CHAPTER 88

     WestDale preparatory school was a large school located just a short distance away from the high school under the same name. This is where Teddy and Ravenna had been enrolled once the new school term had began. Today was the day the regional swimming competition for kids under the age of twelve were being held and several other schools had gathered there for the same. They had been scheduled to happen during the long school break for various reasons. Carly's entire family was already there sitting on the bleachers mounted all around the swimming pool with posters in their hands cheering on for Teddy. His skills had been incredibly impressive and recognized and he was part of the team that was representing the school. Just a few months of training with Dylan,he had adapted to the sport like a fish to water. Later,his swim lessons had been taken over by his coach at the school who had seen his potential and now here they were. They walked together towards the arena. At the far end,Teddy stood amongst his teammates. He was still the youngest while most of the kids were around the age of ten to late elevens but at least he wasn't the shortest. He turned to them and waved. They both waved back.

                  "Go buddy!" Dylan shouted. "Make us proud."

                  "We should go sit down. I heard that the parents here are too reserved that even something as little and meaningful as cheering for your kid can attract real contempt."

                  "Jesus! Why are people so stuck up? Is it a crime if I cheered for my kid?" she asked then realized what she had just said. Their kid? She looked at Carly who was smiling at her in amusement. "Sorry,I got carried away."

                 "No,I think it's time we changed that to remove all the confusion."

                  "Really?"

                    "Yes, really. You want to be a part of his life permanently,he loves you just as much as he would love a parent and we want to spend the rest of our lives together,right?"

                  "Yes, more than anything else in the whole world. I love you and I want to be a part of both of your lives, permanently."

                 "It's time we had that talk with him then. We will do that right after the competition."

     The announcer sounded the whistle to alert the competitors and to catch the attention of everyone. They both refocused their eyes to where Teddy was standing, in the second lane of the swimming pool. They had been so confident when they first got there but the moment the competitors were alerted to get ready,their hands moved automatically into one firm grip. 

                "What if it's too much for him?" Carly asked remembering his heart condition. He might have recovered but once a mother always a mother. She was scared that anything would happen to him.

                "Hey don't go there. He is okay and it's going to go well. Look at him,he is a champion. Always will be."

                 "That's true."

  When the whistle to begin sounded,they both sat on the edge as the small bodies of the kids fought to swim forward and back and for a moment,Teddy was somewhere in between. He then shot forward within seconds like a fish that had just been threatened it's life. Within a matter of seconds,he reached the other end and made a u-turn. That was always their favorite part. Unable to hold their excitement anymore seeing that he was taking the lead,they looked at each other. Dylan was the first one to stand up.

                  "Fuck it!" she grabbed a poster board with the name of the school and Teddy on it and flashed it in the air. "Go Teddy,this is yours to bring home!"

  Carly joined in clapping and cheering,"Yeah! Keep up baby!"

                  "Must you shout like that?" A woman who was seated in front of them said, clearly irritated.

                 "And must you just sit there and sulk instead of cheering for the best? He's a kid,he needs the motivation. No,he deserves it," Carly shot back at her.

                 "Oh jeez, my kid is in there too but I know how to keep calm and respect personal spaces in public."

                   "Then it's a good thing this is a competition,not a library. There's a difference,"Dylan said. The woman stood up and faced her fuming as if she wanted to attack her.

                "What did you say to me?" she asked,her face so fiery that it seemed like it would blow up. She was a pure Puerto Rican without any doubt.

              "Whoa whoa whoa, assault a police officer and you will spend a night or two in jail," Dylan said and removed her badge. The woman fell back. "Lady, this isn't a place to bring all your feelings about anything. So, would you be so good to go cheer your kid on or just sit back like you were doing?"

  The woman grabbed her handbag and coat and made her way away from where they were. She sat back down several benches away. Carly bumped her arm.

                  "Damn! You are good."

     She shrugged it off,"Just being a proper parent.

                   "And a proud one too. Look,he just finished first. Let's go applaud him."

                         ★★★

              "So, what do you want to have right now?" Dylan asked Teddy as they sped away back home. 

                "Ice cream!"

 Carly chuckled,"You just came out of the water and now you want ice cream? What are you? A polar bear?" 

                  "Mom?" Teddy groaned. "Just a tiny scoop."

                  "You are gonna have that baby. You deserve it."

                  "Yes!" he replied excitedly.

   She looked at Dylan who nodded for her to go ahead.

                   "We have a surprise waiting for you back home but there's something else we wanted to talk to you about." 

                  "Okay?" Clearly he was questioning whether he was in trouble or what he had done to get their attention.

                 "Dylan and I wanted to know what you would think if we got married,"she decided to take the direct approach which would be more understandable.

                 "Would I be forced to go live with grandma and grandpa if you do?"

               "No,God no! You will still live with us. We will be like a family,only with two moms instead of a dad."

                 "But you can still call me Dylan if that's what you would want,"Dylan added. "I won't mind."

                  "Then that would be super cool! I would like that very much."

    And just like that,they had gone past that huge monster. It wasn't like Teddy was expected to say no especially since they had been already living like a married couple but still,they hadn't been so sure of the outcome either.

              "Awesome! Let's go get your ice cream then and head home."

                         ★★★

     A reunion with her friends was something Carly had been looking forward to and that's why she was overjoyed when Carol had called some time back to say that they would be visiting the country for the summer. She hadn't mentioned it to Teddy and that's the big surprise she had been holding for him that day after the competition. They had flown out of their country the evening of the previous day and now here they were. Carl had offered to help pick them up at the airport as she had to attend Teddy's competition and seeing his car right in front of Dylan's house, she knew they were already there.

                "Ready?" 

                   "Yeah. But what is it mom?"

                 "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you,"she led the way towards the house and opened the door. Dylan took the rear. "Go on in."

   She followed him closely as he walked curiously towards the living room where a group of voices could be heard from all the way through the hallway. He stopped right on spot when he saw who it was.

                   "Allie!" He skipped for joy and ran to the little girl. Okay,that hug meant a lot for an eight and nine year old. "When did you come?"

                 "Just today. Your uncle told us that you were having a swimming competition. Did you win?" Allie asked excitedly.

                  "Yeah, Dylan has my trophy. I wish you were there to see me."

                "Don't worry,next time I will come." Teddy smiled then went over to greet Carol and Ella. Carly went next and embraced each one of them in turns. It had been a while and this was just the best reunion.

                "Teddy looks so much happier,"Carol stated.

                 "And you too,"Ella added.

 She smiled,"All because we are finally where we are supposed to be. We found everything we had been lacking right here."

                "Speaking of,where is she? I can't wait to meet her officially."

 Just then, Dylan appeared in the room. She had been left parking the car but Carly knew she had wanted to give them some minutes to reunite with her friends. She turned and smiled at her. They had met during one of the video calls she made occasionally but this was the first time they would be standing face to face.

                 "You are even more good looking in person," Carol commented with a smile. "It's nice to officially meet you Dylan Lewis."

                "It's nice to meet you too both," Dylan replied and shook both of their hands. 

   Now that done,they were all ready to move forward. The joy in that house marked the beginning of a very nice and endless journey of love, friendship and family time. It was such a relief to know that the second chance they had given themselves wasn't going to waste. They were in love and they were happy. Nothing else in the world mattered and right in that moment,they knew that they already had each other. They would get officially married some day but right then they just wanted to enjoy each other's company and just let the love lead them to where they were purposed to be.