TANNER*

After escorting Kaysen to her room and planting a gentle kiss on her adorable little nose, I proceed towards the front door, silently praying that I won’t cross paths with Nancy. Unfortunately, fortune does not favor me in this instance. There she is, stationed in front of the door, her arms tightly folded across her chest, wearing a disgruntled expression that is impossible to miss.

“Kaysen and Cora won’t be going with you anywhere. They belong here until after you get married,” she says, throwing her arms out to prevent me from getting to the door.

Not touching her, I somehow go around her, reaching the door. “Goodnight, Mrs. Richardson.” 

“Why are you doing this to me, Tanner?”

As I open the door to leave, I glance at Nancy to reply. “Because I love your daughter, Ma’am, and I’m going to ask her to marry me, but we are going to live together first. Kaysen and I don’t want to rush things, but we no longer wish to be apart. I promise to take care of Kaysen and Cora. I will care for Cora as if she were my flesh and blood. Please let this go, so Kaysen and I can be happy. Don’t make this any harder than it has already become.”

“You’re taking my only child and granddaughter away from me. I will not stand by and let you do that. I will fight this. Mark my words, young man,” Nancy says, coming between me and the door.

“For one, Ma’am, I am about to turn thirty-two years old, and I’m CFO and Co-owner to a billion-dollar company. Please stop calling me, young man. It would be best if you let Kaysen go. I will not take either of them from you. We will be right here in the city, and we wouldn’t mind you and your husband coming by from time to time, as long as you give Kaysen and me a warning beforehand. Kaysen and I have already picked out a home. She and Cora can move out now, or in two weeks. That depends on how far you take this,” I say, before walking away from her. Something tells me Kaysen, and I will have a difficult time getting her and Cora out of her parent’s house.

***THE NEXT DAY***

After unlocking the door, I walk inside what is being mine and Kaysen’s home for the next year. I’m earlier getting here, because I had called Blaze last night to ask him to get here earlier than the others so I could speak to him about Kaysen living with them for a few days until the house was move-in-ready.

“Hey Tanner, how are things going? Sorry, I’m not as early as I wanted to be. Lyra and I had some alone time this morning before the kids woke up, and we took full advantage. It doesn’t happen much these days unless it’s late at night,” Blaze says, chuckling.

“I understand, our women and ch…,” I trail off, biting the inside of my cheek. “Your woman and children come first, I understand.” 

I need to tell my brother and family about Kaysen being pregnant, or I’m going to end up spilling the beans. Keeping this secret is hard.

Blaze wore a perplexed expression, as though he was attempting to figure out what I was about to say. However, he set it aside and crouched down to assist me in dragging the plastic floor covering across the room. “So, what did you want to discuss, Tanner? You called instead of texting, which is unusual for you, and you sounded serious on the phone,” Blaze inquired while applying painter’s tape along the edges of the floor.

“Could Kaysen and Cora crash with you and Lyra for a bit until we’re settled? If it’s a hassle, that’s cool. I’d need to come up with a different plan. If I had space in my apartment, I would let them move in with me, but I don’t,” I said as I spread more painter’s tape along the floor, then glanced up to see Blaze had taped the ceiling.

“I’ll check with Lyra and get back to you tonight. She’ll be fine with it, I bet. Everyone got along great last night, and Adelaide would love a playmate. Why is Kaysen looking for a place to live?”

“Kaysen is living with her parents, who are not enthusiastic about the idea of her moving out. They know she plans to move in with me, and this has caused some tension between us and her mother. Recently, Kaysen was upset, and I stayed the night with her to offer support. Doing so didn’t sit well with her mother. Kaysen is eager to gain independence from her overbearing and judgmental parents, as she has been dealing with issues related to them for quite some time. I apologize if my explanation seems unclear or cryptic, but there are other important matters that I cannot disclose at this moment. I made a promise to Kaysen that I would reveal nothing until the right moment arrives. Right now, it is crucial for me to find an alternative living arrangement for Kaysen and Cora until we can move into this house,” I say, leaving the room with Blaze and walking to the next room to prep for painting.

“Jace, Connor, and Wade should be here any minute. If you don’t mind, I’ll go speak with Lyra to see what’s possible. If Lyra is okay with it, she’ll get the guest room ready for Kaysen, and I’ll go get a toddler bed for Cora to place in Adelaide’s room. They’d want to spend all their time together, given the chance.”

“Could Lyra’s parents watch the kids tonight so Lyra and Vega can help Kaysen move? I believe her mother despises me and thinks I’m the reason Kaysen wants to leave, otherwise I would assist. If Lyra is ok with Kaysen and Cora staying for a bit, that is?”

“I’m sure Mom would want to help with the kids. Family dinner’s not until next Saturday, so this works out great,” Blaze explained, heading for the door.

“Thank you, Blaze. Will you be coming back here after talking to Lyra?” 

“Yes. That way, we can get all of this painting done and over with today. We have church tomorrow, and Sundays are always busy for us all.”

“Alright. See you soon.”

***

Two hours had passed, and Jace, Wade, Connor, and I had completed the first coat on the walls in the four bedrooms and the Ensuite bathrooms. Anxiety threatens to consume me as I wait for Blaze’s return, because it seems to take forever. I’ve thought about texting him a few times but have not done so.

“I’m back!” Blaze yells, slamming the front door. He pokes his head into the room I’m in moments later smiling. “I’ll get started in the office. Tanner, would you mind coming with me for a moment?”

“Sure,” I say, following Blaze to the office.

