We Are Free

A Huge Move

It is June 20 baseball season is starting once again. Andrew needs new cleats and that's about it. Zac's birthday is in 8 days. We still haven't decided what to get him. We all have different opinions.
      Halo and I have been talking though. We are thinking we will just all get him something. He isn't having anything big. He just wants us to come over and have cake and a grill out.
     There will be games for the kids and they have to wear their swim suits. They are excited like usual. Emily has been telling me what she wants for her birthday. Zane will be 2 this year. He is getting big to.
     I have been thinking a lot to. I have been really thinking about Zac and the wedding. This September Halo and I will have been together for 2 years plus the 5 we have known each other. I don't think it is the baby she wants more than me to get on one knee and ask her to be mine forever.
      That's what I have been thinking about. Just because I do it doesn't mean we have to get married right away. We can take our time. Before I have kids or get married I wanna graduate. If she turns out pregnant she does what can we do.
     I just don't wanna purposely do it before I graduate and she under stands that. She is okay with it. Sure she gets a little baby fever just because she is in her 20's and has wanted nothing more then to have a family. 
     I have been thinking more about asking her to marry me more than anything. I'm still doing awsome in school. I have gotten report cards and they were all A's.
     When I'm not looking Halo hangs them up. I don't know why. Emily wants school to start again. I don't get summer though. She is getting antsy about it and wants it to start. She is also excited for her birthday.
     She is turning 8. I have her party all planned to. Halo and I have been talking about it. It is still 2 weeks away though. Today I take Andrew to the sports store to get him cleats.
     He picks them out. Tomorrow he goes for his first practice. He is very excited. He gets a little upset that Emily can do her sport when he can't. He knows he just has to be patient but he is still young and doesn't quite understand.
     We go home and pack his bag for tomorrow. He gets in bed and goes to sleep that night more excited than anything. I am taking him tomorrow. Halo and Emily are going to get their toes done.
     Emily loves doing that stuff with her. The next morning I wake Andrew up and he gets dressed. We get ready and grab his bag. We go to the field and his coach welcomes him back. They do some basic drills. They have a water break and snack break.
      He comes to me. I give him his crackers and water. We talk for a little bit. The coach calls him back. They play for another half hour before practice is over. We leave and go home. The girls were home when we get there. Emily shows me her toes. Halo puts her legs over mine and I see hers.
     They did a good job. I just keep thinking about it. I have been saving up for a ring. Since Zac proposed to Chloe. I start to want it more. I know she wants it to. I just want to make her happy and that's what I'm going to do.
*Zac's birthday*
We have gotten him presents and all that. I have gotten Emily's presents to. Saturday we go to his house. There was a bunch of things for the kids. Zane comes running to me. He jumps onto my leg.
     He laughs and I pick him up. I throw him over my shoulder and he laughs more. We walk up to the house. I walk in.
      "Honey I'm home!" I say.
      "Good it's about time." He says. His mom was there and so was Chloe's mom. I put Zane down and he goes over to the drum set I got him and starts banging away.
      "Kids." He rolls his eyes.
I hold Blake and she just lays on me being only two months old. She smiles every once and a while. That kid. The kids play we go outside and Zac and I play basketball.
      "Come on old man is that all you have?" I ask teasing him.
      "Oh wow I'm scared." He says.
      "You better be." I say.
      "Hey Jace can you keep him in one piece I need him tonight." Chloe says.
       "Sure thing." I say. 
       "Thanks." He goes to block the ball I turn and do a lay up. He high fives me. We both take our shirts off and keep playing. Eventually we get sick of it and decide to go swimming.
     We debate on who can make the bigger splash. He won that with out question. He was on the swim team. The kids hop in a go swimming. Halo takes her shirt off. She had her bikini top on.
     She jumps in. Chloe didn't want to go swimming. We swim around and play in the pool. Zac and I start dinner. A half an hour later it is ready. We set the table and sit down. We eat and talk. When we are done eating he opens his presents. We have cake and ice cream.
      "I feel loved." He says hugging himself.
      "Good you are." I say.
       "I know." We laugh at him. The kids play games for the next couple hours. They soon start falling asleep though. Halo and I decide to leave. We go home. We get the kids baths and get them in bed.
