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“Why not? What’s the problem? Is it my age, or that I’ve been married before? Or is it Nash?”
I shake my head. “It’s none of that. Not really. It’s just that we were talking about visiting, and … well, the way she put it was that I won’t get to call the shots when it comes to family plans, because you have a child and an ex-wife. It made me realize things like Christmas and Thanksgiving, and family vacations won’t be as simple as just deciding what we want to do.”
“No, but Sabrina and I talked about all that once we’d finalized the access arrangements. We agreed to discuss vacations in advance… although she kinda blew that one away with her recent trip to Mexico.” He rolls his eyes and moves a little closer. “And we decided to take it in turns with things like Thanksgiving and Christmas. She had Nash for Thanksgiving last year, so it’s my turn this year.”
“Does that mean we can go?”
“It does,” he says, nodding his head.
“Assuming you’re not fighting your way through the courts by then.”
“She can fight, baby… doesn’t mean she’s gonna win.”
I spent all day yesterday moving my things in. Tanner had to work, but Nash said he wanted to help, and we walked to my place together.
“You’ve got a lot of books,” he said, helping me load one of the larger boxes into my car.
“I know. I like reading.”
“So does Dad.” He grinned at me, and I had to smile back. I felt accepted, and that seemed like an enormous step forward.
By the time Tanner closed up the bookstore, Nash and I were too tired to do anything, so Tanner cooked us spaghetti and meatballs, which he assured me is one of Nash’s favorites – after burgers, of course – and once we’d finished, we crashed on the couch and watched a movie.
“I guess we’ll be unpacking tomorrow,” Tanner said, staring at the boxes we’d left piled against the wall.
“No. I can do that on Monday.” I was leaning against him, but he pulled back and raised his eyebrows at me. “If it’s okay with you two, I thought we could spend some time together… just the three of us.”
He smiled and glanced at Nash, and I turned to see him nodding his head.
“What did you have in mind?” Tanner asked.
“I was thinking about a picnic down by the creek… although I probably should have planned it better. Do we have enough food to make a picnic?”
“I’m sure we can throw something together,” he said, smiling, before he returned his gaze to Nash. “How does that sound to you, buddy?”
“Sounds great.”
Not long after that, Tanner took Nash off to bed, returning to me just a few minutes later.
“He’s exhausted,” he said, sitting beside me and turning off the TV.
“I’m not surprised. He worked really hard today.”
“He said he enjoyed it.”
“I did too.” He pulled me into his arms, kissing my forehead. “Do you always put him to bed?” I asked and he leaned back, looking down at me.
“Yes,” he said. “I know he might seem a bit old for things like that, but I look on it as a chance to make sure he’s okay… to check there’s nothing he wants to talk about.”
“It wasn’t a criticism,” I say, reaching up and caressing his cheek. “I love the relationship you have with him.”
He smiles and kisses me again. “I know. So do I, and thanks for suggesting the picnic. He really enjoys being down by the creek, and it’ll be good for us to spend some time together, as a…” He stopped talking and I sat up.
“As a what?”
“Nothing.”
“You were gonna say, ‘as a family’, weren’t you?”
