Family Ties

What am I doing here? he couldn’t help but think as he was waiting at the restaurant for Elizabeth to show up. He could not even believe she had called earlier in the week and asked to meet to discuss some things. I mean, it has been 5 years since she left, and I have not heard from her at all since then. I know we both made mistakes in our marriage, but I was willing to try and make things work. She wasn’t and gave up, took her 3 children that I had raised for the ten years we were together and even moved on with that stupid Casey guy. Doesn’t she know that even though I may not be their biological father those children were mine as well? My son Shane misses his sister and brothers. I would not even know how any of them are doing if Brooke did not call me from time to time to let me know how she and her brothers Dillon and James were doing. She never really talks about Elizabeth during those calls, but she does tell me how much she misses me and wishes they were still at home. They apparently do not get along with Casey very well. I miss my children so much.

           “Richard?”

           I looked up after hearing my name being called. I had been so deep in thought I had not even noticed that Elizabeth and walked in and joined me at my table. She looked just as beautiful as the last time I had seen her, but she did not look happy.

           “Hello Elizabeth” I said as I looked at her and smiled.

           “I didn’t actually think you would show up after everything that happened between us but I’m glad you did. I should have known you would be here. You have always been there for me and my children if we needed you.” She smiled back at me and we were interrupted by the waiter asking us if we were ready to order. While we were waiting for our food, we talked about small things that had happened recently in our lives and she talked about the kids.

           “Can you believe Brooke and Shane are both seniors this year?” she asked.

           “No, I can’t.” I replied honestly but a bit hurt by the statement. “I wish I had been allowed to see them grow up for the last 5 years. Brooke calls me every few weeks and I know she still talks to Shane occasionally through text messages. He mentions it to me when he is over for his weekends. He greatly misses his siblings Elizabeth.”

           She looked a bit uncomfortable by that comment. “I didn’t know she was keeping in contact with him or you, but I’m not surprised at all. God, that was dangerous of her, but she just misses you both so much.”

           “What on earth do you mean by that? How was it dangerous for her to talk to us?”

           Elizabeth was nearly in tears as she responded this time. “Casey isn’t the great guy I thought he was. I got into the relationship with him incredibly to soon after everything that happened between us and I let him talk me into taking the kids and moving to a different state away from all our friends and family. He convinced me it would be better for the kids to start over somewhere completely new.”

           “I knew that you had moved to a different state but that what did you mean by dangerous Elizabeth?” at this point I was not sure I was going to be happy with what she was telling me. Why would the kids be in danger at all?

           “I know you are upset but let me finish Richard.” She sighed and continued “as soon as we were settled into our new house things started changing with Casey. I knew the kids were not happy because we had taken them so far from everything that they had ever known so soon after our family had split apart. I would like to tell you that I paid closer attention to it at the time, but I was so convinced I was in love with Casey and that he could do no wrong. Before long, his true nature came out. He had lied to me about so much. His history, every job he ever had and even his age. He started drinking more often and became abusive towards not only me but Brooke as well because she kept trying to jump into the middle of us and help me.”

           At this point I was seeing red and more than ready to go save my kids from this man who I wished had never entered their lives at all. “Brooke never told me any of this was going on Elizabeth or I would have been up there to get you all whether we were still married or not. Please tell me you are not still with him and letting him hurt you or our children.”

           “I left him a few months ago. I would not put up with him hurting the kids. I cannot believe I put them through that just because I thought I was happy with him. I have to be the worst mother in the world” she said as she wiped her eyes from where tears had leaked out while telling me about her last five years. “It took a while for them to no longer be upset with me. I know they are so much happier being back close to home. We are staying with my mom for the moment until I can get a place that is just for us.”

           I could not believe they had moved back home and were away from that horrible person. I just looked at her and smiled. “You are not the worst mother in the world, you’re just human and made a mistake. If the kids can forgive you then you should forgive yourself and focus on making sure you are all happy.”

           “Do you think you can forgive me? I should have waited longer before moving on. I keep wandering if things could have worked out with us.” She looked at me and seemed nervous but apparently decided to ask the question that was on her mind. “Have you met anyone else?”

           I decided to be completely honest with her even though I knew it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “Well, I tried to go on a few dates with a few different women a few months after you left but it never felt right. It felt like I was cheating because I was still in love with you. To be completely honest with you, those feelings have never changed.”

