I can't believe it has been over a year and he is still sticking around. The kids have fallen in love with him and he is actually wonderful with them. I know it's getting more serious with us but I just don't want to admit it. He comes over practically every day but always goes home to sleep. It's just easier that way so that we don't have to explain to the kids the whole relationship thing and honestly I don't want to get them thinking this guy is going to stick around...none of the rest ever have.

We have hooked up a few times and believe me when I say he is awesome in bed...he doesn't compare to any of the other guys that I have had in the past. Tonight he doesn't have James and the kids are already in bed sleeping thanks to him for helping me get them into the bed. We are snuggling up on the couch while watching a movie.

When it goes off I get up and turn off the TV...the hint that it is time for him to go. He stands up and wraps his arms around me to kiss me goodnight like he does every night accept tonight he keeps kissing me and I let him pick me up and take me to my bedroom. I know this is a no-no but I let him anyway. I guess I just need this you know.

Once there clothes come ripping off and we are standing there naked staring at each other and then we both smile at the same time. God his body is massive and live hard caramel...A part of me anticipates the taste of his skin....DAMN!!!

His hand cups the bottom of my jaw while the other holds my waist and he kisses me again, gently. His lips a tad salty...but uhm...so good. He continues to walk forward...causing me to walk backwards and bumping into the bed. Slowly I fall back and he climbs on top of me...kissing me...caressing me.

Afterward we lay beside each other and I try not to look over at him but I just can't help it. I look at him and he is looking back at me and we both just start laughing. He rolls over on his side and then takes my hand. "Evelyn...would you be upset if I stayed the night."

I think about it...I think about the kids' reaction and how they would take it when he is here when they wake up. I think about how long will this really last but I guess I never will know until we try. "Not at all." I don't mind but I do...and it has nothing to do with me or maybe it does.

We kiss again and then I lay my head on his chest while he wraps his arms around me and pulls me into him. I actually have the best night sleep I ever had in a very long time. In the morning when I wake up and reach for him he is gone. I rise up and look around thinking surely that was not a dream. I sit up and bed and stretch and then smell something coming from the kitchen.

I throw on a long shirt and my sweats and follow the aroma. I smile when I see him cooking and all three kids are sitting at the table. They are actually waiting while he cooks and holy crap...they are not arguing. He sees me and smiles back at me and then pours me a cup of coffee. When he hands it to me he leans in and kisses me. We are soon interrupted. "Momma...are you going to marry this one?"

We both look at her and then back at each other...he has a shit eating grin on his face. "Yeah...momma...you going to marry this one?" He smirks.

"I don't know...am I?" I play along and smirk back at him.

He gets down on one knee and looks up at me with longing eyes. "Let's do this...Marry me Evelyn...I promise I won't let you down." Holy shit....he is serious. I see the look in his eye.

"Ari...I..." I look back at the three kids sitting around the table...I know they love Ari since the day he walked into their lives. They also love James. I inhale and then exhale slowly... "Ok...let's do this."

He stands up and picks me up into his arms, swirling me around in the kitchen. Our lips meet and the kids say in unison... "Ewe....gross."

We both just laugh. Once back down on my stable feet, I sit down at the table and we watch him make the biggest pancakes ever. Two weeks later we are saying our vows and starting a new life with each other. We both move out of the apartment and find this quaint little house with three bedrooms. We put the girls in one room and the boys in the other...however we will only have James every other week. The kids are so excited to have all this room and a nice fenced in backyard. I'm more excited about the nice size kitchen, even if Ari is the one that does most of the cooking.

We happen to live close to a park and for the week we have James so we decide to walk over and have a small picnic. Ari takes the kids to the play area and they are running around, climbing, going down slides. I set up the table once done I walk over to get their attention.

That is when I see them...The three of them, both hold his hands and swing him in the air. Mrs. Perry looks up and sees me and smiles. Within seconds Mr. Perry notices something is off and looks her way and then towards me. They both look back at each other and walk on over towards me. "Evelyn...it's so nice to see you again." Mrs. Perry says and ten reaches over to hug me. Mr. Perry does the same...pulling me in a hug. "This is Jacob."

"He has gotten so big." My goodness I look him over. He has my eyes...and looks so much like Marcus. Ari walks over and places a hand on the small of my back, startling me. I jump then gasp for air. "Oh...Ari...sorry...you scared me." I turn back and look at the Perry's "Mr. and Mrs. Perry this is my husband Ari. Ari this is Mr. and Mrs. Perry and their son Jacob."

He immediately takes out his hand to shake Mr. Perry's hand and then Mrs. Perry. "Oh...nice to meet you. Hey I got the kids ready to go sit down and eat...you ready?"

"Uhmm yes...I'll be right there ok." I kiss him and watch him walk away. I turn back to see them still looking at me. "We got married a few weeks again. I guess I better get going...so...it was nice to see you guys again. You guys look like a really happy family."

I turn to go back to my family and Mrs. Perry stops me. "Evelyn...thank you. We love Jacob so much. You have no idea how much he means to our family." She says with a very carrying voice.

"I do...and I know you two will take great care of him." I fight back the tears and once I start walking away, I wipe them away, trying to clear my face as much as possible before Ari sees me. Every now and then I catch myself looking towards the play area getting glimpse of the three of them...and he just looks so happy with them.

That night before bed, we are lying beside each other and I still think of the Perry family. They looked so happy together. Ari breaks my thoughts. "So who was that today?"

"What? Who?"I asking...knowing exactly who is was talking about.

"The family at the park...you were full of smiles until you saw them and it's like a light switch went off."

I know I should tell him. "Before we meet I had gotten pregnant again and I didn't have the nerve to abort it so needless to say I carried the baby and had him a little over a year ago...Jacob...the little boy that they had was my little boy. I gave him up for adoption." I watch his reaction, waiting on him to say something like how could anyone just give up their baby like that. I know he will be upset and maybe even have a few choice words to say about it.

He takes it all in and then sits down on the edge of the bed, not saying a word. I wait for him to give his two cents in the matter...shit surely he wouldn't leave me for this...would he.

"Ari...you have to understand it was a very hard decision. I already had three kids...I was a single mom barely getting by...I..."

"You don't have to explain babe...thanks for telling me. I kinda figured in a way. When I saw him...I saw you. He is a spitting image of you."

"Yeah...he is." I start to cry and he reaches over and pulls me into him. He doesn't say a word...nothing...he just holds me and lets me cry.I know Jacob will have a good life...after all I did pick out the perfect family. I don't know why I continue to cry for as long as I did...but I do...and Ari holds me. Not once does he say anything.