TJ clung to Tim for a few moments before pulling away. "Really?" he asked.

Jenika chuckled, "Yes, really, honey. Tim is your dad."

"And I'm not going anywhere." Tim interrupted. "You're stuck with me now."

TJ laughed for a second before his face became serious "What do I tell Adam? He said he'd be my stand in dad?"

"You know, I think Adam will be very happy that you have your real dad now" Jenika said "But you could always keep him and just have two dads."

TJ's eyes lit up "That would be way cool."

"Let's see if he still thinks that when he's in trouble for something" Tim whispered to Jenika.

Tim, TJ, and Jenika spent the rest of the day together, right up until showtime. After the show Tim helped Jenika put TJ to bed. Tim had planned to spend some time with Adam that night before his mom came the next day but he was emotionally exhausted and fell into his bunk as soon as he boarded the bus that night. He was fast asleep within minutes.

It had only been twelve hours since Adam last touched Tim but he was already feeling like something was missing. This was going to be the longest few days of his life. Adam stopped at Tim's bunk on the way to his own. He gently brushed Tim's hair out of his face and placed a sweet kiss on his forehead. "I love you, Timothy. Sleep well." 

Tim was up early the next morning and on his way to the airport to pick up his mother. His mind raced throughout the drive and yet he still hadn't figured out exactly what he was going to say by the time he arrived. He waited near baggage claim out of site of the arriving passengers. He wanted a few moments to look at her and calm himself before he had to speak.

Dena collected her small suitcase and looked around for her son. She was just about to pull out her phone and text him when she finally spotted him walking towards her. He had a smile on his face but his eyes betrayed him. "Has he been crying?" She thought to herself.

"Momma!" Tim said as he pulled her into a hug. 

"Timothy! Oh, how I've missed you." Dena exclaimed as she hugged him back.

"I've missed you too, momma." Tim sniffed. He was having trouble controlling his emotions now that she was actually here.

Dena stepped back and took a good look at her son. "Timothy, I know those aren't just happy tears. What's going on that brought me out here so suddenly?"

Tim had to smile at his mothers perceptiveness. "Can we get out of this airport please? My parking price is going up by the second?"

"You've got a reprieve for now but it won't last long." Dena smiled.

They talked throughout the drive back to the venue. Dena talked about her school kids and her church family. Tim talked about how well the tour was going and some the videos they had been making that they were excited about. Before they knew it they were pulling up next to the tour bus. Tim took his mother's suitcase to the bus and then lead her inside the venue.

Tim was headed straight for his dressing room so they could have some privacy to talk. He didn't realize that Dena had stopped and was watching a young boy walking across the back of the theater with a pretty young woman. 

"Momma? Where did you go?" Tim asked when he turned to say something and she wasn't there.

"Sorry, Timothy. I'm here." Dena replied as she walked around a stage curtain. 

"I thought I lost you in record time." Tim laughed.

"No, I just got distracted. I saw a little boy and, I guess, his mother at the back of theater." Dena said. "I wonder if she works here and had to bring him with her today? Poor thing. He'll be bored out of his mind."

Tim just stood there speechless. He had no idea what to say. Luckily he didn't get a chance to speak as Dena kept talking as they walked to his dressing room. 

"I wonder if she'd let me keep him entertained while she works? You know I love children." Dena paused as she gave Tim her motherly look "And since you won't give me any grandchildren..."

"Oh look, here we are at the dressing room. Have a seat" Tim said as he shut the door.

Tim sat sideways on the couch so he was facing his mother. He opened his mouth to speak a few times but nothing came out.

Dena took Tim's hand. "What is going on? Is it that bad that you can't speak?"

"No, momma, it's nothing bad. I just don't know how to say it" Tim sighed.

"Just spit it out, Timothy." Dena said a little louder than she intended to.

"Okay, here goes." Tim murmured. "That little boy you saw is the reason you are here. His mother doesn't work here at the venue; they're traveling with us on tour. That little boys name is TJ..." Tim paused. He held up his hand to keep his mother from speaking. Tim swallowed the lump in his throat as he continued "and he's my son."

Dena just stared at Tim like she hadn't understood a word he said. 

"Momma?" Tim asked "Momma, did you hear what I said?"

"Yes, I heard you." Dena said quietly. "Your son? You have a child? I have a grandchild that you have been keeping from me?" Dena looked like she had just been slapped. 

"No, momma, it's not like that." Tim whispered. "I just found out about him a few weeks ago. I had no idea he existed." 

Tim looked at his lap as he wrung his hands "I don't really remember it but apparently his mother and I spent a night together five years ago. It's a long story we can get into later. But they are here now and I'm telling you now."

Before she could stop herself Dena had slapped Tim across the face. His hand flew up to cover his cheek as tears fell from his eyes. "I'm sorry, momma" Tim cried.

Dena realized what she had done and pulled Tim into a hug. "Oh, Timothy. I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I've never hit anybody in my life. Can you forgive me?"

Tim nodded his head as he continued to let his tears flow. "I'm sorry" he repeated.

Mother and son sat holding each other for quite some time. Once Tim managed to compose himself, he was able to speak. "Do you want to meet him?'

To be continued....

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