Chapter 19
19
Brett
I sat cross-legged on a plush couch in Rich's apartment, sipping coffee and flipping through a book of local events. Rich was sprawled out on the floor in front of me, a bowl of popcorn in hand as he watched a movie.
“So, what's the plan this weekend?” Rich asked, pausing the movie and turning to look at me.
“I was thinking of taking Sofia out,” I replied, setting down the book and taking a sip of my coffee.
Rich raised an eyebrow. “A date? So does that mean that you guys finally made up?”
I nodded, a warm feeling spreading through my chest. “Yeah, about time, huh? She is nervous about giving us another shot officially - so I need to make sure she has a good time.”
Rich grinned. “Well, you're in luck. There's a wine festival happening downtown this weekend. Perfect romantic date material.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, but I want to do something that includes Max too. I want to bond with him, show him that I care about him just as much as I care about his mom.”
Rich nodded. “I get it. He's a great kid, but he needs a male role model. How about you take him to the museum in Dallas? I heard they have a dinosaur exhibit that he'll love.”
I smiled. “That's perfect. Thanks, man.”
“No problem,” Rich said with a grin, pressing play on the movie again.
The dinosaur exhibit did sound perfect for Max. I could already picture his eyes lighting up at the sight of towering T-Rex skeletons and interactive displays.
“You know,” I said, leaning forward, “I think I might combine the two ideas if we can. We could start the day at the museum with Max, then drop him off afterward to Diane maybe. That way, Sofia and I could hit the wine festival afterward.”
Rich nodded approvingly. “Smart move. Best of both worlds.”
I pulled out my phone and started looking up the museum's hours. “I just hope Max doesn't feel like we're ditching him halfway through the day.”
“Are you kidding?” Rich laughed. “That kid adores you. He'll probably be thrilled just to spend a few hours with you at the museum.”
As I scrolled through the museum's website, I came across a special event listing. “Oh man, this is perfect! They're doing a 'Junior Paleontologist' workshop in the afternoon.”
Rich tossed a piece of popcorn at me. “See? It's all falling into place. You've got this, Romeo.”
I chuckled, dodging the popcorn. “Let's hope so. I really want this to work out, you know? Not just with Sofia, but with Max too. They're kind of a package deal.”
“And that's what makes you a stand-up guy,” Rich said, his tone turning serious for a moment. “Not every man would be so eager to take on that responsibility.”
I shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed by the praise. “It's not about responsibility. Max is a great kid. I genuinely enjoy spending time with him.”
I clicked Sofia’s contact in my phone.
You up for an adventure today? Thought we could take Max to the museum. They have a dinosaur exhibit today.
Rich tossed a piece of popcorn into his mouth. “I’m glad to see everything working out for you. Honestly, I was worried you were never going to find someone.”
As if on cue, my phone buzzed with a response.
“She’s in,” I announced. “Max is ready to go already. Shoes on and everything.”
Rich chuckled. “Told you. Now all you’ve got to do is not screw it up.”
I threw a pillow at him, but couldn’t help laughing. He was right, after all. This was my chance to show Sofia and Max that I was serious about being a part of their lives.
Headed your way now.
“Alright, I’ll let you know how it goes. See ya.”
As I drove to Sofia's house, my mind raced. Max had an insatiable curiosity, especially when it came to prehistoric creatures.
I pulled up to the curb and saw Max's face pressed against the window, his breath fogging up the glass. Before I could even get out of the car, he burst through the front door, backpack bouncing against his back as he ran towards me.
“Hey, buddy!” I called out, kneeling down to his level as he crashed into me with a hug.
“Is it true? Are we really going to see dinosaurs?” Max's eyes were wide with wonder.
I ruffled his hair. “You bet we are. And not just any dinosaurs - we're talking T-Rex, Triceratops, the whole gang.”
Sofia appeared in the doorway, a soft smile on her face as she watched our interaction. She looked beautiful in a simple sundress, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. Oh-my-lanta!
“Thanks for doing this,” she said as she approached.
I stood up, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. “It's my pleasure. I'm just as excited as he is.”
As we piled into the car, Max rattled off dinosaur facts from the backseat. I caught Sofia's eye in the rearview mirror, and we shared a smile. This was it - my chance.
The drive to the museum was filled with Max's excited chatter and Sofia's gentle reminders to use his inside voice. I found myself relaxing, enjoying the easy companionship of our little group.
As we walked up to the museum entrance, Max grabbed both our hands, swinging between us. For a moment, we looked like any other family out for a day of fun. The thought made my heart swell.
“Ready for an adventure?” I asked, squeezing Max's hand.
He nodded enthusiastically. “Ready!”
Sofia leaned in close, her voice low. “Thank you for this. It means a lot to both of us.”
I smiled, feeling a surge of affection for her and Max. “There's nowhere else I'd rather be.”
As we stepped into the cool air of the museum, I knew that this day was about more than just dinosaurs. It was about building something real, something lasting. And I was ready for every moment of it.
The museum was bustling with excited children and their parents, but Max's enthusiasm stood out even in the crowd. His eyes were as wide as saucers as we entered the main hall, dominated by a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton.
“Whoa!” Max exclaimed, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. “Look at its teeth!”
I knelt beside him, pointing out different features of the prehistoric predator. “See how the legs are positioned? That's because T-Rex was a biped - it walked on two legs.”
