Chasing Circumstance (21 page)

He leaned down and whispered into my ear, “So, are we buying the house?”  We both laughed as we stood up and straightened our clothing.

“Now that we’ve completed our inspection of it, I would suggest sending in a professional first to make sure it is as good as it looks.”  We couldn’t help ourselves, we burst out laughing again.  Taking me by the hand, we walked up the stairs to view the rest of the house. 

“It’s perfect, isn’t it, Amia?”  Chace pulled me into his arms as we stood in the sunlight that came through the large windows in the master suite.

“Yes it is.  Let’s get a professional inspection done, and if it all passes, let’s put in an offer right away.”  I reached up and kissed his chin. 

“Let’s go downstairs and call Tracy!  Maybe she can suggest an inspector.”  We raced down the stairs, took one last look around, locked the door, and went to the car to call the realtor.

Tracy said she would send someone out the next day, and we should put a bid in now with the condition that it passed the inspection.  We did as she suggested and placed a bid for twenty thousand dollars less than the asking price. 

On our drive back to Brady’s, we talked about the possibilities of the house and what we would like to change about it should our bid be accepted.  “You know, that’s a lot of bedrooms for the three of us.”

“I know.  I was thinking one could be a guest room, but with the office in the downstairs, I don’t know what to do with the other two rooms.”  I looked out the window and watched the neighborhood go past.  It was a really nice neighborhood, and I knew we would be happy there.

“I have an idea.  We could fill them.”  He reached over to hold my hand.

“Chace, I’m forty years old and you’re forty-two!  Isn’t it kind of late for us to have children of our own?”  I was shocked by his suggestion.  Admittedly, I had thought about it because of how much I enjoyed being around Connor, but the thought terrified me.

“I think we would be fine.  We’ll just make doctor appointments before proceeding.  That is, if you’re in agreement.”  He squeezed my hand before moving it back to the steering wheel.

“I’d like to think about it for a little while.”  I looked at him and smiled softly.  “That’s a lot to take on all at once.  The adoption, buying a new house, moving in together, and now having a baby?  Yeah, I need some time.”

“Take all the time you need, but remember, you are the one that just reminded me of our age.”  He laughed and winked at me.

“Thanks, I don’t need the reminder.  I’m already feeling my age.”  I sighed a heavy sigh.

“Oh, stop that!  You’re young and vibrant and beautiful!”  Pulling into the parking lot at Brady’s, he stopped the car and put his hand on my leg.

“You’re a bit biased, but I’ll take it.”  I leaned over and kissed him before getting out of the car and joining him at his side.

“I might be, but I bet I can find a hundred people that agree with me.”  He looked around and saw a man on the sidewalk.  “Hey, buddy, do you think this woman is old, or is she beautiful and vibrant?”  He pointed at me as he yelled at the gentleman.

“I’ll take her if you don’t want her!”  The guy laughed as he answered.  My cheeks grew crimson with embarrassment.

“Thanks!  That’s all I needed to know.”  Chace waved him off and we went into the bar.

The rest of the evening consisted of us celebrating all of the newness in our lives with our friends.  We ate pizza, taught Connor how to shoot pool and played Tag with him throughout the dining room.  No one left hungry and when it was time to turn the party back into a bar, we took Connor home, bathed him, dressed him in warm pajamas and tucked him into bed.

“Miss Amia, you gone be my mama?”  He yawned and rubbed his sleepy little eyes as he looked up at me.

“Would you like that, Connor?”  I smoothed his hair away from his face as I sat next to him on his bed.

“Yep, I wuvving you.”  He nodded his head and drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face.

I turned on his nightlight and shut off the overhead one as I walked out of his room.  “Did you hear that?”  I stepped into Chace’s embrace as I entered the hallway.

“Yes, I did.  Well, are you?”  He touched my chin and lifted my face to his.

“Yes, yes I am.  Oh, Chace, this is so perfect.  Thank you for giving me everything that you have.”  I smiled softly at him.

“It is I that should thank you.”  He kissed my forehead.  “I had all this love stored up in my heart and no one to share it with before you.  Now, I have you and Connor and whoever else may come along.”  He lightly touched my stomach.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Love.”  I moved his hand and we walked into his bedroom.  “I’m tired too.  I think I’m going to lie down and read for a while until I fall asleep.”

