CHAPTER 75

     Carly walked downstairs and found her mother waiting for her. She knew what was coming even before she opened her mouth to speak. They had gone over it a million times but still her mother wasn't satisfied. She had an overnight bag with her carrying hers and Teddy's clothes. She knew too well that they would probably be spending even Sunday with Dylan but since she didn't want to freak her mother out,she had decided to take as little things as possible. Teddy's mostly because she had an advantage of wearing Dylan's clothes. She stopped in front of her and fought hard to prevent herself from rolling her eyes. 

             "Mom,quit worrying. I am a mother so I know the limits and definitely how to take care of him. He's going to be okay."

            "I know you will but what about you? Won't he going holding you back,tying you down while you could be having fun with Dylan?"

              "They need to spend as much time together and get along."

             "How are you going to explain all of it to him. Does he even know what is going on between you two or even that he is going to have two moms?"

  At that,Carly smiled. That was a thing her parents  still hadn't known about Teddy. He probably had everything figured out already. Before she came back to the country,Teddy had never been as involved in whatever she and Carol always did together but that was so much different with Dylan. Ever since she had told him that they had dated when they were teenagers,Teddy had gone all in,pushing her and really loving it when she spent time with Dylan. She was grateful for having such an intelligent kid. That wasn't so common. 

              "I wouldn't worry about Teddy. He is one sweet and special kid you'll never come across."

              "That he is. Alright, have fun and remember to give him his meds on time."

               "Mom," she exhaled. "I've got it. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not the same kid you used to know. Who used to be ignorant and irresponsible. Thanks to motherhood, I learnt to be the person I am now."

                "I know, I'm sorry. It's just that I really adore him. He's my grandson and I've grown quite fond of him."

              "There's Ravenna too remember?"

              "How can I forget her? But she is still a little reserved. She is not yet ready for the world like Teddy is so,it might take a while to get along."

            "Give her time mom. She is gonna open up as time goes by. She has gone through much at her tender age. It must be hard to cope with the new world. She is like a newborn and just like there are steps to take with newborns,so is Ravenna. She is delicate but that's only because of the trauma she has gone through. The therapy sessions are helping a lot though."

            "You truly have grown," she chuckled. "At times I look at you and wait for that moment you snap and decide to do whatever it is in your head whether good or bad but something tells me it's not going to happen."

              "Nope,it's never going to happen. Anyway,I should leave now. I will call you immediately if anything happens to him." The last part she added for the benefit of her mother. Telling her that would help ease her fear and manage to get through the day without over thinking and wanting to call every minute to know if he was doing okay. She later joined Teddy in the new car she had gotten a few days ago where he had been waiting patiently for her. She smiled and watched him through the rear view mirror.

                "Ready?"

                  "Yeah," he replied offering a very warm smile. "Do you think Dylan loves camping?" he asked after a while of driving.

               "You want to go camping with her?"

              "And you. Allie told me that she went camping with Ella and aunt Carol. They roasted marshmallows and slept in tents watching the moon. I would like that."

              "Okay,we will ask her but we won't get to go for at least a few months. You are still not allowed to move around or be outside in the cold for now." Teddy didn't seem disappointed by that. Instead he smiled  that she was considering it.

                 "Thanks mommy."

                "Always baby." She looked ahead on the road. "For now let's go spend the weekend with our favorite person." 

The rhythm of the beats in her heart was even more tuned than the words themselves as she uttered them. Dylan confessing her love for her had come as a very life restoring thing but what was even better was the day that followed ever since that day they had reunited and given themselves the chance at love again. Nothing made her more happier than the thought of spending time with Dylan. And now with Teddy too. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this happiness hovering around her. Her heart had found the perfect place to rest and she hoped that what they had now would last for as long as they lived. Wait a minute, had she just thought about a vow done in weddings? This wasn't something they had really sat down to discuss except when they were just teenagers madly in love and thinking that their future was all figured out. At that time they hadn't stopped to think that they wouldn't always be together until their marriage neither had they thought of a time they would break up. Well,if it weren't for her,maybe they never would have broken up as unbelievable as that sounded. They had stopped looking at the reason for her breaking things and had started viewing it as an advantage. They'd had the time to grow on their own and had the chance to experience the highs and lows of life therefore becoming aware of what to expect. It could never be smooth all the way. People collided and disagreed all the time and they were no exception especially since they had experienced the hardest part of it all. What they put into focus now was learning how to rise above those challenges and including each other in their personal issues. That's what made a successful marriage. And because she knew that one day they would tie the knot,why not start putting all that into practice now? And Teddy; she glanced at him seated in the back busy on the phone playing the games he so much loved. She at some point wouldn't have thought that she could balance motherhood and her personal life let alone raise her son on her own. She had handled that last part quite well for the past three or more years since Gavin didn't just up and leave when Teddy was five. He had long neglected him at an earlier age,an age that he had needed him most. She could applaud herself for having done a great job raising him but now back in her hometown, she didn't have to worry. He had a lot of people who would do anything for him,they both did.

