The first week is hectic, our boxes are stacked throughout the apartment, but if the clutter bothers Tyler, he hasn’t complained. I have my meeting with Beverly in mediation tomorrow; she’s rescheduled twice. I just hope we can work out a schedule we can both agree on. She is a difficult woman. Tyler has offered to go with me for support, but I told him his being present might set her off. So instead, he has agreed to spend some quality time with Jace. He is taking him to Sea World. It warms my heart that he is stepping right up and making an effort with Jace. Not like he hasn’t been good with him before, but I can see that he is trying to really step up and be a good dad to him.
Tyler isn’t working at the club tonight and he has Jace curled up in his lap watching one of his old tapes from his glory days from when he played soccer in college, while I unpack more of our stuff.
I take out the nightlight Caroline gave Jace a few days ago, he was nervous about sleeping in a new room. She told him the light would make him feel more comfortable.
I am going to miss living next door to Caroline, but I will still see her. She has made me agree to do a weekly dinner with her. Tyler is going to keep Jace when he isn’t working, and I need the help. Besides, now that I no longer work at the club there isn’t a need for her to watch him all the time. Though I may call her so Tyler and I can have a date night every now and then.
I hear Tyler and Jace yelling at the TV in unison. Peeking around the hall, I see the two of them standing in front of the TV shouting, regarding a football game they are watching now that the tape has ended. “Boys and their balls,” I mumble to myself.
Watching the two of them, I know I finally made the right choice for once. Tyler is exactly what and who we needed.
**
The day for mediation has arrived, and I am so nervous. I am only willing to agree for Mrs. Case to come to Florida to see Jace. There is no way I am putting my baby on a plane and sending him to her. I walk on in with my attorney and have a seat. I am surprised to find Beverly’s lawyer without her.
“I regret to inform you that Mrs. Case isn’t feeling well. I have been advised to act on her behalf. Considering her recent health concerns, Mrs. Case is no longer able to travel and is no longer seeking visitation rights. However, if you are so inclined, she requests that you bring the child to see her once every summer. She assumes that you will be visiting your family there already.”
I am not going to fight this turn of events. Even though I want nothing more than to say no after the way she has acted. Her calling CPS on me was drawing the line. But she is Brian’s mother, and I want Jace to know who he comes from. Once he gets older, he can decide for himself how he feels about her. So, I put my big girl panties on and agree.
I hurry to get home and tell Tyler the news.
If I am fast enough, I may be able to spend the day with my guys. I send a quick text to Tyler and let him know that Beverly was a no show. He is as relieved as I am, but he tells me they are having a guy’s day, and I am not included. Those punks, but I am glad they are spending time together.
I go home and start unpacking more of my belongings and hope to surprise them with a clean and clutter free home when they return. I spend so much time cleaning and arranging I don’t even notice as the hours fly by. My two guys come in laughing and tell me all about seeing the sharks being fed. Jace is wearing his lopsided grin. It makes me feel even better about moving in with Tyler quicker than I had anticipated.
I tell Jace to go to the bathroom so I can clean him up and get him ready for dinner, but Tyler stops me and orders me to have a seat on the couch. He says that he and Jace have something important to talk to me about. I am clueless as to what is going on. I have a seat and wait. I can see the two of them huddled in the kitchen whispering. Curiosity has its hold on me as I impatiently wait to find out what could be so important.
They enter the living room together. Tyler takes a deep breath before speaking. His palms are sweaty and he looks like he might throw up. Now, I am getting nervous.
“Okay, don’t freak out on me. But, this is something I have been thinking about, and I really hope you can just listen and give Jace and me both a chance to talk before you say anything.”
“Okay, I guess I can do that.” I take a second to mentally prepare myself for whatever the two have them have up their sleeves. Jace is grinning at me excitedly, but Tyler still looks like he might faint or puke. A nervous giggle escapes my throat.
“I know you just moved in with me, and it might seem too fast to bring this up but, I really love you and Jace. I want us to be a family, Aria. A real one. I don’t want us to waste time worrying about what ifs and wishing for it to happen someday. Life is too short. I want to adopt Jace. I want to be the guy who takes him fishing. I want to teach him all about sports. I want to be the guy that teaches him to ride a bike. I want to walk him to class on his first day of school. Let me be the one to cheer him up when he doesn’t always make the team.”
The tears are beginning to pour down my face as this wonderful man declares his love for my son. It may seem too fast for other people, but I want these things too. The symbolism of his words sounds so much like what Faye used to say to me. It’s now I know that it is a sign from her telling me to live hard and love even harder.
“Before you say anything Jace has something he wants to ask you. You ready buddy? Remember what we planned okay.”
Jace brings his hands from behind his back and he is holding a jewelry box. He places the box in my lap and says to me, “Ma you marry Ty.”
It takes me a moment to realize what my little man just said to me. “Yes baby, Ma will marry Ty.” I let out an excited giggle and wipe away my tears.
Tyler comes over and kneels in front of me. “Jace, you did a great job buddy, but I want to ask her myself now. Aria, sugar. I love you so much. I couldn’t go another day before I ask you one very important question. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, Tyler.” I throw my arms around his neck and give him a kiss as he opens the box and slides the ring on my finger.
It is so beautiful. I can’t stop staring at the ring on my finger. The diamond is canary yellow and in a princess cut.
“Do you like it? I picked the yellow because I know yellow stands for friendship. We started off as friends and grew into something so much more.”
“It’s perfect Tyler.” I kiss Tyler’s face again and pull Jace into my lap.
I can’t help but wish for Faye to be here with me celebrating in our joy, but I can feel her with me, telling me that she is so happy for Jace, Tyler, and me. Maybe what she said was true.
Everyone serves a purpose in our life.
Maybe when they leave, it just means their time in our life is up.