Tessa stops preparing and walks over to me. "How did it go?"
So, I tell them all about meeting the adoptive parents and then going to the park to meet Jake. How much fun we had and he didn't want to go home. I wish I did have more time with him but they are his parents and we have to respect their wishes. Upsetting them means they might cut us off.
"So, when do you get to see him again?" Liam asks.
I don't know how to answer that question. "Well, that's something else I want to discuss."
Hazel looks at me, and arches her brow. "There's more?"
"I'm going to move to Massachusetts to be closer to Jake. You probably think I'm crazy and haven't thought this through, but he's my son. Any chance I can get to see him, I need to be able to do it on a moment's notice."
It's a on-the-fly-decision, but the right one. If moving there means I can see my son more often, possibly attend his little league games, then so be it. I'll give everything up to have him in my life. Eight years without knowing him, or how he was doing, and now I don't want to go another week.
"Are you sure about that?" Hazel asks, squeezing my hand.
"More than anything."
Liam separates me from Hazel and pulls me to the side. "Don't make a rash decision. Where are you going to live? What are you going to do for work?"
"I have money to buy a home, so that's not concerning, and I'm sure they are always looking for firefighters. Why are you so against this?"
"Hazel has gotten into your head. You don't need to get your heart broken again."
"This has nothing to do with Hazel. I'm doing this for Jake."
I push him out of the way, wave to her, and we leave Damon's. Liam is not going to push me around anymore. I'm a grown ass man and able to make my own decisions. He still thinks of me as that thirteen-year-old kid when dad died, and I'm not.
"They took it better than I expected," Hazel says.
I don't respond, but focus on the road and getting back to my place. She talks me into going to pick up something fast to eat, and taking it back, because we haven't eaten since lunch. I only agree because my stomach is growling fiercely.
As we scarf down our burgers and fries, the room is silent, basking in everything that has happened today. Things are beginning to look up, and maybe it's time to start attending AA meetings. My problem with drinking needs to stop so I can be the best father to Jake possible, and I don't need any ammo for the Kaser's to use against me in the future.
After dinner, it's time to discuss her decision. The trip is over and a choice needs to be made. Whether she wants to try this for real or not, I'm moving to Massachusetts, and we would still be friends. When I ask her, she looks at the ground.
"Listen, we had a great time on the excursion, but this is real life. I can't keep pining over you. We both deserve to find happiness, and if that's not with each other then we need to start looking elsewhere. Please just tell me."
I hate to be so damn forward, but now more than ever, speaking my truth is important. Grudges won't be held, but I don't want to waste any more time saving myself for her if she isn't going to want to be with me. And her the same.
Sometimes, love isn't enough.