July Raine

The Morning After

" I was just trying to be a little discrete."

I rolled my eyes " Okay."

"So what about this date?"

I smiled." You are serious about this date huh."

I saw a glint in his eye. " I am very serious. We could dress up and go for a night on the town."

I thought about it for a bit. It did sound like it might be fun. Get away from the cabins and the lake for a night. We could spend the day with July and then she could spend the evening with my parents who would be back in the evening.

My parents had been visiting my Auntie Bell in a few towns over. It was a every summer tradition, just as the lake was. My Auntie Bell is my mom's younger sister by twelve years. . She really was there for me when I was pregnant with July. She was my shoulder to lean on at times when I felt like I couldn't tell my parents things. She knew I was pregnant long before my mom and dad. She was there the day I told them. She was always my support system.

"Mels?"

Sometimes I found myself in deep thought about things that really didn't have much to do with anything. I had always considered myself a deep thinker.

I quickly snapped out of it.

"Yeah that sounds great, how about we spend the day with July. I bet she would like that, I know I would."  I continued to sit in his lap. It really wasn't an awkward position to be in, it was rather quiet comfortable or so I thought.

When the front door opened I was a little surprised at first and didn't move, at least not until I saw my dad staring straight at me sitting on Maddy's lap. I felt like a teenager being caught in a compromising position.

I quickly jumped to my feet and so did Maddy.

" I thought you guys weren't going to be back till later."   In behind them walked Auntie Bell, which made the moment even a little more embarrassing.

" We wanted to surprise you by bringing Auntie Bell back to stay for a few days, but it looks like it is us who is surprised."

My cheeks turned pink at this comment. " Mom, dad you remember Maddy."

Maddy surprised my by reaching out to shake my dad's hand. " Auntie Bell this is my... this is Maddy."

Maddy hugged Auntie Bell which didn't surprise me. He was a hugger after all. "Mel speaks high of you." 

She smiled. "Well that is kind of you to say, but I'd have to say she speaks highly of you as well."  Maddy looked at me and I smiled. Mom looked at Dad and then they both looked at Auntie Bell who just smiled.

Little did my parents know that I'd called Auntie Bell after that first meeting with Maddy. Auntie Bell and I were good friends, after all she was only eight years older than me.

Bell moved closer to me in a quick fashion and hugged me tightly. " I missed you Mel."

I hugged her back tightly. " I missed you too."

After the awkward of the situation was over. Mom and dad settled down in the spare room and Bell in my room. We all ended up back in the living room where Maddy sat on the couch and watched the Olympics on television. I was not surprised to see track and field, but I was surprised to see him discussing the events with my dad. They seemed to be getting along well.

As they talked, I sat down next to Maddy and pulled my feet on the couch and listened as they had casual conversation. Mom and Bell joined us and interrupted the conversation.

Bell was the first to speak. " So Mel, what do you have planned for the day?"

"We had planned on spending the day with July."

"We huh?" She gave me a sly smirk. "What about after that?"

I knew what she was getting at. " Maybe we could all spend the day together."

She just didn't know when to quit. " What about tonight?"

"Mom, Dad, since you are back. I was hoping that you could watch July tonight.?

Dad spoke up. "We would love to. What have you got planned?"

I couldn't lie to them. I just had to tell them. It wasn't like it wasn't something that they weren't expecting. They knew how I felt about Maddy.

"Actually, Maddy and I were thinking about going on a date."

Bell couldn't help herself. " Thinking about it huh?"

It wasn't me who spoke this time it was Maddy. " Yeah, it took a bit of begging but she finally agreed to go on a date with me."

I just laughed and he put his arm around me. My parents glanced at each other and smiled. I wasn't sure what it was all about but I was glad they were smiling. I loved that those I loved were smiling.

I had a feeling that today would be one of those days that we all smiled and we're all happy.