~~Quote of the Chapter~~

The past is to prove that no one is perfect,

the future is to prove that people can change.

Everyone with a future has a dark past.

-Unknown

Who are we to judge? The futureless?

Judging a person says a lot about you, not them, that’s your first flaw.

Your flaws make you different from the next John and Jane done.

XoXo Yani -

________________

Bryce’s P.O.V.

________________

I hope Raelynn didn’t come out of her room last night at any point to see what I was walking around doing.

As soon as I was finished, I went and spoke to Rush.

“Hey Bud!” I said brushing my hand through his hair.

“Daddy?” He asked in a sleep filled voice opening his eyes. “Wus Wrong?”

“Daddy has to go away for a while, I need you to be a big boy for me and take care of your sister’s ok?” I’m trying really hard to build a relationship with Rush, it’s like he can read me better than anyone else.  He even seems to know when I’m not being honest with them.

Yesterday I told them the tooth fairy is real and for Rayin to put her tooth under the pillow. Rush refused to talk to me until I told Rayin that their is no tooth fairy.

“Where you going? Are you coming back?” He asked.

I wouldn’t dare lie to him again. I just hope he won’t tell his mother.

“I’m going to Germany!  But you have to pinky promise you won’t tell your mommy! It’ our secret ok bud?” He stuck his pinky out and smiled, I just hope he kept his promise.

“Love you kiddo!” I kissed his head and tucked him back in.

I then went and kissed a sleeping Tomar and Rayin before I left.

As soon as I got into my truck, I called my assistant and had him put together a surprise I have been planning for Rae in the morning along with some flowers and a note. 

I then called my pilot and told him to full the plane up on fuel and have it ready.  I arrived at the penthouse and my mother was sleeping so I left her a note, saying I have to go out of the country to handle some business and to help Rae with the kids whenever she can.

I packed some clothes and went to safe and grab the box that I play with every morning before going to work. 

My driver was outside waiting. I slid into the car. 

“The Sage residence.” I told him.  This can either go one of two ways, I would hope it would be the latter.

“Yes Sir.”

I sat back sending out multiple text messages and emails to certain individuals who I would need to complete specific tasks while away, since I have no idea of how long this trip may last for.

I texted Ethan and Evan last, letting them know I would be available for video conferences and would be working still from overseas, but for them to help Raelynn out and to pick up my slacks where necessary.

As soon as I was finished I turned on the radio, trying to lift my mood.  I lay my head back as Bruno Mars song ends and an unfamiliar song starts to play. 

Saturday morning jumped out of bed

And put on my best suit

Got in my car and raced like a jet

All the way to you

Knocked on your door with heart in my hand

To ask you a question

'Cause I know that you're an old-fashioned man, yeah

Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life?

Say yes, say yes 'cause I need to know

You say I'll never get your blessing 'til the day I die

Tough luck, my friend, but the answer is 'No'

“Shit!” It can’t be.  This can’t be a coincidence.  How ironic is this shit?

I turned the radio up!

Why you gotta be so rude?

Don't you know I'm human too?

Why you gotta be so rude?

I'm gonna marry her anyway

Marry that girl

Marry her anyway

Marry that girl

Yeah, no matter what you say

Marry that girl

And we'll be a family

Why you gotta be so

Rude

I hate to do this, you leave no choice

Can't live without her

Love me or hate me we will be boys

Standing at that altar

Or we will run away

To another galaxy, you know

You know she's in love with me

She will go anywhere I go

Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life?

Say yes, say yes 'cause I need to know

You say I'll never get your blessing 'til the day I die

Tough luck, my friend, 'cause the answer's still 'No"

Why you gotta be so rude?

Don't you know I'm human too?

Why you gotta be so rude?

I'm gonna marry her anyway

Marry that girl

Marry her anyway

Marry that girl

No matter what you say

Marry that girl

And we'll be a family

Why you gotta be so

Rude

Rude

I nod my head back and forth soaking up the lyrics thinking this song was written for me.  Whoever wrote this is a genius. I have never heard a song more real about something so realistic.

Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life?

Say yes, say yes 'cause I need to know

You say, I'll never get your blessing 'til the day I die

Tough luck, my friend, but 'No' still means 'No'!

Why you gotta be so rude?

Don't you know I'm human too?

Why you gotta be so rude?

I'm gonna marry her anyway

Marry that girl

Marry her anyway

Marry that girl

“We’re here sir!” I look to my right and see the brownstone home.  I turned the radio off. 

I wonder if that song was really trying to tell me that this is a bad idea? What if there’s an underlying meaning that I missed? 

I sat there thinking.

“Thank you Frank.” I finally said and exit the car and go to ring the doorbell. I look at my watch, it’s going on to twelve midnight. 

There was no answer and my nerves were starting to eat away at me. 

I walk back down two steps then I turn and walk back up two steps and ring the doorbell again.

This time the door flies open to reveal a burly angry looking man. He doesn’t say anything, he just stares at me raising an eyebrow giving me the ‘what the hell do you want look.’

“ummhh Good night sir!” I said running my hand through my hair.  Well this is nerve wrecking.  I have never felt this intimidated before.

“I don’t know which part of this night is good, you just woke me out of my sleep dreaming about madonna on the back of my motorcycle..” He mumbles.

“ouch! What you do that for?” He asked looking behind him as he was smacked in the back of the head. 

“ Oh shut it, you don’t even own a motorcycle! How may we help you?” The woman said appearing in front of him.  She looked so much like her.

“Good night Mrs. Sage, I know this is not the most convenient time but I felt this couldn’t wait. My name is Bryce Radley, I am the father of your grandchildren. Do you mind if I come in, I wanted to talk to you both?” I asked.

“Oh. It’s about time!” Raelynn’s mother beamed.

“So you the piece of fart that got my baby girl pregnant and left her alone to raise three kids ehh? Well I’ll be damned honey. It really is about time. I’ve waited all my life for this.” He smirks.

“Don’t you….” I had no idea what Mrs. Sage said because I was too busy tumbling down the steps onto the sidewalk with a bloody nose.

Damn.  That’s the meanest right hook i’ve ever felt. I didn’t even see it coming.

I sat up off my stomach and popped my jaw, holding my nose.  It hurts but I won’t show him any weakness.  It’s obvious that he won’t approve if he thinks I’m weak.

“Oh honey.  I am so sorry. Don’t mind him, he’s just really over protective of Raelynn, she’s his one and only pride and joy.” Mrs. Sage says as she helps me stand, brushing me off.

I looked up at her husband to see him still standing in the doorway with his arms crossed with the same smirk plastered on his face. 

This couldn’t be any worst.

He moves and walk inside as his wife invites me in.  I take a seat on the couch opposite him as she brought me tissue and ice.

Bad idea, because now he was just glaring at me.  I need to get this over with before he decided to knock me down another flight of stairs. Call me a wuss, but I don’t think I would survive another round with him, he’s all muscles, I see why he does construction, looks like he could lift this house up. 

Mrs. Sage took a seat beside him, I guess this is my cue.

“Mr. and Mrs. Sage, I apologize for my absence in Raelynn’s and the triplets life. Had I known that I was a father beforehand, I would have taken care of my responsibility.  You have no idea how much I regret her having to go through that alone and not being able to see my children grow.  It hurts more then I can explain, she could have tried harder to tell me, but how can I blame her when I wasn’t the best person back then.  There have been many misunderstandings and miscommunication along the way, but I’ve put all that behind me and have taken note of the exceptional mother that she in to those children.  I have loved your daughter for many years and I never stopped, I just felt like I was never good enough for her and she deserved better.  That was my one true mistake, not having enough confidence and courage to tell her how I felt from the beginning.  I have another child, her mother has never been in the picture, and your daughter, being the kind hearted woman that she is, has been taking care of her so well, as if she’s her own.  How can I be angry with someone like that, she’s an angel. My angel.  I couldn’t imagine my life without her and my children, they are the reason for my existence.  I want to love and protect them for eternity.  Therefore, I came here today because when the time is right I want to ask your daughter to marry me.  I found it only fitting to receive your blessing before doing so.” I told them.