               "Make sure the brightness is at minimum on the phone," she reminded him. Not that he really forgot turning it down,it was just that he loved the brightness and she had to keep reminding him that it could damage his eyes especially when using the phone for long hours.

                  "But mom,I can barely see since we are outside," he retorted.

                "We are not outside, we are inside a car."

                 "The windows are rolled down."

Okay,she had to admit that at times it was hard to keep up with his reasoning ability. It was at times like this that she wondered if he would be as rebellious as she had been as a teenager or he would be calmer. If he turned out like she had been, then she would pay the price of parenting.

                  "Do you want to start wearing glasses?"

                "No! People will start calling me a nerd."

  She laughed first. What didn't he know about growing up amongst kids? Life back in Australia had taught him a lot at a young age.

               "Well then,turn down the brightness and I'm gonna roll up the windows,okay?"

                "Okay."

     The rest of the drive was made slowly and silently until they got to Dylan's childhood home. She drove up to the garage behind Dylan's car and switched off the engine. It was all quiet when she got out of the car. She smiled wondering what Dylan was doing at that time. Sleeping even? If that was the case,she knew they would have to deal with her grumpy character which had always amused her. She walked to the passenger door and opened it for Teddy before she proceeded to the trunk. There she retrieved the overnight bag and another thing, Teddy's new oxygen tank which had been recommended by the doctor to use especially at night. She swung the bag on her shoulder,took the tank in the same hand and stood beside Teddy who was still as engaged on the phone like he had been in the car. 

             "Okay baby,time to get rid of the phone. Do you know why you can't keep on playing now?"

              "Because it's rude," he replied as he obediently paused the game and handed the phone back to her.

               "That's my boy," she ruffled his hair playfully. Teddy smiled warmly then offered to help her carry the things which she declined. He led the way to the door and rang the bell before standing back,his hands in his pockets. They heard footsteps approaching then the door click and Dylan stood before them. 

            "Hello detective Lewis," Teddy greeted with a huge smile on his face. Carly looked at Dylan who looked at her probably wondering if she had told Teddy to say that. She hadn't, she was just as surprised when he did. 

           "Hey buddy, how are you doing?"

            "Great! I missed you," he moved forward and hugged her around her waist but lightly. Even so,they both noticed him wince in pain."Take it easy. We don't want you going back to the emergency room now,do we?"

  Teddy shook his head,"No. I'm excited to see you. "

               "And I you," Dylan replied then,"Come on in. I've made something ready for you in the kitchen. Go ahead and take a look." Teddy obeyed and they were left alone on the doorstep. Dylan shoved her hands in her pocket,something she always did whenever she was nervous. 

She took a step forward and placed the items in her hands on the ground. Teddy was nowhere in sight so she wrapped her arms around Dylan's neck and kissed her fully on the mouth. She pulled back and smiled.

           "I wasn't going to come inside before doing that," she stated.

Dylan grinned, "Well,I missed you too."

            "You are nervous." She said it as a statement but was really questioning her.

            "It is the first day I am going to spend a whole day with him."

            "You are not going to mess up,I know that. You have been so good with him so far,it sometimes even seem like he might choose you over me," she teased to ease her.

           "Teddy? Never," she laughed too then,"You are the best parent he could ever have. Even I can't beat you at that."

           "Don't sell yourself short. You are doing an awesome job Dee."

              "Are you just saying that because you love me or because it's true?"

  She shrugged, "Whichever way isn't misplaced but I'm saying it because you are an amazing person. I know you are not going to mess up because you have never. You are always too good. Sometimes too good to be true and I find myself falling in love with you all over again." Dylan's features suddenly changed,her eyes flooding with pure desire.

              "I swear if you don't stop,I'm gonna take you right where you are and then I am gonna mess up even before the day begins. So,could you please save us both from that and just come in where it's safe."

  Carly chuckled. She knew that where it's safe meant where Teddy was because they would know how to hold back their desires for his sake. There was something Dylan didn't know yet and that was why she had said that. She retrieved the bag and oxygen tank from the ground then faced her once again. 

               "If you think Teddy doesn't know what's going on between us then you are solely mistaken."

               "What do you mean?" 

                 "I mean he knows we are not just friends." She went on,"He knows that we kiss and hold hands,that I am always happy whenever I'm around you... " she gave her the hints. Dylan stood surprised on the spot.

                "No,he doesn't!"

                   "Yes,he does. Not all the gory details about what people who are in love do but only enough that a seven year old is allowed to know."

                 "I'm utterly impressed. Where does your son's intelligence come from? Definitely not from you," Dylan teased. She shoved her aside and made her way inside the house past her. "Seriously, what did you know at seven years old?"

She stopped and looked at her. Dylan was enjoying the teasing. After all,it was supposed to be a playfully banter so she joined in.

                "Nothing, not even at twelve years old. All I knew was playing pranks on our grandfather and annoying Carl. I was a retard in these matters," they both laughed. "And so were you."

                 "You are so right and now that we are talking about it,it is suddenly hitting me hard. So thanks for slicing my pride in half."

                  "You started it." They laughed again as they headed inside.

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