We Are Free

New Opportunities

     "I will take the job." I tell him.
     "That's great. I will give you a book. It has everything you need to know and do on a daily basis in it."
    "Okay when do I start?"
    "The 20th."
     "Okay." I take the book and we walk out to the shop he blows a whistle and they all look at us.
"Starting February 20th Jace will be your new manger. I am leaving and going to a different state and Jace will be taking over. I expect that you listen to him and treat him as though he is worthy of the job. You may continue." He announces. They all clap. I do my work and we go to lunch.
"Guess what?" Zac asks me at lunch
"What?"
     "I met a girl."
     "That doesn't surprise me." I roll my eyes.
     "No not a one night thing like a girl friend type girl."
    "How in the hell did you manage that?"
     "I was at the store and I bumped into her. We started talking and I got her number we went on a date last night."
     "Does she know you have a son?"
     "Yeah I covered that right away."
     "Is she okay with it?"
     "Yeah."
     "Well how did she find out."
     "Well I handed her my phone so she could put her number in it and she saw a picture of Zane and asked who he was. I told her that he was my son. She was totally cool with it and thinks he is the cutest thing ever."
     "Well what's her name?"
     "Chloe."
     "That's nice."
     "She knows about you and Halo and the kids. She was a little worried about competition when she saw a pic of Halo. I told her that you two where a couple and she was moved in and everything. She was cool after that."
     "Okay."
    "She thought that Emily and Andrew where your kids but when I explained everything to her she got it."
     "What picture did you show her?"
     "This one."
He shows me, it was a picture of me holding Emily and Halo next to me holding Andrew.
     "No wonder." I say.
     "Well I didn't tell you when you where recovering because I thought you had enough to deal with at one time. I completely spaced it yesterday."
     "Well I am happy for you does she know I was stabbed?"
     "No I just told her you weren't doing to good and need some time and she was okay with that."
     "Okay."
     "She knows about your dad and that he was abusive but she doesn't know about all the scars you have."
     "Yeah they are there but they are small except for the new one."
     "Yeah."
     "Well you deserve it."
      "Thanks now that I am a dad I just have a much more desire to settle down and find a girl that I wanna be with not one I wanna be with for one night."
     "Yeah that's normal. I feel the same way."
    "But you have it, Halo wouldn't mind settling down and having a baby one of these days."
     "Yeah I know but I am so young yet. I am only 17. I would love to settle down and have a baby but now just isn't the right time maybe in a couple years."
     "Yeah that's okay you already have 2 kids why make it harder with a newborn and start having kids at 17. You have so much ahead of you."
     "Yeah that's true I do and right now my life is perfect it can get more perfect but for now I like it just the way it is."
     "Me to." We get back to work and after work I go to Anna's to pick up the kids. Halo goes to the store. I walk in and they run up to me.
      "Hey honey!" Anna says to me.
      "Hi." I say.
      "Well they were good Emily's homework is done. She did good at dance."
      "Okay I have some news."
     "What's that?"
     "You are looking at the new manager of the shop!"
     "That's wonderful honey I am so happy for you!" She gives me a hug. "You will be an amazing manager. You work so hard and I am glad you got it. You deserve it."
    "Thank you." She hands me Emily's and Andrew's back packs. I put one on and take the other one by the handle. I pick Andrew up and Emily takes my hand. We leave I put Andrew in the car and buckle him up. I put the back packs in and make sure Emily is buckled up. I get in.
      "Where's Halo?" Emily asks me.
      "She went to the store she will meet us at home."
      "Okay."
       "Well how was school?"
       "Good we played a game in gym."
      "What game?"
      "Red light green light."
       "I use to play that game at school."
      "Yeah it was fun. We watched a movie about a book we read in class."
      "Really, what movie?"
      "Charlotte's Web."
     "Was it good?"
     "Yeah I liked the movie better though."
      "Yeah that's okay." We go home and I look through her back pack. She hangs it up and I change my clothes. Halo walks through the door. I run out and grab the rest of the bags. I come back in and shiver.
      "Damn it is cold out." I say shivering.
      "Yeah I know." She says laughing. We put things away. She hands me my card back.
      "Why thank you."
      "You are welcome."
      "Well I told your mom."
      "What she do?"
      "She was happy for me. She gave me a hug."
      "That's my mom."
       "Yeah."
      "Honestly to her you are the son she never had since Ash died."
      "Really.
      "Yeah she likes to think she adopted you."
      "Well she kinda did."
"Yeah, that's true."
