CALLUM

IT TOOK ME TWO WEEKS TO MAKE THE DECISION to push the issue with Lisa and another two weeks for me to summon up the courage to do something about it. I was dead set on giving up on the whole thing and accepting the fact that she didn’t want me in her life at all and never would. What could I do when someone is adamant about not being in their life, hope that she changes her mind? That’s foolish. There was a slim chance she would, and I’d rather not wait forever hoping she would. I’d be sitting there waiting forever for something that wouldn’t come.

That’s when I decided to take matters into my own hands. I wanted to make a grand gesture but I wasn’t prince charming, plus she would laugh at me if I showed up in a suit of armor riding a white horse. In the end, I came up with the idea to just do something simple and be so persistent she couldn’t say no.

I waited until Friday evening to take no for an answer. I waited a week so that I could be a little bit methodical about it instead of just showing up willy-nilly without a plan and fail. It was nearly 9:00 pm when I finally showed up to Lisa’s house.

Shutting off the engine, it was so quiet outside. I couldn’t even hear the crickets chirping over the sound of my own nervous breathing. I glanced toward the passenger seat at the bouquet of lilies and a stuffed teddy bear. Would it be enough and did they convey my seriousness?  Sam said that simple gestures may not work and sometimes the best thing was to open up and say what I wanted. Again, to take no for an answer.

Picking up the bouquet and bear, I strolled up to her front door which only made my nervousness and anxiety increase.

I pressed the doorbell slowly, the chiming echoed throughout the house. I waited patiently on the doorstep and eventually heard the click of heels hitting a wooden floor.

“…I don’t care if it’s on, it’s late, and you still haven’t taken your bath.” the front door opened with gusto to Lisa in a minor tiff with someone, presumably her daughter Carlie. It took a while before she realized she had answered her front door before looking in my direction. “Callum, what are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

“I thought we agreed that we weren’t going to kid ourselves.” she reminded me yet again.

“I never agreed to that. You’re the only one who wanted to give up.”

“I didn’t give up, I made the best decision that I could have for my daughter, so you’re just wasting your time.”

“I don’t think so. I’m not leaving here until you give me a shot. A real honest shot.”

“Who’s at the door? Call-yum!” Carlie shouted as she squeezed through the doorway.

“Hey, Kiddo!”

“You’re back!” she ran and wrapped her arms around my legs. “Is that bear for me?”

“Yes it is, do you like him?”

“Yes!” she hugged it tightly.

“Carlie, what do we say to people who do nice things for us?”

“Thank you, Call-yum.  You gonna watch cartoons with me? I gotta take a bath first.”

I eyed Lisa hoping she’d give me an indication as to what she was going to allow to happen.

“Fine, then he’s gotta go home. Now, go take your bath!”

“I’m going! I’ll be right back Call-yum!” Carlie squealed with glee and ran back inside.

“Wanna come in?” she asked.

“Definitely. Uh…these are for you.” I said handing her the flowers.

“Thank you, these are pretty. You shouldn’t have.”

“No, I should have. You deserve the very best, and you also deserve to be loved and adored, and I want you to let me do that for you.”

“We talked about this.”

“No you talked about this like I said, I never agreed to anything. The biggest mistake I made that night was walking away when I really wanted to continue seeing you and spend time with Carlie.”

“You don’t know what it is you are trying to take on.”

“I know exactly what it is I want and I know it’s not always going to be easy or fun, but I’m okay with that. I’m willing to go through the hard stuff with you. I want you to let me.”

“I don’t know. I still don’t think it’s a great idea.” Lisa resisted.

“What are you afraid of? I’m not going anywhere, I’m not giving up until you give me a fair chance I deserve in getting to know you.”

“What if…”

“Enough with the what-ifs. You are going to give me a chance, and that’s the end of it. I’m not asking for your hand in marriage or your soul, all I’m asking is for us to get to know each other slowly. The one thing I can guarantee is that no matter what happens, I am not going to abandon both of you. I will be in your life whether you like it or not.

“Callum…”

“No more arguing. You have to trust me as hard as that’s going to be for you. Now, let’s go watch some cartoons.” I cut her off as I walked inside but Lisa didn’t follow me. “Are you coming?”

“I’ve got to put these in a vase.”

“Alright then. Shut the door, put the flowers in a vase and let’s watch some cartoons.”