Max nodded, soaking in every word. Sofia watched us with a soft smile, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder.
We moved through the exhibits, Max leading the way with boundless energy. At each display, he'd read the information out loud, stumbling over the longer words but determined to understand everything.
“Hey, Max,” I said as we approached a hands-on area. “Want to be a real paleontologist?”
His face lit up. “Can I?”
I gestured to the Junior Paleontologist workshop setup. “They've got a whole dig site here. You can uncover fossils just like the pros.”
Max looked to Sofia for permission, practically vibrating with excitement.
“Go ahead, honey,” she said, giving him a gentle push forward.
As Max donned a small vest and hardhat, Sofia leaned into me. “You're amazing with him,” she whispered.
“He makes it easy. He's such a great kid.”
We watched as Max carefully brushed away sand, revealing a replica fossil beneath. His face was a picture of concentration, tongue sticking out slightly as he worked.
“You know, I was worried about dating again. About how it would affect Max.”
I turned to her, noting the vulnerability in her eyes. “But seeing you with him..." she continued, "I think maybe I was worried for nothing.”
I took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I care about both of you, Sofia. You're a package deal, and I wouldn't have it any other way.”
She smiled, blinking back tears. “Thank you.”
Just then, Max called out triumphantly. “I found something!”
We hurried over to see his discovery - a perfectly preserved imprint of a prehistoric leaf.
As Max beamed with pride, showing off his find to the workshop leader, I felt a sense of rightness settle over me. This, I thought, was what family felt like.
“This has been wonderful,” she said. “I haven't seen Max this happy in a long time.”
I squeezed her hand gently. “I’m glad. I'm having a great time too.”
As Max chatted animatedly with the workshop instructor, Sofia turned to face me fully.
“Listen,” she began, a hint of nervousness in her voice. “I know we talked about going to that wine festival later, but... would you mind if we just stayed here instead? I'm really enjoying watching you with Max, and I don't want this day to end.”
My heart soared at her words. “I’d love nothing more,” I replied, unable to keep the grin off my face.
As Max ran back to us, proudly displaying his Junior Paleontologist badge, I knew that this day marked the beginning of something special.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of fossils, interactive displays, and Max's endless questions. By the time we left the museum, the sun was starting to dip low in the sky.
“Did you have fun, buddy?” I asked as we walked to the car.
Max nodded. “It was the best day ever! Can we come back next week?”
Sofia laughed. “Let's not get ahead of ourselves.”
As we drove home, Max's excitement gradually gave way to exhaustion. By the time we pulled into Sofia's driveway, he was fast asleep in the backseat, his new Junior Paleontologist badge clutched tightly in his hand.
“I’ll carry him in,” I whispered to Sofia as we got out of the car. She nodded gratefully, opening the front door as I gently lifted Max from his seat.
His head lolled against my shoulder as I carried him inside, his small body warm and trusting in my arms. As I laid him down on his bed, he stirred slightly.
“Thanks for the dinosaurs,” he mumbled sleepily, his eyes fluttering open for a moment.
I smiled, tucking the covers around him. “Anytime, buddy. Sweet dreams.”
When I returned to the living room, Sofia was waiting with two glasses of wine. "I figured we could have our own little wine festival," she said with a shy smile.
“Perfect,” I replied, taking the glass she offered.
We settled on the couch, a comfortable silence falling between us. Sofia leaned into me, and I wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Thank you for today,” she said. “I haven't seen Max that happy in... well, in a long time.”
I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I had a great time too. You've got an amazing kid, Sofia.”
As we sat there, sipping wine and talking softly about the day's adventures, a sense of peace washed over me. This was it - the family I'd always dreamed of. And I was determined to cherish every moment.
Sofia leaned into my touch, her eyes searching mine, our lips meeting in a soft, tender kiss. It was like coming home. When we pulled apart, Sofia rested her forehead against me.
“Wow… I didn't realize it was possible to be even better than before?”
My eyebrows scrunched together. “What do you mean?”
“Kissing you.”
As a warmth spread through my chest at her words. “I know exactly what you mean,” I murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Sofia's eyes sparkled as she looked up at me. “It's like... everything just feels right. Like all the pieces are finally falling into place.” She snuggled closer, her head resting on my chest. “I was so scared to try again, you know? After everything with Max's dad... I didn't think I could open my heart like this.”
I tightened my arm around her. “I’m honored that you're willing to take that chance with me. I promise, I'll do everything I can to be worthy of that trust.”
We sat in comfortable silence for a while, sipping our wine. The house was quiet, save for the soft ticking of a clock and Max's gentle snores drifting from his room.
“You know,” Sofia said eventually, her voice thoughtful, “I think Max is falling in love with you too.”
My heart swelled at her words. “The feeling's mutual. He's an incredible kid.”
Sofia sat up, turning to face me fully. “I need you to understand something,” she said, her tone serious. “If we do this - if we really commit to being together - it's not just about us. Max has to come first, always.”
I nodded. “I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm all in. You and Max... you're my family now. If you'll have me.”
Tears welled up in Sofia's eyes as she smiled. “We'd love nothing more.”
As I pulled her in for another kiss, a sense of rightness settled over me. This was where I belonged - with Sofia and Max, building a life together, one dinosaur adventure at a time.