Surprises

I woke up late the next morning. I actually got the sleep through the night because Leah was so tired she didn't wake up during the night. Slowly I crawl out of bed and out a sweatshirt on over my tank and shorts. I make my way to the kitchen and grab a banana for breakfast. No wanting to walk all the four feet to a chair I sit on the counter.

"Morning Sleeping Beauty. You're awake at last." Jake calls from his seat across the room. "Ha ha very funny." I retort before taking a bite of my breakfast. I look at the clock. It's already after ten. I have to leave to meet Mac and Erin soon. I quickly finish my food and throw away my trash. "Hi cutie," I say to Leah, walking towards her. "Are you going to play with-" I stop myself, not completely sure how to finish that sentence. Daddy? Jake? Brother? Which name do I use?

Thankfully her almost two year old mind doesn't care that the sentence isn't finished. She squints at me suspiciously. "I'm gonna go out for a bit. I'll be back when you wake up from you nap. Promise to be a good girl?" Finally she nods, still looking at me. I smile at her and reach my hands out, offering to pick her up. She reached for me and I pick her up, bouncing us into the living room.

"Aren't you going to finish eating?" Jake calls after me. I turn to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "That's all you're going to eat?" He asks. I shrug, "That's all I need for about two and a half hours." Then I walk into the living room and set Leah down. Ten minutes later I call Jake over to watch Leah so I can get ready. Leah is not happy that I'm leaving, but I manage to make it to our room and close the door before she can wriggle out of Jake's arms.

I'm ready to leave for Mac's house in ten minutes. I put my phone in my purse and start for the from door. Leah sees me and runs towards me, wrapping her arms around my leg. "Sweetheart I have to go. But I'll be back before you wake up from your nap. I promise." I tell her as I pry her from my leg and hand her to Jake. I give her a kiss on the cheek and go out the door.

I get to Mac's house and she climbs into my car, yawning widely. "Maybe you shouldn't have stayed for the rest of the game. I comment and I pull out of the driveway. "Why aren't you so tired?" She says in between yawns. "I'm a morning person." I say as though it's obvious. She doesn't reply, probably because she is trying to curl up and sleep.

I drive us to the coffee shop where we are meeting Erin and pull into the parking lot. "Mac you gotta get up now." I tell her as I unbuckle my seatbelt. She groans and slowly unfolds herself. "Come on Sunshine, let's get you some caffeine." I say as she tumbles, almost literally, from the car. We go inside and order, then sit by Erin in the corner.

"Beck! It's been like forever." Erin says as I sit down. I roll my eyes. "It's been a week hon, not forever." I say patiently. "Whatever." She says. She opens her mouth to continue but that's when I notice there's another drink at our table. "Erin, whose-?" Before I can finish asking a deep gravely voice says from behind me, "Well hi there little lady." Slowly I turn, not quite believing what I heard. And there, standing in front of me is a tall and scrawny guy with long black hair and well trimmed beard and mustache.

"B- William?" I slightly stutter out. He gives me a half smile. "I'm not just like imagining this am I?" Then I turn to Erin, "Am I?" She smiles and shakes her head no. That's all the encouraging I need. I jump from my seat and tackle the guy in a huge hug. He wraps his arms around me and spins us around. When my feet touch the ground again I pull away slightly, holding him at arms length, so I can get a better look at him.

Then I look him dead in the eyes and say in a deadly tone, "Eight years." He doesn't look hurt or angry. He just pulls me into a tight hug and whispers in my ear, "I know. And it was killing me to stay away, believe me." I didn't realize I was crying until the tears rolled down my cheeks and soaked my skin. "I love you Little Lady, and I won't stay away like that again." I pull away and look at his eyes, his warm brown eyes. "Promise? Promise me William, or so help me I will make your life horrible." He laughs a little at this. "I promise." He reaches his hands up to hold my face, using his thumbs to brush the tears from my face. "Are you crying? I won't have you crying." I hiccup and hug him again, chocking down a sob. "Shh I've got you now. And I'm never letting you go again." He whispers into my ear, one hand smoothing my hair the other rubbing my back. "You better not South." I grumble into his shoulder.

We are starting to get weird looks from the other people in the coffee shop so William, or Billy as Erin and I call him, pulls me over to the table and promptly seats me in his lap. I laugh, "Will, I'm not six anymore, you don't have to put me on your lap. I'm tall enough to sit on my own now." I squirm in my spot but he doesn't let me go. "Are you still six inches shorter than me?" He asks seriously. "Yes," I grudgingly admit to the floor. "Then you're still too short, sorry."

Of course Mac and Erin are both grinning and laughing like the hyenas they are. Erin even more so since she isn't half asleep. I look at her suspiciously, "You," I accuse, "you knew about this." She rolls her eyes, "Well duh! How do you think he got here?" I smile, not mad in the slightest, "Thank you sweetie." She smiles and nods, "Anytime."

"Is that an offer or a promise Erin?" Billy asks. I smack his arm, "Don't flirt with my best friend." He rubs his arm where I hit it and scowls at me, "And why can't I? Does she have a boyfriend?" Before I can answer Erin says, "No, just Beck." Billy nods as if that explained everything. "She's great company to keep." I'm starting to get uncomfortable so I down the rest of my drink and pull away from Billy so I can stand. "Come on you two, you can flirt in the car. Let's go. I promised Leah we would be back before she woke up from her nap." I throw away my empty cup as I walk out the door.

Mac joins me in my car and Billy and Erin follow us in her car. I lead them to my parents' house and unlock the door for us. Soon Mac, Erin and I each have a bag that we are filling with my essentials. Billy, being the ever so helpful guy he is, is sitting at the head of my bed making conversation with no one in particular. I'm in the process of packing most of my closet when I hear the sound of turning pages behind me. I turn around to see Erin and Billy going through my sketchbook. "Hey!" I lurch towards them from across the room.

"Beck why can't we just take a peek? They're really good." Erin says without looking up at me. I try to snatch it again, "Would you just give it to me?" Billy takes the book and pulls it out of my reach. "Now now Beck, it's not the end of the world. We just want a look." I scowl and try with no success to get my sketchbook back, "I think you two have already had a look. Now give it back." I'm starting to get irritated. When I fail a third time I huff and sit on the floor in front of the two. Billy grins at me, "I win!" I glare at him but don't reply. He slowly brings the book back down to rest in his lap, ready to pull it away it I try to make a grab for it.

Erin looks down at the drawing on the open page. "Beck who's this?" I look at the page. It depicts a guy holding a girl, at first glance you wouldn't notice but the girl is crying. I don't answer, but seeing it again brings back the memory of the day I drew it. The memory floods my senses and I'm seeing myself draw it for a second time. My emotions a storm of pain and hurt and love. I can't shake the feeling that I know the people I drew. But I don't know them.

"Beck? 'Becca?" Billy's voice brings me back to the present. I look up at him, not answering Erin's question. He studies my face for a moment then nods, "Okay."

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving." Mac says from her place by the window. I look in her general direction, trying to push the memory from my mind. Finally I nod, "Let's go get some food. This is good enough for now."