“Yes, you are.” I hoped on everything that she would never lose that confidence in herself. I wanted her to grow up with a strong sense of identity, and I knew she would need a woman to help her with that. I hoped Anna would be that woman.
After she got dressed, I grabbed her bag and told her to put some toys in it that she would want to play with while we were there. I then went into my room and put on the clothes I normally wore to train and work out at the gym.
We got into the car, and Margie asked, “Did you call Anna yet?”
“Not yet,” I said and pulled out my phone and dialed Anna’s number. She answered on the first ring.
“Hey, you. What are you doing?”
“Margie and I are driving to the gym. Would you like to come with us?” I asked
“Hmm,” she said. “I don’t have any clients today, and that sounds like fun.”
“Great. Margie’s going to be so excited,” I said.
“I can’t wait to see you both,” she said.
I smiled at the phone. I wasn’t too sure what her feelings were for me, but I hoped that maybe they were becoming something real. She was so beautiful, so perfect, and I was sure my daughter loved her more than I did, which just made things so much better.
“We can’t wait to see you either,” I said.
“I’ll see you in about ten or fifteen minutes?”
“Yeah, that’ll work,” I said.
We both said goodbye, and I hung up the phone, tossing it into the cup holder.
“Is she coming?” Margie asked.
“Yes, she is going to meet us there,” I said.
Margie squealed. “Yes! I’m so excited.”
I pulled up to the gym and helped Margie get out. We walked in, and Artie greeted both of us.
“Margie is here to cheer me on today,” I said.
“I’m glad to see you here on a day you don’t normally come in. It shows me you’re committed,” Artie said.
“I am very committed. I know I need to train harder,” I said.
I started doing some warm-ups, jumping jacks, and push-ups while Margie played with her doll and occasionally yelled, “Go, Daddy, go!”
She was cheering me on even though I was just warming up, and I thought it was the cutest thing ever.
I stepped into the ring with Artie, and we started with some boxing moves. He was covered in mats, and I was told to hit him like I would an opponent. This always made me nervous because I didn’t want to accidentally knock him out.
I threw a left hook, right hook, upper cut, and repeated these hits a few more times.
“Harder!” Artie demanded.
I threw my next one harder, and Artie tumbled a little bit.
“There you go. Don’t hold back just because of me. I’m wearing these on purpose. Hit me like I’m your opponent.”
I hit him harder.
“Good. Again, but use all your strength. You’re still holding back. If you hold back with me, you’re going to hold back with your opponents. Now, again!” Artie said.