
- Rex is flustered. “Ah,
you must have mentioned it…”
-
- “No, I didn’t.
Has Matt talked to you about it?”
-
- Rex takes a long swallow
from his drink. “He may have said something…”
-
- “I don’t think
he’s ready to be behind the wheel just yet.”
-
- “He’ll be 16 over
the summer. The state of Pennsylvania thinks he’s ready.”
-
- “Yeah well, they don’t
have to drive with him.”
-
- Rex shrugs. “How are
you going to know if you don’t give him a chance?”
-
- “Maybe I’ll give
him a chance when we get down to the ranch. I want to make sure
he’s mature enough to handle a vehicle…”
-
- Rex grins at him. “You
just don’t like the fact that he’s not a little kid
anymore.” Bo shakes his head. “I’m right! And
you always tell me Nora’s the one who doesn’t want
him to grow up.”
-
- “Just drop it, Balsom.
You have no idea what it’s like to deal with kids.”
-
- “Good thing too. I don’t
want kids… Well, at least until I grow up myself.”
-
- Bo grins. “That’s
probably for the best.”
-
-
- Matt slams his locker shut
and heads toward his class. He hears someone call his name. When
he turns and sees that it’s Raven, he walks faster in the
other direction. She catches up to him as he walks into his classroom.
“Ignoring me, Buchanan?”
-
- “What do you want, Raven?”
-
- “We need a plan for
what we agreed to last night…”
-
- Matt takes his seat. “I
didn’t agree to anything and I’m not going to help
you.”
-
- Raven slides into the desk
next to him. “What is it with you? Are you scared? No one
will know.”
-
- Matt glares at her. “I’m
not scared. I’m just not going to help you.” He looks
up as Kallie walks into the classroom and gives her a small wave.
“Hey, Kallie.”
-
- Raven watches him. “I
can mess things up with you and your sweet little girlfriend.”
-
- “We’re not going
out.”
-
- Raven shrugs. “So she
won’t mind if I tell her we slept together, right?”
- “WHAT?”
-
- At that moment, the bell
rings and the teacher enters the classroom. Kallie looks at Matt
curiously as he stares angrily at Raven.
-
-
- Lauren wanders down the hall
at the Center. Andrew comes around the corner with Miki in his
arms, nearly knocking her down when they collide. “I’m
so sorry. Are you okay?”
-
- “It was my fault, Reverend
Carpenter. I didn’t see you coming.”
-
- “No harm done, Lauren.
Can I help you with something?”
-
- She nods. “I’m
looking for Marcie. We’re having lunch.”
-
- Andrew smiles. “She’s
in the gym. Follow me.” Miki giggles as she points at Lauren.
“I mean us. Lauren, this is Mikayla.”
-
- She hides her face in Andrew’s
shoulder. “Miki,” she says shyly.
- Lauren laughs. “Well,
hello Miki. Nice to meet you.”
-
- Andrew and Lauren walk into
the gym. Marcie is off to the side working with a group of kids
on an art project. She sees them and walks over.
- “Hi, Lauren. We’re
just finishing up.”
-
- Lauren shakes her head. “Take
your time. I’m early.”
-
- Marcie smiles at Miki. “Who
is your little friend, Andrew?”
-
- “Miki!” the little
girl exclaims.
-
- Andrew laughs. “Yes,
this is Miki. I’m taking care of her for a parishioner while
she looks for a job.”
-
- “Paint!” Miki says,
seeing the kids working on their art projects.
- Andrew shakes his head. “I
don’t think so.”
-
- “Oh, she’s welcome
to play, Andrew. I’ll be happy to help her.”
-
- “Are you sure?”
-
- Marcie nods, holding out
her arms. “Wanna come make a picture, Miki?”
-
- The little girl nods and
moves into Marcie’s arms. Andrew sighs. “Actually,
this is great. Do you think you could watch her for a bit? I
have a counseling session for an engaged couple.”
-
- “No problem at all.
Take your time.”
-
- “Thanks. I owe you.
Miki, you be good for Marcie. I’ll be back soon.”
-
- Miki waves at him. “Bye
bye.”
-
- Marcie smiles at Lauren as
Andrew walks away. “This will be good practice for you…”
-
-
- Kallie catches up with Matthew
as he walks into the cafeteria. “Hey, wait up, Matt. What
happened in class this morning?”
-
- He shakes his head. “Nothing.”
-
- “What’s going on
with you and Raven?” Matt ignores her as he grabs a tray
and moves down the lunch line. “Is she the reason you got
in the fight last week?”
-
- “Let it go, Kallie.”
-
- “She did something,
didn’t she?”
-
- He pays for his lunch and
heads to a table. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
-
- “Are you two going out?”
-
- “No! How can you ask
me something like that?”