Mrs. Sage just kept nodding with tears in her eyes repeating yes, while her husband sat glaring at her.

“No!” I looked up at his angry face.  “What makes you think I would give my daughter away to you?” He asked.

Because I love her more than anyone else ever will.

I wanted to say Duhh!

Yeah I wasn’t that bold. So I just kept quiet. It was more of a rhetorical question anyways.

His wife got up and put her hand on her hip. “If you dare deny your daughter her happiness you will regret it! You saw how happy she was the last time she was here talking about him. Do you not remember how my father was when you asked to marry me and he told you never in this lifetime, you weren’t perfect either mister, if I remember correctly I caught you drunk and cheating behind old man Busher’s old barn.  You were a drunk and a cheat, everyone thought I was crazy, but I loved you anyways, and my father raised hell.  But after I got pregnant, you changed and have been the best husband and father ever since. You blamed it on being young, why doesn’t this young man get the same chance? You will give him your blessing, you of all people should know how it feels and I have been told your stubborn daughter that she needed to find the father and tell him. But I couldn’t force her, everyone in life have their perception of what they think is right and will lie and carry secrets to protect the ones they love and themselves, even if everyone else thinks it’s wrong.” I couldn’t agree more with her.  That hit so close to home.

“She thought she was right, I begged to differ. Either way, you cannot blame his absence on him, he was never given the choice.  Stop acting as if Raelynn does no wrong, she’s not perfect, she has her flaws, she choose to carry the secret, so she deals with the outcome of it, not to mention her flaw of spoiling Ryder. Lord that child is going to send me to the grave before I’m even old enough to retire.” She plopped herself down on the couch as if the thought of Ryder was actually going to kill her this very moment after her rant.

I started laughing until I saw the glare directed at me.

“Fine.  I give you my blessings because my back hurts and I don’t want to sleep on the stupid couch tonight.  If she says yes when you propose then so be it, but if she’s says no, you leave her alone. You hear me boy?” He demanded.

I felt I was in a movie and at any moment he would run outside a old pickup truck and pull out a shotgun.

“Yes sir.  Thank you.  I am very grateful.  Mrs. Sage, thank you.”

Mr. sage got up and walked up stair mumbling something about “not thanking him yet because he’s taking his blessing back in the morning.”

I see where Rae got her habit of mumbling from.

“I knew this day would come.  I just prayed and prayed.  I will start planning the wedding. oh I can’t wait.” She squaled.  “You just make sure you take care of my daughter and grandbabies.  Please don’t disappoint us, I won’t be responsible for my husband actions.” She warned.

She kissed me on the cheek goodbye as I took my leave.

As soon as the door closed, I bend and rested my hands on my knees.  I felt like I just ran a marathon.  I took several breaths before walking over to the car and sliding back in.  “To the airport Frank.”

I guess I’ll be arriving in Atlanta with a crooked nose. 

___________________

Raelynn’s P.O.V.

___________________

~~∆~~

Crap! I didn't work out the car situation .

How was I going to take all of them with me and my backseat only seats three. Maybe we will just all stay home today.

Ughhh!

Guess I'll go open up my truck and figure it out. Maybe an extra row of seat will appear out of nowhere.

I grab my keyring that has all my keys and head outside.

OK so I know I just said I wished I had an extra row of seats but I never wished for my truck to get stolen.

My truck is no where in my driveway.

I remember I have a panic alarm for my truck because I have such bad memory and couldn't find it at the mall one day so I got it installed.

My fob and truck key are missing!

OK so my truck is missing and there are three brand new SUV's in my driveway.

I automatically hit my speed dial calling Bryce.

But it goes to voicemail.

