TANNER*

As Kaysen drove away, a thought popped into my head. I rushed in and threw on some clothes for dinner with Kaysen and her parents. Then I locked up, got in my truck, and drove to the nearest jewelry store.

“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 searched everywhere, but I couldn’t find a ring I loved until I walked into Zales.

“Alright, try this one on, and see if it fits. If not, I’m sure we have that size available. If not, we can get one sized for you,” the salesman said as he handed me the ring.

The ring fit except for being a tad loose. “Can you put this ring on hold for me? I’ll put a deposit down on the ring if needed, so you know I’ll return?” 

“I sure can. When will you return?” 

“Tonight with my girlfriend. I will let her pick out a few and then surprise her later when I propose. I know she will love this one, though. This isn’t how things are supposed to progress. But our relationship isn’t your typical relationship by any standards.” 

After paying a two thousand dollar deposit for the salesman to put the ring on hold for me, I texted Kaysen. ‘Would your parents be able to watch Cora for a moment so I could take you somewhere real quick before dinner?’ After five minutes with no answer from Kaysen, I thanked the man who had helped me, left the store, and crawled into my massive truck. My phone pinged and after starting the vehicle, I clutched my phone to see her reply.

‘Yes, but we will need to be quick.’ 

‘Ok, I’ll be there earlier than expected, then. Except me there in about fifteen minutes.’

‘See you then.’ 

***

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 asked, shaking my hand and ushering me inside.

“Yes, sir, the food smells amazing. I don’t have time to eat a good home-cooked meal often. Just every Saturday of the month when I go to my aunt’s for family night dinner,” I said, looking around for Kaysen and thankful she’s nowhere in sight so I could talk to her father.

“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 gain a few pounds; she and her mother love to cook. As you can tell by my midsection here,” Clark said, patting his hand on his plump belly, chuckling.

I couldn’t keep myself from chuckling at him as I shook my head. “Don’t worry, sir, I’m not starving to death or anything. I eat out a lot, 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 unless she is with me.” 

“You want to ask my daughter to marry you, but I just met you this week? How long have you known my daughter Tanner? Kaysen has decided she’s not getting married again, and she wants to raise Cora alone; that’s what she’s told me and her mother. 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, furrowing his eyebrows as we sat down on the couch in the Living Room.

“We’ve known each other for a couple of months, but we just started dating this week. I love her more than anything in this world. My love for Kaysen has been there all along, but I just figured it out,” I said, and Clark nodded his head with a smile.

“As far as Cora is concerned, she’s the cutest two-year-old I have ever met, beyond my niece, of course, who is the same age as Cora. She’s like my own and I’ll always care for her.”

“To answer your last question, I’m the CFO of Cunningham Construction and Landscaping, and I’ve been saving every dollar I’ve made for the past seven years, ever since college. I’d treat Kaysen and Cora like royalty, and make sure they were safe and spoiled.”

“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?” 

“Yes, sir, I don’t intend to hurt Kaysen or Cora. I want to care for them both to the best of my capabilities.” It was then that Kaysen walked in with Cora. I seemed to have timed this conversation just right and I’m excited that Mr. Richardson was on board with me proposing to Kaysen.

“Look, mommy, Tanner is here,” Cora screamed with excitement. She’s so bright and talks well for a two-year-old.

Cora runs over to me, wrapping her hands around my leg and looking up at me with a huge grin on her face. “Hi Cora, I missed you,” I said, smiling and bending down to her level. “Can I take your mommy on a quick ride? We would be back before you realized we were gone?” 

“Ok, but only if you get me a new dolly while you’re away.” 

“Alright, little one, I will surprise you with something; how does that sound?” 

“Yay!” Cora shrieked, clapping her hands, bouncing in place and hugging my leg after I had stood from my crouched position.

***

“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, grinning at her.

Kaysen will think I’m nuts, but I told 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, then ran over to help Kaysen climb down, and slammed the door shut.

“Why are we at a jewelry store, Tanner?” 

“I want you to pick out a few engagement rings for me. Keep in mind that money isn’t an issue, alright. It’s in my hopes for you to pick out some that you like, and then I’ll surprise you later on with one of them when I propose to you. I told you I wanted to marry you, and I meant it,” I told Kaysen as we walked into the jewelry store.

“Yeah, no worries, but we’re not getting married anytime soon, Tanner. I want us to live together for a while before we make that leap.”

Kaysen clutches my hand tighter as we walk inside and move towards the glass cabinets with engagement rings inside. It didn’t take her long to find the one I had picked out for her already. “Oh Tanner, look at this one,” she says, pointing at the ring with a huge grin on her face. “It’s stunning! Can I try it on?”

I know Kaysen better than I thought. The salesman winked at me as if saying, ‘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 beamed and giggled as she slipped the ring on. “Forget the others. I want this one, Tanner. It’s somewhat big, though, so we’ll need to have it fitted.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to try some other rings on?” 

“No, this is the one. No need to try any others on,” Kaysen says as she hands the ring back over to the salesman.

“Ok then. I’m glad you found the one you love. Could you have the ring fitted for her finger, sir?”

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. One-night stand turns into two, which results in Kaysen getting pregnant with twins, and my hardened soul has softened to find love.

The salesman found the right size for Kaysen in a flash, and we walked out of the jewelry store with her clutched to my side, all smiles. My heart’s doing flips knowing Kaysen’s about to be my fiance. This is the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m thrilled to think that things will get even better between us as we move forward. Marrying Kaysen and spending the rest of my days with her is all I can think about.

“Let’s go purchase a gift for Cora and head back before we are late for dinner.”

***

“Cora, baby, come here, and 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 the contents on the floor.

“Yay, NawNaw, look at all my dolls! I can have a tea party now,” 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 screaming in excitement and clapping her hands. She then ran over to me, hugging 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 her mom set the table.

“Did you know my daddy lives with the angels in heaven? I don’t have a daddy like other kids. Could you be my daddy, Tanner?” Cora asked as she poured water into my cup.

Cora’s question surprised me, and I didn’t know what to say. I hoped that someday I could hold that title. But in this case where Kaysen and I aren’t yet married, I’m not sure what’s acceptable for me to respond to Cora.

“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.” 

“Ok, I don’t have many friends. So I guess that’s ok for now. But someday I want you to be my daddy,” Cora said, and we sipped our water, pretending it’s tea.

Never in my life did I ever think anyone would call me daddy. But I’m stoked and can’t wait until the day Cora can give me that title.