      Bowser crawls up next to Andrew. She likes to bed hop. Halo and I go to bed to. We have had a long day. They have had a hard month and it isn't even over yet.
     Emily's birthday is in a week. We are going to have a gymnastics theme. I have to go to the store to get the stuff. I have a plan first.
     I have really been thinking about Zac and Chloe and Halo. I think it is time. I'm sure it is. I leave the house and go to Anna's. She was home. I nock on the door. I'm very nervous.
      "Jace hi come in." She says. I walk in. "What's up bud?" She asks me.
       "I um came because I have a um question for you." I stutter.
      "Why didn't you just call me?" She asks me.
      "This is kinda important." I say.
      "Okay." We sit down and I rub my hands on my shorts.
      "Um it's about Halo and I." I say trying to remember to breath.
      "Did something happen?" She asks.
      "No no, we are okay. I know this isn't really traditional but I really give you the credit for raising her." She raises her eyebrow at me. "Look, I really really love her and since Zac and Chloe have got engaged I have been thinking a lot. I'm here because I wanna ask if I have your blessing to ask for you daughter's hand in marriage?" She looks a little shocked then puts her hand on my shoulder.
      "Of course you have my blessing. I can tell you really love her and she loves you to. You have my blessings until the day I die."
      "Oh my gosh." I breath.
      "Whats wrong?"
      "I nearly died." She starts laughing and rubs my back.
      "It's okay." She hugs me and I leave. I can't believe it I just got one step closer. Now all I need is a ring and the courage to get on one knee. Words can't describe how I feel. I'm so full of joy I feel like crying. Oh my gosh. I call Zac.
      "Hey." He says.
      "Hey she said yes." I say.
      "Oh my gosh that's amazing."
      "Yeah um can you meet me at Walmart?" I ask.
      "Sure I will text you when I'm on my way."
      "Okay." I hang up and leave. I get to Walmart and get a text. I wait by the pharmacy doors. We go in and I get something Halo requested and we go to the party isle.
      "How do you want to do it?" He asks me.
      "I don't know. I just can't believe it." I say.
      "Yeah me either."
      "I'm still shaking I swear I nearly threw up."
      "You were that scared?"
      "Yeah man. I was that scared."
      "Wow." We get the decorations and then we go to the jewelry store.
      "Hi." The clerk says to me.
      "Hi." I say.
      "What can I do for you?" He asks me.
      "I'm looking for an engagement ring." I say.
      "Okay well we have tons and we can even custom put a stone or diamond in the ring if you would like." He says.
      "Okay." I nod my head.
      "She would like that one." Zac says.
      "It's Halo she likes anything." I say. He puts his chin on my shoulder and walks with me as I look at all the rings.
     "Dude seriously." I say.
     "Yeah." He says. The man starts laughing.
      "He your brother?" The clerk asks me.
     "Unfortunately." He starts laughing and I keep looking. I finally see one. He pulls it out and I look closer at it. It was perfect. It had a stone in it and two bands. The bands had diamonds in them. There was two bands on each side. It was just perfect. It was the perfect size to.
     "I will take this one." I say.
     "Okay." We go to the counter. He gives a lady the ring to be packaged. I get a warranty on it. I pay for it and he gives me the ring. Zac and I leave. I pull it out of the bag and and put it in my pocket. I put the bag and papers under the seat.
"When we get there I want you to bring some stuff in I need to hide this stuff." I tell him.
"Okay." We get to my house and I bring it all in. Zac brings some bags in. I put the ring box under shirts in my drawer. I put the papers in a drawer in my nightstand.
     I fold the bag up and put it there to. Now I wait for the perfect time. I know when it will be to. Zac leaves and I help Halo put stuff away. I can't wait until the day. I wanna just do it now.
    I show Halo what I got Emily for her birthday. She hides it and the kids get up from a nap. I get them a snack and they sit at the table. I sit on the couch and Halo sits on it to. She puts her legs over mine and we kiss.
"I was thinking." I say.
"Oh boy." She rolls her eyes.
"Not this time. I was thinking that we should go to the parade."
"That is a good idea."
"Okay." The kids come and sit on the couch to. Andrew sits next to me and Emily next to Halo.
