We Are Free

A Crazy Idea

Saturday comes and we go to the doctor. Since our one year is a Monday Zac is taking the kids and we are going to do something. I have some stuff planned and it's going to be special.
     We drop the kids off at Zac's. We go to the doctor. I sit in the waiting room and Halo checks me in. I'm nervous. It's just a standard check up but still. Finally we see the nurse come out.
"Jason." We get up and go back they weigh me and take my height. I go into the room they assign me. She checks my vitals and asks me questions. She leaves and Halo and I wait.
"I feel stupid." I say.
"Why?" She asks.
"Because you have to make the appointments and check us in and everything."
"Well this is your last one until you turn 18 unless you get sick."
"I know." The doctor comes in and asks me questions. He checks my breathing and my scar from my stab wound. He then asks for a urine test so I give it to him.
     He then wants to take some blood so he brings the stuff in and draws a couple vials of blood. He puts a band aid on me and we are free to go. We leave the doctor and go home.
"So what do you have planned for tonight?" Halo asks me.
"You have to wait and see." I tell her.
"Okay." We go home and I go into the kitchen to do some dishes. She comes in and puts her arms around my waist. I pick her up and put her on the counter. I kiss her neck then her jaw and finally her lips. She smiles at me.
      She lays down to take a nap. While she is sleeping I grab her nicest jeans and her favorite transparent blouse. I put a white tank top to go under it and her black flats. I put it all on a hanger and hang it in the bathroom.
I write a note to her and go into the living room. I grab the laundry basket and grab my nicest jeans and white shirt. I go back to our room and find my red plaid button up and put it on. I shave and put my cologne on that makes her go crazy.
     I leave the bathroom and hear her alarm go off. A half hour later she comes out dressed and ready to go. I tell her to go to the car. She goes to he car and I grab a back pack. I put her swim suit in and mine. I grab some towels to. I go to the truck and we leave.
"What's the bag for?" She asks.
"You will see."
"Where are we going?"
"You will see."
"Uhhhg." I smirk and she looks at me.
"You are an ass." She says
     "Well I try." We arrive and the first place it was our favorite restaurant. We go inside and we are seated.
     "What are you doing?" She asks me.
     "You will see." I tell her.
     "Okay."
     "I love you so much." I say.
     "I love you to." We kiss and I put my arm around her we are seated in a booth. They bring us mozzarella sticks. We eat them then are main dish is brought to us. We eat our food. I pay for it then we leave the restaurant.
     "Where are you taking me?" She asks again. She always has to know what's next.
     "You will see." I take her to a drive in movie. I send her to get snacks and drinks while I set up the back of the truck. I fill it with pillows and blankets and sleeping bags. She comes back. She gets in with me and we take our shoes off we put them in the truck and lay down. She cuddles next me.
     "This is one of the best nights ever." She says.
     "There is more to come." I tell her.
     "Well no matter what even if we just stayed home I still love you and it still would have been perfect."
     "Well even though you are okay with that you are my queen and you deserve the best no matter what." She looks at me with love, thankfullness, and gratefulness. She kisses me on the lips as her token of thanks. The movie starts and we watch it. When it is over we pack up and leave. I take her to the creek were we had our first date and hand her her swim suit. She looks at me.
     "The creek. We haven't been here since our first date." She says in shock.
     "I thought it would be a good place to end this." She nods her head and we put our swim suits on. We go to the water and I lead her to the place where we had our first kiss. We go under the water fall and she ties her hair up. We sit on the bench and watch the little fish swim by us. She lays her head on my shoulder.
     "You are the best." She says.
     "I can make your night a whole lot more special if you want me to."
     "Maybe." We kiss and everything around me goes away. I love her so much and I just know that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with her. I want to. We look at each other and I look  into her eyes. They were beautiful as always. No matter what she does or goes through she is my girl and I will always love her. We kiss again and I grab her waist.
     "Yeah." She mumbles.  I know what she means I lift her onto my lap and she gets off and grabs my hand. We leave the water and go to the truck. We grab the towels and wrap areselves in them. We get in the car and go home. We go inside and put the bag away we quickly go to the bedroom. I pick her up and lay her on the bed I get on top of her and kiss her. She pulls me close and I kiss her neck.
