This chapter has a lot of talking, so it might be a little boring to some, but all the talking is necessary to set up for the finale.
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I spent another two weeks in the hospital after the doctor told me of my miraculous recovery, two more weeks of rank food, boring days, and lonely nights in that room. The only upside besides visiting hours was that I had my phone, so I could video chat Rita every day. Ashley even came in after visiting hours on some days to keep me company, she most likely paid off the staff, but it was still a nice gesture that she made the effort to come see me. I went through countless tests, sleepless nights, and tons of other hospital stuff, but it was all worth it in the end, because the day finally came when I was able to go home.
Since I was leaving that day, the doc let everyone come in early to get me. I was up early and by time everyone got there I'd already showered (washed up in the sink), packed all my stuff up and cleaned the room of any evidence I was in there, the only thing I had left to do was sign the papers. Everyone showed up except mom, who was at home making me a big welcome home breakfast as I was told.
"Ok, everything is all go here, all the tests are done and submitted. Once you sign the release papers, I'll release Randy with a clean bill of health," Dr. Garrett said entering the room.
I couldn't sign the papers fast enough. I grabbed a pen and signed everything as fast as he flipped the page around, but dad took his time in an attempt to mess with me. Once he finished Dr. Garrett looked it over, smiled, and shook mine and dads hand.
"He's all yours, I wish you both the best of luck."
"Thanks for all your help doc, I would say see you soon but you work in a hospital soo..."
"I know what you mean Randy, take care of yourself, and your sister."
"Thanks doc, will do."
Everyone helped me grab what little stuff I had and we walked through the hospital and out the front door. After being in a room with no windows for so long the sun seemed extra brighter than it usually was, but it was a good feeling having the sun touch my skin again.
"The same thing happened to me when I first left too," Rita said.
"It feels like I've been gone for years, everything looks brighter," I said.
"That's what happens when you spend three months locked in a hospital," Aunt Lisa joked.
"Yeah well believe me I don't plan on doing that again."
"Ok everyone let's get home, your mother is just about finishing up your big breakfast right about now, and the Wilson's are coming over for dinner," dad said as we got to the car.
I put my stuff in the back and hopped in the back seat with Rita as we drove off from what has been my temporary home for the past three months. Everything we drove past seemed like it had just been built, or we were in another city, it all felt different. As I stared at everything out the window I felt Rita's fingers interlock with mine as a turned just as she leaned her head on my shoulder. I leaned back into her and just soaked it in, happy that at least one thing didn't change, that she still wanted me as much as I wanted her. As we neared our house we came up on the spot that almost changed our lives forever, the ice cream store. It didn't frighten me or anything, but it did give me this eerie feeling, knowing everything that took place there.
"We don't have to go back if you don't want to," Rita said.
"No its ok, I've had enough time to get over it, I will stick to going in the daytime though," I said.
We pulled into the driveway and I got out of the car and soaked it in, I was home, I was finally home. I went in and immediately smelled breakfast cooking, and then mom came running around the corner and gave me another death grip hug.
"My baby's home! My baby's finally home!"
When I say death grip, I mean death grip. "Ok mom, if you don't let me go you're gonna send me right back to the hospital," I coughed out as she choked me.
"Sorry honey, I'm just so happy you're home. Well I know you wanna put your stuff up and get to your room and all but breakfast will be done shortly so don't start anything just yet."
"Ok, just yell up there when it's ready and I'll come down."
She bounced back into the kitchen and I took my stuff upstairs and into our room for the first time in a very long time. It was spotless. It looked like a room on display. There was nothing out of place except for a blanket and pillow on the floor.
"I haven't slept in the bed since Ashley's party," Rita said as she came up behind me.
"Haha, neither have I," I laughed at the simple irony.
"Do you really think we'll be able to trust her, I mean fully trust her?"
"She made a huge flip personality wise. Not even she is that good of an actor. With what she's done so far and everything she promised to do I think eventually we can."
"What about Becky, Carina, and Dana?"
"I can't speak for them, I haven't seen them since the party, but no doubt Ashley told them what happened so they're definitely aware of the situation."