“I need to run back down to the bar.  I still can’t believe you two pulled this off!  It’s just amazing, Amia. Thank you so very much!”  He pulled the blankets over me as I lay down on his bed to read.  “I’ll hurry as fast as I can.  I love you.”  He kissed me softly on the lips.

“Do what you have to, I have things covered here.”  I kissed him back.  “Oh, would you hand me my laptop please?”

“What are you going to write about tonight?”  He picked it up from the desk and handed it to me.

“Guess you’ll have to read it to find out.”  I giggled and touched his hand.  “I’ll see you when you get home.”

“Home, I like the sound of that.”  He smiled as he walked out the door.  I heard him lock the deadbolt on his way out.

Turning on the lamp on the bedside table, I opened my laptop and signed into my blog.

“Dear You,

Are we naturally born with a motherly instinct, or is it something that is developed?  Picture yourself walking down a sidewalk and seeing a lone child fall.  Do you stop to check on their well being and brush off their scraped knees, or just keep walking? 

When a child smiles, our hearts melt, and we are drawn into their world.  We find ourselves in a place where hope springs eternal, and there is no such thing as the impossible.  We imagine a world where cars fly, unwanted toys find loving homes, and bedrooms magically clean themselves.

With the nod of their heads, children fade into sleep where they teeter between dreams and reality.  Instantaneously, the door to the land of imagination opens, and they are able to ride unicorns, hop from cloud to cloud, and drink from chocolate rivers.

So tonight, dear readers, I leave you with this question…

Where will your dreams take you?

~ Amia”

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

“Happy Tanksgiving Gwamma!”  Connor ran up to Miss Margaret and hugged her tightly.  “Time to eat tuwkey!”

“Hi, Connor!  Yes, it’s time to eat turkey.  Come on now, let’s go sit down.”  She took him by the hand and walked over to the table that had been reserved for us.  “I’m so happy that all of you came to celebrate with me.”  She turned to look at us.

“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”  I sat down next to her and put my hand on her shoulder. 

“How are you feeling, Miss Margaret?”  Chace sat across the table from me between Connor and his grandmother.

“Bones are creaking and joints are swollen, but I’m here with you, so none of that matters.”  She took Connor by the hand and gave it a little shake. 

The staff of the nursing home served us our meal, and we enjoyed it in the company of all those around us.  It was in moments like this that I was reminded just how lucky of a woman I was.  Chace brought all of these incredible people into my world, and I was blessed to know each and every one of them.

“How’s the house hunting going?”  Miss Margaret reached over and cut Connor’s turkey into bite sized pieces.

“Oh, we found a house and we’re closing on it tomorrow.”  Because of our vacation and getting ready to move, it had been a few weeks since we had been to visit with her.

“That’s wonderful!  And the adoption?  When does that become final?”  She picked up a piece of turkey and fed it to Connor.

“We have our final court proceeding in about four weeks.  The day before Christmas Eve.  Would you like to be there?”  I watched her enjoying her time with her grandson and smiled at the sight of it.

“Oh no, child.  This old lady doesn’t go out unless they force me to.”  She turned and touched my hand, laughing.  “My legs don’t work so good anymore, and I prefer to just stay here with my people.”  She looked around the room and smiled.  “You’ll do just fine without me.” 

“Alright, we would have loved to have had you there though.”  I picked up my glass of water and took a sip before continuing to eat my food.  I was a bit saddened that she wouldn’t be there to see her grandson be adopted by the man that loved him unconditionally.

“I’ll be there in spirit.  The only thing important to me is that my Connor is with someone that loves him and will take care of him.”  She tapped Connor’s hand.

“I am, Gwamma!  Daddy Chace and Miss Amia wuv me sooooo muches!”  Connor raised his arms above his head and spread them as much as he could reach.

“Yes they do, my sweet baby boy.”  Margaret put her arm around Connor’s shoulder and hugged him.

“I not baby boy, Gwamma, I lil’ man!”  Connor crossed his arms over his chest and pouted.  We all laughed and agreed with him.

When dinner was finished, we said goodbye and took Connor home.  After tucking him into bed, Chace and I curled up on the couch and watched a movie.  “I don’t want you to leave.”  Chace and I were standing at the front door of his apartment.

“I know, Love, but I need to spend some time with Jo.  She was kind enough to give me a leave of absence from work until after the new year.  That means she is handling everything on her own.”  I laid my head against his chest and cuddled into his warmth while he held me. 

“Not even if I pout?”  He rested his chin on top of my head.

“No, not even if you pout.  Anyway, I need to finish packing since we’re moving this weekend.”  I giggled into his chest and hugged him.