                                   ****
She lays next to me and we decide to shower. We get up and go to the bathroom. She turns on the shower and I pull her close. I kiss the side of her neck. She smirks before we get in the shower and wash up. We get out and I dry off.
     "Damn I forgot clothes."
     "Wow I'm shocked." I laugh and leave the bathroom. I put on some shorts and grab the small bouquet of flowers I bought and the card. I lay them on her nightstand and she comes out of the bathroom.
     I go in and put deodorant on. I leave and see her holding the card reading it close to tears. I decided to write a card for her. She looks at me and runs into my arms. She puts her head on my chest.
     "I love you so much." She says.
     "I love you to." I kiss the top of her head and she looks at me. I go to my dresser drawer and open the top one. I look under the shirts and see the small box I have. I go to her and she looks at me funny. I hand it to her and she opens it. I got her a charm bracelet she has been hinting about for her birthday. She looks at me again and I smile at her.
     "I do listen you know." I say to her. She looks at me with no words. She looks like she is trying to say thank you but can't. "It's okay your welcome."
     I put it on her wrist and she kisses me. She grabs a card and a box. I read the card and kiss her cheek. I open the box and pull out a basketball jersey. On the back it said Jordan, 23, Bulls I smile.
     "You like it?" She asks me.
      "I love it thank you." I kiss her and fold the jersey back up. I lay it on my dresser. We decide to go to bed and as we lay there cuddling I think so many things.
    I think I have the best girl in the world and most of all I think she is mine I found her. She falls asleep and I kiss her forehead if today could last forever I would make it but I can't. I fall asleep knowing that I have had the best girlfriend ever.
      I wake up the next morning Halo wasn't in bed. I go to the kitchen smelling bacon and cinnamon rolls. I walk down the hallway the wood floor a shock to my bare feet. I see Halo standing at the stove. I walk up to her and she kisses my cheek.
     "Smells good I'm hungry." I say laying my hand on my stomach.
     "It's almost done." She smiles.  I sit at the table and we talk. It was Sunday meaning that we have to work out a plan for next week. We work on it and she puts my food down. We start eating.
     "I was thinking." I say.
     "Shit." She leans back.
     "No I'm not dominating the world yet. I was thinking I should go back to school."
     "How?" She asks not really shocked.
      "I will take online classes. Just hear me out. You got to walk across the stage so did Zac and even though I have a reason why I didn't I still want to. I want to look at my kids one day and say I did it. I raised two kids, had a job, and graduated high school. I don't want a GED, I want a diploma." I say to her.
     "This isn't about me just wanting to do it to do it. It's about my future. Emily and Andrew's future. I want them to say if Jace can do that then I can to. I can be anything I want to be. I want them to know that no dream is to big."
     "Okay do you want me to be honest?" She asks me.
     "Yes."
     "I think if you think you can do it then do it. Be realistic though, I'm not going to put you down for that because you should get the chance to walk across the stage as well. Babe if it what you really really want to do then go for it. I have seen you take stuff no one should ever have to.
     Yet you still came out on top. You took it and turned it into a life for you and for your brother and sister. You faced all of your fears. So if you really want to go back to school and get your diploma, walk across that stage, then I'm there with you the whole way."
     "You think so?" I ask her.
     "I know so, I know you can do it."
     "Well I have to think about it some more but it's something I'm considering doing it."
     "Yeah and you have to look for a school."
     "Yeah that's going to be the hard part. I have 3 years of school because I dropped out in 9th grade."
     "Yeah I can't believe your dad signed the paper."
     "He was drunk it wasn't that hard."
     "Yeah true. Well like I said if you want to do it then do it. I will support you no matter what."
     "Thanks now what time are they coming home."
     "I don't know. I need to go to the store and I could get them." She says.
     "I could go."
     "You don't want to."
      "Why?" Halo looks at me funny and I get the reason why.
      "I can do it."
      "You know what I'm going to let you win this argument just because I'm curious to see how this turns out."
     "Hey!" I say offended.
     "Well I need a laugh."
