The Baby next Door

Kate's Parents

I found it a bit strange that only Kate's dad was waving at me. I walked over towards him, trying to slip my through the crowd of people who were also there to pick someone up from the same plane.

Kate's dad usually only comes with one bag, but this time, he had three! He must have noticed the confusion that was beaming from my face.

"Oh Miles! Good to see ya old fella! How are ya? How is Katie? How is the house? I heard you do not got too many of them neighbors. Good, they will not be disturbed by my snoring then EY? AHAHAH!"

I was used to Kate's dad being this freindly, I basically enjoyed it. To me, it made up for the pain of a person his wife was.Ben looked like he lived outside of a gas station, and a strange dog is his pet.

"Hi Ben. It is good to see you again. Where is Karen?"

He plopped his luggage down and took a sigh of relief.

"Oh Karen, she is still in the plane. I think she is complaining about something. You know Karen."

Indeed I did. I always wondered how on Earth did Ben stay married to that woman for all this time.

"Yea, I know Karen."

It was just then that Ben's face had lit up with shear excitement.

"Hey kiddo, why don't you I make a run for the hills. We can get out of here before-"

He covered part of his mouth before saying this part, and whispered it.

"- you know who gets here."

"Wow Ben, that idea should deserve a medal. It is simply genius, but uh we both know Kate would kill us both right."

"Ah, it was the shot."

We both chuckled and sat down while waiting for Karen to exit the air craft. We sat in the arrivals area for a bit, while waiting for her to emerge from the aircraft.

"Hey, what exactly is she complaining about? It   has been a little too long Ben."

"Ah, you know Karen, she can complain about the grass being too green, or the sun being too yellow, but um, I think it was something about the air hostesses messing up one of them orders that they give ya on the plane there."

"Really, I can not believe she would make such a scene out of such an insignificant inconvenience - actually no, wait, scratch that, forget that I ever said that - I can one hundred percent believe that she would do something like that. Wow, what is wrong with me?"

As I was having my little crisis over here, both Ben and myself were alerted by something - a tuck-tuck sound. We lifted our heads to see the only person who could make the slightest noise seriously irritating - Karen.

"Oh boy." I was not prepared for her nonsense this time around. And to add insult to injury, it looked like she woke up on the wrong side of the bed - or I could be mistaken because, she always looked like this if I am being brutally honest.

"Oh boy indeed." Ben turned to me and smiled lightly, and nodded in agreement.

Karen was storming towards us like a raging bull running towards the color red - which by the way, is a complete myth, bulls do not run towards the color red.

Anyway, nevertheless, she was furious.

"Ben! Why on Earth did you leave me alone to deal with those incompetent fools?!"

Following closely behind her were 2 security guards and three air hostesses.

"Karen, please for the love of all things good - would you please shut up. It would really and truly help."

"Ben, how dare you tell me to shut up. I am disgusted, to say the least."

Ben glanced over to me and directed his gaze towards the exit. Once he knew I was caught up to speed, he nodded.

We both sprinted towards the exit, with Ben carrying his bags and myself carrying nothing. Now, I know what you are probably thinking - I could have carried Karen's bags for her, but it is so much faster if I do not, you know what I am saying?

"Ben! Miles! How dare you leave me here?!"

It was not too long before we heard her sandals flopping on the tiles of the airport floors.After running for some time, Ben and I arrived at the car and we threw his bags in the trunk. We quickly jumped into the the vehicle, me in the drivers seat and Ben sitting in the passengers seat, and gasped for air. We were laughing hysterically in the car.  

We waited for Karen while catching our breath. It was not too long before we heard her approaching the rear end of the car. She swung the door open and threw her luggage into the back seat. Thankfully she did not open the trunk, because then she would have noticed the food, which I had to purchase after ours had exploded earlier while cooking in the oven earlier.

Before Karen could arrive at the car, Ben had handed me some earplugs which he obtained from the plane. I think you are able to use your discretion to come to a conclusion as to why Ben had handed me the earplugs. If you have not figured it out, it was intended to block out the absolute absurd amount of noise Karen was going to create once she arrived at the car.

We drove home silently, ignoring every word that came out of Karen's mouth. It was not too long before Kate called to check where I was, since it had been quite some time since I had left the house to pick her parents up from the airport.

I picked up the phone and tried to indicate to her that her parents were right beside me.

"Hey babe, yea I have your parents with me."

"Why did that sound like this is a k********g and this phone call is you asking for ransom money."

"You want ransom, take your mother away."

"Really, really? Anyway, how far are you guys? It has been a long time now, and I am getting worried."

"We are not too far away, do not worry. Set the table, we are on our way. Give or take 10 minutes."

"Okay, hurry up. Love you."

"I know."

"Wow, for reals. Seriously?"

"Okay I have got to go byeee"

I hung up the phone and continued to drive. I noticed that both Ben and Karen were sound asleep. We drove for a few more minuted before we finally reached the house. I pulled up into the driveway and switched the car off. I turned towards Ben and shook him awake.

"Huh? Are we there? Already?"

"Okay Ben come on now, let us get you inside. Before you go in though, please wake Karen up."

"Okay no problem bud."

We both hopped out of the car and made way for the luggage. Obviously, Karen left all her stuff  in the car for us to take out and bring to the house. We had basically offloaded most of the stuff into the house- Ben and I, and Ben needed the rest room. So I offered to go out and bring in the remaining stuff in the car. I did notice that Kate was nowhere to be seen. It was quite odd of her, as I thought she would be standing outside, excitedly awaiting the arrival of her parents. I was correct. I turned my head towards the garden, as I thought I saw a figure, and indeed I did. It was Kate, standing there, just staring at me. It was kind of creepy but I guess it might be her hiding from her mother, which I do not blame her for.

I made my way towards her, with the intention of finding out what on earth is she doing. I was just about to get close enough when I heard the door fling open.

"Babe! We need the food. Quick, bring it inside while mom and dad freshen up."

That froze me still. I stood there in horror and stared at Kate, or who I thought was Kate. The voice behind me sounded just like Kate. I swung my head around and faced - Kate?!

I guess she could analyze from my facial expressions that I was horrified.

"Babe? Hello? You okay? We need the food now. MILES!"

"Huh, what?"

"Are You okay?"

"Uh yea. Food, yes food. I am on it."

"Yes please, go now."

Kate returned to the house and I turned back around to where the figure stood, and to my complete horror, it was gone. I kept telling myself that I must just be tired from all the driving and running and what have you, but obviously it proved to be not that effective. That figure was just so, real.

"Miles. Food. Come on dude."

"Oh yea, food."

I raced back to the car and swung the trunk open. I pulled the food out of the car and ran back inside. After I had handed the food to Kate to heat up, I ran upstairs and got changed. I walked into the bathroom and washed my face with some cold water, with the intention of wiping off any reminder of the figure from outside.

I was just wiping my face dry, when I heard Karen from downstairs, complaining about how we left her and ran. I knew that I had to think of something to ensure Kate did not kick my ass. 

I sprung back downstairs and saw Kate staring at me, and she looked disappointed.

"Hey babe."

"Do not you dare 'hey babe' me Miles"

"I am sorry, it was Ben's idea."

Ben usually took the brunt off all the s**t we do together, so it always worked out perfectly.

Just before Kate could answer, I heard something call my name from the hallway...