My Plus-size Love

Chapter 8

The rest of the day went by in a flash. I didn’t hear from Derek again after that morning. He just sent me another text offering his apologies while I was getting lunch with Angela. I was happy that the day was finally over and got excited thinking about talking to Derek again tonight. I hope that he gets to call me again. I will have to ask when I get done winding down from the day.

I walked into my house and was half-heartedly greeted by Leo. He meowed at me so that I could give him his daily treat. We have our own ritual. I fed him in the morning, changed his water bowl when I got home, and gave him his treats. I would then either sit down and try to pet him if his mood permitted me, or I would change his litter box. He was my best friend and it always felt good going home knowing someone was waiting for me.

I gave him his treats and scratched his head while he was eating them. I sighed and went to wash my face and change into some comfy clothes. It was already 7 pm. I brushed my teeth and settled down in my bed. I turned on the TV and got my phone out so I could text Derek.

C- Hey, how was your day?

D- Hello beautiful, my day is much better now that I can talk to you.

C- Are you busy?

D- Not particularly, just going over some of my lines for tomorrow. I have this intense scene that I want to nail. If I do it well enough, I might be able to get off early. Then I can have more time to talk to you.

C- Well I don’t want to bother you since you are busy going over your lines. It does sound nice to be able to talk to you more tomorrow and over the weekend.

D- You are not bothering me. Was there something that you wanted?

C- I was just going to ask if you wanted to talk on the phone again tonight.

The next thing I knew, my phone started ringing. It was Derek. A huge smile played on my lips. This man knows how to get me feeling flustered and like a teenager again.

“Hello?” I asked, trying to hide how much it pleased me that he called me as soon as I mentioned talking to him.

“I am so glad you asked me to call, I wouldn’t give up the chance to hear your voice again so soon.” His voice was making every part of my body radiate, I could feel my toes curling just from his words and my heart beat faster. My body was feeling hot and I wanted to get up and walk around to calm myself down. If only this bed wasn't as comfortable as it is.

“I didn’t want to bother you; I know you have to focus on work. I remembered to bring my questions home today and wanted to ask you more about yourself. I feel like I didn’t get to ask enough about you.”

“You have questions? Fire away, I am happy to answer anything you want to know. There may be some things that I want to answer when we meet in person though.”

“I understand that one second. I didn’t think you would call me so quickly, let me get the paper out of my purse.” I went and grabbed my purse and searched for my sticky note with the 6 questions I had. I found it crumpled and smoothed it out.

“Well, the first question was your last name, but I know you already told me that you don’t have a social media presence. Just because I am curious, what is your last name?”

“I think that is one of the questions that is going to have to wait until we meet in person.” I was a little bit disappointed and curious why he was being so mysterious about who he was.

“Why the suspense?” I asked him inquisitively.

“I don’t want you to know everything about me, then what are we going to be able to talk about when you see me in person?” I laughed at his comment. He has a good point.

“Okay, on to question two. Tell me about your family. I know you already mentioned that you don’t have any siblings, but tell me about your parents!”

“My mom passed away when I was 16. She had breast cancer. My father and I have never really gotten along. He never believed in me becoming an actor and wanted me to be a farmer like he is. I knew that was not the life that I wanted for myself. He is still in Missouri, living on his 40-acre farm. He doesn’t have as much as he used to. Just a few cows, two horses, a pig once a year which he butchers once the summer is over, and a few chickens and one rooster so he can have fresh eggs. I haven’t seen him for a few years, it has been hard getting close to him. It was never easy growing up, but we drifted more apart after mom died.”

“I am so sorry that your mom died. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to lose her at such a young age. Sadly, it didn’t bring you and your father closer. I know how hard it can be to lose someone you love.” Death is such a hard thing to deal with. I understand what he is going through. I felt my heart go out to him.

“Please tell me about your family. I can’t believe you have four siblings! I want to hear about them and your parents.” I sighed, I mostly wanted to talk about him, but I guess it can’t be helped.

“I have two older brothers and two younger sisters, as I mentioned before. All my siblings are married, but only my two oldest brothers have children. It goes to Michael, who is 28, John, who is 26, Me, Rosemary, who is 22, and my youngest sister Dawn, who is 20. Michael has one daughter, and she is one with his wife Larissa. John has one son with another one on the way with his wife Eleanor. Rosemary’s husband is named Stephen and Dawn’s wife’s name is Libby. My parents are Lily and Mike. My mom is my best friend. My dad, on the other hand, we don’t get along all that well. After he left my mom, I have not heard a single word from him. He doesn’t talk with any of my siblings or me. He got married for the third time a couple of years back. He acts like we don’t exist, and I am better off without him. It hurts me when I think about it, but he made his choice and still makes it every day that he chooses not to have anything to do with his kids and grandkids.” I felt some tears coming to my eyes at the mention of my father.

“Your dad sounds horrible; my dad is awful, but at least he would never cut me out of his life. I know in his weird way that he still loves me, even if he doesn’t always support me. I can’t even imagine.” He is so sweet to worry about me like that.

“At least I still have my mom though, she gives all of us enough love to make up for the love that my father doesn’t give anymore. At the end of the day, he is going to be the person that lost the most. He can never get back the years that he has lost not getting to know his grandkids. I know how much harder it will be when I have children of my own. It is one thing to not have anything to do with me, but I can’t imagine how much more it will hurt that he wants nothing to do with my innocent children. Every child deserves to be loved by all of their family.”

“Very true, I couldn’t say it better myself.” That kind of leads me up to my next question. I was getting nervous about asking him about it.

“So, on the subject of children, do you want to have any children of your own?” I heard him chuckle a little under his breath with a sigh.

“Only about a dozen.” I sucked in a breath of air. A dozen children!? I know I couldn’t have heard him say a dozen.

“A dozen, did you just say a dozen children?” He laughed. This time it was a full belly laugh. I had to take the phone away from my ear a little because it was hurting with how loud he was laughing.

“I want to have as many as my partner can handle having, and then I want to adopt the rest. I always wanted to have a big family when I was a kid and that hasn’t changed since I became an adult. I imagine myself being an old man with a house full of my children and grandchildren. Nothing would make me happier.”

“I’m glad you mentioned adopting. I don’t think I could birth 12 children.” I laughed a little, but it was a nervous laugh. How people have that many children naturally is beyond me; I can’t even imagine!

“Already planning on getting married and having children with me, huh?” I could almost hear the grin I know he had in his voice. I smiled at the thought of having a husband and children.

“You never know, anything could happen. Maybe you are the man that I meant to marry. At this rate, I don’t know though.” I teased him. He scoffed at me and started to mumble something I couldn’t quite hear. Before I could ask him, he was talking again.

“Don’t take me out of the running yet. The more I talk to you the more I want to make you mine.” I gasped at his words.