"I was thinking that we could go to the Fourth of July parade. What do you guys think?" I ask them.
"Yeah can Ava come?" Emily asks me.
"Parade!" Andrew says just catching on.
"I called her Mom and she said yes. Ava will be here." I say.
"Yay! Can she sleep over again?"
"I don't care. I will text her mom again."
"Okay." She smiles and I text her mom. She says that Ava wants to do it.
"Now we have to clean your room." I say. She shows all her teeth.
"Yikes!"
      "You got that right."
      "Well lets do it."  She gets up and starts pulling on my arm. I get up and we go to her room. There were toys and blankets all over there was clothes and pillows to.
     We put all the blankets and pillows on her bed. We put her stuffed animals on their shelves. We put her dirty clothes in the hamper and her clean ones in her dresser. We put her sports bags in the closet.
     We put her toys in the bin. When we are done it is dinner time. Halo and I start dinner. She ends up finishing it and I do the cleaning. She gets the kids to bed and we sit on the couch and watch a movie. We don't really pay attention to it though.
     The next morning we drop the kids off at Anna's and go to work. Before lunch Halo comes into my office.
      "Can I help you?" I say in a deep voice.
      "You don't scare me." She says.
      "Damn." We start laughing. I close my binder and laptop. I grab my lunch and we go to the lunch room. We sit down and Zac comes next to me he sits down. He grabs my water from my lunch box and takes a drink.
      "Well I'm going for it." I say taking my water bottle and drinking from it now. He flicks my cap at me.
      "When?" He asks.
      "The 4th."
      "Going for what?" Halo asks me.
      "Nothing." I shake my head.
      "You sure."
     "Yeah, positive." She raises her eyebrow at me and looks at me funny. She soon gives up. "
      "I will never figure you out." She says.
      "Well I would probably have to kill you if you did." I smile. She starts laughing.
      "Isn't that the truth." Ava's Mom comes up to me.
      "What's up?" I ask.
      "Um I was going to talk to you after but I need Halo here to." She says nervously.
      "Sure what's going on?" She sits down.
      "I'm going to go fuck with Jack." Zac says.
      "Yeah take his food." I say. He leaves.
      "I have an odd request but you are my last hope." Ava's mom says.
      "Okay. Halo shakes her head and plays with her pony tail.
      "Um I have to go out of town for a couple days. I have to go deal with stuff with Ava's dad and I don't want her caught up in it. I can't take her with either.
     I have no one to take her. I know this isn't really professional but you are the last person I thought of. If it is okay with you two I want to know if you can take Ava for a couple weeks at the most." She says.  Halo and I look at each other. We look back at her.
     "Of course." Halo says. We love having Ava.
      "Yeah that's what she said." I say. We laugh a little at it.
      "Oh my gosh thank you so much guys." She says.
      "No problem we love having her around and I'm sure Emily will be so excited. They both will." I say. She puts her head down and I can tell she is crying. I get up and sit next to her. I give her a hug.
      "You have no idea what this means to me. Oh my gosh thank you so much." She says.
      "Your welcome. Look I get it, it's hard, if you ever need us to take her we will." I tell her. She wipes her face with a napkin I give her.
      "I'm sorry." She says.
      "No that's okay." I say.
      "When should we expect her?" Halo asks.
      "Um today after work."
      "Okay, what time?" Halo asks.
      "How does 4 sound?" She asks.
      "Sounds good."
      "Okay thank you, you have no clue how much this means to me." We pack up and head back to work. After work we get the kids. I tell Anna what is going on. She says she will watch Ava to.
     We go home and tell Emily. We plug our ears as she screams in excitement. We go to her room and pull the bed under hers out. There was a sheet on it and everything.
     Emily stands outside and waits for a half hour. When her car pulls up Emily starts jumping. Ava gets out and they run and meet each other. I go to the car and help her mom.
      "She is moving in." Her mom says. She is still in her work clothes. We laugh.
       "That's okay." I say. We put the bags in Emily's room. We go back outside.
      "Once again thank you so much. You really are a life saver. You are so amazing." I say.
      "You are so welcome. She is welcome anytime." Ava hugs her mom and she leaves.