"Well, I think it's sweet." We make dinner and Halo does the dishes while I give the kids a bath. After their baths I put them to bed. Halo and I go to bed soon as well. We just go to work and continue as normal until Monday.
Zac's girlfriend had to go out of town to help her sick dad so he said he would take the kids. Tuesday it is Valentine's Day I wake up early and Halo was still sleeping. The kids help me make breakfast for her. We make her pancakes, eggs, and bacon.
We put it on a tray with a card and a flower. The kids wake her up and I walk in. She smiles I put the tray down on her lap. I give her a kiss.
"You enjoy it I have to feed these two and pack them." I say, she nods her head. We leave the room and I give them some breakfast. While they eat I pack them a bag. They finish breakfast. Zac stops by and picks them up.
      "They leave?" Halo asks me.
       "Yeah Zac has them."
       "Okay" We kiss and she sits down.
       "So I was thinking we could go to dinner and come home watch a movie."
      "That sounds perfect." We kiss a couple times she smiles.
      "I love you."
      "I love you to." My we kiss again and chill.  "Hey babe." She looks at me.
"Yeah."
"I have to run to the store real quick."
"Okay." She leaves and I do the dishes then I think it is the perfect time to do my surprise for her. I get the bear I bought her I sit it on the bed. I know what she went to the store for and where she is going when she gets home. I lay a big bouquet of flowers over one of the teddy bears leg.
I put a box of chocolate on the other leg. I put a ring box in front of it all with a card inbetween the ring box and the other items. I go to the living room and sit down.
She walks back through the door and puts her bag down. She hangs her coat up and walks into the bedroom. I follow her and she walks right past it.
"How was your trip?" I ask her.
"It was good."
"That's good." She walks back and sees it. She looks down and touches the bears ear.
"What did you do?"
"I have no clue what you are talking about." I say shrugging.
"Bull crap you are the best."
"Keep looking." She pick up the flowers they are her favorite. They are many different bright colors. She smells them and smiles. She lays them down gently and grabs the card. She takes it out with a smile on her face. I have one to. She looks at the card.
"Sometimes I lay awake at night and think about how I deserve you. I forget things I often screw up. I get on your nerves, I make you laugh. I hate to see you cry but I can't live my life with out you. I love your laugh your smile and the way you light up a room.
I lay awake at night thinking why do I deserve you because you are so perfect and I am so imperfect. No matter what I do though I will always love everything about you. I love you more than words can ever say. Happy Valentine's Day I love you. Love Jace."
She gives me a hug.
"You are so sweet babe I love you so much. You are perfect in every way to me. "
"I love you to." She looks down again and sees the box. She opens it and sees the ring she puts her hand over her mouth. I take the ring out and put it on her finger.
"It's a promise ring. It means that we keep all are promises. It is a reminder that one day 2 more rings will be added to that finger and we will have one more set of little feet running around on the floor. I want you to be happy." I say.
"I am, I am so happy." We kiss and she looks at the ring.
"I love it thank you. It is perfect in every way. You are the best boyfriend a girl can ever have. You are so sweet and so handsome. I look forward to the day where there are 2 more rings on this finger and there is one more set of little feet running around." I smile and kiss her neck. I put my arms around her and kiss her neck again.
"Thank you."
"I am hungry though."
"Well what do you want for lunch."
"I don't know." We look around in the kitchen. We settle on some chili. We sit down and eat. We watch movies and cuddle. I rub her tummy for a little bit. 5:00 we get dressed.
I wear a blue button up plaid shirt and dark wash jeans. Halo wears some dark jeans and and a tank top blouse that looks like a short flowy nightgown. She does some simple make up.
She puts on some converse and I put on my tennis shoes and we leave. We go to the restaurant. We decide to get a booth. We sit next to each other.
It was a round booth meant for 2. We order are drinks and food. We sit there and talk I put my arm around her.
"I will be back."
"Okay." She gets up and walks away. I sit there for a little bit. Zac texts me. I reply to him and Halo comes back. She sits down.
"Anything good happen?" She asks me.
"I just got a text from yours truly that's all."
"Oh is he using them as chick bait?" We both know he had a girlfriend we just like to mess with him.
"No, he is giving them sugar."
"That doesn't surprise me."
"I know he asked how I get them to bed when they are on a sugar high. I told him I don't give them sugar before bed. He called me a dick and that was it."
"Just wait until they settle down usally after a sugar high they get tired when they get tired lay them down."
"I know that and you know that but he don't know that. He needs to learn on his own."
"Yeah true." We get are food and eat. She puts her head on my shoulder.
"You were wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember that day at the creek?We where walking home. You said that one day I would be where you were. This girl would come along and I will love her. Even though I love her no matter what I do she will never be mine."
