Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Adam
The number of things I have to do to work for myself as a realtor is overwhelming. It shouldn’t be, because all in all, it isn’t that much. I guess I just need to start at the beginning and take one thing at a time.
Broker classes. I go through everything to sign up for the classes, and thankfully it’s a do-it-at-your-own-pace type of class, as long as you complete it within ninety days, which is entirely possible because it’s only forty-ish hours of work.
I could do it in a week if I wanted to, but I’d rather not put that much pressure on myself.
I have enough money from selling my house to last me a while, as long as I don’t make any big purchases, which I have no intention of doing.
I glance at the clock to check the time. I need to leave in thirty minutes to get Judy from school, or else I’ll be late.
It’s Valentine’s Day today, and I was going to see if Leslie would keep the kids tonight so I could do something with Emmet, but he told me not to.
I’ll admit, I was a little relieved. I’d felt guilty choosing not to take my children to be with him, when I see him more than them, but it’s a lover’s holiday.
Regardless, it worked out, so it doesn’t matter.
I’m going to make dinner with the kids, then we’re going to bake cupcakes for when Emmet comes over tomorrow.
The bar is going to be really busy tonight, apparently it always is on Valentine’s day because all the single people hang out together and commiserate with shots.
I finish up what I need to do on the computer with ten minutes to spare, so I leave early. I’ll be able to get a better parking spot if I leave now.
When I get to the school, there is a spot closer than where I normally park, so I take it and get out to walk.
The school is set back from the street, down a winding road, and cars aren’t allowed to go in to pick up kids unless they have a special pass or they’re transportation vehicles, like buses.
There is a cop at the entrance to enforce it.
It sucks, because there’s always rain, but we make it work.
Rain coats and umbrellas aplenty. Besides, I appreciate that it’s for safety.
I walk to the back of the building where Judy’s grade is let out, since each grade comes out a different door, and when she sees me, her face lights up. Once her teacher spots me, she lets her go and Judy runs to me, leaping into my arms. I wrap her in a tight hug and kiss her head.
“Hey, sweetheart. How was school?”
“So good but T-G-I-F!”
I can’t help but laugh as I put her on her feet and take her hand as we walk back to the car.
“Are we going to get Ian?” she asks as she buckles.
“Of course we are.”
“Yay!”
“Why wouldn’t we?” I ask with a chuckle.
“I don’t know.” She shrugs as she looks out the window. We pull up to Leslie’s house to pick up Ian. He’s supposed to start daycare next week, on Wednesday. Random to start in the middle of the week, but I guess that’s when the opening starts.
He’s ready and waiting with his backpack.
“Have a good weekend,” Leslie says, kissing him on the head. “Bye, Judy!” She waves, and from here I see Judy waving frantically from the back seat.
“I asked her if she wanted to get out, but she said no. Didn’t want to get wet.”
The rain started up a short time ago, as it usually does. I’m sure it’ll stop in a few minutes.
“The rain never does seem to stop,” Leslie says, looking up at the sky.
“That’s Seattle for you.” I pick up Ian. “You ready, bud?”
“Uh-huh!”
“Bye,” I call as I hurry down the steps and to the car. I get Ian buckled in, then hurry to the front of the car.
I should find the time to talk to Leslie about Emmet. Maybe sometime next week.
She knows who he is, of course, but she doesn’t know what happened with me and him.
She may put it all together once she learns about us now.
I don’t think she’ll care that I’m dating a guy, but like with anyone, she’ll worry about bringing someone new into the kids’ lives who may not stay.
I understand that fear, but something tells me I don’t have to worry about Emmet ever leaving.
It was never his choice, and I’m certain had I stayed, we’d still be together.
That’s the kind of guy Emmet is. He’s always known what he wanted.
He’s confident in who he is and he isn’t afraid to take what he wants.
I mean, look at him. He bought a bar out here to find me again, so hopeful we could get back together.
And look at us. It’s surreal, honestly, to think how much my life has changed in just a short time, over a chance meeting.
How long would it have taken us to find each other if I never went to The Butterfly that night? Or had never set foot in there at all?
The rain picks up as we make our way home, and when I park, we grab all our stuff and book it to the front door. We’re soaked and laughing as we make our way upstairs.
“Go change, kiddos,” I say, still trying to get out of the habit of saying “guys.”
They go to their rooms. Judy shuts her door, while Ian leaves his open. I can’t wait to see what he tries to put on. I change in my room, putting on sweats and a T-shirt before checking on him.
“Ian, bud, I thought you were going to change?”
He looks at me and laughs, then continues to take everything out of his backpack.
I go to the closet to find him dry clothes, and pull out pajamas. We aren’t going anywhere, so we may as well be comfortable. After changing him, I check on Judy, who is also in pajamas.
“Looks like we had the same idea,” I say.
“I love pajamas,” she says. “Can we watch a movie?”
“Sure, what do you want to watch?”
“I don’t know. Let’s see what there is.”
“Ian, we’re going to watch a movie, if you want to join us.”
I follow Judy into the living room, and sit beside her on the couch.
She scrolls through options on Disney+ and finally settles on the live-action Beauty and the Beast, which I happen to like. I don’t like many remakes, especially animated to live action, but this one is good. Ian comes in twenty minutes into the movie, asking for a drink.
“Oh, I want hot chocolate!” Judy says, bouncing in her spot on the couch.
“Yes, yes, yes, yes!” Ian shouts, jumping up and down.
“Okay, I’ll make us some,” I say as I pick up Ian and put him on the couch to sit next to Judy.
She puts her arm around him, and he rests against her.
