Unexpected Love -Sarah

Hey! My name is Haley Evans. I am fifteen years old and I live in Princeton, Maine with my mom. My dad died two years ago in a terrible car accident. Since then, my mom and I have become very close. We talk to each other everything from hair and make up to my mom’s financial troubles. I have helped her out a lot since then, by cleaning up the house and getting a job making some extra money. I ended up getting home schooled so I could work at my best friends dad’s restaurant. I washed dishes and was a back up waitress. Most of the time though my best friend, Drew, and me were messing around with each other, making beards out of soap and splashing each other with water. I made pretty good money; sometimes it even put food on the table. Since the funeral we hadn’t been left with much. Just enough to pay the bills.
About three weeks ago my mom found a job at a four-star hotel working as a secretary.

Everyday my mom and I would get up at eight o’clock a.m. I would get on the computer and do my lessons for the day while she got ready for work. Then around nine o’clock Luke would come and pick her up. Honestly, I think they have a crush on each other but every time I mention it they both burst out laughing and make funny faces at each other and yell “Oh! I love you!” to each other and then crack up more.

Anyways, after I got done with my work I put on sweat pants and a t-shirt and grabbed Nugget, my puppy. Nugget and I went for a stroll down by the harbor. Today she ran along the shore, chased seagulls, and barked at fishermen. I called her to my side and started to head home. While I was on my way I remember that I had to pick up my check from Drews. His dad answered the door and invited me in. He told me Drew wasn’t here but my check was in the kitchen on the counter. I walked towards the back of the small, well-kept house. You would never imagine that two men lived there the way it looked. It was very updated in style and always neat. I remember it being that way since the seventh grade when we first became friends. To me, its pretty cool that we have been friends for four years. I grabbed my check, thanked his dad and walked out the door. On my way home I started thinking about how disappointed I was that Drew wasn’t there. I also started to think about how weird it was that he hadn’t had a girlfriend since he met me. I had thought about this before. They way that boy looked I would think he would have a girlfriend. He was tall with long dark hair that flipped out at the ends. He had huge brown eyes and absolutely the cutest smile I had ever seen. He was also a pretty awesome skater and a great baseball player. All the girls loved him. I always think it is funny because the reason we met was because I had fallen on top of him when we were playing mat ball in gym. And what makes it even greater is the fact that he didn’t think I was a creep!

I decided to go past Beans and Crème coffee shop and get a cappuccino. Then I walked home with Nugget in my arms. At about nine thirty p.m. Luke brought mom home. She came in giggling. “Well she must have had a good time.” I thought. I didn’t say anything about it though. The next day Luke came extra early. Mom said they were going to get a bite to eat before work. Then, she didn’t get home until eleven that night! I had to say something. “Well, your home two hours late.” I said sternly. “Well little missy, I didn’t know I had a curfew!” She said playfully. “Luke and I just decided to go for a ride.” She added. “Okay, but if your late again, I’m going to have to ground you!” We laughed and then she went off to take a shower. I thought it was creepy. A two-hour drive, with Luke. Just a tad bit odd. I didn’t think anything of it after that though.

The next day, Luke walked in at eight thirty! He didn’t even knock. I was still in my pajamas with my hair a mess and make up under my eyes. I just looked at him. He said, “Well, this isn’t a very nice welcome!” I laughed and then hugged him. Then quickly ran upstairs to tell mom. Well this didn’t come as a surprise to her. I couldn’t believe that she didn’t tell me! I was kind of mad. Then she kissed me on the forehead and left. Since I was mad, I just finished my schoolwork and watched some television. Then I cleaned. I clean when I’m angry, its weird, I know.

Mom got home early that night, and guess who was with her! The one and only.. Luke. Right after mom got home she went upstairs and was gone for like, an hour. When she came back down she had on a long silky azure dress. It made her bright blue eyes pop and her long, golden, curls shine even more magnificently. I hadn’t seen her wear that since, actually, I had never seen her wear that! This was weird. I didn’t even want to know what she was going to do or where she was going. I started crying. I just went up stairs and locked the door. I don’t know how she could do this. I was so mad! I decided to just calm down until she could explain to me what was going on.

When she got home I made sure she came in alone, she did. So I asked her what was going on. She told me that her and Luke were dating; they had been for about six months. She didn’t want to tell me until the time was right, that’s why she started to kind of show it these past couple weeks. Really, I was happy for her. It was weird though because mom and Luke had been friends for years. But I liked Luke, and I was glad that I would be able to have a daddy again. Whoa, I can’t believe I just thought that. I just blew that way out of proportion. They were dating, not getting married. DUH! I’m just glad that I can be happier now and not worry about it.

I got used to Luke coming around more often and the two of them going out. I took advantage of it in a way. I had friends come over; I was out late with Drew just driving around and finding spontaneous things to do. I spent a lot of time away from home. Mom was happy, I was happy, heck, even the puppy was happy! Life was great.