I think this is all his doing but what if its not? Where did my truck go? And why are these here?

I slowly and cautiously take small steps towards the white truck. It looked so appealing.

I peeked through the glass and saw a dozen roses laying on a piece of paper.

I pulled on the door and it opened. I wanted to smell the roses but not having any idea what's going on, I took the paper up and read it first.

My Love,

I know you may not be happy with me right now because of how I went about this but I couldn't bare the thought of your truck breaking down or something going wrong with it, leaving you on my children on the side of the road. Also, it's not compatible for our family. Please don't be mad at me baby. I had the white 2014 Infinity qx80 custom made for you, I had the 2015 silver Mercedes-Benz GL-Class delivered also just in case you find my first choice despicable lol, the 2015 black Cadillac Escalade ESV is for myself because the range rover is too small.  They all have three rows, and booster seats for all the kids in each, no need to keep switching with each vehicle. Just see the manuals, there are DVD players in the headrest for the kids. I wish I was there to show it all to you myself. Please just think about the safety that this SUV will provide and convenience of a third row instead of being mad. I love you.

         -Your Bryce

He knows me so well. The first thing I thought about was to be angry that he would go behind my back and do this without my permission. It is my truck after all.

But after reading this note I see that it was done out of the goodness of his heart.

Not that my father hasn't tried to sell my truck before and buy me another one, but I refused.

I guess I really couldn't be mad. It was bound to die soon just like the color on it did.

I picked up the second pieces of papers and realized it was the car registration. It had my name on it. And the insurance paper stated that the insurance was paid for a year.

No one has ever done anything like this for me before.

I run my hand against the tan leather seats admiring the finesse of its quality. I stopped when my hand rubbed against some sort of embroidery in the headrest.

I looked up to see what it was.

I laughed and cried at the same time.

Is this some sort of proposal? "Oh Bryce!"

It read "Mrs. R"!

I go around messing with all the features of the truck trying to get acquainted with my new vehicle.

I smiled when I saw all the booster seats and car seat strapped in.

There is a green dinosaur booster seat strapped in along with a red Cars and pink princess one with all the Disney princesses on it.

The princess was a great thinking on his part because Rayin tends to change which princess she is on each day.

Tomar's got a pink carseat with beautiful safari animals and crowns all over it.

I guess Bryce figured one princess was enough since he became her victim, Rayin can tend to be a hand full with all her tea party's and dress up games.

I look around in the other two SUV's. They were all equally nice, but I loved the first one the most.

It's like it was made for me.

Before going back into the house, I collect all three keys and locked them securely.

I guess I no longer have to worry about how I would cart around 4 children in a old burnt out green SUV with not enough space.

But two trucks won't be necessary. He will need to take the Mercedes back, it looks way too expensive anyways.

I woke the kids up and went through our morning routine. It didn't feel the same without Bryce, especially when everyone kept asking for him, even Rush and Tomar.

Bryce normally feds Tomar in the mornings since she required more time and patience, while I did breakfast and hurried the others along with myself.

While feeding her this morning she kept saying "Dada!"and would look at me questioningly each time as if asking where is her dad. I would tell her "not here!" holding out both my hands and shrugging as if I don't know. She would mimic me holding out both her hands saying "no here!" She kept asking the same question each time, I finally realized that after a while it wasn't because she wanted to know where her daddy was but because she was enjoying mimicking me. 

She's such a goof ball.

I kissed her hands and took her out of the high chair before going to clean her up and get them all ready.

“Guess it’s just you and me today little chicken.” I told her as we went to start the day. Hopefully I’ll get some work done today.

~~Author’s Note~~~

So I wanted to get chapter 25 done but my brain has shut down on the ending of chapter 24, I’s famished.  I hope the ending isn’t crappy. 

But 2 chapters in one day! Wooohooo!!!!

I will try to do chapter 25 tomorrow. :) hopefully.

So who agrees with Raelynn’s mom?

Who agrees with her dad?