Love Out of the Middle

Chapter 4: Summer's End

August 10:

Penelope:

"Do you have to go?" I ask Andy in the last full week of the summer for him as he finishes packing his truck to go back to Notre Dame.

"Sissy," Andy says letting me sit on the tailgate. He pauses his packing and sits next to me, "I'm not far away, not as far away as I was when you were in Milwaukee. There's a whole hour cut from the commute between you and me."

"You're still so far away."

"You're going to be just fine." Andy tells me. "I'm only one call away." He grins because he knows it's one of my favorite songs.

I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one call away

Call me, baby, if you need a friend
I just wanna give you love
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Reaching out to you, so take a chance

No matter where you go
You know you're not alone

I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one call away

Come along with me and don't be scared
I just wanna set you free
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon
You and me can make it anywhere
For now, we can stay here for a while
'Cause you know, I just wanna see you smile

No matter where you go
You know you're not alone

I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one call away

And when you're weak I'll be strong
I'm gonna keep holding on
Now don't you worry, it won't be long
Darling, and when you feel like hope is gone
Just run into my arms

I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one, I'm only one call away
I'll be there to save the day
Superman got nothing on me
I'm only one call away

I'm only one call away

His voice isn't like Will's, it's deeper and just a bit off key, but I love it just the same, he only sings for me, when I'm sad. Like now.

"Just because I'm at school doesn't mean I can't be here for you." Andy says. "I'll be here. Besides you've got three other brothers here with you. Do you really need me?" He teases.

"Don't even joke about that." I tell him hugging him tightly. He wraps an arm around me kissing the top of my head. "I will always need you. All of you."

"And we will always need you." Andy promises.

"Penelope Grace." My mothers voice calls from inside.

"Go," Andy says he goes back to loading his truck.

I walk back inside, "Mother," I call.

"In the back office." She calls back. I head back and she's covered in her craft supplies. "Have you decided what extracurricular you would like to partake in? Sam is going out for sports, Will is joining the thespian society and other fine arts clubs, Michael is running for student council." She asks me, it's never a normal conversation with her is it?

"I wrote an email, I was going to lead the FCA club. I've already been accepted." I tell her.

"Is that all?" She asks me. "Darling, think about the college applications, you'll need something that will stand out."