Her Miracle

CHAPTER 29

The buzzing inside the town hall was like the ones in Willoughby's cafeteria welcomed me. Tons of murmurs, boisterous laughter, shriekings around their different circles may it be family or friends. 

The tables were circular and had simple decor but had a bear statue standing in the middle of the table. It occupies 10 people good enough for a huge group of friends and family, and also could be both. I stood up at the doorway gaping at the entire hall. It was buffet too so the Castle Rock residents could get food once they want more. This free food is worth the free taxes and medical health care at a technologically advanced hospital.

I hum to the tune of the mellow song that played in the hall. It was something familiar but the title is something I couldn't get ahold of. It was on my tongue but I couldn't spell it out. Titus seemed to be nowhere. I leaned on the wall, enjoying the sight that I personally used to enjoy. It was a tradition.

My dad loved the pumpkin pies that the caterers had. I don't know if they had the same caterers as the years passed but he always had a smile on his face whenever he took a bite. And my mom, the mean girl she is, she snaps at dad for hoarding the pumpkin pies. I end up laughing at them. 

The hall was too big to the point you aren't able to see everyone. But one thing caught my eye, it was Izzy who was with her new group of friends. Laughing and playfully slapping their shoulders. Even if they were eating, there was nonstop gossiping between the three of them. I shook my head at the sight of disappointment. 

I turned my back instead and made my way out. And another sight greeted me making me hide at the huge column of the town hall. It was enough to hide me. I'm not surprised anymore but another disappointment. I was not prepared for this. Holy s**t! Seriously? 

Her arm was clutched in a man's arm who seemed to be younger than her. They talked timidly as they made their way inside the town hall.

 What was my mom doing here with a dude? 

So my brothers were right that she did date someone and almost lived in that guy's house. Great! I rolled my eyes and kept still as I sneaked at them. My mom was wearing a black dress with her blonde hair neatly tied into a high ponytail and the guy wore a suit that matched my mom's. So they were really a couple now with matching clothes? 

She smiled like she had no kids to think about... like she had no problems in the world. They kept talking in low voices and I could barely hear it anymore with the noise that came from the hall. The unknown man had brown hair and surprisingly had a rose in the pocket of his suit. This dude is super formal making it seem like it's prom he's attending. 

As they went in, they waved to their friends. Did people know the guy now? What? So me and my brothers just knew it days ago and the entire town knew beforehand? What kind of sorcery is this? Oh my god! My eyes bulged out and ran to look for my brothers. 

My brothers and the rest of the team finished eating a while ago and went out to chill somewhere before the program starts. I ran to the park of the possibility they might be sitting at some tree or something. Unfortunately, they weren't there. I made my way back to where I came from and went to the parking area. 

I ran until it felt like I wouldn't be put into shame if they'll shoo me away but this is something important, at least I had to try. It was a one-shot chance that my brothers and I agreed on something. Not that I'd want them to make a scene but I wanted them to see how our mother was acting differently around the guy.

I had my hand on my chest and kept catching my breath as I ran. I still persisted in running. There were a few more cars left. And now there were voices of dudes laughing at a distance. I think it was them. 

 They had their eyes at me as I reached them. I panted in front of them like a dog but who cares. Their faces had this weirded-out look because I don't usually barge into them like this. Kai, Aiden, and Zach had this 'what the hell are you doing here?' kind of face. 

I mustered all the courage to speak in front of them. But Aiden stopped me and came forward, pulling me meters away from the rest of the boys. "Why are you panting? What's wrong? You're not supposed to run, Andy..." 

"I don't care. Can I talk to you and Zach right now?" My voice was low enough that only Aiden could hear. 

"What's happening?" 

"Just ask Zach to come here and let me talk to you for a second and I'll explain."

"Yes but just stop running, please?"

"Okay, fine!" I raise both my hands in the air for surrender. 

Aiden walked towards the team and said dominantly, "Zach, we need to talk."

The team's conversation halted again as Aiden called out for their attention. It was an advantage for the team to chill out at the back of the truck. It's comfy like that. Kai had his worried face, staring at me. I just nodded at him. We should really catch up when we can. Zach, the annoying type of dude he is, jumped out of the truck. "What? Why?" 

"Just come here and stop fussing like a teenager!" He motioned for him to come. The rest of the team just laughed and one of the guys teased him, "Dude! Go! Your little sister needs her older brothers. You're on the rescue!" 

They walked side by side towards me. We moved a little farther for them to completely not hear our conversation. Zach had his serious face on. He was playful but he really doesn't like to get disturbed by serious matters when he's having fun with his friends. 

Zach had his hands on the air in frustration. "What's up now?" 