"I remeber."
"Well you were wrong. That girl has come along and I love her. She loves me and she is mine. She is right next to me and I never plan on letting her go. If I where to let her go I would die."
"You really mean that?"
"Yeah, the day you stop loving me will be the day I die and the day I let you get away I will die. I won't ever let you go because I love you to much."
"I love you to and I don't know what I would do with out you. I feel the exact same way. I don't want you to leave and I don't plan on letting that happen." Our fingers interlock and she smiles. We pay and leave. We go to the store and get things for the movie night. We rent a couple movies and go home. We go home and pop popcorn.
We put some candy in it and put a movie in. Halo puts on a pair of spandex and a long shirt. I put on some bed shorts no shirt. We lay down in bed and watch the movie.
We move to the other one. We watch that movie to. When we are done with that movie we put are bowls away. We go back to bed and lay down. We cuddle I rub her tummy until she falls asleep. I kiss her cheek and cover her up. I cover up and turn the light off. Today was perfect.
Monday comes and it is time for my new job. I have to wear jeans, boots, and a nice shirt. I have to bring my other one in case I work on cars. Halo and I do what we need to do and get to work.
     When we get there she clocks in and I do the same I go to my new office. Dan cleaned it out and I set my stuff down. I see a folded piece of paper. I pick it up it was a note from Dan. I read it and smile.
     I put it in a drawer in the desk. I set everything up and get to work. I make sure that everything is up to date and we have what we need to fix the cars. This was actually pretty easy. When I finish I have 3 hours left I decide to fix a few cars.
     I take my shirt off and put my other one on. I leave my office and get a car. I fix two cars before it is time to go. I go back to my office. I wash my hands in that bathroom. I change my shirt and grab what I need. Halo and I leave. We get the kids.
      We go home and I go through Emily's bag while Halo starts dinner. I finish dinner and we eat. Halo gives them a bath while I do the dishes and clean the kitchen. I put them to bed and we just chill out for a bit before going to bed. I like my new job.
     I am looking forward to continuing it. Over the next week I keep doing it and I am proud of myself. I love doing it and look forward to it. It is now March. Emily only has 3 month left of school and she graduates.
     It is getting warm out and spring is coming. Zac's birthday is next month. His mom wants to throw him a big bash. Halo and I are still together. We argue over little things here and there. That is normal though.
     The kids are growing like weeds. Tuesday we go to work and everything continues as normal. Around 1:00 my phone goes off. It was Anna. I answer it a little scared.
"Hello." She never calls me so my breathe hitches in my throat scared of what she will say.
"Hi honey."
"What's up." I manage to get out.
"Andrew is sick he started coughing so I gave him some medicine. Shortly after he threw it up then he threw up his breakfast. He is complaining of a headache and keeps coughing. He keeps crying for you."
"Okay I will be there as soon as I can."
"Okay." I hang up and peek my head out.
"Halo come here." She comes to me.
"Andrew got sick and I need to go get him."
"Okay babe." I let them know I am leaving and get my things I head out. I go to Anna's I go in. She has Andrew in her arms. He was crying when he sees me he puts his arms out.
"What's wrong?" I ask him while grabbing him.
"My head hurts."
"Okay baby."
"Um I will get Emily and take her to dance then drop her off after that."
"Okay thank you."
"Yup." I leave. I go home and he was already in his pjs. I lay him down on the couch. I cover him up. He coughs. I give him some coughing medicine. He swallows it I put the bottle down he starts whining.
     I put my hands up and he throws up the medicine in my hands. He starts crying. I go to the kitchen and wash my hands. I go back to him. He was still crying I pick him up.
"Oh it's okay baby. What's wrong?" I ask him once more.
"My head hurts." That could be why he is throwing up.
"Okay lay down and go to sleep okay."
"Okay." I lay him down and cover him up again. He falls asleep. I make him some soup and give it to him. He eats his soup and doesn't throw it up. He keeps coughing so I try to give him some more medicine. He doesn't throw it up either. That's good Halo comes home around 5:30. Emily was home.
"Hey babe."
"Hey."
"How is he?" She asks.
"He isn't puking anymore but he is coughing and has a head ache. I gave him medicine and soup."
"Well I stopped and got some more."
"Okay." Andrew is laying on me he is sleeping. He is covered up. I am supporting him. Halo puts the bag in the kitchen. She starts dinner. I lay Andrew in his bed.  I go in the kitchen and put my arms around Halo's waist. I kiss her neck. She turns and we kiss.
"What are you making?" I ask him.
