With Love and Admiration

I love you good bye.

"Are you nervous?"

"Well duh"

"Hey , babe they are going to love you and I know it"

"Corbin what if they don't? What if they hate me?"

"They won't hate you. If it makes you feel any better they already hate me"

"Wow, you really are a dick"

I park the car in the third parking space to the left of the door. We take off our seatbelts and head to the front of the restaurant. We are the first two of the four here. I'm nervous. My palms are sweaty. But, I'm excited. We order our drinks and wait for Elliot and Layla. ( a/n: btw Elliot is 15 Layla is 7)  The door chimes and I look up. There they are. My children. My two greatest accomplishments. My two beautiful children. I get up and does he. Elliot looks him up and down as they walk to the table. Layla looks confused. They stand in front of us now. I bend down so I'm now Layla's height. "Hey mi princesa" I say. She looks from me to him and she hugs me. It's the first time I've touched her in 6 months and I'm so beyond happy. I look at Elliot, he looks mad. I now straighten back up. He's almost as tall as I am. "Hey mijo" he still looks mad but gives me a hug anyway. It's tight and reassuring. "So guys I would like to introduce you to someone" I step back. "Layla, Elliot this is Mike" they stare at each other for a second. Mike looks at me, looks at the kids and says "let's eat."

-

We ride home. Mike is excited but I'm tired. "How do you think it went?" His leg is bouncing up and down in his seat. It's distracting. I don't answer. He looks at me. "Corbin" he's getting antsy. "It went fine babe" I say. His leg is still bouncing. I pull into my apartment and park in space 307. "Mike, the kids loved you" I'm still staring out the windshield. I'm exhausted. I'm happy. I saw but kids but damn I'm tired.

"How do you know that?" he ask. He is worried. That is to be expected. I look at him, the worry lines are apparent on his face. I sigh "because they are my children. I know them like the back of my hand. I know this is nerve wracking , trust me I know. Whatever happens next , I don't know, but we will get through this." Mike takes his seat belt off and opens his door. He looks at me and says "I'm going home. I know this is harder for you than it is for me. I know a lot is going through your mind right now and when you are ready we can figure out what to do next. I love you good bye."