The Dom and The Daddy

Chapter 11: The Choice

As Saint made his way home after leaving Zee's office, he allowed himself to entertain the idea of having a real relationship with the club owner. Would Zee be as gentle and sweet to Mia as he was to him? Would he make time in his busy schedule to pick her up from school or show up to one of her dance recitals. These were all real things he had to consider before he allowed someone, even someone as seemingly amazing as Zee, into his life. After Yiwah died, and Saint had to face the daunting task of raising his daughter alone, he had decided to always put her feelings and needs above his own. In the past 5 years he had never once considered that a sacrifice, until now. He knew what Zee's lifestyle could offer him and if he was being perfectly honest, he wanted more than anything to explore it. He believed that Zee was sincere in his desire to pursue a relationship and learn about Mia. However, was this the best life for his baby girl, 2 daddies, no mommy, subjected to criticism and hate through no fault of her own. Was he being selfish, wanting to have something for himself after so many years alone. The sound of his stop approaching saved him from having to answer that question just yet. Still, in the back of his mind, he knew he would have to revisit it at some point.
As he walked the few blocks from the station to his house, Saint thought about Mia and everything they had planned for today. Sunday was Daddy/Daughter fun day and they would spend the whole day playing, watching movies, eating junk food and just being silly.

It was a tradition that had started 4 years ago when Saint and Perth first opened their design firm. Prior to all that, Saint had been scouted by a large firm right out of high school after winning several design competitions hosted by his future college. At 19 he was the youngest designer ever employed by any company in the area. Saint had thought he would have to give up his dream, how could a single dad with a 1yr old mange. Perth and his family wouldn't allow him to quit. Together with their help he managed to work during the day and take college courses in the evening. But Saint soon realized that he had became so focused on building his career and providing a stable life for Mia that he seldom got to spend any time with her outside of breakfast and bedtime. While Perth and his family had stepped forward from day one to help a scared kid with no clue how to care for a child navigate the perals of single parenthood, it was the day Saint watched a video of Mia taking her first steps into the arms of Perths mom, because he was at some design conference, that was the rude awakening he needed to take a more hands on approach to raising his daughter. It was Perth that had come up with the idea to break out on their own. Perth was 22 and Saint just 20 when they took the design world by storm. Along with new friend and coworker Gulf they created a schedule where Saint would work from home most days, only coming to the office to meet clients and finalize plans. Perth thrived on the competition of negotiating for bids and presenting the pitch to potential clients. He needed the thrill of the chase and his talented ambitions assistant, Gulf was never far if he needed help. Saint could sit in his home studio creating award winning designs while listening to Mia giggle at her favorite to show. Now 4 years later, this was the life he had worked so hard to create for himself and Mia.
It was still dark as he walked into his quaint 2 bedroom cottage style home. He had chosen this neighborhood because it was just a few blocks from Perths parents and had a beautiful children's play area right down the street that he had helped design.