I pull my phone from my pocket to snap a quick photo before going to the kitchen.
I scoop the mix into our mugs, since we each have our own.
I’m looking through the fridge to make a grocery list while I wait for the water to heat.
There’s a knock on the door, which is weird, since the downstairs door is supposed to be locked at all times.
Maybe we didn’t close it all the way? Or the guy on the first floor didn’t.
He’s an older guy and does that sometimes, says it’s too hard for him to push shut. It is heavy, so I’ll give him that.
I pull open my door, and I can’t help but grin when I see Emmet standing on the other side, holding a dozen red roses and a smile.
“Hey,” I say. “How’d you get in?”
“The door was open. Don’t worry though, I made sure it was shut.”
“Thank you,” I say. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?”
I so badly want to lean in and kiss him, but I refrain because my kids are just in the other room, and walking in on that is not how I want them to find out I’m dating someone.
“I’m not staying. I just wanted to drop these off to—”
“Emmet!” Judy shouts, running to him and hugging him tightly. Ian does the same, running to his leg and hugging.
“Hey, Judy,” Emmet says, hugging her back. “Hi, Ian.” He pats his head, and they back away.
“Those are so pretty!” Judy says.
“Pretty flowers!” Ian adds.
“They’re for you, actually.”
“For me?” Judy asks in a whisper.
“Well, some of them. Can I come in?”
“My god, yes.” I laugh. “Sorry.”
I step aside and let him in. He bends down on one knee. There are a dozen roses, but they’re split into three sections. I hadn’t realized that. He hands one to Judy and one to Ian, the last staying in his hand.
“For boys?” Judy asks with a frown, looking at Ian.
“Everyone should get flowers on Valentine’s Day,” Emmet says, getting to his feet and handing the last bunch to me.
“Where are yours then?” she asks.
“They’re at work, actually,” he answers.
“Are they as pretty as these?”
“Hm… not quite. I picked the best out for you three.”
“Thank you, Emmet,” she says, hugging him again.
“Thanks, Emmet!” Ian says, running after Judy.
“Those need to be in water!” I shout after them, but they don’t stop. They run right back to the living room.
“I’m not staying,” Emmet repeats.
“I’m not upset you’re here. It’s a nice surprise.”
“I was worried.”
“Why?” I ask as I check on the water. It seems just about done, but I’ll give it another minute or two.
“One: you’re here with your kids, and we don’t usually see each other on Fridays because of it. Two: I showed up with flowers, and I know you haven’t said anything to them yet. I didn’t want it to be weird, I just wanted to see you smile.”
I lean in to kiss him, letting it linger for a moment, despite my better judgment. “It was so nice. I love that you stopped by, and your explanation was perfect. Thank you for doing this. I think it’s a good start to letting them know about us.”
“Are you staying?” Judy asks as she walks over, without her flowers.
“Where are the flowers? They’ll die.”
“Ian is holding them. He looks cute.” She giggles.
“I wasn’t going to stay. Just wanted to drop off the flowers,” Emmet says.
“But we’re having hot chocolate, and you should have some too. I have a unicorn mug you can use. I don’t like unicorns anymore.”
“That’s too bad because I love unicorns.”
“You do?” she asks, almost like she doesn’t believe him.
“Um, yeah.” He bends down, lowering his voice. “I hear they poop glitter, and that’s cool.”
She gasps, then makes a disgusted face.
“Well, you can have this one then because I still don’t like them even if they do poop glitter. Poop is yucky.”
I laugh, and turn off the water before grabbing her old mug and putting some mix in it so Emmet can have hot chocolate too.
“Marshmallows?” I ask.
“Absolutely.”
“Did you put some in mine?” Judy asks.
“Of course. And none in Ian’s and mine.”
“Good choice,” Emmet says to her. She grins at him, and it melts my heart. “You know what else is good in hot chocolate?”
“What?” she asks.
“Cinnamon.”
“That sounds yummy! Daddy, I want that in mine too.”
I finish making the hot chocolate, smiling to myself, and Emmet helps me carry them into the living room.
I place them on the coasters on the coffee table.
I put milk in Ian’s and Judy’s, so they wouldn’t be so hot.
Ian’s has a straw to help him drink it, since he hasn’t quite mastered a cup yet, but likes using a mug like me.
“What are we watching?” Emmet asks as he sits on the couch.
Judy moves over to cuddle up to his side.
He looks up at me, and I see the happiness in his eyes.
Emmet was made to have kids, just like his parents.
The look on his face makes me want to cry, but not out of sadness.
This is easily the best thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life.
My kids like the man I love. Could anything be better?
Emmet grew up around hundreds of kids because his parents fostered them for years.
It’s how I met him in the first place. The day my parents died, unexpectedly in a car crash, I was sent to a foster home because they couldn’t get in touch with my other family.
I stayed with the Durants for a few weeks before things got settled with my aunt and uncle.
It was the worst time of my life, but somehow also one of the best. Of course I hate that my parents died, it still hurts every day, but without that event, I never would have met Emmet.
Sometimes I wonder if my parents sent him to me, knowing he was exactly what I needed.
“Beast!” Ian shouts, answering Emmet’s question.
“Beauty and the Beast,” Judy corrects.
“I didn’t know there was a live action,” Emmet answers.
“It’s pretty good,” I say, sitting on the other side of Judy.
After Ian sucks down his warm chocolate, he hops on the couch between me and Judy, putting the kids squished in the middle, and me and Emmet on the end.
I guess I’m spending Valentine’s Day with Emmet after all. We’re not doing much of anything, but it’s the best Valentine’s I’ve ever had.