Christmas Engagement

Flashbacks

Lena-

It had been about eight months since Stef and I  fell in love on the New York trip invited by our friends Kelly and Jenna. I would have never thought I would find someone to live my life with after the way Gretchen treated me, I didn't think I would even open my heart to it. The very moment I saw Stef in the department store where I purchased Jenna and Kelly's gift, I couldn't be more shocked of my reaction to how beautiful she was. Sure I would like to say I have Jenna and Kelly to thank for this, but maybe I should after all if it weren't for the trip I never would have met her. After Stef and I got back to San Diego, we decided to take things a little slower, sure we have made love a number of times while we were away, but she wanted to tell her family about the relationship. For the past several months I've been begging Stef to tell her family about us, but she was worried about MIke's state of mind right now, and I try to understand, we have been talking about living together after she broke the news to Brandon about us, I'm really not sure he understands what his mom and I are, but he has been the only one she has told. 

Flashback

Mommy mommy, I heard Brandon call out to Stef as we had just arrived back at the  airport from New York. Hey buddy how's my little man, she asked. I'm good, I missed you, he said hugging her leg. Yeah, well I missed you too, she said russling his brown hair, as he continued to hold onto her leg. Hey Mike, Stef said. Hey Stef, he said. Thanks for picking me up and taking care of Brandon while I've been away, she said, as I continued to stand in the background. No problem Stef  he's my son too, he said. Mike this is Lena a friend of mine, she said. Nice to meet you Lena, he said putting out his hand to shake, as I shook it. Nice to meet you too Mike, I said. Well Stef are you ready, he asked. Yeah just let me get my luggage, she said, as she made her way over to the baggage carousel as I followed behind her. Sorry Lena, I didn't mean to make you feel like you were just my friend, I just need time to tell Mike and my family that's all, doesn't change the fact that I love you, she said. I understand Stef, don't worry, I said as I could see Mike and Brandon fake boxing  a few feet away. Did you want Mike to drop you off at home, she asked. No I'll be okay, you go ahead, I said, as we both grabbed our luggage that had finally appeared. Are you sure, he wouldn't mind, she said. I'm sure, I said. Okay I will call you tonight, I love you, she said. I love you too, I said smiling, one she returned, grabbing a hold of my hand and giving it a squeeze, she let go and walked away.

Flashback Ends

Six months in  she decided that it would be a good time to tell Brandon about our relationship. Even though I had already met him at the airport and Stef decided to just introduce me as her friend, she wanted to specifically tell Brandon without Mike being around. So as I waited at  her apartment for her to pick up Brandon from school, I thought about how much he would understand for a six year old. 

Flashback

Lena, I heard Stef call out, as she and Brandon walked through the front door. Yeah in the living room Stef, I said, as I watch her and Brandon walk in. Hey buddy why don't you put your backpack away in your room and come back I have something I want to talk to you about, she said. Am I in trouble mommy, he said sadly. Oh no babe why would you be in trouble, did you do something that would make you think that, she asked. No, he said. Okay then, go on, she said, as he walked to his room. Are you ready for this, I asked. Yeah I feel like the most important person in my life should know, she said. Okay, I said as we see Brandon coming back in. Come sit down next to us, she said, as we both were sitting on either side of the couch for Brandon to sit between us. So you remember Lena right, she asked. Yeah she was at the airport when me and daddy picked you up, he said. Yeah she was, and I introduced her to you as my friend, she said. Yep, he said wide eyed. Well buddy umm Lena is more than a friend, she said. Like a girlfriend, he asked. What do you know about girlfriends, she asked. I don't know, some of the kids have girlfriends and boyfriends at school, he said. Shaking my head I could not believe at such a young age that these kids had girlfriends and boyfriends. Well yeah she's my girlfriend, she said. Do you know what that means, she asked?  Nodding his head, that means you get to hold hands and kiss, he said. Something like that, she said laughing. We also are committed to eachother and go out on dates, she said. Committed like you and daddy, he asked. Yeah like me and daddy used to be, but we're just not married, she said, as I looked to the both of them smiling. So do you understand, she asked. I think so, he said. So how do you feel about that, she asked. Okay I guess, he said. Why you guess, she asked? Just that I don't want daddy to be sad, he said. Why would he be sad bud, she asked? Because I think he still loves you, he said, as Stef looked up into my eyes with a faint smile. Well babe your dad and I haven't been together for sometime, she said. I know, he said. So what I just told you, I need to tell your dad about, so I'm gonna need you to keep what I said to yourself, tell know one else, okay, she said. Okay mommy, he said as she hugged his small frame. 

Flashback Ends.

But over the course of time Brandon and I had gotten rather close, so close that he always asked Stef if he could spend the night with me, which always made me smile. As Stef and I had been going back and forth about when would be the appropriate time for her to tell her ex and her parent's about us. Talking about living together in the course of a couple of months, we knew that it would have to be soon. Babe you know we have been talking about living together, I said. I know and theres nothing I want more than to wake up next to you every morning, she said. I plan on talking to Mike later this week, I'm just not sure how he's going to take it, she said. Babe whether you tell him now or tell him later it's not going to be easy, I said. I know you're right, she said. Come on Stef we've been dating for almost a year now, I want the world to know about us, I said, as I grabbed a hold of her hand kissing her red lips. I do too baby, she said. I just want everyone to know you belong to me, I said. Really now, I belong to you, she said with a raised eyebrow. You know what I mean, I said smiling. Of course I do, she said smiling. Well I'm just ready for you to move in here with me, and I know you can't do that until you tell Mike and your parent's babe, I said. Yeah it won't be much longer, I promise, she said smiling before kissing my lips. Okay I believe you, I said.