11. A Little Present

Sky.

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Steven and I have been practicing lots for his big serenade to my mom. I'm so excited! If things work out between my mom and him that would be amazing. There's nothing I wish more for them. Steven is the sweetest man I know and my mom has been through so much shit, she totally deserves someone like Steve. It could not be more perfect.

I'm hanging out at my mom's since Diana's spending some time with Rose right now.

"You've been acting quite strange lately." My mom joins me on the couch.

"Well, I could say the same to you." I give her a look. "You've been singing, whistling.. even dancing! It's almost like you're in love..." I take a sip from my tea.

My mom begins to blush.

I smile. "I'm right, aren't I?"

"Maybe.." She stares out the window with a big smile on her face.

"Is it someone I know?" I pry.

"Actually, it is."

I knew it! I knew it! She's totally into Steve! I mean, how could she not be? This is a total confession! And I thought she needed a grand gesture! She's swooning!

Still, Steven and I have been working too hard on the piano song to just give up now. Sorry, mom but you'll have to wait. I'm so excited.

"I'm sure he likes you back."

My mom gives me a suspicious look.

"Whoever it is." I add.

My mom gets up. "Speaking of which. I have a little present for you."

"A gift? What for?"

"Just a gift. It'll arrive in a few minutes. Now you may not like it at first but you'll grow to—"

"What is this about?!"

My mom starts walking towards the door. She looks so happy.

I'm way confused.

"I'll speak to you later." My mom looks super concerned all of a sudden. "I love you." She presses.

"You too.." Why does it feel like she's leaving for good?

The door closes behind her.

No, she can't leave. That's not what this is. I'm just being paranoid.

Am I, though? It's not like she hasn't left before. But she always came back. She'll come back.

And what is this gift about? She looked so worried..

Jesus, I hate surprises. I wish she would just tell me.

I sit there for another ten minutes completely driving myself insane.

I decide to text Aron.

Sky: mom was acting rlly weird. im scared.

After a few minutes I get a reply.

Aron: I'm almost done w class, be there soon

Aron: Don't worry. It'll be okay <3

Aron: Te quiero

Sky: te quiero

I get the scare of my life when the doorbell suddenly rings.

I get up and walk over to the door.

My hand's shaking as I open it.

There's a package on the floor.

I frown and pick it up.

It's addressed to my mom. Seems like a normal internet order. Is this the gift she was talking about?

I go back inside, all the way to my old bedroom.

I sit on the bed and open the package.

There's pink fluff in the whole thing.

I search the box for something substantial. I feel some kind of fabric and pull it out.

"Aah!" I scream as I throw a bight red thong to the other side of the room. Was this the surprise? Is this some kind of sick prank?

Honestly, this is the kind of prank my mother would pull. She has no limits.

The bell rings again.

I get up with a sigh. She had me all worried for nothing. I'm gonna have to text Aron again.

Still, a prank doesn't explain why she looked so worried..

The bell rings yet again with more force this time.

"I'm coming!" I yell annoyed.

With an irritated sigh I open the door.

I'm frozen in place as I look at the man in front of me.

He's got dark blonde hair under a cap, a trimmed beard and ocean blue eyes. His skin is kind of red and worn. He's wearing old, loose jeans, a black T shirt and brown boots. He's tall and muscular and his arms are covered in tattoos. Even his neck has tattoos, one of which says so clearly 'Lisa' with a heart in flames.

"Dad?" I say so quietly, I'm not sure I'm even saying it out loud.

"That would be me." He smiles proudly.

I just stand there staring at him in disbelief. When did he get here? Why? How?

He surprises me when he wraps his arms around me and gives me a death hug. I try to get out of his grasp but it's actually impossible.

"Alright! Enough!" I squirm.

He finally lets go of me.

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

"What the hell am I doing here? Seeing my son, that's what!" I forgot all about his southern accent. It brings back the few memories I have of this guy.

He walks into the house.

"Did I say you could come in?"

"No, but your mom did." He comes over to me.

"What—"

"Now let me take a good look at you." He eyes me from head to toe.

"You look just like your mom."

"Thanks." I say annoyed.

"Not a compliment, actually. You look like a whole woman. I'm sure some sonny-daddy time could fix that, though." He says bluntly as he takes a seat on the couch.

"Fuck off!"

He sits up. "Ah, there we are! You got that mouth from me!" He says excitedly.

"Good to know, now get the fuck out of my house!"

"I will absolutely not. I want to spend time with my little Oliver."

"Don't call me that."

"It's your name."

"It's your name. I want nothing to do with it."

"You're still on that? What am I supposed to call you?"

"I've told you a million times,"

"SKY!" Aron runs through the door and embraces me.

"Is everything okay?" He pants.

Shit. I forgot to text him.

He hasn't seen my dad yet. I don't want him to either. If only I could get him away before he laid eyes on him.

"Yes. You can go now." I say more curtly then I intended.

Aron pulls away and gives me a concerned look.

"Sky? Interesting choice." My dad goes.

Mother. Fucker.

Aron looks at the couch. He immediately tightens his grasp on me.

"Who's that?" He asks, looking at my dad like he's a dangerous bomb.

"Just some guy—"

"I'm his dad." My dad gets up and walks over to Aron, giving him an intimidating, defensive look.

Aron gives me a confused glance. I look away. This has to be the most embarrassing moment of my life.

"And who are you?" He speaks in a threatening tone.

Aron lets go of me and turns to my dad. He looks nervous all of a sudden. The last time he looked this nervous was when he asked me to marry him.

"He's my boyfriend, dad."

Aron shakes hands with my father. "I'm Aron Santiago, Sky's fiance." He gives me a look.

"Whatever." I say under my breath.

"Your fiance?!"

Here we go.

"Don't you have a daughter? You know, with a girl? That's what your mom said!"

"I do. That was before. Sort of." I scratch my head. My life's a mess; surprise, surprise.

"When did she tell you all of this?!" I ask.

"She wrote me a letter a few weeks ago. We been talking on the phone since. Her letter said you had a kid now and she said I oughta know that I'm a grandpa and she was damn right."

That completely rubs me the wrong way.

"You don't get to say that after having been gone for most of my life! You don't get to fucking come in here and tell me I should have told you about my kid when you don't even know yours!" I snap.

He's finally silent. Taken aback by what I said.

Why the fuck did my mom randomly reach out to him? I didn't even know that she could! All these years she's been crying about him like she had no way to reach him and now this!

Is that why she's been so happy lately? Why she's been so cheery and singing and all that? Because of him?

I look back at him, anger boiling in my blood.

"Are you two back together?" I say through clenched teeth.

"..We made up." He nods.

For the first time in a long time I really wanna punch someone.

"You know what? You can stay. I'll go." I brush past him into the hallway. Aron follows me quickly after.

I'm furious as I race through the hallway.

So my mother has been lying to me this entire time. I thought she had changed! And now she's letting this asshole back into our lives.

Not on my watch.