< : > : Chapter Twenty : < : >
Harlow | Phoenix | Other people

"I can't believe you know Timara."

"Well I don't know her know her. She went to the same high school as Pritchett and I've played him in football. Being that she was in band, it's kind of hard not to look at least once to the people wearing tall hats and capes."

"Apparently her school did it big for their drum majors."

"Apparently."

"You should have been focusing on the game anyway."

"Eh, it was a quick glance. It's not like I was staring or anything like that. A quick look there and back. I still had a game to win."

"I thought you lost that game?"

"Who told you that?"

"You and Corey argued over it, remember?"

"Hm. Maybe. . . So what are you doing for your birthday this weekend?"

"Ah, the big twenty-three. I honestly don't have plans . . . maybe a Skype date with my boyfriend. It's been almost three weeks since the last one."

"I know babe but getting service out in the middle of nowhere is harder than you think."

"I know. I just . . ."

"Miss looking at this handsome face?"

"Yes, of course."

"I know babe. I know. Good looks like mine are hard to come by. Not all are blessed but you girlfriend of mine make me look like a low ten and a half. Your surpass any scale."

"Aww Phoenix."

"Just stating facts baby . . . I know this will suck but I have to say it anyway. You have to be prepared if I can't call you on your birthday BUT I will trying my hardest. I give you my word that I will try, okay?"

"Okay."

"You're not upset, are you?"

"Not really. I know what I was getting into when I asked for us to be official."

"Remember the bet I was telling you about from the other Marines?"

"Yeah."

"So it's still going on."

"Seriously?"

"Until the end of deployment or until I come back home."

"By the time you come back you'll be a few hundred dollars richer."

"WE will be a few hundred dollars richer. You're the other individual involved in this bet so of course you'll get half. I'm not a selfish man."

"So I've heard. Your aunt said that you send money for both her and Dylan every two weeks."

"Why wouldn't I? The woman raised me."

"I'm not saying you shouldn't. I think it's very considerate of you."

"When did you see her?"

"She came up to my job like two days ago. We were actually talking this time unlike the last time I seen her and Dylan."

"I'll take the blame for that."

"No need. I already apologized for being in a rush but we were talking about you of course."

"Of course."

"And I was saying how sweet you are and so was she then it came up that you send them money and she puts half of what you send away for Dylan when he turns sixteen."

"Yeah, she mentioned that to me once before. It'll be a nice amount by then."

"I thought you were getting out soon."

"I am but that doesn't mean I'll stop giving them a little of what I got. They're all I have and vice versa with the new addition of you. I have to make sure they're okay. As long as I'm breathing, they'll be good."

"You're a pretty amazing guy Phoenix."

"I do what I can."

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Sitting in my parents living room Dad watched a show on HGTV while Papa finished the last few things for my birthday dinner. Today was like any other normal day for me. I still went to work but I got off a few hours early so I could spend more time with my parents. Timara was coming over in a few minutes with plans of her own for us later. She refused to tell me where we were going just that we were going out to have fun so I didn't argue.

Feeling the couch cushion vibrate I checked my phone seeing an email from Phoenix. There were times that we would switch from using Instagram messaging when someone would let him use their laptop and using his government email since he couldn't use his personal email on the government computers.

Derman Serg Phoenix: Happy Birthday Harlow

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y   H A R L O W !!

I hope that your day is going terrifically. I hope that you've smiled at least ten times more than you would on any other day. I hope that you wore your favorite birthstone earrings from your Grams. I hope that you wore your favorite color. I hope that you have a bunch of ice-cream sundaes and at least one caramel sundae for me ;) I hope that you know that I've thought about you all day today, more times then I do on any other day. I wish I was there to personally hug you and swing you around making you laugh on your special day. To be able to whisper in your ear  happy birthday and to make today one of your best birthday memories but because I'm still so far away and I've been trying to send this email for the past forty-five minutes I guess I'll have to send you the best happy birthday through poor internet connection (hence the all caps from above). So again I will say happy birthday to you Harlow. I hope that MY GIRLFRIEND enjoys her day to the fullest :) You and I will see each other soon.

- Phoenix

Rereading the email I tried not to cry at his sweet words.

"That your boyfriend?"

Looking over to my Dad, I smiled nodding my head. "Yeah. He just wished me happy birthday and said he wish he could be here to tell me in person."

"Isn't that sweet." Papa said coming into the living room as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it."

Hearing the front door open Dad cleared his throat. "So this Phoenix boy. You two are serious or what?"

