Afternoon Run

twenty-four; ❝two moms are better than one❞

12 years later. . .

"Get back here, you little troublemaker!" I loudly yell as I chase after Evan, who has gone running around the house instead of sitting down with us for dinner.

"He's got your running genes," Jesenia says proudly, cracking a joke at the expense of my own anger.

I send her a noticeable glare, and it only makes her laugh more.

"Evan! You do not want to make your mom mad!"

"Mommy doesn't care," he points out, using his four year old logic.

"Well, mommy is not leaving a good example! Sit down so we can eat dinner."

He huffs, sighing loudly as he goes back to the dining table, finally sitting down in his wooden chair.

"See what you've done? You can't leave bad examples like that for him," I tell Jesenia.

She shrugs again, staying silent and begins to eat her food, which only causes me to roll my eyes.

  "I— I'll be in the bedroom," I say, dismissing myself from the table as Evan calls after me.

I walk upstairs, going into our bedroom and I even lock the door behind me for good measure. I lay down, wrapping myself with the cloth covers of the, as light knocks begin on the door.

"Babe," she says. "Can we talk?"

I think about it for a few moments, and I ultimately decide to open the door for her.

"Look, I'm sorry. I just—"

"I don't want to mess up," I interrupt her.

I finally make my insecurities as a parent vocal. When I say it out loud, I admit that it does make me feel slightly better. It's something I've learned throughout my years of life, and, therapy.

"Mess up?"

"I can't— I can't fail as a parent."

"You haven't failed, and you never will," she tells me.

"But my father said—"

In my darkest moments, my mind still wanders back to him. It's a bad habit, but I have a hard time stopping it.

"Your father is an idiot. Who cares what he said? He can't give advice on not failing as a parent because he's the one that failed. He failed you and Michael," she tells me.

"He did, but what if he's right? What if Evan not having a dad messes him up and makes him miserable?"

"Evan doesn't need a dad to be happy. He has us, and he already is happy with us. Besides, two moms are better than one," she adds, with a slight laugh.

"He doesn't have any male role models and that might—"

"Michael, Alex, and my dad are great role models for him. Liam is also a good guy! See, Evan has so many male figures in his life and just because he has two moms won't damage him, it'll let him brag to other kids!"

My mind starts to mentally go over the list.

She's right.

Michael is a fantastic uncle with a wholesome new wife and children. Alex is living as a kind trophy husband for Kara, while she goes out and controls their booming restaurant chains. Jesenia's dad and Liam both took similar roles in becoming carpenters, while specializing in telling everyone dad jokes.

All of the people in my life are amazing role models for Evan and even then, I realize that they don't have to be male.

My mom has retired, and she frequently visits and babysits Evan. Jesenia had become a music instructor for young children, while I had opted for a job in a business firm. Despite my constant worries, we were also great role models for Evan.

"Right," I say. "You're always right. How do you always know what to say?"

"It's a gift. I love you."

"I love you too," I tell her.

She's always right. 

A long time ago, I had allowed my insecurities to ruin my relationship with her. I thought the damage would last forever, but it ended up only leaving behind two faint marks in our memories.

Since then, I've made a promise to myself to always try my best to not let my worries get in the way of everything again. I plan on fulfilling that request, no matter what.

She begins to softly kiss me but as she does, the door opens completely.

"Mom? Mommy?"

"Evan, what's up?" I ask, a bit startled at the sight of him suddenly coming in.

"I'm sorry," he says, looking at both of us with an upset face.

"Don't be sorry," I say. "I got too mad for a silly reason."

His face instantly brightens up, and he tells us, "you got so mad! You should have seen your face!"

"I know right!" Jesenia exclaims, joining along in his new fit full of laughter.

"Yeah, yeah," I say, grumbling at the fact that they're making fun of me.

"I love youuuuu," Evan tells us.

"We love you too," Jesenia and I say at the same time to him.

He gets on the bed, hugging us and we all lay in bed, cuddling each other.

One thought crosses my mind.

How did I get so lucky?

The End

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