      "Okay fine make a list and I will get it." I put my plate in the sink and get dressed. I put on the basketball jersey and some jeans. I put my shoes on and use the bathroom. I grab the list, give her a kiss, and leave. I go to Zac's and get them.
     "Babe I'm home." I say as I walk through the front door.
     "Well I don't got dinner ready so you are screwed." He says.
     "Nah I can cook. I just ain't sharing with you." We laugh a little.
      "How were they?"
       "Good. We watched a movie and I took them to the park. I gave them baths. They had fun and now I am tired. I want to take a nap."
     "Dude it isn't even 1:00."
     "I don't care." I laugh and get the kids. I put them in the car. I go to the store. I put Andrew in the cart seat and Emily next to me. We go to the feminine isle. I look at the pads.
     "What the hell. Emily can you help me?" She looks at me like I am nuts.
     "No, I don't know what this stuff is."
     "Okay I think I need to call Halo." I call Halo.
     "Hello." She says.
     "I'm stuck what do you use?"
     "Always."
    "Okay but there is so many boxes which kind?"
     "The long."
     "Which color is that?"
     "Ugh Jace it is the green box."
     "Okay I found it."
     "Get me something sweet."
     "Okay love you."
     "Love you to." I hang up and go to the flowers. The kids help me pick out a thing of flowers. I go to the candy isle. I get her favorite candies. I get ice cream and go to check out. I pay and leave.
     "Emily, promise me that when you have to use this stuff only go with Halo." I tell her.
     "Okay." She replies not caring. I go home and give Halo her food she thanks me. I make lunch for the kids after they are done eating I lay them down for a nap. I sit next to Halo.
     "You are funny." She says.
     "Why?"
     "What did you do before you called me?" She asks me trying not to laugh.
     "I asked Emily then I called you."
     "Did Emily know what she was doing?"
     "No, I told her to have you take her."
     "Well yeah who else is going to do it?"
     "Good question." She starts laughing and I kiss her. We lay there until one of the kids get up. I get Andrew a snack of his choice. Emily gets up and I get her a snack of her choice.
     "Can we go out for dinner?" Emily asks me.
     "I don't know you have school tomorrow." I say.
     "Please!" She says.
     "Please Jace." Andrew says now in board.
     "I have to talk to Halo." I go to the living room and talk to Halo.
     "Hey the kids wanna go out for dinner. What do you think?" I ask her.
      "I don't care." She says.
      "Okay. I don't wanna cook." I say.
     "Me either."
     "Okay get your shoes on we are going out for dinner." I tell them.
     "Yay!" Andrew says.
     "Where we going?" Emily asks me.
     "I'm not sure."
     "Jace, I need help with my shoes." Andrew says.
      "Okay honey sit down." He sits down on the couch and I help him put his shoes on. I put his sweater on him and Emily in her sweater. I put my shoes on and Halo just puts her flats on. We get in the car and decide where we are going. We go to the restaurant and decide what we want to eat.
     "I'm excited for school tomorrow." Andrew says.
     "Yeah." I say.
     "I like school." He says.
     "That's good."
     "I like school to. We have lunch together." Emily says.
     "I herd."
     "Yeah, I like it we can play together." We finish and go home. I get the kids in their pjs and ready for school. I pack lunches and put the kids down to bed. I grab my laptop and start looking at schools. I save a few websites that I will look at closer later. We go to bed and so does Halo. It's going to be a long day tomorrow.
*Next Morning*
I wake up and get Andrew up and ready to go. Halo has Emily today. I get him dressed and breakfast. I brush his teeth and get ready in between the little things.
     I get him on the bus and Halo gets Emily on the bus. We head to work. I clock in and so does she. I start thinking that maybe I should go see my dad. I push it out of my mind for now and do my work. The idea comes back and makes it impossible to do my work.
     I try to push it out of my mind but I can't. Minutes go by like they were never there as I'm caught up in my thoughts. Lunch comes and I go to the lunch room. I sit next to Zac and Halo sits next to me.
     "What's up?" Zac asks.
     "I'm alone with my thoughts." I say.
     "Yikes that's a scary thought." He says.
      "No kidding."
     "Well what you thinking about?"