"We're serious Dad. I like him and he likes me and I know it's all weird because we never met but . . . I don't know, I just -"

"Like him." He finished my sentence with a raised brow.

"Yeah."

Grunting in response I watched my Dad for a few seconds as his eyes went back to the television watching a ginger haired man swing his bat hitting a baseball into old drywall nearly missing his wife.

Going back to Phoenix's email I nibbled on my bottom lip typing different responses deleting them then typing something else. Just as I completed the third sentence I heard Timara yell for me.

"IS THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN AROUND?"

"Oh goodness." My Dad shook his head turning up the volume.

"Happy birthday to ya. Happy Birthday. Hap-py birthday to ya. Happy birthday!" Timara walked towards me with open arms holding a box of multicolored roses in her right hand and a pink bag in her left.

Standing up I thanked her for the solo giving her a hug. Wrapping her arms around me she rocked us from side to side before pulling back to smile.

"I come bearing gifts." Lifting her arms up so I could see.

Papa ushered us to the couch. "Hold on a second. I'll go get our gift." He backed away towards the hall. "And you," he pointed to Dad. "turn that down. You're going to kill everyone's hearing."

Dad grunted turning the volume down two numbers. "Turn it down some more!" Papa yelled from the kitchen. Rolling his eyes Dad turned it down to the previous volume before Timara came in singing.

Chuckling next to me she bumped me shoulder. "How's your day been?"

"Good. I got off work early and picked out a few outfits and I bought a box of cookies from that one lady that sales them at the Farmer's Market."

"Mrs. Sharron?"

"Yes, her and she gave me a discount because I'm so cute and youthful."

"Did you talk to Phoenix today?"

"Happy Birthday to you." Papa came in singing happy birthday with a single vanilla cupcake with peach colored frosting and a stripped orange and white candle in the middle. Dad and Timara joined in one the song and at the end I blew out the candle making my one wish for Phoenix to travel home safely whenever that may be.

Thanking everyone for the song Papa handed over two envelopes with tears in his eyes. Dad pulled him into his lap kissing his cheek before whispering something in his ear.

"What's wrong?"

"Don't mind me baby." Papa wiped his cheeks. "Open them."

Doing as I was told I opened the first envelope that contained at few gift cards to my favorite stores. Opening the second envelope I unfolded the first piece of paper that had bold misspelled writing slightly shifting to the left.

"Dear Santa. My friend Maya said that I can't have two daddies because there can only be one mommy and one daddy. She said she heard her mommy say that my real mommy and daddy didn't want me so they gave me away to my Daddy and Papa. I don't know if that's true but I just want to know if I do have a mommy. Do you think you could ask her to write me? I promise not to ask her why she gave me away. Please Santa. I would like to know her name. Love Harlow."

Looking at the letter a sadness covered my heart. Wanting to have a different feeling maybe some kind of happiness, I couldn't bring myself to it. I remember Maya and how often she would tell me what her mom would say to other parents. I remember being sad about what she said to me but I would never tell Papa and Dad about it even when they would ask me what was wrong when I came home from school.

"The rest of the papers-" Papa cleared his throat. "The rest of the papers have your birth mother's information. You never came to us wanting to know about her and as I was going through some old stuff I found your letter to Santa. Dad and I talked about it and decided that we wanted to let the information be available to you even if you never want to look her up. It's all up to you honey."

Unable to form a word with the lump in my throat I flung myself into my dads' arms letting the tears fall freely. Not because I was still wondering who my birth mother was but because they were open to letting me know.

"This doesn't change anything." I said pulling back wiping my own tear stained face. "You two are still my parents."  Kissing them both on the cheek I took my seat next to Timara as she wiped her own tears.

"I wasn't prepared to cry this much." She laughed and we all joined in as she placed the pink bag on my lap. Taking out the gift I smiled at the pair of shoes that I knew were inside. "You stare a these shoes everytime we walk to the food court."

"Thank you." Hugging my best friend I pulled out the birthday card reading it out loud before pulling out the fuzzy socks and the other colorful pair of socks.

"And last but not least." Handing over the box of roses.

"You didn't have to get me roses but they are beautiful."

Leaning to my ear she whispered, "They aren't from me." Pulling a card from her purse she handed it over.

Trying my best at being the greatest long distance boyfriend ever, I made a few phone calls and was able to get you a small gift of roses. Please know that they are from the heart and I'm wishing you the greatest birthday.

- The Greatest Long Distance Boyfriend Ever

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