"You will see."
"Okay sounds good." I leave the kitchen and pick up the living room Emily folds blankets. We go to her room and she picks up her toys. I help her make her bed and she puts her stuffed animals on it.
     Dinner was done now so we eat. Andrew didn't want anything. After dinner Halo gives Emily a bath while I clean the kitchen. It is nice to have help around the house.
     I lay Emily down for bed. After she is down for bed Halo and I sit down on the bed. It was about 7:00. My phone rings.
"Speaking of nimrods." Halo says rolling her eyes. We laugh a little. We really don't give him enough credit.
"I know right." I say. "Hey Zac what's up."
"Thank god are you busy." He is out of breath and sounds rushed.
"No why?"
"I need someone to watch Zane my mom was hurt and I need to be at the hospital. Anna is busy. Can you take him?" He asks. I have a hard time understanding him.
"Um yeah I don't see why not."
"You may need to keep him over night."
"That's fine I am not going to be at work tomorrow."
"Okay thank you I will be there soon."
"Okay bye."
"Bye."
"What's that?" Halo asks.
"Zac he needs us to watch Zane. His mom got hurt so he needs us to take him. He might be here over night." I say putting my phone on the charger.
"Okay."
"With Andrew not really feeling well and he wants me I'm not going to work."
"Okay that's fine."
"I don't think I need to do anything I have it all set to go."
"Sounds good. I am going to take a shower."
"Alright I will be here." She gets up and leaves. 10 minutes later Zac comes in. He has Zane in his car seat. He has a bag over his shoulder. He has his play pen in the other hand and a diaper bag over his other shoulder. I take the car seat and set it down I take the play pen. He sets the bags down.
"There is everything he needs in here there is bottle here with some juice he was drinking on it." He says still out of breath.
"Okay what's wrong with your mom?" I ask.
"She was trying to clean the gutters and she fell off the ladder. She is seriously hurt. It's not fatal but I didn't find out until she called me. A neighbor kid found her and called 911 thank god."
"That is good."
"I have to go though thank you again."
"No problem." He leaves I take Zane out of his car seat. He is almost 8 months old. I balance him on my arm I put his bags in my room. I leave his car seat by the door.
     I set up his play pen in my room to. I give him his bottle of juice. I go through the bag. He had clothes, blankets, diapers, some dry cereal, Gerber bits, Gerber food, diaper wipes, pacifier, a sweater, and more.
"Looks like your daddy goes all out hu buddy." I say. He smiles and squeals. I smile. "Yeah I know." I give him a toy that Zac packed and take his bottle. I set his bottle on the counter. I set him on the couch. He gets up and stands up he leans on me. Halo comes out and he grabs for her. She picks him up and sets him on her lap. He claps and smiles.
"He is a happy baby."
"Yes he is." We just chill. I change Zane's diaper and Halo heads to bed. I put Zane in some footies and lay him down. He starts crying so I take him out and rock him. I sway until he falls alseep. I lay him back down and I lay on the couch.
    I fall asleep eventually though. I wake up the next morning and Emily was dressed. Zane was in Halo's arms. I take Zane and get Emily to the bus. Halo leaves for work. I eat something and feed Zane.
     I get some decent clothes on. I text Zac. He has been at the hospital all night with his mom. She broke 3 ribs, her collar bone, and her arm. She will be in the hospital for a while. I yawn and hang onto Zane. He lays on me while I watch tv. I let him play on the floor. I check on Andrew.
     I give him some more medicine and soup. He stays in his room. I grab Zane and do some house chores. I put some toys away and get Andrew's soup bowl. I get him some water and juice. 12:00 I feed Zane and lay him down with some juice.
      He goes to sleep. Around 3 I put Zane in the car and Andrew in the car. I go to the school. I take Zane in but leave Andrew outside. I lock the car he was sleeping. I go inside and Emily runs up to me.
"Why is Zane with you?"
"Zac hasn't claimed him yet."
"Oh okay." We go to leave and as we do this mom gives me a look.
"You know you shouldn't leave your son in the car and aren't you a little young to be a dad?" She says obviously disgusted.
"He is not my son. He is my brother. I get my sister from school. The baby is my older brother's son." I say while Emily puts Zane's pacifier in his mouth.
"Where are you parents? They should be doing it." She says. My blood starts boiling.
"Look, my mom is dead she died a couple years ago in a car crash while I was in the car. I walked away but she didn't. My dad is in jail serving a life sentence. I dropped out of school at 15 to get a job and raise my brother and sister. I am 17. No one tells me how to raise them. My girlfriend and I are doing just fine.