“Alright, I’ll pick you up tomorrow around two, so we have enough time to make it to Tracy’s office to sign the paperwork for the closing.”  He pulled back and kissed me deeply.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.  I love you.”  I kissed him back.

“I love you, Gorgeous.”  He hugged me close again before watching me walk to my car.

The drive to Jo’s found me in a very sullen mood.  Though I looked forward to spending time with my best friend, it was difficult to leave Chace and Connor.  I had spent the last three weeks with Chace, one of which was during our vacation, and the last two weeks with both of them.  I knew it wouldn’t be long and the three of us would live together, but at the same time, I missed them terribly.  I thought about how I wouldn’t be there when Connor woke up in the morning to make him breakfast and hear him rattle on about his dreams.  I knew, without a doubt, that he would grow up to be something remarkable because he already was such an amazing child. 

My attempts at holding back the emotions I was feeling ended with me sobbing like a child in my parked car outside of Jo’s house.  Not even in my wildest imagination did I ever think my life would turn out like this.  I was an equal partner in a loving, supportive relationship and was blessed to have the unconditional love of a phenomenal child as well.

Grabbing a napkin out of my glove box, I wiped the tears from my eyes, gathered my things and went inside.  “Hey, Jo, I’m here!”  I hollered out as I walked through the front door.

“Be out in a minute!”  Jo’s voice rang down the hallway from her bedroom.

I sat my things down and walked into the kitchen.  Opening the fridge, I took out a bottle of water.

“Are you alright?”  Jo looked concerned.  “No wine for you tonight?”

“No, I haven’t been feeling well.  It’s been a long few weeks and it’s just going to get longer.”  I took a drink of my water.

“You look like you’ve been crying.”  She poured herself a glass of wine.  The light shined through the redness of the wine and sparkled against the counter.

“I was, but it was all happy tears. Really, I’m fine.”  I took my water and went to sit on the sofa.

“You know, when a woman says she’s fine, it usually means that she isn’t.”  She grabbed her glass and the bottle and headed toward the couch.  Sitting down, she put the bottle on the coffee table, picked up the remote and turned on the stereo.

“I promise it’s not like that this time.  On my way home, I was thinking about how wonderful life is and I started crying.  It’s no big deal.”  I sat in the opposite corner of the sofa.

“Are you scared?”  Jo flipped through the CDs in the stereo before settling on one of her favorites with music from the seventies on it.

“I would be lying if I said no.  I mean, what if this turns out like…”  Jo interrupted me.

“It won’t.  Just take that thought out of your head.”  She sat the remote back on the table and took a sip of her wine.  “Chace and you were made for each other and Connor completes your family.  You’ll see, I’m right.”

“He wants us to have a baby.”  I looked at Jo and waited for her response.

“You should.  You are a fantastic mother.  Connor has truly blossomed since you’ve been in his life.  I’ve watched him go from a shy little boy to a dynamically energetic young man.  For four years old, he is so intelligent!  You and Chace will help him to grow up to be everything he was meant to be!”  Jo was really excited about the concept of Chace and I having a child.

“I’m not a mother.”  I picked up a throw pillow and hugged it to my chest with one hand.

“Don’t kid yourself.  You’re more of a mother to Connor than I’ve seen in a lot of women that have children of their own blood.”  She threw a pillow at me and knocked over her bottle of wine causing it to spill on the floor.  “Oops!  I’ll get that.”  She stood up, went to the closet and pulled out the automatic spot cleaner.  Plugging it in, she sat it on the carpet and turned it on.  “There, that’ll make quick work of it.”

“Really?  You think I would make a good mom?  I worry because I don’t feel like I really had one.  I don’t know if I would know how to be one.”  I watched the machine as the brushes whirled in circles and scrubbed the stain out of the carpet.

“Would be?  You are!  Now, let’s stop all this doubtful thinking and start doing something constructive, let’s dance!”  She filled her wine glass and turned up the music.

“What about the neighbors?”  The music was so loud, I was sure they could hear it.

“Fuck ‘em!  Let them get their own wine!”  We laughed together and spent the rest of the night just hanging out, talking and laughing.  It was exactly what we needed.

Sunshine poured in through the living room windows and woke me up.  It was nearly noon.  We had passed out sitting on the couch.  The coffee table was littered with empty water and wine bottles, an empty box from the pizza we had delivered, and a half full package of cookies.  We had really made a night of it.