      "Okay girls." I say. They look at me.
      "In the morning you guys will go to Halo's Mom until we get out of work." I tell them.
      "I know." Emily says.
      "But Ava don't." I say to her.
      "Okay."
      "Alright have fun." Andrew lays on the floor.
"What's wrong Andrew?" I ask him.
"I'm tired." He says.
"I think you need to go to bed early."
"Maybe." He gets up and lays on me.
"What's for dinner?" Halo asks me.
"I don't know. We got pizza in the freezer." I say.
"Sounds good. I got the Monday blues." She says.
"You and me both."
"Me three." Andrew says. We start laughing. I rub his back as he lays in a ball. The girls come in from outside.
"Halo can we have a popsicle?" Emily asks wiping the hair out of her face.
"Yeah." She gets up and gets them a popsicle. She gets Andrew one to. She gives them popsicles with sprite and different candies in them. Andrew sits up but cuddles in a blanket while he eats his. He just cuddles next to me. Halo makes the pizza. We eat dinner and I clean up.
"Jace." Emily says.
"Yeah."
"Can Ava and I paint our nails?"
"Yeah but put newspaper on the table."
"Okay." Ava gets the nail polish. Halo gets her nail polish for them. She puts an "H" on the bottoms of hers. Emily lays paper down. Halo sits at the table with them. They paint her nails to. When their nails dry they run off to play in her room.
     Halo puts all of Emily's nail polish back in its box. She puts her nail polish in a box and puts it away. She throws the newspaper away. She brings Emily's nail polish back to her room. I finish in the kitchen.
     I get Andrew in the bath and he gets his pjs on. I have Emily take a bath and then Ava takes one. Both the girls get their pjs on. They brush through their hair and Halo puts them in pig tails.
     We just chill and relax for a while. I put the kids down to bed. Halo and I talk for a while. I fold laundry and place it back in the basket.
"It is going to be a long week." Halo says flipping through the tv channels.
"That it is." I get a text saying the kids need their swim suits tomorrow. I go around collecting the stuff for them. I put them in separate draw string backpacks. I hang them by the door.
     Halo and I pack our lunches and go to bed. The next day we bring the kids to Anna's house. We go to work and serve our sentence. We go get the kids. They went to the water park and had a picnic.
    We go home and change. I just put some shorts on. Halo puts some shorts on and a crop top. She puts her hair in a messy bun. I start doing schoolwork. I have one page and I'm done for the week. I have to cook tonight. Halo puts the dishes away.
"Now I know why you wear tank tops under those most the time." I say chewing on my pen.
"Why?" She says.
"It don't hide anything."
"Well you better call Victoria because her secret is out." I start laughing and so does she.
"Is it a Victoria Secret?"
"Yup."
"That was a good one." I say.
"I know." She smiles and hands me a towel. "Your up." She winks and leaves the kitchen. I make dinner and Halo takes a shower. She just puts the clothes on she had on before. I shower to. I put a tank top on and shorts. The kids get their pjs on and Ava's mom calls.
    Ava talks to her for a while. We keep doing this for a week. Everything stays the same only we have Ava. They have a lot of fun. Saturday is coming up quick and I'm well prepared. Nervous absolutely, but prepared.
*July 4th*
We wake up. I go into Emily's room. The girls were up. They were dressed to.
"Happy birthday."
"Thank you." She gives me a hug.
"Jace, can I call my mom?" Ava asks me.
"Yeah." I call her Mom and she talks to her. I get Andrew ready and Halo gets up. She gets ready while I make breakfast. When we finish eating I get ready.
     The parade was early today. Then later the kids would have an outdoor party. Zac and I are going to grill. I have everything ready. The kids get bags for candy. Halo and I pack the truck. We leave.
     There is one spot you can sit and your car can be parked to. Halo and I put some blankets in the back. We go and park there. I open the back and we were there early. We wait.
     The girls do cartwheels and back flips. Andrew cuddles next to me. He has always just been quiet and clingy. He loves cuddles and with me the most. I don't mind though. A half hour later the parade starts.
     The kids get candy and watch the bands, horses, trailers, dancers, and much more go by. I am really nervous but push it out of my mind. When the parade is over we leave and go home.
