As Mom and Mr. Thompson returned the next morning, being Sunday, I could sense a mix of excitement and curiosity emanating from my mom. She had been eagerly waiting to hear all about the party, and I knew she wouldn't let me off the hook easily. After settling down from wherever they had spent the night yesterday, she came to my room, a sly grin spreading across her face.
"Hey, sweetie! Come on, spill the beans! How was the party?" she asked, plopping down on my bed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She was leaning forward, her hands clasped together, and her face lit up with excitement.
I sighed, knowing I had to share something with her. "It was fine, Mom. Just a normal party," I replied, trying to downplay the excitement.
But my mom was not having it. "Just a normal party? Come on, Gabriel! I want all the juicy details! Who was there? What happened? Did you have fun?" she asked, her voice rising with enthusiasm.
I chuckled, trying to deflect her questions. "Mom, it was just a party. We had music, food, and friends. That's it," I said, shrugging my shoulders.
But my mom was relentless. "Gabriel, don't be shy! I want to know everything! Did you meet any new people? Did you have a good time with Lizzy?" she asked, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
I hesitated, knowing I had to share something with her. "Okay, fine. Lizzy was there, and we had a great time together. We talked, laughed, and... kissed," I said, trying to sound casual.
My mom's eyes widened, a huge smile spreading across her face. "Aww, that's so sweet! I'm so happy for you, Gabriel! Tell me more about Lizzy. What's she like?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.
I rolled my eyes, laughing. "Mom, you're such a gossip!" I said, teasing her.
But my mom just winked at me. "Hey, someone's got to keep you on your toes! Now, come on, tell me more about Lizzy," she said, leaning forward, her eyes sparkling with interest.
I sighed, knowing I had to share more with her. "Fine. Lizzy is amazing, Mom. She's smart, funny, and beautiful. We have a great connection, and I really like her," I said, smiling.
My mom beamed with pride. "I'm so happy for you, Gabriel! You deserve someone special, and it sounds like Lizzy might be the one," she said, her voice filled with emotion.
As we chatted, I couldn't help but feel grateful for my mom's enthusiasm and support. She might be a bit nosy at times, but she always came from a good place. She wanted the best for me, and I knew she would always be there to support me, no matter what.
"So, what's next with Lizzy?" my mom asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I shrugged, smiling. "I don't know, Mom. We'll just have to see where things go," I said, trying to sound casual.
But my mom just winked at me. "I have a feeling this is just the beginning of something special, Gabriel. Just remember to be yourself, and always communicate with her," she said, her voice filled with wisdom.
I nodded, taking her advice to heart. I knew that my mom was always looking out for me, and I was grateful for her guidance and support.
Around evening time, as I was relaxing in my room, my phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence. I picked it up, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw my dad's name flashing on the screen. I hadn't spoken to him in a while, and I knew that he was always busy traveling, so this was a rare opportunity to catch up.
"Hey, Gabriel! How are you doing?" my dad asked, his voice sounding cheerful and energetic, with a hint of warmth that I hadn't heard in a long time.
"I'm doing great, Dad! How about you?" I replied, trying to sound casual despite the excitement building up inside me. I was thrilled to hear from him, and I couldn't wait to hear about his latest adventures.
"I'm good, good. I'm actually in town right now, and I thought maybe we could meet up," he suggested, his tone sounding hopeful, with a hint of nervousness that I hadn't expected.
My heart raced at the prospect of meeting my dad. I knew that this was a one-time opportunity, as he was always on the move, and I didn't want to miss it. I had so many questions to ask him, so many things to talk about.
"That sounds amazing, Dad! I'd love to meet up with you," I exclaimed, trying to contain my excitement. I couldn't believe that he was actually in town, and that we could finally catch up in person.
"Great! How about we meet at that new coffee shop downtown? I've heard great things about it," he suggested, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Sounds perfect, Dad. What time were you thinking?" I asked, already mentally preparing myself for the meeting. I was thinking about what to wear, what to say, and what to expect.
"How about 7 pm? Would that work for you?" he asked, his voice filled with consideration.
"Absolutely, Dad. I'll be there," I replied, making a mental note of the time. I was determined to be there, no matter what.
"Great, Gabriel! I'm looking forward to seeing you. It's been too long," he said, his voice filled with emotion, with a hint of sadness that I hadn't expected.
"Me too, Dad. Me too," I replied, feeling a mix of emotions: excitement, nervousness, and happiness. I was thrilled to see him, but I was also nervous about what to expect.
As we hung up the phone, I couldn't help but think about the past and how things had gone sour between my parents. My dad's constant traveling had put a strain on their relationship, and eventually, they had drifted apart. But despite all that, I knew that my dad loved me, and I loved him, and this meeting was a chance to reconnect and catch up.
I arrived at the coffee shop at 7 pm sharp, my heart racing with anticipation. I spotted my dad sitting at a table, sipping on a cup of coffee, and my heart swelled with love and emotion. He looked a bit older than I remembered, with more wrinkles and gray hair, but his eyes still sparkled with the same warmth and love.
We hugged each other tightly, and I felt a sense of comfort and familiarity that I hadn't felt in years. We sat down, and I couldn't help but notice how much he had aged since I last saw him. But despite the physical changes, his personality was still the same - warm, loving, and caring.
We spent the next few hours catching up, talking about everything and nothing. I told him about school, my friends, and Lizzy, and he listened intently, asking questions and offering advice. He told me about his travels, his work, and his dreams, and I listened with wide eyes, fascinated by his stories.
As the evening drew to a close, my dad looked at me with a serious expression. "Gabriel, I know I haven't been around much, but I want you to know that I'm proud of you. You're growing up to be an amazing young man, and I'm grateful to be your dad."
I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at him, my eyes welling up with tears. "Thanks, Dad. That means a lot coming from you," I replied, my voice shaking with emotion.
We hugged each other tightly, and I knew that this meeting had been a turning point in our relationship. I was grateful for this opportunity to reconnect with my dad, and I knew that no matter what, he would always be there for me.