“Lyra was cool with Kaysen and Cora crashing at our place. Her parents and mom will arrive soon to babysit the kids. Cora’s got a new toddler bed in Adelaide’s room now. That’s why I’m late,” Blaze says, while pulling a tarp over the carpet.

“That’s great, Blaze, thank you. Let me text Kaysen real fast to tell her Lyra and Vega will be there soon. I’ll text you Kaysen’s address so you can forward it to Lyra, and then I’ll help you get this room painted so we can all go to lunch.” 

Walking into the kitchen, I jump up and sit on the counter and text Kaysen. ‘Hey baby! Blaze talked to Lyra, and they are alright with you and Cora staying with them for a while. Lyra and Vega will be there soon to help you get packed up and moved. Blaze got a toddler bed for Cora, so you don’t need to worry about taking any furniture. Remember not to lift anything too heavy. I’ll see you later on this evening, after we have finished with the painting.’ 

“That’s great, Tanner, thank you. Cora will be ecstatic! I love you, Tanner!” Kaysen texted back. I jumped down from the bar and walked back to the office to help Blaze paint, while everyone else went to lunch.

***KAYSEN***

After receiving a text from Tanner, I head to Cora’s room and begin folding and packing her clothes into suitcases. I take special care to include her frequently worn shoes, along with her tea set and dolls, in one suitcase. I leave behind most of her other toys and belongings for when she visits in the future. Despite the situation, I have no intention of keeping Cora away from my parents. Fortunately, I pack all of Cora’s belongings without my mother suspecting anything. Cora and my mother are in the living room, engrossed in watching Strawberry Shortcake, just as Cora and I had been before Tanner’s text. I’m relieved that she remains unaware throughout this entire process.

I had just finished packing Cora’s backpack with her toothbrush and other toiletries when my mom walked in. “Kaysen, you have some friends to visit y…” mom trails off as she notices the suitcases on Cora’s bed and me stuffing Cora’s brush into her backpack.

“What’s going on?” She hurries across the room, opening one of the packed suitcases, anger flashing across her features.

“Cora and I are moving out, momma. You knew this was going to be happening because I was going to move out over a month ago. Cora and I leaving should not be any surprise to you, Mom.” After zipping Cora’s backpack, I face her, putting a hand over the suitcase she had opened.

“It’s one thing for you and Cora to be getting your own place and another for you to be moving in with a man you don’t know, Kaysen,” mom says, moving my hand out of the way, and pulling clothes out.

I wasted no time taking the clothes and putting them back into the suitcase. “Mom, I’m leaving, alright. We can do this in a kind manner, or you can cause a scene, but I’m leaving either way. Also, I’m not moving in with Tanner yet. I’m moving in with Lyra and her husband Blaze, Tanner’s cousin, and his wife.”

“You can do what you want, but you are not taking Cora with you. She’ll be staying here with us.” 

Vega walks inside the room, visibly upset. I’m sure she’s overheard us arguing and I can see the displeasure on her face. “Is everything alright, Kaysen?” 

“Yes. Don’t worry, I apologize. My mom and I were just trying to straighten things out. If you don’t mind going back in there with Lyra and Cora, I’ll be out there in a few minutes,” I say, forcing a smile to reassure Vega that everything was alright.

“You know where I am if you need me,” Vega says, glaring at my mother as she walks out the door. Once Vega had left, my mother glares at me and pries another suitcase open, huffing in anger.

“I’ve told you already, you’re not taking Cora. I’m getting a lawyer to take her away from you,” my mom yelled, tossing things onto Cora’s bed. “You’re a jobless, unfit mother moving in with a man you don’t even know! Where has my intelligent daughter gone?!”

“It was a huge mistake for me to move in here after Michael passed away, mother. Cora is my daughter, not yours. If you attempt to take Cora away from me, I will ensure that you never get to see her again. However, if you let this go, you can still spend time with her on weekends and a few days during the week. I don’t want to take her away from you, but if you try to do so to me, I will. You won’t see either of us ever again. Do you understand what I’m saying, mother? Please let Cora and me leave. Stop behaving like this,” I say, once again taking the clothes from her and placing them back in the suitcase.

She glares at me, tears pooling in her eyes, then runs to the bathroom, slamming the door. I packed all the clothes my mom had thrown out of the suitcase, and Lyra and Vega strode into the room with Cora.

“If you don’t mind, Vega is going to stay here to help you pack. I want to take Cora and her things with me back to the house to insure her safety,” Lyra says, and Cora runs up to me, hugging my leg.

“That might be the best thing. Let me get my mom so she can say goodbye to Cora. Heaven forbid I don’t let her say goodbye.” 

I smile down at Cora and leave the room, trying to keep my composure. “Mom Lyra is taking Cora with her to her house. Would you like to say goodbye? I need to ask you to please not cause a scene. If you can’t do that, then I’m going to let Lyra take her.”

Soon after, the door opens, and she steps out into the hallway. She walks to Cora’s room and puts a forced smile on her face. “Nana, guess what! I get to go play with my friend again!” Cora cheers, hugging my mom’s hips.

“I know, sweetheart. I’m so happy for you. Nana loves you very much. You be a good girl and have fun, alright. I’ll see you again soon,” Mom says, bending down to hug and kiss Cora.

Mom had gone to her room after Lyra left with Cora, and Vega and I packed my things and got them into my car without anymore issues. I left my mother’s house without saying goodbye because I felt she would cause another scene, and I couldn’t handle that happening again.

Vega and I had just arrived at Blaze and Lyra’s place, and I couldn’t help but feel a wave of nausea washing over me. My stomach has been in knots ever since my mother’s outburst an hour ago. I’m really hoping that being away from my mother will help me feel better.