the ultimatum

meeting the twins

He is about five minutes away from the coffee shop, he can't believe he's put in 5 hours to drive up to meet his potential children.

His phone pings, it was a message from Ashley- he slightly glances at it and skim reads it as he is driving
'We are here now, small booth in the back corner x'

He was getting increasingly nervous the closer he was getting, his heart was pounding, his hands were sweating, his legs were shaky. He's so nervous because these tests he's doing today determines his future and who and where he spends it with.

He finally pulls up at the coffee shop, he glances in the window and he can see Ashley who hasn't really changed one bit and two young happy children.

It's now or never he thought, he got out his truck and stretched his legs and grabbed his bag where the two tests were.

He walks towards the door and enters the cafe, the bell above the door rang making Ashley glance at him and stand up and approach him with a wide smile.

"Tim it's so nice you're here!! You look fit and well" she says bringing him into an embrace. Tim awkwardly smiles and hugs her back and pulls away scanning her up and down.
"you look well too! So where's these little monsters huh?" Tim smiles glancing around the coffee shop awkwardly.

"Right this way, I hope you dont mind I told them you're their dad." She smiles brightly and Tim just nods and follows her to the booth where Arlo and Avalynn were sat playing with colouring pens and paper.

"hey kiddos, this is your daddy" Ashley says softly  taking a seat and Tim sitting next to her. Arlo squints his little eyes at Tim then smiles brightly with Avalynn
"hewo daddy" they both brightly smile with their teeth showing.

"hey kiddos, you guys are adorable" Tim coos softly, both of the twins became shy.
"Okay. What do you guys want to eat?" Ashley asks looking at the menu.
"I'll just have a coffee" Tim says rubbing his sweaty hands off his jeans.

Ashley picks up on Tim's awkwardness but doesn't say anything just yet.
"what about you two, what do yous want?" Ashley asks the twins.
"cwake!!" Arlo claps his hands
"icecweammmm" Avalynn demands
"okay, you two sit there don't move- me and your daddy are going to order at the counter"Ashley says getting up and pulling Tim's hand

Tim was a bit skeptical to leave the kids on their own at the table..fair enough they can see them from the counter but they are only three..

Tim and Ashley walk up to the counter, Tim kept glancing back at the toddlers who were sat colouring in.

"sooo does Lucy know your here" Ashley asks.
"Nope." Tim replies keeping it short.
"Congrats on the engagement, when's the wedding?" Ashley asks invasively touching Tim's shoulder and rubbing his arm.
"look I'm here to find out if them kids are mine. Not here to talk about me, still having forgave you after the hospital" Tim says dryly looking at the two toddlers who were still colouring.

"Come on Tim, that was like what 3 years ago you've moved on" Ashley says rolling her eyes, Tim gave her a pointed look.
"how's the kids, how did they react when you told them I could possibly be there dad" Tim asks Ashley as they are still waiting in the queue.

"they were happy they could have a dad like the other kids in their day care play group." Ashley replies flicking her fake blonde hair over her shoulder, possibly trying to get Tim's attention, but Tim wasn't looking at her- he was still looking at the toddlers.

"what if they aren't mine?" Tim asks now looking at Ashley. Ashley shifts on the balls of her feet awkwardly
"they are yours Tim. I swear." Ashley promises.

"okay..well if they are mine- what will the arrangement be?" Tim asks again stepping forward in the queue with Ashley.
"Well we aren't moving and I don't want Lucy involved, so like I said it's us or Lucy" Ashley says and before Tim even had time to think it was their turn to get served.

"hello welcome, what can I do for you?" The young man asked
"hey can I have one black coffee, a caramel latte, and a icecream Sunday with a chocolate cake slice please" Ashley says happily.
"okay. Not a problem. That will be 12$" the man says, Ashley turns to Tim and smiles
"Tim will you be a gentleman?" She asks and Tim rolls his eyes and grabs his money clip and hands over the cash.
"thanks" the young cashier says walking off to make the food.

Tim and Ashley stood there awkwardly and quietly waiting for their food.
They got handed their food and they walked to the table.

"ooo yum thankywou" Arlo smiles and digs into his cake.
Avalynn just eats her ice cream straight away, the twins were tucking into their food as if they've never been fed before.
"Slow down you guys, you guys are acting like yous have never had any candy" Tim chuckles.

Avalynn looks at Tim and giggles "Mommy doesn't let us eat cwandy. She makes us eat a veggies all the twime" she explains going back to her icecream.

Tim raises his eyebrows at Ashley
"what!! I can't have fat kids can I?" Ashley asks and Tim shakes his head in disgust, it took him back when she made him do a whole 30 diet. The more he looks at the twins they do look quite small for their age.

Tim glares at Ashley "They need a lot of different foods to grow ash!! Why would you care what they look like, alongest if they are healthy. Gosh!" Tim snaps angrily
"Okay chill. So we doing this test or not." Ashley asks taking a sip of her latte. Tim was angry with her..wait no- angry was an understatement.