Senior year of high school…
“Come with me. I want to show you something,” Kathy says as she motions for me to follow her out of the kitchen. I take a peek over at Reed and his dad Mike, who are manning the grill, and I know we’ll only have a few minutes before it’s time to eat.
I love my girl time with Kathy. She’s been a mom to me from the moment I got here. Before we came to live on their property my dad and I drifted from one place to another. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d never met them. I don’t even want to imagine it.
It’s Friday night and our only plans are dinner together. Tomorrow is prom and I know Kathy and I are going to be on the go from the moment I wake up until Reed and I leave for the night. She has a whole day planned for us and I’m so excited I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to sleep.
“I got you these.” She holds up a shoe box and I already know what’s inside.
I hold up my hands in protest because I know they’re the ones she made me try on when we went dress shopping. She’d tried to buy them for me, but they cost more than my dress and I couldn’t let her do it. They matched perfectly and I felt like a princess when I’d had them on, but it was too much.
“Before you try and say no,” she says, already going into mom-battle mode. I might as well admit defeat now because when she gets that look on her face she isn’t stopping until she gets what she wants. “You’re like a daughter to me, and I only get this one prom. I want this to be perfect and that includes you getting these shoes.”
Wow, Kathy is going right for my heart. She’s talked to me a lot privately, and when we had the sex talk she told me that Reed was the only baby she was able to carry to term. She would have had a house full if she could have but getting me was like having the daughter she always wanted. Last week she asked me if Reed and I were having sex and then she gave me the safe sex speech. I told her that we weren’t and that was the truth. But that won’t be the case after tomorrow night.
“Thank you,” I tell her, because I know it would hurt her feelings to turn them down, and honestly I really love them and don’t want to. I move to give her a hug and she holds me tight. “I love you.”
She leans back and cups my cheek. “I love you, too, sweetheart. Like you’re my own.” She kisses me on each cheek and I feel like I could cry. “One day Reed is going to marry you and give you our last name, but you’re already a part of us where it matters most.” She touches the place over my heart. “And then, much later, you'll give me lots of grandbabies.”
A burst of laughter comes from me and it helps scare away the tears that threaten to break free.
“Much, much later.” She lifts an all too knowing eyebrow and I’m sure Reed already told his mom and dad we aren't coming home tomorrow night. My face heats and she smiles as she shakes her head. “Remember what I said about using protection.”
I nod quietly and stare at the box in my hands.
“Try them on, I want to see.” She claps excitedly and I sit down in the chair and slip them on.
They fit perfectly, and as I look at the shoes I can’t help thinking that tomorrow is the start of a whole new life. Reed and I graduate soon and we’ve been talking about getting a place together.
“Have you thought about what you want to do?” I look up at Kathy when she asks the question like she’s reading my mind. She’s always good at that, just like Reed.
“I’m not sure.” I shrug because I don’t want to say what’s in my heart. It’s silly for a girl my age to want it because I should be thinking about going to college and having a career, but my mind is on having a family.
“You know whatever it is you want, we’ll support you, sweetheart.” I stand in the heels feeling more confident with her reassurance.
“Thank you,” I tell her again, and not just for the shoes. She’s done so much for me for so long that I know I’ll never be able to repay her kindness.
“Us girls gotta stick together,” she laughs right as both Mike and Reed walk into the room.
“You’re going to fall in these things, Dimples,” Reed says as he picks me up and my feet dangle off the ground.
I rest my hands on his broad chest and it doesn’t go unnoticed that he’s really turned into a man these last few years. I don’t know if it’s normal or if it’s all that football practice. Either way he’s bigger than his father.
“Not with you carrying me all the time,” I joke with him, and he gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Dinner’s done,” Mike says as Reed puts me back on my feet and I take off the heels and put them back into the box.