I got up and went upstairs to shower and change my clothes.  Entering my bedroom, I noticed a box sitting on my bed and walked over to it to see what it was.  There was a red ribbon around it with a card attached.  I took the card from the box, opened it and read it.  It was from Jo. 

“My Dearest Amia,

Though I will see you all the time, I’m going to miss you so much.  I’m grateful for the time we lived together and will hold the memories of that time close to my heart.  Here’s a little something to help you keep the memories as well.

Much Love,

Jo.”

I untied the ribbon and pulled it from the box.  Opening the lid, I pushed back the tissue paper and saw a beautiful, leather bound photo album.  Taking it from the box, I opened it and the first page held a picture from when Jo and I first met.  Tears leapt from my eyes as I paged through the album.

“Do you like it?”  Jo stood in my bedroom door.

“Oh, Jo, I love it!”  I sat the album on my bed, jumped up and hugged her.  “Thank you so very much!  I can’t believe you did this!” 

“I love you, Amia.  You’re the little sister I never had and always wanted.  There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”  Her returned hug almost pushed the air from my lungs.  “Now, get in the shower, get dressed and go buy a house!”  Her tears rolled down her cheeks and flowed around her smile.

“You’re right.  Chace will be here in two hours to pick me up.”  I went into my closet to pick out some clothes.  I chose a smart looking black and white pinstripe skirt suit with a white shirt and black pat and leather heels.  “Do you think this is alright?  I’ve never been to a closing before.”  I walked out and showed Jo the outfit.

“Oh no, Hun.  That’s too much.  That looks more like something you would wear to work, not to a closing.  Pick out something more fun and casual.  Like, how about those awesome leggings you have with the design down the side, and your pretty, long, white sweater?”  I could always count on Jo for an honest opinion.

“Oh, okay, with my white leg warmers and black boots?”  I went back into my closet to take out the clothes she had suggested.

“Yes!  That will be perfect!  I’m going to go downstairs and fix us each a cup of coffee.  I’ll see you when you’re finished.”  She turned around and went downstairs to do what she said she would.

Quickly, I showered and dressed before sitting down to do my make-up and hair.  I hurriedly braided my hair and wrapped it into a bun on the lower back of my head and pinned it in place.  Pulling my make-up from its basket, I put on my usual colors, sprayed on some perfume and was ready to go.  Looking at the clock, I thought to myself, ‘How did that take me an hour?’

I ran downstairs and joined Jo at the breakfast bar.  “Here ya go.”  She slid a cup of coffee across the counter to me.

“Thanks, Jo, and thanks again for watching Connor while we go take care of this closing.”  I picked up my cup and inhaled the tantalizing vapor wafting from the top of it.

“Are you kidding me?  It’s my absolute pleasure! I just love that little guy!”  She looked at me with a huge smile on her face.  “Anyway, I bought him some new clothes and want him to try them on.”

“You spoil him.”  I laughed at her enthusiasm.

“He’s worth it!”  Her smile got even larger with each word spoken.

We sat chatting about the new campaign she was working on.  One of the local department stores had hired the firm to do a campaign for their toy drive.  It was supposed to be a huge event, and Jo was in charge of making sure the world knew about it.

“Anyone home?”  Chace walked in the front door carrying Connor.

“We’re over here.”  Jo called out in answer to them.

“Hi, Jo!”  Chace sat Connor down and he ran up to Jo, hugging her tightly.

“Hello, Connor!  How are you?”  She picked him up and held him while she sipped at her coffee.

“I is good!  How you?”  He kissed her cheek.

“I’m better now that you’re here.  Come on, I have some things for you.”  She stood up and started walking down the hallway to her room.  “Hi, Chace, bye, the two of you.”

“Hi and bye, Jo!  Bye, Connor.  I love you both.”  He waved down the hall.  “You heard the Boss Lady.  We need to get going.”  Chace walked up and kissed me.

We stood up to walk out the door, and I grabbed my purse off of the floor near the front door.  I shut it behind us and we were off to Tracy’s office to sign the paperwork.

Two hours later, we walked out of her office, keys in hand and the invigorating promise of tomorrow in our hearts.  The moment we stepped outside, Chace swept me up in his arms and twirled me around.  My feet lifted from the ground and I held tight to his neck as he spun me.  Sitting me down, he wrapped his hands in my hair and brought my lips to his in a deep, passionate kiss.  “Thank you, Amia, thank you for loving me.”