He is 3 the car isn't to warm or to cold. The doors are locked and I was gone for 5 minutes. He is sick and I can't take him in. You raise your daughter how you want and I will raise my brother and sister how I want. All that matters is I do my best they have all they could ever want and need and they are happy. Have a good day." She gives me a dirty look and walks away with her daughter in her hand. I put Emily and Zane in the car. I couldn't just sit there and let her talk to me like that.
     Even though I do get praise and told I am an inspiration I do get hate. It made my blood boil watching her talk to me like that. I go home and Zac texts me asking if I can take Zane another night. I say yes. He was there when I needed him.
     One time he took Emily and Andrew for a whole week. He was there for me now I am there for him. I take Emily to dance Andrew came in but fell alseep. I brought Zane in he was sleeping in his car seat.
     I was holding Andrew as he slept. When Emily was done she grabs her bag and I grab Zane and we go home. We get home I go through her back pack. Halo takes care of the kids while I cook dinner. After dinner I take the kids while Halo cleans.
      I give the kids a bath and Halo puts them to bed. I change Zane's diaper and I get a text from Zac he will be here around noon tomorrow to get him. I lay Zane down for bed. I take a shower. After my shower I go to the living room. I sit down and Halo puts her legs over mine. She runs her fingers through my hair.
"I envy you." She says.
"Why?"
"Your hair dries so much faster."
"Yeah I know I need to shave tomorrow to."
"Yeah."
"I will get Emily ready and to the bus if you pack the lunches."
"Okay I can do that."
"Alright." We go to bed I wake up to my alarm. I grab Zane and set him in Emily's bed. He crawls around her until she wakes up. He looks at her and squeals. I take him back.
"Okay let's go it's Friday you can do it." I say cheering her on.
"Okay okay." She gets up and I leave her room so she can get dressed. I go to the living room. I change Zane's diaper. Halo hooks Emily's lunch box to her back pack. She puts her back pack by the door. Emily comes out.
     I give her some toast and a banana for breakfast. She eats then I do her hair. She puts her shoes on. She puts her coat on. I wrap Zane in a blanket. I put my shoes on and she puts hers on.
      I grab her back pack. We go outside she puts her back pack on. I give her a hug and a kiss. She runs up to the bus and gets on. I go back inside. Zane waves at her. I put Zane on the floor to play. I give Halo a kiss and she leaves for work.
    I give Zane some toys and use the bathroom. I come back out and grab Zane again. I take him to my room. I lay him on my bed and get him some clothes. I take him to the bathroom and put a little bit of water in the tub. I give him a bath which he really liked.
     I take him out and dry him off. I put a new diaper on him. I put a shirt and pants on him. I take a comb and run it gently through his hair on his head. He squeals at me. I take him to the kitchen I find something to eat.
     Andrew gets up and he was still coughing but he said he was feeling okay other then that. I give him some cough medicine. I feed Zane and give him some Gerber bits in a sippy cup with out the lid. It had a handle on each side of it.
      Andrew usally uses regular cups or cups with straws. He does still have sippy cups though. When Zane is done eating I clean him up. I put him in his play pen. Andrew lays in the living room. I get dressed and shave.
     I text Zac saying that I need to go to the store and I will drop Zane off when I am done. He texts back okay. I take Zane out of his play pen I set him on the floor. I fold up his play pen and put it in its cover. I pick him up and take it to the door. I put my shoes on.
"Andrew I will be right back okay."
"Okay." I put the play pen in the back of my truck. I go back inside. I pack Zane's stuff up. I make sure the diaper bag has what he needs. I put his bag outside in the truck. I put his diaper bag by his car seat at the door. I get Andrew dressed.
"Where are we going?" Andrew asks.
     "We are going to the store."
     "Why?"
     "We need things."
     "What kind of things?"
     "I have to make a list."
     "Okay." I make a list of the things we need it was 7:30. Zane sits next to me and Andrew sits in the chair and they watch Cartoons while I pay some bills. When I am done it is 8:00. 
     They watch cartoons while I do chores and clean some. When I am done it is 10:30. I put socks and shoes on Zane. I put him in a coat and in his car seat. I put a hoodie on and shoes.
      Andrew puts shoes and a coat on. I put Zane in the car and Andrew in the car. I get in and we go to the store. I put Zane in the child seat I put Andrew on my hip. It's the easiest way so I know I won't lose him. I get what I need to get then leave.
      I go to Zac's I bring Zane inside. I put Zane on the floor. He helps me bring his stuff in. I leave and go home. I put the stuff away. Monday it is back to work.