All Chapters of Decisions I made : Chapter 31 - Chapter 35

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.

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

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