     "I was thinking I should go see my dad." He smacks me in the head and rub the area where he smacked me.
     "Are you nuts?"
     "Yes, I am."
     "Why did you think that?"
     "Well I don't know."
     "Are you going?"
     "I don't know. It was just a thought."
     "Well if you want to who is going to stop you?"
      "I know that much and he can't hurt me."
     "No I can go with you if you want me to."
      "I think I will be fine." I already know it wasn't an offer or a question.
     "I will go with you."
     "Only if you want to."
     "Okay when are we going?"
     "I don't know both kids have a dentist appointment Friday I have to pull them out of school. Then on Saturday they have eye appointments. I think Emily may need glasses."
     "Why?"
     "She has had trouble seeing words when we read and she says that the tv is blurry and when the teacher writes something on the board it's hard for her to see. She says that she has to sit in the front or she can't see it."
     "Oh the poor kid."
     "Yeah so Halo made appointments for them."
     "Okay and the prison doesn't allow visits on Sunday. How about Monday?"
     "I gotta get Emily from school she doesn't have practice but Andrew does."
     "Well just have Halo take her with to Andrew's practice."
     "Yeah true but I haven't talked to her about it."
     "Haven't talked to me about what?" Halo says.
     "I was thinking I was going to see my dad but that would mean on Monday you need to get both kids from school. Emily don't have practice."
     "I think you are nuts but if you really want to do it who am I to hold you back he can't do anything. I will take Emily."
     "Thank you." I kiss her cheek and we pack up we get back to work. When work is over we get in the car and go to the school. I get Andrew and she gets Emily. I get him in his baseball outfit.
     We go to practice and he gets all dirty. He comes to me for water every once and a while. When practice is over he basically falls asleep. I put him in the car and we go home. Monday I'm going to see my dad and it's going to come quick. I'm already scared.
     I wanna go but with everything he has done I'm scared out of my mind. I have to deal with the kids then I will deal with that. We get home and I get him in the bath. Emily was already bathed and in pjs. When I get done with Andrew we eat dinner.
      He falls asleep at the table so I just put him to bed. The tooth fairy still hasn't come for him since he lost his tooth. It was never found and he is upset about it. I keep telling him to be patient with it. I put Emily to bed and talk to Halo for a long time about my dad and everything going on.
      I eventually go to bed and so does she. The next day it's the same thing only I got Emily. Emily don't have practice on Monday's but she has it every other day of the week. Andrew doesn't have practice on Friday. I take Emily to her practice. We go home after.
      The next day I have Andrew. Thursday I have Emily and Friday I have Andrew. They both have dentist appointments. Friday Halo and I get them from school and take them to the dentist.
     Andrew wanted to go with Halo so she goes with him. They both have good teeth and no cavities. They are healthy and happy. We go home and I get them a snack.
     "Jace." Emily says.
     "What?"
     "When we go get my eyes checked tomorrow can you go with me?"
     "Yeah I can do that."
     "Okay I'm scared."
     "I know but you will be okay I promise."
     "Okay." We finish with what we are doing and continue with our day. I have 2 more days before I go see him. I called and made an appointment. I am still scared and worried the kids don't know about it though.
     I'm still hesitant about it. Zac is to he is very worried about it but he insists on going. The next day we go to the eye doctor. I go back with Emily and they do what they need to do.
     "Okay she does need a pair of glasses." The doctor says.
     "Really?" I say.
     "Yes but since you are not 18 we need someone to sign the form."
     "Umm my girlfriend is 20 she can sign it."
     "Okay sounds good." Halo signs the form and Emily picks out some glasses. She picks out some Hello Kitty glasses. They have Hello Kitty on the sides and a small sticker on the corner of the glasses.
     We go out for lunch, a reward for doing good. When we are done with lunch we go home. I do chores and Halo helps out. When I'm done it's dinner time. Halo and I tag team on dinner and getting the kids in bed.
      We don't do much the rest of the night. I just wanna get this visit over with. I don't know what to expect of it. There is only one thing I can do, I can only pray and hope for the best.
(my cousin added these (she is 4)😍💅🏻💍💍🌺🏩🏦🏦💒)