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Home / Romance / Decisions I made / Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

All Chapters of Decisions I made : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

252 Chapters

Jack and Diane

The karaoke bar was exactly what I expected.Loud.Crowded.Chaotic.And somehow, completely entertaining.Jack's mother, Diane, immediately adopted me.Within ten minutes she had introduced me to half the bar, explained who could and couldn't sing, and informed me which karaoke performances were legendary and which ones should never be spoken of again.His father, Wayne, was the exact opposite.Quiet.Observant.The kind of man who didn't say much but noticed everything.I liked him immediately.As we sat around one of the larger tables, conversation flowed easily.Stories.Jokes.Family memories.The more time I spent with them, the more I understood where Jack got his personality.He had Diane's warmth.Wayne's calm.A dangerous combination.At one point Diane smiled and asked,"So, Lela, what's your last name?"I answered without thinking.The moment I did, everything changed.Not dramatically.Just enough for me to notice.Diane blinked.Once.Twice.Then she got unusually quiet.

Volare

I carefully set the tray of drinks down on the table.The second I did, Diane looked up."Did you put it on my tab?"I smiled."Of course not."Her eyes narrowed."What do you mean, of course not?""I paid for it."The entire table went quiet.Wayne immediately laughed.Diane looked horrified."Lela.""What?""You weren't supposed to pay for it."I shrugged."It wasn't a big deal."Wayne raised his glass."Thank you.""You're welcome."Diane continued staring at me.Not angry.Just studying me.Like she was trying to figure something out.Jack sat back down beside me and looked between his parents."What?"Diane pointed at me."She's buying drinks now."Jack smiled."Yeah.""She's not supposed to be buying drinks."I laughed."It was one round."Diane looked at Wayne."Do you see what I'm dealing with?"Wayne smiled."I do."The entire situation was ridiculous.And somehow hilarious.For several minutes the conversation returned to normal.Mostly.Although I kept catching Diane lookin

Drive Home

By the time we finally left the karaoke bar, it was much later than either of us had planned.Not that either of us seemed to care.The evening had taken on a life of its own.Between Diane's questions, Wayne's quiet observations, the mysterious conversation I wasn't supposed to hear, and Jack somehow turning out to be an incredible singer, the night had been anything but ordinary.As we walked through the parking lot, Diane pulled me into a hug.A real hug.The kind mothers give when they've decided they like you.Wayne shook my hand."It was nice meeting you, Lela.""You too."Diane pointed at Jack."Drive safely."Then pointed at me."And don't let him pick the music."I laughed."Noted."Jack groaned."My own family.""Exactly," Diane said.Then she smiled at me.A smile that seemed to carry about ten different meanings.None of which I fully understood.Yet.The drive home started quietly.Comfortably quiet.The kind of silence that exists after a really good evening.Neither per

Porch Light

The closer we got to my parents' house, the quieter I became.Not because anything was wrong.Quite the opposite.I was happy.Genuinely happy.And after everything that had happened over the previous week, that feeling almost seemed foreign.Jack pulled into the driveway and put the car in park.The porch light was on.Of course it was.My parents believed the porch light was a permanent fixture of life.I looked toward the front window.Then immediately groaned."What?"I pointed.Jack followed my finger.There, standing in the front window, was my father.Not hiding.Not pretending.Just standing there.Watching.Jack burst out laughing."No.""Yes.""No.""He's literally staring at us."The worst part?Dad didn't move.Didn't duck.Didn't pretend he wasn't there.Just waved.Actually waved.I dropped my head against the headrest."Oh my God."Jack was laughing so hard he could barely breathe."I love your father.""That's because you're not related to him."The two of us sat there

The Sweetest Moment

Eventually, the laughter died down.Mostly.Dad was still standing in the window.Mom was still apparently sending updates via text message.And neither Jack nor I seemed particularly interested in ending the evening.Again.This was becoming a problem.A very nice problem.Finally, Jack looked at the clock."We should probably call it a night."I sighed dramatically."I suppose."He laughed."That sounded painful.""It was.""I'm honored."I smiled.For a moment, neither of us moved.Then we both climbed out of the car.The night air felt cool and comfortable.The neighborhood was quiet.Most of the houses were dark.Most people had long since gone to bed.Unfortunately, my father wasn't most people.As we walked toward the front porch, I glanced toward the window.Sure enough.Dad was still there.Watching.Jack noticed.Then shook his head."That's incredible.""You have no idea.""I kind of love it."I pointed at him."Don't encourage him."Too late.The front porch light cast a w