"They were her sidekicks, they did everything Ashley did, they copied her behavior..."
"So maybe they had a change of heart like Ashley did, but if not, I don't want anything to do with them. Enough of that, I wanna play one of these games the new Ashley got me."
"Let's play a co-op so I can play too, we haven't played together in a while."
I sifted through the games and found a good one. "Monster Hunter 3 it is then."
"RANDY! RITA! BREAKFAST!" mom yelled up the stairs.
"Well so much for playing now, we can play after breakfast I guess, I'm starving anyway."
"You said you didn't plan on anything today anyway, so we can make today a relax and play video games all day while we get fat on junk food day," Rita said.
"I like it, but let's go get fat on breakfast first."
We went downstairs and into the dining room to see mom and Aunt Lisa sitting in front of a humongous spread of breakfast that was big enough to feed a small platoon of soldiers.
"You think we have enough mom?" I joked.
"I told you I was gonna make you a huge breakfast, it doesn't get any bigger than this!"
"Yeah really, even with as much as we eat that's a lot of food between the four of us."
"That means there's plenty to go around, you're gonna need your strength," mom winked.
Before I could respond dad came into the dining room in his walk around the house clothes, and it was well past time for him to go to work.
"Dad aren't you gonna be late?" Rita asked.
"Nope, the office called and gave me the day off while they get my new office and papers in order, so now I get to feast on this gigantic breakfast your mother so patiently slaved over."
Almost immediately I saw both mom and Aunt Lisa frown. I couldn't believe it, I haven't even been in the house for an hour and those two nymphos were already thinking about sex. Clearly they didn't count on dad staying home so whatever plans they had were now down the drain. Rita cracked a smile in her seat as she glanced at both mom and Aunt Lisa, pretty much gloating that their attempt failed, and I had to admit it was kinda funny, but if I knew them, and I did, neither mom nor Aunt Lisa would let it end like that, but with dad here I was pretty much safe, I just basically had to stay out of their rooms alone and I was good to go.
"Are we gonna look at the food or are we gonna eat it!" dad said as he piled up his plate.
We all took dads cue and dove into the massive breakfast mom laid out for us. She had bacon, sausage, that other kind of sausage, eggs, waffles, rice, and french toast, we all had to get a second plate just to get some of everything. I wasted no time eating as I was already starved from going to sleep hungry last night and not eating anything this morning, and I didn't care how sloppy I looked eating, I had some real food, and I was taking advantage of it.
"So your promotion is official now dad?" Rita asked.
"Yep, as of today I've officially made partner. They're setting me up at the office now."
"So Ashley's father bought the house after all?"
"Not just that one, he bought one next to the beach and a high rise downtown, he pretty much guaranteed me a spot in the big boy office."
"Remember, new car, bigger TV, way bigger allowance among other things," I said.
"With as big a raise as I'm gonna get that probably won't even be a problem."
"Then I want a raise in my allowance too," mom said.
"To what, infinite and a half? You'd do nothing but shop all day."
"Isn't that what life is all about for a woman, getting the things she desires?" Aunt Lisa asked.
"To a certain extent, maybe I should cut you off for a month so I can..."
"Rita why don't you let Tibbles back in the house," mom said cutting dad off.
She laughed as she got up and went to the back door and let him in. he came barging into the dining room and crashed into Rita's chair, then sat down and waited for a piece of food.
"He's a lot bigger than the last time I seen him, well not a lot but it's noticeable," I said.
"Time goes a lot faster for a dog Randy, three months is like two years for him," dad said.
"What else have I missed?"
"Nothing really, it's been really quiet around here with you and Rita not here. That's how it's gonna be when you two finally decide to move out," mom said sadly.
"Those were different circumstances honey, we had our minds occupied on Randy's health, now that he's fine, we don't have to worry. When they move out, we party," dad said.
"I didn't know old people could still party," Rita joked.
Mom gasped. "Don't you ever use the O word in this house!"
"We're barely twice your age, still in our early thirties," Aunt Lisa said.
"I'm just kidding guys, you actually look better than a lot of people our age."
