My father sat up in his chair a little higher and gazed at me. “Like what, Tyler?”
I knew the day would come when I would have to tell them about Jeremy. I had kept him a secret long enough, but now that he’s coming to live with me, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. People in my life had to know. So, I went to work telling them about Jeremy and how we met, and that I was setting up my apartment and getting it ready for when he moves in.
“Tyler,” my father sighed, folding his napkin on the table. “What I think you’re doing is a very courageous, very selfless thing, but don’t you think you’re taking on a lot of responsibility here? He’s a teenage boy and, not only that, he’s a sick teenage boy.”
I sighed. “Which is precisely the reason I need to do this. He’s had this kind of attitude from people his whole life. He’s never known what it’s like to have a proper family because people would never allow themselves to get too close. When that happened, Jeremy shut everybody else out, pretending he didn’t care that nobody wanted to get close. He craves to be loved. In the short time I’ve gotten to know him, I’ve fallen in love with him. He’s the most friendly, loyal, caring sixteen-year-old boy I have ever met, and he needs to have a family. He has the right to a family, and I’m going to make damn sure he has me as his family. Please support me and understand that I have to do this.”
I hung my head, willing myself not to get too upset. I had been trying to keep my feelings about Jeremy in check, but my worry was always there, bubbling away. I did love and care for Jeremy like he was my little brother. I would do anything to make him happy and even more to make him well again.
Feeling my mother’s hand on mine, I looked up. For the first time, I saw a real admiration in her eyes when she smiled at me. “Darling, why didn’t you tell us about him before? Of course we support you, if this is how you really feel. You obviously love and care very much for this boy. All we ask is that we meet him as soon as he’s settled.”
I smiled at my mother and looked to see the smile on my father’s face, as well. I needed both their support on this, and judging by the way my father was looking at me, I had it. “Thank you,” I sighed, feeling like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
“What you’re doing is very admirable, Tyler. We couldn’t be more proud of you.”
Nodding my head, I could feel the tears in my eyes. “Thank you, Dad. Thank you for believing in me.”
Patting my hand, my mother tut-tutted again. “It’s not a question of not believing in you, Tyler. We have always believed in you. You’re a very stubborn young lady, but we always believed in you.” She raised her eyebrow at me, making me laugh.
“Listen,” she said, serious all of a sudden. “I know we offered countless times and I know you’ve turned us down each time, but if you ever need anything from us, you know where we are. Your father and I are only a phone call away and will only be too happy to help.”
I nodded, but my parents knew me by now. They knew I would never come to them for anything. Not unless it was an absolute emergency that I desperately needed help with. It was a strange relationship, really. Normally, parents were keen to let their children fly the nest and do their own thing. Learn from their mistakes, make their own money, and choose their own paths in life. Not my parents, though. From the very beginning, they had been keen to guide me. Keen to hold my hand every step of the way and offer a way out when needed. In a sense, it was probably good because that only gave me the strength to want to move forward on my own. Instead of grabbing the easiest option, I was turned off by it.
It was in the middle of getting the bill, which my parents insisted on paying, when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Looking outside, I spotted a girl with blonde hair, around fifteen or sixteen. She glanced at her watch like she was waiting for someone. Surely this wasn’t the famous Julie I had been hearing about all these weeks.
There was only one way to find out.
Throwing my seat back, I glanced down at my parents’ shocked expressions. “I’m really sorry, but I have to dash. You don’t mind, do you?” I looked at them pleadingly and they smiled.
“Of course not,” my father said. “You get on with what you need to do. We’ll sort everything out here.”
I thanked my father gracefully, then gave them both a peck on the cheek before rushing out the door. Thankfully, when I looked again, she was still standing there, waiting for someone. As I crossed the road to approach her, she looked at me a little warily, but smiled.