Splinters: Part One

Part One | 40

"Should we help your mom?" Collie asked.

I shrugged. "Sure."

Collie stepped into the kitchen, dropping my hand. "Mrs. Pierson, would you like some help with those?"

Melissa glanced at my girlfriend. "Uh, sure. Brayden, there are some more bags in the pantry."

I nodded and went for the food closet. Grasping some more lunch bags, I took them out and set them on the island. Collie grabbed one and stuffed some sandwiches inside.

"Where's the cake?" I asked.

"In the fridge. Will you go take it out to your father? He's out in the front."

I nodded. "Yeah."

I wasn't surprised when I opened the fridge and saw that it was a Princess Aurora cake. I grinned as I took it out to Greg who was still talking to one of Net's friend's mother. She was smiling broadly, standing in an awkward position. I'd never seen anyone act this way toward Greg.

"Um, Greg?" I interrupted.

Greg seemed relieved as I showed him the cake, momentarily ending his conversation.

"Is this your son?" the woman asked, pointing at me.

I didn't mean to, but I gave her a weird look. She was overly too happy.

"Sure is." Greg put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm glad to have my own."

I enjoyed how Greg called me his son, but it was different from how my real dad did it. He always called me his "boy" instead of son. I wasn't sure why. I guess I'll never know why. But the way he said it. It was different from how Greg says it. Both ways are okay. Both ways make me feel loved. But it was like I was two different Braydens. I was someone's son and I was someone's boy.

In a way, son sounded more proper. In this case, it is. I'm Greg's son. A man who has a family of his own in a large house with a good paying job. Greg was someone who had it all thought out and all put together.

Bryson was a whole different story. I was Bryson's boy, a troubled man who ran away at age eighteen with his girlfriend whom he impregnated and then sold drugs. Bryson was someone who didn't think it through and was nowhere near finished. But I was still his. And the fact that he acknowledged that instead of leaving like my mom...

I liked having a father. Probably more than a mother.

I hadn't realized I'd dozed off until Greg spoke my name.

"Brayden?"

I jerked my head towards him. "Yeah?"

"Donna asked how you liked Constance." He stared at my worriedly, probably concerned.

I'd be concerned, too.

I looked towards Penny and nodded. "Oh, um, it's great. Yeah."

She smiled and then looked back at Greg. "Anyways, are you sure you don't need help-"

I tuned out right about then. I wasn't stupid. She asked me a question to act like she had interest, which she doesn't. I've met so many people just like that.

Turning around, I headed back inside, nearly walking straight into my girlfriend who was holding a bundle of presents in her arms.

"Woah!"

I grabbed her elbows gently and smiled, steadying us both. "Need help?"

She blushed before nodding.

I took half of what she was carrying back to the car when finally, Melissa came out.

"Donna! I didn't know you were here," she said at the door, placing her hands on her hips and walking briskly down the porch.