“At this point, I think I’m the one who needs to grow up. Dating Tim has been good for me. I’m starting to see how truly terrible I was to you. It was all about me and controlling you. Tim doesn’t put up with my crap. He’s been good for me.”
“You always told me that you needed to go out and date. It’s been hard for me to accept that. I agree, Tim’s a great guy, and I’m glad you two are together. I guess I was gauging where you thought we were. Do you think we will ever have our ‘someday’?” I asked.
“I honestly do, but that isn’t today. You care too much about Brook to ever hurt her, and I couldn’t do that to Tim. I doubt that either one of them is our soul mate. But I think they’re perfect for our right now.”
“I like that. You should know that this time last year, I would have said ‘hell, no.’ Today, I think there might be a chance.”
In my mind, that helped clear things up a little. I knew that we probably would never get back together as more than close friends. I guess I simply needed to be reassured that Tami and I were okay that way. For me, saying we might have a chance, even if it’s only to remain long-term friends, was a big step. The pragmatist in me knew that a ‘someday’ for us as anything other than friends was a vanishingly small possibility. Just knowing we were on the same page for a change was a relief.
“Before we get too deep into this, I need to tell you about my dad,” she said to change the topic.
“What’s that all about? I thought he didn’t want to have anything to do with you.”
When she browbeat her mom into getting them in contact with one another, he’d told her exactly that.
“His boys got curious, and they want to meet me.”
“Then, this isn’t about your dad wanting to get to know you?”
“That’s a good question. I don’t know.”
“Do you think it’s time to let him into your life?”
“I don’t know. There’s still a lot of anger inside me over how he handled it when I was younger. I’m not sure I want to open those old wounds,” Tami admitted.
“What about your brothers? Don’t you want to meet them?” I asked.
“Remember how you reacted when you found out about Phil?”
“He turned out to be okay. I’m glad I know him, now that I’ve given him a chance.”
“Maybe I could meet them. The more I think about it, the more I realize I don’t want my dad in my life now. He’s had all my life to reach out and hasn’t.”
“Why don’t you take them to dinner? Just the three of you,” I suggested.
“Do you really think I should?”
“It’s not their fault they never met their sister.”
She got a faraway look.
“Hey, if I got Cubs tickets for a World Series game, would you want to go?”
“I would have your love child and break up with Tim if you took me,” she said way too seriously.
“You better not let my mom hear you say that. I got threatened with getting snipped again tonight.”
“Okay, let’s just say I would owe you big time,” Tami offered.
Wow. How the tables had turned in our relationship.
◊◊◊
Chapter 34 – Nagging About Grandkids Tuesday October 25
I’d been afraid I would wake up and hurt from yesterday’s activity. While I could tell I’d pushed my limits some, it was more a good hurt, the kind you get from working out and not the sort from being injured. Today, for the first time, I felt like I would eventually be okay.
Duke heard me awaken and jumped on my bed for me to love him up. I must have found the right spot because he stretched out his neck, and his back leg began to jerk back and forth like he was scratching himself. I’d wanted a similar experience with Brook last night, but her dad made her go home. He just didn’t understand young love. Or maybe he understood too well …
It’s incredible the difference a day made. Now all that was left to deal with was Babygate, as Tami called it. Ashley and Scarlet were significantly different from Pam in that they were older and able to stand on their own, or so I hoped. I made a mental note to carve out some time for Pam. I didn’t want her to think I’d forgotten about her.
Duke and I got ready for our walk. When we arrived downstairs, Brit and Precious met us by the door, and Precious pushed by us and ran up the stairs.
“Good morning,” I said.
“David, I need your help. I think Precious wants to have her kittens here.”
I started to shake my head, but Brit stopped me.
“Just listen to me. My idiot brothers tormented Precious when she was a kitten, and consequently, I don’t believe she feels safe having hers around them. I found her in Duke’s crate, rearranging it. I suspect she’s starting to nest to get ready.”
Duke wouldn’t be happy about that. I’d gotten him a dog bed and blanket that he’d worked to get exactly right for him to sleep. Little David had made the mistake of crawling into the crate once, and Duke had come and tattled on him. It was almost as bad as when the boys would get into his toys. Duke had a big heart, but he had issues with sharing.
“I’m not sure I want Precious taking over my apartment.”
“If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t be pregnant,” Brit accused.