           Elizabeth just looked at me and I could tell she was holding back tears again. “I’m so sorry Richard, I suppose I should be honest as well. I still have feelings for you too. They never went away. Do you think there could ever be a chance for us to be together again? I would love to see you more often and if not, I know Brooke, Dillon and James would love to see you and Shane soon.”

           I thought it over for a few minutes before I answered her. “I would love to be able to see you all more often. I do not think it would be a good idea for us to start dating again right away but I would love the chance to get to know you again. A lot has changed between us in the last 5 years. Shane will be back for his weekend visit next week if you would like to get together so the kids could all see each other.”

           “I would like that very much and I know the kids will be excited. Thank you so much. I’m so glad you decided to meet me tonight” Elizabeth replied.

           Soon after that we decided to call it a night and set up a picnic at the local park for the kids the following weekend. The reunion between us all still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it. All four children were so happy, and Brooke ran straight up to me to hug me when they arrived telling me how much she had missed her daddy. I told her I had missed my baby girl just as much if not more. I could not have been any happier in that moment if I had tried. It was almost like having my family back together again.

           After a few weeks Elizabeth and I noticed the attraction growing between us again and I asked her if she would like to go on a date, just the two of us. She had her mom watch the boys while Brooke went out with her friends and Shane. I decided to recreate our original first date and took her to dinner and to a movie. I figured a classic date would be perfect. When I dropped her back off at her apartment that night I kissed her for the first time in almost six years. A few months and many dates later and we were all together at my house hanging out. Elizabeth and I were cooking together like we used to do, and the kids were all in the living room playing board games together and arguing just like they all had when they were younger. I had deeply missed the house being this full of fun, laughter and love and I wanted it to stay that way.

           I had an idea “Elizabeth, do you have any plans for next weekend?” I asked.

           “Not that I know of.” She replied. “The boys are going to their dad’s house and I think Brooke is going somewhere with her friends for a weekend to celebrate graduation. What do you have in mind?”

           I smiled at her “would you like to go to Tennessee and rent a cabin like we used to do? It is beautiful up there this time of the year.”

           Her face lit up in the most beautiful smile and she responded, “I would love that!” We spent the rest of that night laughing and making memories with the kids. We finally had our family back again.

           When we got to our cabin the following Friday we decided to go to dinner in town and then just relax for the night. The next day we went out and spent the full day going to all the tourist attractions and just having a blast together. Later that night when we got back to the cabin, I found Elizabeth standing on the deck looking up at the stars and smiling. I reached into my pocket and smiled before going out to stand beside her.

           “Hello beautiful” I said as I wrapped my arms around her. She smiled and turned to kiss me.

           “Thank you so much for inviting me here for the weekend. It has already been the most amazing weekend ever” she said as she laid her head on my shoulder. My heart sped up as I thought about what I was getting ready to do. I was so nervous but excited at the same time. I dropped my arms from her waist and got down on one knee. She had the most perfect surprised looked on her face when she turned around to look at me.

           I smiled and said “Elizabeth, these past months have meant the world to me. I can not tell you how thankful I am to have our family back together the way it should have always been. I know we have both made mistakes in the past, but I know that if we were to hit a rough patch again, we would work through it together and come out stronger. I love you just as much right now as I ever have, and I know that will never change. Would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife for the second time so we can spend the rest of our lives together?”

           She smiled as she said “Yes Richard I will. I love you so much. I am so glad we decided to give our family another chance. I have never been happier than I am with you. “

I slowly opened the ring box that I got out of my pocket and she both gasped and giggled a bit because she recognized it. I was offering the same ring I had proposed to her with before, but I had taken it to have a few small changes. Where the ring once had a plain band around the central stone there were now 4 colored stones on it as well, two on each side.

 “I thought that since the children were such a huge part of our family it made sense to have their birthstones added to it.”

“Oh Richard, I love it so much thank you! I can’t wait to announce this to the children when we are all together again in two weeks.”

We remarried after a yearlong engagement in a small ceremony with just a few members of our family and of course our amazing four children being there as well. Our love story is not traditional in any way and while I wish we had been able to stay together the first time I am glad everything worked out for us in the end. I love my family and would do anything for them.