Can You Be My Daddy?
TANNER*
"This one here is perfect. Her ring finger is the size of my pinky finger, so that should help with the size I will need," I said to the salesman.
I had gone to two other stores and thought I wasn't going to find a ring that called out to me until I walked into Zales.
"Ok, try this one on, and see if it fits. If not, I'm sure that we will have that size available; if not, we can get one sized for you," The salesman said as he handed me the ring.
The ring happened to fit perfectly except being a bit big.
"Can you put this ring on hold for me? I'll put a deposit down on the ring if needed, so you know that I will return?" I asked.
"For sure, when will you return?" He asked.
"Tonight with my girlfriend. I will let her pick out a few and then surprise her later with one of them. I have a feeling she will love this one, though. Also, I would like to get her ring finger-sized so I know that I am correct on the size. I know that's not usually how things go. Still, our relationship isn't your typical relationship by any standards," I said and paid a two thousand dollar deposit for the salesman to put the ring on hold for me.
"Would your parents possibly watch Cora for a moment so that I could take you somewhere real quick before dinner," I texted Kaysen and waited about five minutes before she answered?
"Yes, but we will need to be quick," Kaysen texted.
"Ok, I'll be there earlier than expected. Except me there in about thirty minutes, I need to change into something a little bit nicer, to look presentable for your parents," I texted back.
"See you then," Kaysen texted back.
***
I arrived at Kaysen's house, and Mr. Richardson answered the door.
"Tanner come in; it's nice to see you again so soon. I hope you're ready for some good ole fashioned pot roast. Nancy has had it in the slow cooker all day, and it smells amazing, don't you think?" Mr. Richardson said as he shook my hand and ushered me inside.
"Yes, sir Mr. Richardson it seems delightful. I don't get a chance to eat a good home-cooked meal often. Just twice a month when I go to my aunts for family night dinner," I said as I looked around for Kaysen.
"Call me Clark son, Mr. Richardson makes me feel old, and I haven't even reached my fifties yet. What do you eat if you don't eat home-cooked meals? You don't look like you're starved or anything. If you stick with Kaysen, you'll most likely gain a few pounds; she and her mother love to cook. As you can tell by my midsection here," Clark said as he put his hands around his plump belly.
"Hahaha, I eat out a lot, sir, and with my profession and working out, I stay at a steady two hundred pounds. As far as sticking with Kaysen, I want to ask her to marry me, so I won't be going anywhere anytime soon unless she is with me, that is," I said with a smile on my face.
"You want to ask my daughter to marry you, but I have just now met you this week. How long have you known my daughter Tanner? Kaysen is set in her ways of never marrying again and wants to raise Cora independently. Would you be willing to take on a child that is not of your blood, and would you be able to provide for my daughter and Cora?" Clark asked with a furrowed brow as we sat down in the Living Room.
"I met Kaysen two months ago, sir, but we have just begun to date this week; I love her, though. I have always loved Kaysen; I didn't realize it until recently. Cora is the cutest brightest two-year-old I have ever met. I love her and will care for her as if she were my own. As far as providing, I am CFO of Cunningham Construction and Landscaping and have saved every penny I have made over the last seven years between working my way through college and what I have made through the company. Kaysen and Cora would be well taken care of with me," I said confidently.
"Well, you have my blessing, but you need to prove yourself to Nancy and me. If you hurt my daughter, I'll hurt you. Do you understand what I'm saying, Tanner?" Clark asked me.
"Yes, sir, it is not my intention to hurt Kaysen or Cora in any way. I want to care for them both to the best of my capabilities," I said, and Kaysen walked in with Cora at that time.
"Look, mommy, Tanner is here," Cora said excitedly as she ran up to me. Cora is so bright and talks quite well for a two-year-old.
"Hi Cora, I missed you. Can I take your mommy on a quick ride real fast? We would be back before you realized we were gone?" I asked Cora.
"Ok, but I need a dolly," Cora said.
"Alright, little one, I will surprise you with something; how does that sound?" I asked Cora.
"Yay!" Cora screamed excitedly.
***
"So, where are we going?" Kaysen asked as I drove into town to the jewelry store.
"You'll see, just have a little patience," I said and smiled brightly.
Kaysen will most likely think I'm nuts, but I did tell her I wanted to marry her, and I meant it. I pulled up to the curb parking of the jewelry store and turned off my truck, and ran over to help Kaysen climb down and shut the door.
"Why are we at a jewelry store Tanner?" Kaysen asked.
"I want you to pick out a few rings for me; remember that money isn't an issue, ok. I was hoping you could pick out some that you like, and then I'll surprise you later on with one of them. I told you I wanted to marry you, and I meant it," I told Kaysen as we walked into the jewelry store.
"That's fine, but it's going to be a while before we get married. I want for us to live together for a while before we make that leap," Kaysen said as she glanced around at all of the rings.
"Oh Tanner, look at this one; it's stunning. Can I try it on?" Kaysen asked as she pointed to the ring I had picked out for her.
I know Kaysen better than I thought. The salesman winked at me to say, right on, you did good, man.
"Yes, ma'am, a beautiful ring for a beautiful lady," he said as he pulled the ring from the glass case and handed it to Kaysen to try on.
Kaysen smiled brightly and giggled happily as she put the ring on her finger.
"I want this one, Tanner," Kaysen said.
"Are you sure you don't want to try some others on?" I asked Kaysen.
"No, this is the one, no need to try any others on," Kaysen said excitedly as she handed the ring back over to the salesman.
"Ok then. I'm glad you found the one you love. Let's go get Cora a gift and head back before we are late for dinner," I said as we turned around, and I gave the salesman a thumbs up to keep the ring on hold for me.
I can't believe I picked out the exact ring that Kaysen would want. Fate must have had a hand in Kaysen and me being together. Two-night stand results in Kaysen getting pregnant with twins, and my hardened soul has softened to find love.
***
"Cora, baby, come here, look what I've got for you," I said as Kaysen and I walked through the door and walked into the living room.
Kaysen and I laid all of the contents on the floor.
"Yay, Nana, look at my dolls; I can have a tea party," Cora screamed in excitement as she looked at the non-breakable tea set and two dolls Kaysen and I had picked out for Cora.
Cora ran to her room and returned a minute later with the doll I had gotten her the other night.
I ran out to my truck to retrieve the toddler table and chair set we had gotten and brought them into the house. Cora's eyes grew wide, and she jumped around excitedly. Then she ran over and hugged my leg.
"Thank you for my gifts. Will you play with me, Tanner?" Cora asked me as I sat the table and chairs down.
"I'm too big to fit in the seats, so I will sit on the floor with you and play tea party ok," I said as I sat on the floor and helped Cora put the plates and cups on the table.
Kaysen grabbed the miniature tea kettle and went off to the kitchen, and returned a few minutes later with a few crackers.
"Dinner is almost ready, so you only have a few minutes to play. Maybe we will have time to play afterward, ok, Cora," Kaysen said as she walked back to the kitchen to help your mom set the table.
"Did you know that my daddy lives with the angels in heaven? I don't have a daddy like other kids. Could you be my daddy?" Cora asked as she poured water into my cup.
I was surprised by Cora's question, and I didn't know what to say. I hoped that someday I could hold that title.
"I love your mommy very much, and I hope that someday soon I could be your daddy. Right now, let's have fun and be friends and get to know each other," I said. I didn't know what was acceptable to say in a time like this.
"Ok, I don't have any of those, friends then," Cora said, and we began to sip our tea.
Writer's Note
I love Cora she's adorable π Feel free toπHugs and Love Sapphirian J.β€