Then one day it just hit me, and hit me hard. I missed my dad more than ever. I started to hate Luke and mom dating. I didn’t know why either. I just hated the fact someone was trying to take my daddy’s place. I started to not talk to my mom. I quit my job at the diner, I stopped going out with Drew as much, and I stopped talking to Luke. One day my mom noticed. She asked me what was wrong, and I told her everything. I said, “I don’t get how you could just replace dad like that! I also don’t get how Luke doesn’t even care he is taking my dad’s place! This sucks! It sucks, it sucks, it sucks. I don’t want you two to date anymore!” “Now Haley, I loved your dad, and I still do. But there comes a time when people have to move on. You need a father figure. You need, we need someone to support us and help us out. Luke will never replace your father. No one could.”

After this I felt better. I understood that everything would be okay. That night my mom and I went out to the cemetery where my dad was buried. I sat on his gravestone and wrote a note of everything that had changed and what was going on. I told him about Luke and mom, and that I hope he is happy that mom is finally smiling again. I told him that Drew and I had been spending a lot of time together and that we got a new puppy. The kind of puppy he always wanted me to have, even though I couldn’t get one because he was allergic. It was a 6 page long note. I knew he wouldn’t be able to ever read it but it made me feel better. Then I folded it up and laid it on the ground. Then mom took daisies and laid them on dad’s grave. My dad always found wild daisies and brought them home to mom and me. I always loved them. Then I blew a kiss at the ground where my daddy’s head laid and walked to the car. Mom got in and we drove away.

On the way home she told me that she loves my father with all her heart, and no one could ever replace him, but Luke was a great man, and he would take care of us. And I agreed.

Nine months later Luke walked in to the kitchen and gave me a hug. He sat down beside me on the chair at the table and grabbed a banana. He told me that he had fallen in love with my mom, and that since it had been a year and a half since they started dating, he wanted to take it to the next level. He told me he wanted to marry my mom. But before he asked, he wanted my permission. I told him that my mom loved him and that we needed a man in our lives, and he has every right to marry my mom. Then I hugged him forever. I was so happy. I couldn’t believe it! I was going to have a daddy again! I grabbed my coat and ran out the door.

I went to Drew’s house and told him the news. He was ecstatic! Almost as excited as I was! I started jumping around and yelling! I grabbed Drew’s hand and we ran out the door down to the beach. There we watched as Luke and mom walked along the shore. Then, I saw him drop to his knees. She smiled and flung her arms around him. “She said yes! She said yes! Woo! I have a dad! Yes! They are getting married!” I ran around yelling all the way down to my mom. She started laughing and asked me how I knew, and then Luke told her about this morning. I hugged her and then I hugged him and told him, “Thank you. Thank you for mending our broken hearts. Thank you for putting a smile back on my mom’s face. Thank you.”
Then Drew came down and said “Do I need to leave? ‘Cause it looks like I am intruding on a very gushy moment, I hate gushy moments.” We all laughed and I jumped on his back, mom jumped on Luke’s and we back to my house.

He told mom and I to get changed because we were going out to a fancy dinner. He said Drew could come too. So I went up stairs to find something to wear. Mom said this was a good occasion to wear my tiny black dress. I was so excited! I love that dress, it fit like a glove but I’ve only worn it once. So I put that on, with my diamond, fake of course, black hand woven shawl from Indonesia. I put on my long Crystal earrings, eyeliner, and mascara. That’s the first time I had really made myself look pretty. I slipped on my pink peep toe shoes with the silver buckle, and walked down stairs.

Both of their eyes lit up. Mom and I linked arms with each of our guys and walked out the door. On the car ride there Drew whispered, “You know, I think that I need a date for this dinner, and since you are the prettiest young lady I know, I think you should be my date.” “Well, considering you’re my only option.. I’m just kidding, I would be more, than happy too.” I added with a huge grin.

We arrived, had a fabulous dinner, and went back to my house where mom and I changed into something a little more comfortable and watched a movie with the guys. Mom put “The Notebook” into the DVD player and we sat back and watched it. Right at the part where Noah and Allie share their first kiss, Drew kissed me. When he pulled away I sat there stunned, yet, happy. It was not only my first kiss, but the best kiss ever. Then Drew whispered “Haley, I love you. I’ve been in love with you since I met you, and I can’t hide it anymore. I want the world to know.” I started to cry. Then I hugged him with all my might, and told him, “Drew, I love you too. I always have, and I promise I always will.”

Seven months later mom and Luke were married. And Drew and I, had been an official couple for seven months the very day of the wedding. Drew and I ended up only dating for 8 months. We decided it was to weird and being friends was a lot better. My life was great after that. Perfect? No, but wonderful.