Chapter 2

I said goodbye to my dad over the phone and not the usual in person that I would have liked. In his defense of why he didn't come home to see me leave, he said he was too busy at work. But I knew he deliberately decided to stay off, probably too ashamed to see me. A tear dropped down my cheek at that simple thought. Dad didn't know just how much I loved him, and despite what mom or anyone else thought about him, I didn't give a damn.

The flight back from Detroit to the Los Angeles international airport was both tiring and exhausting. It turned out to last far longer than I had anticipated--over five hours instead of the four hours that I believed, but most importantly, I still had over two hours before the wedding. To kill the boredom, I had my airpods plugged in and listened to music play over and over again, watched some videos, played music again and slept a little.

I was very excited and elevated when a flight attendant, a very husky young man, built like a football player announced;

“Ladies and gentlemen, LAX welcomes you to Los Angeles. For your safety and the safety of those around you, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened and keep the aisle clear until we are parked at the gate"

However, my enthusiasm was short-lived. It simply died when a text from mom revealed she wasn't going to pick me up from the airport herself. She had simply sent someone.

Of course, I missed mom too and couldn't wait to see her again. Why were the people I loved avoiding me? To make matters extremely creepy, she didn't indicate who would pick me up. Was this one more of her surprises?

I waited almost impatiently at the baggage reclaim area to get my luggage from the baggage carousel. When I got it, I dialed mom's number to ask her who would pick me up.

The phone rang….unanswered, then the call got disconnected. I dialed her number again, the phone rang….still unanswered, unnoticed but each time, it got disconnected. I dialed the number once again, twice, thrice but each time I did, she wouldn't pick. I sighed in dismay and decided not to call again.

I was about to order an uber when a message entered my phone. It was from an unknown number. 'I'm waiting at the curb to pick you up. Can't make it past the security..would be a waste of time'.

I read the message over again to make sure I wasn't misinterpreting it and when I was sure I had it correctly, I replied with an affirmation.

Mom must have seen my call and figured out I had phoned to ask who would pick me up, then asked whom-ever it was to text me. Possibly an Uber driver or some guy hired for the wedding.

Without frittering any more time, I had a luggage porter pick up my luggage in a trolley.

"Sorry, ma'am but you gotta walk faster than that. Rules say no car parks more than ten minutes at the curb".

I almost didn't pay attention when the porter warned me. Nodding in acknowledgement, I enhanced my pace as we crossed the first terminal to where my ride was to be parked.

The curb was a little busier than the last time I visited the airport barely three months ago. Vehicles drove and parked now and then either dropping passengers or taking them. Families and friends clung in tight embraces to their loved ones, others kissed, some made only simple handshakes while like silent knights, some chauffeurs opened and closed doors for their passengers with just mere grunts or grins.

I glimpsed all around me trying to catch a familiar face I knew but when I couldn't Identify any, I took out my phone, dialed the number that had texted me earlier but I hadn't fully raised the phone to my ear when I heard a voice call my name. My full name. "Hey, Melina Garcia, you've grown much bigger than I last saw you".

I spun immediately to my left, the direction of the voice amid the busy and noisy curb. Though I couldn't make out the voice, I froze when I recognized the face of uncle Richard Palmer, my mom's best friend.

"Uncle Richard, but.. how..I mean what are you doing here?". I hugged him with an excited face.

"I'm here to pick you up... why? don't you miss me?"

Was he crazy? Of course, I missed him like hell. Uncle Richard was my mom's BF. They knew each other from high school. While mom worked at the hospital, uncle Richard was into business. A very successful businessman who had a chain of restaurants, RichValley Restaurants all over San Fernando Valley.

When mom and dad got married, they became neighbors before I was born until seven years ago when they relocated to New York City. I was 9 by then but I couldn't help but marvel at the beard he'd kept over time. Seven years and the little mustache was pretty much the same, his hair a little bit gray. He wore a pair of corporal jeans and a simple t-shirt.

I let go of him and hit his chest, gently and playfully like Chris and I always did to denote how sulking we were. Thoughts of Chris set my heart beating fast and a shiver washed down my spine. Being the son of my mom's best friend didn't change the fact that I once had a crush on Chris when I was 5.

"So, why are you here? Is it for the wedding?". I guessed that was the only explainable reason. He's after all, my mom's best friend and best friends stood for each other right?

"Something like that" He muttered

"Umm...hold on...lemme just ..yeah" Uncle Richard began to say to the porter who had gestured that it was time to get his car moving.

When the baggage was all loaded in the trunk, I said thanks to the porter and took the passenger's seat while Uncle Richard took the driver's.

"Fasten your seat belt, sweety" I turned and saw he had done his and was waiting for me to do the same.

"Sure"

Uncle Richard roared the engine of the Porsche to life and with a noiseless super speed, pulled it out of the curb and soon, into the road headed for San Fernando Valley.

"Uhm, there's something I've got to tell you". He announced. I immediately got interested

"Wait, is it about my ...other dad?. Who's he?" Gleam shone in my eyes.

"No, not about that". I shrugged, but he added. "Uhm, though it's still about it".

"Yeah?" I folded my arms and fixed my eyes gleefully at him like Chris and I did when we wanted him to get us candies or tell us bedtime stories.

"It's about your house. We decided to change it because the family is now bigger".

"Wait, we?". I was puzzled. Uncle Richard seemed a little confused about my question before he said.

"No...I mean your mom and...ne..new dad. Yeah, new dad".

I didn't say anything. Not even when he said 'but don't worry, your things are all intact in your new room'.

The rest of the journey was in silence. We were at Avenue C in twenty minutes, the street where our old house stood. A huge 'for sale' sign now stood at its door. Oddly so, the new house was still on the same street. Mom must so much love Avenue C, including whomever she was getting married to.

Uncle Richard switched off the engine when he packed in the yard. Unlike the old house, this one was bigger, more beautiful and had two stories.

I quickly got down from the car and ran up to the house, eager to take a look inside. The door wasn't locked. When I walked, my jaw dropped in marvel at the beauty and elegance of the living room.

The couches were new and coated in luxury. The wooden floor perfectly matched the wooden stairs leading to the upper floor.

The whole house was in itself beautifully decorated in a ceremonial manner which I quickly guessed was because of the wedding ceremony.

"Take your time, I'll get all your things to your room". Uncle Richard said when he walked in with some of my luggage. I was about to check out the kitchen but decided against it and followed him upstairs to my room.

True to his words, my things had been moved in.

"Thanks, Uncle Richard". I said to him when he was done with bringing my luggage. He opened the door to go out but stopped and turned to me.

"And before I forget, your mom left something for you in the wardrobe...and get ready fast. We don't want to be late, do we?". Then he walked out, shutting the door behind him.

Left alone, I smiled to myself, with my eyes clasped to my chest, I ignored the big bed which stood in front of me with my childhood toys and headed straight for the wardrobe; with my suit, I was sure I was ready for the wedding.