-
- Kallie follows him. “Well,
then what is going on with you?”
-
- “It’s not your
problem. WE are not dating anymore either, remember?”
-
- “Hey! We’re still
friends and I still know when something is wrong with you. Why
won’t you tell me what it is? What did Raven do that made
you so angry?”
-
- Matt is about to answer when
Stevie drops his tray on the table and plops down beside Matt.
“Is Raven giving you shit, Buchanan? You need to tell her
to bug off.”
-
- Matt shrugs. “I can
handle her.”
-
- “It didn’t look
that way this morning.”
-
- “It’s no big deal,
Kallie.”
-
- Stevie takes a bite of his
burger. “You want me to put a smackdown on her?”
-
- Matt grins. “She’s
a girl, Stevie.”
-
- He shrugs. “Not so you’d
know under all that black.”
-
- Matt rolls his eyes as Kallie
laughs. “You’re bad, Stevie!”
-
-
- Marcie finishes off the last
of her sandwich, watching Miki push the ketchup across her plate.
“Isn’t she the cutest?”
-
- Lauren smiles. “She
is sweet. Wouldn’t it be fun if Rex and I had a girl? She
could be daddy’s little girl. She would have Rex wrapped
around her finger.”
-
- “So what did Rex say
when you told him?” Lauren looks guilty. “You haven’t
told him?” She shakes her head. “What are you waiting
for?”
-
- “I haven’t found
the right time. Maybe this weekend.”
-
- “Are you afraid he’s
not going to be happy?”
-
- Lauren shrugs. “It’s
crossed my mind.”
-
- Marcie shakes her head. “It
may take him a minute to get used to the idea but I know he’ll
be happy. Really, what choice does he have? You’re in this
together.”
-
- Andrew walks over to their
table. “Marcie, I’m so sorry my session ran long. Thank
you for feeding her.”
-
- “Oh, it’s no problem.
Miki has been an angel.”
-
- Miki waves at Andrew with
her ketchup-covered hands. He smiles. “I can see that.”
He reaches down and picks her up. “Let’s get you cleaned
up and you ladies can enjoy your lunch.”
-
- Marcie smiles at Miki. “She
really was no trouble. Is her mother picking her up soon?”
-
- “Miki is in foster care.
Her caretaker is job hunting so I’m helping her out.”
-
- “That’s terrible!
Are they finding someone to adopt her?”
-
- Andrew nods. “We’re
trying but no luck yet.” He glances at Miki, who has laid
her head on Andrew’s shoulder and is slowly falling asleep.
“Say a prayer we find someone soon.”
-
- Marcie and Lauren nod as
he walks away. Lauren has tears in her eyes. “That poor
little girl. Such a sweetie and no mom and dad.”
-
- Marcie pats her hand. “You’re
such a softy.”
-
- She smiles. “It’s
the hormones. Rex thinks I’m a basket case and he has no
idea why. You’ll find out when you get pregnant. How’s
that little project coming?”
-
- Marcie shrugs. “Not
well. Michael and I have been trying, and nothing.”
-
- “Would you consider
adoption?”
-
- “Sure. I just love kids.
It wouldn’t matter to me if they were adopted.”
-
- “Would Michael go for
it?”
-
- Marcie sighs. “That’s
the question. I hope he would, but we’ve never discussed
it.”
-
- “You need to talk to
him if it’s something you want to look into. Miki is a doll
and Andrew says she needs a home…”
-
- Marcie shakes her head. “I’m
not there yet. I haven’t even discussed adoption with Michael
so I have no idea if he would go for it.”
-
- “Well, you should and
soon.” She looks at her watch. “I have to run. Call
me if you need to talk.”
-
- Marcie stands and hugs her
friend. “I will. Good luck with Rex.”
-
-
- Matt is leaning against Rex’s
car when he emerges from the PI office. “Hey, squirt. Right
on time.”
-
- “Is my dad gone for
the day?”
-
- Rex nods, pulling open his
door. “Hop in. Your dad left after lunch and told me not
to expect him back. We should be in the clear for our little
project.”
-
- Matt climbs in the passenger
seat and buckles his seatbelt. “Where we headed? I think
the mall would be cool. My friends could see me…”
- He stops when he sees Rex
staring at him. “What?”
-
- “Do you seriously think
I’m going to let you drive my car where there are other
cars you could hit?”
-
- Matt shrugs. “I would
be careful. How hard can it be?”
-
- Rex rolls his eyes. “How
hard can it be, he says. You have so much to learn. We are going
to a place where other cars will not be a problem.”
-
- “Where’s that?”
-
- “You’ll see, just
sit back and relax until we get there.” Rex puts the car
in drive and pulls out of the parking lot.
-
- Matt sits back and tries
to be patient as Rex drives them out of town. “How far are
we going?”
-
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