Next Morning

The next morning, I woke up before my alarm.For a few seconds, I lay there staring at the ceiling.Then I smiled.Not because I had gotten a full night's sleep.I hadn't.Not because I wasn't facing a stressful day.I absolutely was.I had reports due.Meetings.Deadlines.The kind of workday that normally would have had me anxious before my feet even hit the floor.Yet somehow, none of that seemed important.I rolled over and looked at my phone.The last text from Jack was still there."You looked beautiful tonight."I smiled again.Then immediately rolled my eyes at myself."Get it together, Lela."Unfortunately, I couldn't.Because for the first time in years, I was happy.Actually happy.Not fake happy.Not work happy.Not the smile-you-put-on-for-other-people happy.Real happy.The kind that sneaks up on you.The kind you don't even realize is missing until it returns.I climbed out of bed and pulled on a pair of running shorts and a t-shirt.The house was still quiet.Mom and D

The Run

By the time I finished my run and headed back toward the house, the neighborhood was fully awake.The morning sun was shining.People were out walking their dogs.A few kids were riding bikes.Everything felt normal.Peaceful.Exactly what I needed before what I knew would be a busy workday.As I turned into the driveway, I immediately noticed something.The garage door was open.Suitcases.Lots of suitcases.I started laughing before I even reached the front door.Mom and Dad.Of course.Vegas day.The annual trip that somehow required enough luggage for a six-month expedition.I stepped inside and immediately found both of them in the living room.Waiting.Mom was sitting in her favorite chair.Dad was pacing.Two completely different approaches to travel.Mom had been packed for three days.Dad had probably packed fifteen minutes ago."Good morning," I said.Dad looked up."Took you long enough."I laughed."I went running.""You could have gotten lost.""In the neighborhood?""You

The Text

After my parents left for the airport, the house felt strangely quiet.Not empty.Just different.For the past couple of weeks there had always been somebody around.Mom making tea.Dad yelling into a phone.One of my siblings randomly stopping by.The house constantly buzzing with activity.Now it was just me.I stood in the driveway for a moment after their car disappeared down the street.Then smiled.Vegas.Dad would probably lose money.Mom would pretend to be annoyed.And both of them would have the time of their lives.Some things never changed.I headed back inside and immediately started my morning routine.Coffee.Shower.Comfortable clothes.Laptop.The glamorous life of working from home.By 8:00 a.m., I was sitting in the kitchen with my laptop open and three different reports staring back at me.The day was already threatening to become chaotic.Emails were arriving nonstop.My phone kept buzzing.Two meetings had already been added to my calendar.And somehow, despite a

Disaster

The rest of the day was an absolute disaster.By noon, I was ready to throw my laptop into the pool.Working from home had seemed like a great idea that morning.By lunchtime, I was questioning every decision I'd ever made.My phone wouldn't stop ringing.My email inbox looked like it was multiplying on its own.And Ron had apparently forgotten how to solve problems without me.The first call came at 9:15.The second came at 9:22.The third came at 9:31.By the fourth call, I answered with,"What happened now?"Ron sighed dramatically."We have a problem.""Clearly.""Hannah's report."I closed my eyes.Of course."What about it?""It's wrong."That immediately got my attention."Wrong how?"Ron started explaining.Apparently one of the vendor reports Hannah had submitted contained incorrect numbers.Not slightly incorrect.Completely incorrect.And unfortunately, the vendor had already received it.Which meant they were now panicking.Which meant Ron was panicking.Which naturally me

Cooking Dinner

After hanging up with Jack, I finally closed my laptop.The silence in the house felt wonderful.No conference calls.No vendors.No Ron.No Hannah apologizing for the tenth time.Just peace.I stretched and looked around the kitchen.Now came the fun part.Cooking.Unlike most people, I genuinely loved cooking. Growing up with my mother taught me more than just recipes. She taught me how food brought people together. Sunday dinners, holiday gatherings, random Tuesday nights when half the neighborhood somehow ended up at our table—food was always at the center of it.By the time I was in high school, I could cook almost anything.My father often joked that Mom taught me too well because I could outcook most restaurants.Whether that was true or not, I knew my way around a kitchen.Cooking had always relaxed me.Especially after stressful days.And after the day I'd just survived, I needed something relaxing.I decided on one of my favorite meals.Homemade pasta with a rich sauce, fres

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