Ariana
Friday has come by so fast. I got my degree and mother couldn’t have been more proud of me. We have sent dad some photos of me and with mother. He is also very proud, he said. He regrets not being able to attend but he has promised to visit me soon after his trip and maybe treat me out for lunch just the two of us.
This day has been perfect. The weather was nice and the ceremony didn’t take long. My friends and I have been chatting about how we are going to celebrate this weekend. Julie has suggested a night out to the club tomorrow, but I am holding back.
After what I went through last time I was in a club, I am not ready to go through that again. Liam is not even in town, the last thing I want to do is get into any kind of trouble when he is away. I have been talking with him this entire week on phone, but it is nothing compared to being with him in person. I missed him a lot, and the thought of going another week without seeing him is even worse. I promised I would send him photos later, but he is probably busy today. He travelled today, and he messaged me when he landed. I don’t want to be a distraction when he is supposed to be concentrating on this seminar.
Mom took me out for dinner and then escorted me to my apartment. She is going to be driving back tonight.
“I would have stayed overnight, but I have appointments the whole day tomorrow,” mom says while we walk into my apartment. She looks around the place.
“This place looks empty,” she says, her brows together in confusion.
“That would be because Liza moved out to live with her boyfriend,” I reply, walking into the kitchen to get her a bottle of water.
“Oh, I had no idea,” she says and I hand her the bottle of water. She sits down on the couch and opens the bottle.
“Well, she just moved out only two months ago,” I tell her.
“So now you live here on your own? Is that okay with you?” she inquires, looking very concerned for me.
“It’s okay , mom. I am getting used to it,” I say to assure her.
“Why don’t you move back in with us. Since your college us over, you can look for a good job near home,” she offers.
“No, mom. That wouldn’t be necessary. I have a full time job at Taste’s Home and now I can afford the bills on my own. I will look for a new job while I work at Taste’s Home. I am in no rush,” I respond.
“Are you sure, honey? I think it will be better if you don’t have to live on your own. You can save your money for bills when you live with us you know,” she offers, coaxing me to fall for her idea. I know mom and dad miss Mr. Being the only child, they have always missed me ever since I joined college. They always say that. It is not enough visiting during the holidays and once a month. I also miss them but I want to learn to be an independent woman.
“I love my job, mom. You know it is my first ever paying job and Mr Hendricks is do nice. I think I will do just fine,” I insist m Besides, there is something more interesting keeping me in this town. I can’t leave Liam behind, especially now that I Know I have a chance of being him.
“It has to be more than that, Sweetie. Are you seeing someone?” she asks, narrowing her eyes at me. She knows about Jake. He was a total jerk! I can’t believe I fell for him in the first place, he is no where compared to Liam. A knowing smile creeps on mom’s face.
“Who is he? Have you been studying with him? Tell me about him,” she demands. Hell, there is no way I am going to be able to get out this lying to her. She really knows me. She is my mom after all. I don’t find it necessary lying to her.
“Okay. His name is Liam and he probably finished college years ago. He is a business man,” I reply, trying not to grin like a giddy teenager at the mention of his name.
“Oh, sounds promising. Is he a serious boyfriend? I am not going to let some jerk play with your feelings while I watch,” she says, meaning it.
“He is really nice, and I like him, a lot,” I tell him, truthfully. At least mother has always shown interest in my love life. Father wouldn’t just sit there and listen to me as I bubble about a certain man.
“Seems you do more than like him. What’s he like?” she asks.
“Well, he is nice. I already mentioned that, but he really cares about me. He makes me feel special,” I respond. All if a sudden, I am being so poetic. I think it is because I miss him so much.
“Where does he live? Did he show up today?”
“No, he couldn’t make it. He is in California now on a business trip. He won’t be back until Monday”
“Men and their business,” mom rolls her eyes and drinks on her water. I know the reference is coming from dad’s trip.
“Anyway, you seem happy. I am glad you have moved on from that Jake. You are now a big girl, Ari. Please be careful with your feelings,” she says, looking at me with those brooding motherly eyes.
“Yes, mom. I promise to keep that in mind.”
“I trust you, Sweetie but it is the man that I have doubts on,” she says. I give her a soft smile knowing that she worries for me and wants me to be happy. She sighs and picks her phone out of her purse. She checks on it and puts it back in.
“I think I have given you enough company, but if you want, you can hop into my car and spend the weekend with me. You can come back on Sunday,” she offers, getting up from the couch.
“Thanks, mom but I have plans with my friends. I will come to visit. I promise,” I tell her.
“Okay, only because you promised to visit,” she says.
After walking mother to her car, I watch as she drives into the traffic. It is is always nice having mom around and talking to her. She is my best friend in the whole world.
I walk back my apartment and find a delivery guy infront of the door. He looks up at me when I come near. He has a brown box in his hands with a clipboard on top.
“Delivery for Ariana Manroe?” he reads out from the clipboard.
“Yes, that’s me,” I respond and he hands me the small box. A delivery? I wasn’t expecting that. It is definitely mine if he my name reads so otherwise I could have thought it is the wrong address. I wonder what it is and who it could be from. I sign on my name and the delivery guy walks away. I enter with my package into the apartment and place it on the table. The only thing written on the box is my name and address. I open it carefully wondering who could have sent it.
There is a smaller black box inside. I get it out and open it slowly.
Earrings? Not just earrings but diamond earrings! I can’t believe my eyes when I hold them in my hand and they shin in their glamour. I look into the bigger box and there is a note.
Congratulations upon your graduation, Ariana. I have sent this small package to show my best wishes and gratitude for our time together. Have fun, but not too much.
Liam Carter
My eyes dart to the blueish papers remaining in the box There is more? Pick the tickets out of the box. They are four of them. Tickets to a cruise! The entire weekend? Oh my god, Liam! Tears start to fill in my eyes and I can’t contain my excitement. He is so sweet and thoughtful. He thought of me and my graduation even when he has a seminar to mind. I wish he was here so that I can hug him tight and kiss him hard.
Four tickets, that means I can go with my friends. That’s even a better idea than having a party out in the club.
Oh my God! The earrings are so cute. I wonder where he got that idea, though it is very thoughtful.
I carry them to my bedroom and message my friends. When I tell them about the cruise, they are so excited, the plans for tomorrow are cancelled immediately. We start chatting about what to pack and how everything we should do tomorrow morning before we leave for the cruise. It doesn’t bother any of us that it is of such short notice, but the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
After a full long hour of chatting with my friends, we on the final plan. Julie is going to drive us to the beach in her car to the shower. We are all so excited for this.
When the conversation ends, I create a new email that I want to send to Liam. He is probably busy right now, and I think sending him the email will be most convenient. When he sees it, he will probably call or text me.
From: Ariana Manroe
Subject: Lots of thanks
To: Liam Carter
How are you doing? I have received the package you sent me, and I have to see you are such a charming man, Mr Carter. I love the earrings. They are really beautiful. The cruise ticks, that’s do thoughtful of you. I am taking my girlfriends with me. Thank you for thinking about me.
I promise not to enjoy myself too much. I can’t enjoy anything more than I enjoy being with you.
You make my heart flatter. I miss you so much.
Love, Ariana.
I press send and put my phone down. I could have said much more in that email to let him know how I feel, but maybe not tonight. He probably won’t reply soon, so I put my phone to charge and decide to hit the bathroom.