Chapter Fourteen

Vale

"Daddy!" I ran down the steps to him as he got out of the car. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too, Little Monkey. How's Mom?"

So silly, we talked multiple times these past couple of days and he knew how she was. "I think she's out of her gangster thug phase. Thank the reality TV gods for that one." I'd tried to research how to block certain channels from view but gave up about ten minutes into it. Attention span of a popsicle stick and all of that.

"Let's grab your bag and say goodbye."

We stepped back inside and there sat Mom, coffee in hand, buried in one of those damn shows. "Mom, Jack's here."

"Why hello, Daddy."

Just. Bury. Me. Now.

"Mom, really?"

She and Jack both laughed. I, on the other hand, was appalled.

"She's just having fun, Monkey. It's all good. Sarah, do you need anything before we hit the ferry?" Daddy was so sweet, always taking care us.

"No, but thank you for asking, Jack. You boys have a nice weekend." Mom gave us each a hug then Daddy carried my bag to the car and loaded it in by his.

"Okay, Monkey. You're in charge of the radio so dazzle me with your musical selections."

Daddy pulled out of the driveway and headed toward Mukilteo where we'd catch the ferry. We sang along with the show tunes, my favorites from Cabaret and even the Lion King came on. Before long we drove onto the ferry and once parked headed out onto the upper deck.

"It's been forever since I've ridden a ferry." A clear day in Seattle was rare yet we were granted one today. As I gazed out at the sound, Daddy wrapped his arms around me.

"I love this. Have you ever been to Orcas Island or seen the real orcas in the sound before?" Daddy asked.

"No, only on TV." It was rare we ever had the money to do much of anything and even though a drive to watch them while in the harbor was basically free, Mom usually had to work at the times they were here. A teacher's salary left a lot to be desired, especially considering all they did to help the kids they taught.

"We'll have to go someday. They're amazing." The captain's announcement came on to make our way back to the vehicles. Even though the ride was too short, I was excited to get back on the road.

Daddy rolled the top down on his convertible Mustang as we drove out of the ferry onto the main road on the island. The weather was perfect as was the company. No reason to fill the air between us with mindless chit chat when instead we soaked up this beautiful day with the wind whipping through our hair.

When the big red barn from my childhood memory came into view, I excitedly cheered. "Look, Daddy, it's still here." Imagine my surprise when he pulled in and parked.

"Yes silly boy, I sent you a picture of it when I was last here. Greenbank Farm is a Whidbey Island staple. Come on, Little Monkey, let's go inside."

Daddy came around and opened the door for me. "The swing set is still here. Do you think I could swing on it?" I hoped I wasn't too big to fit.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say my monkey has a little side, too," Daddy winked. "Time to swing."

My laughter filled the air as Daddy pushed me on the swing. "Higher!" Once I was on a good roll, Daddy moved off to the side and took pictures of me.

"Silly Monkey, let's go inside and shop." Daddy helped me slow down enough so I could jump off. "Tens all across the board from the judges on that dismount. Good job. Now, let's take a selfie with the barn behind us." Daddy snapped a few more pictures, gave me a kiss, and then hand in hand we went on our next adventure.

"Gosh, nothing has changed since I was here." The large area you could rent for parties had the same tables and chairs inside and the restaurant area was just as quaint as I'd remembered. The wine tasting area was the first thing we saw when we walked in, but my mother wasn't a drinker, so we hadn't spent any time in that area before. Daddy sampled a couple of different wines and purchased them before we went into the café for lunch.

"I'm so full, I can't eat another bite." The sandwich and chips I had were wonderful but huge.

"Same. Let's walk next door and get some cheese. I always bring new ones for my parents to try."

Cheese and wine in hand, we were back on the road but a short drive later we pulled up in front of his parents' house. Daddy barely shut the engine off when Linda and Jackson came out to greet us.

"There's my new son!" She hugged me so hard it stole my breath.

"Mom, let him breathe."

"I'm just so excited. Jackson has never brought anyone home before."

This was gonna get confusing with Jackson being both Daddy's and his dad's name.

"Come on," Linda looped her arm through mine, "let them get the luggage. I've made raspberry lemonade."

"Yum. Raspberry anything is my favorite."

"Lord, help us," I heard Daddy's dad say. Geez, that was just as confusing as the two Jacksons deal.

"I love your home." This place was massive. "Oh my gosh, is that the water?" Standing just inside the entryway had a great view of the sound. Hell, the entire space had a fantastic water view.

"Yes, much like what Jackson did with his condo, we built this house with the water as the focal point and minimal interior walls to block it."

She sat the pitcher of lemonade and four glasses with ice on a tray and we took it out on the back deck. "Wow. This is nothing short of amazing."

"Glad to hear you like it." Daddy walked up beside me and kissed the top of my head.

We chatted for a while then Daddy said he wanted us to go for a walk. We strolled hand in hand along the shoreline. I could seriously stare out at this view for hours on end.

"This is where I always come when I need to clear my head and figure things out," Daddy said. "There's something about the water that sooths my soul."

"It's doing the same for me. It's like the weight of the world has been lifted. This place is beyond words." I couldn't imagine being able to afford to live here.

"Glad to hear you say that. When I was here last, missing my sweet boy, I made a lot of decisions."

"Decisions?"

"Yes, decisions that affect us."

I stopped, not wanting to veer too far off course in case I was dumped. Harder to call an Uber with no service. "How so?"

"I bought this land we're standing on."

"Um, what?" How did that affect us?

"I want us to build the house of our dreams on it."

"Um, what?" I'd turned into a parrot and a brainless one at that. "A house? For us?"

