Page 29 of Forever Focused

They sat there for hours. Long after the bats had left, eons after the moon and stars rose in the sky, forever and a day… just holding each other, savoring the feeling of being free of all constraints, demands, and expectations, and focusing on each other.

“Let’s continue this path,” he said softly. “I already found an apartment for us to rent if you want to look at it together when we get home. I don’t want us to be apart anymore, and we’ll figure this out.”

“I agree,” she murmured, looking up at him and smiling. “I don’t care what the apartment looks like – let’s take it. Between the two of us, our things, we should be able to get somewhat started with this new life, Mr. Petersen – but I do have one demand.”

“What’s that?” he chuckled, lifting her hand to his face and kissing her ring finger which was currently empty. It wasn’t that Poppy cared, but obviously, he felt slightly guilty regarding the lack of it. This was all a spur-of-the-moment decision for the both of them, and she didn’t begrudge the ring anyhow. Her mother never even wore her wedding rings anymore. It made her eczema break out on her hands.

“I need internet access at the apartment – for work.”

“Trust me, I think we’ll make that happen,” he smiled, shaking his head, and leaned forward to kiss her again tenderly. “You say the word, and I’m yours…”

CHAPTER 10

* * *

MICHAEL

One year later…

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Michael said bluntly, looking at his father, who was covered in paint splatters. “Are you freakin’ sure about this?”

“I told him ‘no’, kiddo,” his Uncle Jackson volunteered from just beyond where his dad was kneeling in the bushes, painting the last of the trim – stopping to glare at his wingman, best friend, and brother-in-law over the years.

“Wait… you told my Dad ‘no’ ? – Then why in the heck are we painting my house before I tell Poppy about it?” Michael yelped, tossing down his paintbrush into the pan causing blobs of paint to splash upwards.

“Thumper, did I ever tell you my kid was persnickety?”

“Yes – and you sound like an old man saying that word,” Houdini chuckled and bumped knuckles with his uncle as his father glared at the two of them.

“I’m fifty-eight… and you are older than me, ya’ heathen.”

“Can we please discuss why my house had to be painted before I told Poppy about it?”

“Your dad and I did this to surprise your mother – just be glad this isn’t pink.”

“That’s why the house is pink? Seriously, Dad?”

“Hush… and pick up your paintbrush.”

“Hold up!” Michael snarled, raising both hands and trying to keep his temper in check as he glared at the three men helping him paint. Houdini, Poppy’s father, was grinning wildly and holding back laughter. His Uncle Jackson rolled his eyes and pointed at Michael’s dad with both hands before tossing up his own and walking off to get a Coke out of the cooler they’d brought. His dad glared at him and crossed his arms.

“What?”

“We painted the house pink for mom…”

“We – nothing. It was your uncle and I, and it makes a man out of you, you know. A little hard labor never hurts anyone.”

“At least Poppy likes the color green.”

“Oh my gosh,” Michael exclaimed in frustration, staring at the two of them in horror. “I thought you checked with her? Are you trying to give me heart failure? What if Poppy doesn’t want a pea green house? It’s pea-freakin-green, Dad…”

“Watch your tone, mister. I’m not too old to teach you some manners.”

“You’d break a hip,” Michael snapped – and then slapped both of his hands over his mouth as he stared at his Dad in stunned silence. The rude comment slipped out before he could stop it. Houdini and Jackson’s laughter echoed through the silent neighborhood that was just now starting to stir with the dawn.

“You can be just as mouthy as your mother,” his father glared – and then smiled. “I love you, brat… and just remember? It will be you wiping my rear-end if I’m incapacitated. Let’s keep my hips in check and unbroken.”

“Oh, heaven help me…” Michael groaned.

---