     Zac, Chloe, Zane, and Blake show up. Blake was getting big. Anna shows up. Andrew gives me his shirt. I take mind off and so does Zane. Zac fallows in suit and does the same. I start the sprinkler for the kids.
     They run around and screaming as the cold water touches their skin. I think that now is the time and I'm ready. My heart starts beating and my palms sweat. I pull Halo close to me.
"What are you doing?" Halo asks me.
"You know I was thinking." I say.
"About?"
"Well I was just kinda thinking about Zac and Chloe. I have been thinking about that a lot. I made a decision to."
"What's that?"
"Um I will be right back."
"Okay." I go inside and open my drawer. I grab the box. I go back out my legs shaking. She looks at me.
"Now I know that I'm not perfect but I want to be your prince until I die." I get down on one knee and everyone looks at us. "Halo I will do anything to make you happy. I love you more than anything in this world and I know the best is yet to come. Will you marry me and be mine forever?" She starts crying and freezes for a second.
"Oh my gosh. Yes! Yes! Yes! Of course I will marry you." I slide the ring on her finger and stand up. She hugs me and kisses me all over. "Oh my gosh. I love you so much." They all start clapping.
"I love you to." She looks at the ring and smiles.
"Do you like it?" I ask her.
"Of course I love it. It is perfect in every way."
"How do you feel?" Anna asks me.
"I think I was more scared of you."
"Good."
"What are you talking about?" Halo looks at me funny.
"Um when I went to the store that one day I actually went to your mom's. I asked her if I could marry you. Then I called Zac and went and got a ring."
"Oh my gosh."
"You should fear me."
"Only in some ways."
"Good enough." Emily comes up to me. She looks at Halo's hand. She looks at me.
"Why does Halo have a ring on her finger?" She asks me.
"We are getting married." She gets a huge smile.
"REALLY!!!!!" She screams. She has been waiting so long for this day.
"Yeah!"
"YAY!!!" She starts jumping up and down and screams.
"Andrew!" She says.
"What?"
"Halo and Jace are getting married."
"REALLY!"
"Yeah."
"YAY!" We laugh at them. Halo lays her head on my shoulder. She looks at her hand.
"I can't believe it." She says.
"Me either." We kiss. "I love you so much."
"I love you to." Zac and I finish cooking. The kids find a mud pit to roll around in so they do. Bowser comes out and rolls around with them.
"Great now the dog needs a bath." I roll my eyes.
"I will do it." She says. She takes her ring off and gets Bowser. She sprays her down with the sprinkler and sits back down. She puts her ring back on and we serve the food. We eat and talk and have a good time.
"Jace." Ava comes up to me.
"What?"
"Can I call my mom?"
"Yeah." I pull up her mom's contact information and hit call. She takes my phone and sits down.
"I bet she misses her mom." Anna says.
"Yeah she calls her at least 3 times a day."
"How much longer."
"I'm guessing about a week, when I know I know."
"Okay." She gives me my phone back and I put it away. Emily comes to me.
"Can I open my presents now?" Emily asks me.
"Yeah." We all settle around and she opens her presents. She was spoiled as normal and loved everything. Halo folds up the new clothes she got. She got some shoes.
     She got clothes for her doll and hair stuff. I get up and spray them with the hose. The run around screaming and laughing splashing in the water and mud. They jump rope and play with chalk. We have cake and ice cream to.
     We sing to her and she blows out her candles. When it gets dark we all settle in for fireworks. Zac and I set them off as the girls and boys watch. They all loved the display.
     When it is done it is close to 9 the kids were falling asleep and Blake had fallen asleep in her car seat. Zane was drooping on Halo's shoulder trying to stay awake. Emily and Ava were doing the same in chairs.
     Andrew had fallen asleep on the ground. We clean up and go inside. We make sure all the kids get baths and everyone leaves. As soon as the kids are in bed they fall asleep. Halo takes a shower then I do. When the showers are done we lay in bed.
"I still can't believe we are getting married." Halo says.
"Me either."
"Are you ready?"
"Of course."
"Lets wait until after you graduate." She says.
"Good idea." We kiss and before I know it she is asleep on my chest. I shut the light off and go to sleep myself.