The four of us sit down to eat because my dad never joins us. He's been getting more and more reclusive lately and he disappears for hours. He talks even less than he used to, which is saying a lot because he didn't talk much before. I’ve tried with him, but it’s hard when I’m around Reed’s parents and then I go home to my dad who barely says three words to me. I’ve kind of given up and I’m not trying to force conversation anymore. I’ve quit inviting him to have dinner together with the Sanders and they’ve stopped asking if he’s coming.
I push away all thoughts of my dad as we eat dinner and have a great night. All too soon the sun has set and Reed’s parents clean up after dinner and go inside for the night. Reed and I stay on the back deck, and when they’re gone he leans over and kisses me on the neck. It’s a soft touch at first and I let out a sigh, wanting more.
“Tomorrow I’ll know you in all ways,” he whispers against my skin, and my whole body heats.
He pulls me into his lap and then he kisses me with urgency. He digs his fingers into my hair and I don’t know how long we sit like that, making out. I know we can do it for hours because we’ve done it before, but when we finally separate my mouth tingles and I’m out of breath. His hands hold my hips to stop me from rocking against him and I know he’s trying to get himself under control.
“Tomorrow,” I remind him, and he groans as he rests his forehead to mine.
“You know I love you?” he says, and I nod.
“I know.” I rub my hands up and down his chest. I don’t know why but it always soothes me, in the same way rubbing my ring finger soothes him.
“No, Cami, I love you. We’ve been saying I love you since we were kids and you say it to my mom and dad. They say it to you, but you know this is different, right? I love you more than anything in this whole world.”
“Of course I do. And you know I love you like that, too?”
“Yeah.” He smiles at me before kissing me again.
I don’t care what anyone says, Reed is my forever. Some people at school say that we’re high school sweethearts, and that it will never last in the real world. I don’t pay them any attention because I know what this is. I don’t know how we got so lucky to find each other so young but we did.
“What the hell!” I jerk away from Reed at the sound of my dad’s voice booming from the other side for the deck. “Do you have any idea what time it is? Get over here, Cami.”
“Mr. Evans,” Reed says as he stands with me. “I’m sorry about that. I meant no disrespect. She’s my girl and we got carried away.”
I can tell Reed is trying to be polite for me, but he wants to say more. He doesn't care for my dad and the way he’s so dismissive of me. Of course Reed would never understand someone not wanting to be near me.
“I said get over here,” my dad snaps again and points his finger to the ground next to him.
“There’s no need to talk to her like that.” Reed’s voice comes out hard now and his jaw clenches.
“She’s my daughter,” my dad says but takes a step back. He’s no match for Reed, especially when it comes to me.
“And she’s my—” I grab his arm and squeeze it so he looks down at me.
“Let it go,” I say softly. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I should get to bed anyways.” He searches my face before looking over towards my dad. I don’t know what his deal is because he’s never cared what I was doing before.
“I don’t like this. I don’t want you to go.” Reed takes my hands and his eyes search mine.
“It’s only a little longer,” I remind him. “Then we have forever.”
He leans down and gives me a quick kiss before he nods. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I tell him then move towards my dad.
I look back at him and of course he’s watching me go. I smile before moving past my dad and down the stairs of the deck towards our place. I can hear my dad’s footsteps behind me as we walk. It’s completely silent the whole way back and I assume he’s done with what he wanted to say. I’m the first to reach the front door and when I walk inside I freeze in shock.
Everything in our home is gone and the place is empty. I’m so confused by what I’m looking at, my brain can’t process it.
“Dad?” I turn to look at him, wondering what the hell is going on.
“I’ve found the way,” he tells me as he raises his chin. He actually looks proud of himself.
“What are you talking about?”
“Sometimes in life you must sacrifice to prove yourself. Today I prove myself,” he says before he takes a slow step towards me. I back up as he comes closer until I’m against the wall. “You’re the sacrifice I’m willing to make.”
“Dad?” is all I can manage to choke out as his dead eyes look down at me.
I open my mouth to scream, but the whole world goes black.