"I want us to design and build the house of our dreams and live in it together. Forever." Daddy was nervous and I was in shock. "I know it's fast and I'm not trying to scare you off, but I want a future with you. We can build a separate house for your mom and live our dream here, on the island."

When I didn't reply, he rambled on.

"We could build a gym so your monkey can climb away, and I can have a space in it to work out while you do your thing. We can even make a playroom that you and Darcy can use when she comes to visit."

"What about work? Where will I get a job?" There wasn't much around us. I supposed I could see if the little red barn was hiring.

"Honestly, if you don't want to work, you don't have to. But if you do," he quickly amended, "that is completely your choice. I just want to be with you. Always. Go to sleep with you, wake up with you. Spend the rest of my life with you."

Was that a proposal?

Had I been transported to an alternate universe where everything I'd ever dreamed of was handed to me? There had to be a flipside, right? For every positive came a negative and all that shit.

"I-I don't know what to say." Quite literally, to be honest.

"You don't have to say anything, and I didn't mean to freak you out." Daddy was sad, and that made me sad.

"Daddy, I love you. It's just…a lot and you surprised me is all." Okay, words were good. Communication was helpful. "Have you already started the whole building stuff?" I really had to get the correct lingo down before we embarked upon this adventure. Wait, was I in? My thoughts were a jumbled mess of what the fucks and time was what I needed to get them sorted.

"I've talked to an architect I've worked with on other projects who has agreed to take this one on. No rush. I told him what I envisioned but that nothing happened until I talked to you. You have just as much input on this design as I do."

"I-I," again with the stuttering. Way to sound mature, Vale. "I can't afford this. I don't have a job, or savings, or anything to contribute to it."

Daddy gently gripped my shoulders. "Deep breath, sweet boy. I don't mean to overwhelm you. Money is not an issue, our current and future needs come first. If it helps soothe you, think of it as an investment. You don't need to supply any capital, neither does your mother. Honestly, I love the idea of being able to take care of both of you. If you want to work, then do so. If you want to take online classes, then do so. If you want to run around in your monkey suit all day, then do so. The point is this is all up to you and you don't have to decide right this moment."

"To us. This is all up to us. I appreciate that you want to take care of me and Mom but it's just a lot to think about." I glanced out at the water as the sun began to set. I already knew my answer but had the sudden urge for a mother-son conversation prior to giving it.

"Take your time," Daddy pressed his lips to my forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Hey, next weekend do you and Darcy want to go to Blush?" Daddy sprang on me as we walked back toward his parents' house.

"Darcy, too? Doesn't she have to be a member first?"

"I know the owner," Daddy winked. "Full disclosure, I'm a silent partner, in finance only, at Blush. But please, keep that to yourself."

Wow, he wasn't kidding when he told me he was invested in other non-start-up businesses.

"So, I know the owner and I can assure you it's okay. Based upon what you've shared with me about her life, I think she'd have fun playing with other littles."

"She would love that." I fired off a text to her about it.

Me: Daddy wants to take us to Blush next weekend. You up for that?

Before we reached the house she replied.

Darcy: YES!!!

I turned the screen toward Daddy so he could read it and he smiled. "I'll make all the arrangements."

The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing. Daddy and I took his parents' boat out and had a day out on the sound. It was hard to leave at the end of our trip and Linda made me promise to come back soon. For the drive home, we took the long way around, across Deception Pass and up through Anacortes.

"You're awfully quiet over there, Vale."

Vale.He hadn't called me that since we first started dating.

"Just have a lot on my mind."

"Oh. Anything I can help with?"

How do you tell someone you love that they're the one that sent your mind into overdrive without it sounding bad? "No, but thank you for asking."

Daddy kissed me goodnight at the door after carrying my bag inside then he left. Things were off with us, and I hated that. He offered me the dream of a life and I panicked.

"All right, Vale," Mom crossed her arms. "Spill it."

And so, I did. I told her everything about the house and working and how Daddy offered to include her in all of it.

"I don't know what to do." My brain was a murky mess and Mom always found a way to help me work past the sludge. I needed her enlightening words now more than ever.

"I was in love once, with your father. Only he didn't feel the same way." She sat beside me on the couch. "Sadly, he shared that with me when I told him I was pregnant."

"Mom, I'm so sorry." I couldn't imagine the heartbreak she felt.

"I was twenty, he was much older than me and he was married and one of my college professors. I didn't know about his marriage, or I never would've given him the time of day, but I found out once it was too late. Since I was a little girl my only dream was to become a mother. I loved children and when I found out I was pregnant I was elated."

"Mom, I never knew."

"Of course you didn't, I refused to ever give you a reason to think you were a burden. You, my love, are a blessing. My one true gift in life. I finished college and got my degree before you came along. The moment I saw you everything in my world felt right. I didn't need a partner. I would make it on my own and give you the best life I could."

"Mom." Tears streamed down my face as I pictured a much younger version of my mother working hard while taking care of a baby by herself. This woman was made of much stronger material than I'd given her credit for.

"Vale, all I've ever wanted for you was for you to be happy. Jackson makes you happy. That man looks at you like you're made of gold. If he is offering you the life you want, a life with him where you will never want for anything again, you'd be a fool to deny yourself that."

"What about you, Mom? We're a team."

"My sweet baby boy. You have a heart that's made of that very gold that Jackson sees. You need to start your life together, just the two of you. I appreciate the offer to live there with you both, but I still have a few more years before I can retire. Maybe then I will reconsider but for now, it's your time to start your life. You can't stay home and look after your reality TV-addicted mother. I promise you I will be just fine."

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too, Vale. Now go get your man."