Aiden poked him in the ribs. "Shut up first, will you? Let her talk,"

"I don't know if you know but mom is usually at the parade right? But she wasn't. And now... she's in the town hall with her new boyfriend who looks like he's years younger than her. Just here to inform you. Maybe you'd like to see how he looks like." I pursed my lips and had my palms together as I explained to them. 

"Yeah, she wasn't." Aiden nodded. "But wait, you saw the dude?" 

Zach jumped in the air, screaming like he won the lotto. His serious demeanor changed. "Oh my god! that woman! Ha! That night we argued, she did admit. But bro, seriously? Who's the guy anyway?"

The team who was in the truck now eyed the three of us strangely as Zach shrieked. Kai still had his eyes on us. But I know he'll know later on. Aiden will tell him. He always tells him everything seeing that they look like they really are fond of each other. It might mean they really like confiding in each other. 

"Yeah, she had this different demeanor towards him. And I swear, as in. He's younger! I honestly don't know him. He doesn't seem to be from Castle Rock. So mom must be driving to wherever he lives in." I answered. 

Zach walked in the direction where the town hall was. Aiden called out to him, "Where are you going?"

He spun like a ballerina and stopped facing us. "To stalk...of course!" 

Aiden tilted his head at me and facepalmed like a problematic dad who had an unstoppable brother.

Zach ran back to us, making Aiden and I get confused a little more, he positioned himself in the middle and draped both his arms at both of us like we were his homies. "Okay, guys...Mom is dating. She's acting like a b***h so it's time to stalk who the guy is. I just wanna scrutinize and examine the dude."

Aiden says, "In short, you want to stalk?"

"Yup, the usual Zachary Miller... who might be a serial killer," I mumbled out a side comment. "Aren't you going to say something to the team before we stalk our mother?" 

Aiden groaned and turned his back. "Hey, guys! See you later in front of the stage. We have something to do. Sort of emergency..." They all nodded in approval. 

Zach started walking towards the hall and Aiden and I had no choice but to watch our mother date someone. 

In no time with the pace of how we walked, we reached the hall again. There were fewer people, making the less crowded and you could see the faces properly. My mom was now standing beside the guy talking with some affiliates. 

"If mom is dating, why is she still high blood and moody when she's at home?" I asked my brothers. 

"Well, she doesn't feel like she has children. She feels single! And she doesn't want responsibility now after dad passed... as you can see," Zach replied with his head popping out at the side. 

"And wow! He is young looking like almost his thirties?" Aiden murmured."He looks like he's well-known though... See that he's almost shaking the hand of every person he meets through our mom."

This was a cute adventure for the first time in history with my brothers. I didn't expect we'd stalk our mom this way. And I also didn't think that mom's issues were the only ones that would reunite us. People now started piling up. It's time for the program to start. 

"The program is going to start soon," I whispered."We should probably stop and get back to our lives."

"Oh my god! I didn't expect mom to be this flirty! ew... She's playfully touching on the man's arm." Zach kept commenting. Among us three, he's the one who loves issues. 

Aiden dragged Zach and me out of the town hall entrance. 

"Where are we going?" I asked in a croaky voice full of confusion. 

"As you said, the program is going to start soon, let's get out of our mom's way if we don't want to be seen stalking her and her new boyfriend," Aiden answered in a hushed tone. 

We went down the flight of stairs that led up to the town hall. The stage was now prepared with more stuff. There was an entire band instrument arranged and a table. An emcee was now reading the program and paper that were on her hands. She's surely approaching the microphone in a few seconds. 

I say, "Didn't know there was a grand performance this year?" 

"It's something new," Aiden responded. We were huddled in the side of the town hall, trying to be invisible as possible but the stage was clear in our sight. We could see that at any moment now. Zach was now oddly quiet. He was internalizing what he saw, I guess. 

Zach was going to say something when the emcee grabbed the mic. 

"Shhh..." Aiden and I hissed at Zach who now pouted like an unattended kid. 

The emcee spoke, "So now the program begins. I'd like to welcome our guest speaker of the year who is going to address the welcome message for the 49th Anniversary of Castle Rock. Let us welcome, the grandson of our former Governor, Christopher Lockwood! A round of applause please," 

"Aren't the Lockwoods living here anymore?" Zach commented, facing Aiden.

Aiden argued with him. "Former governor's grandson who must be visiting. Who the hell is Christopher Lockwood?"

 "Guys..." I whisper in fear. 

They both answered together with an annoyed face, facing me. "What?!" 

Before I could answer, Christopher Lockwood took the floor of the stage, taking the mic from the emcee. He cleared his throat. "Good day to all of you!" He greeted out all audiences. 

My brothers hissed, "Holy f**k!"

And my mom was dating a wealthy man, Christopher Lockwood, who was also the special guest they were talking about.