We've Got It All Figured Out... For Now

Todd and I had an awesome honeymoon. I never wanted to leave. But my little boy wasn’t with us. I missed him. When we got back, he came running towards us and hugged onto both Todd and I. It was the cutest thing.

While Todd and I were gone, Mason stayed with Tanner. From what he’s said, no females that I don’t know have been around Mason. But since we were here to get Mason, I figured I should bring something up to Tanner. While Todd took Mason to the car, I stepped inside with Tanner.

“Todd’s been talking about something. I’m for it, but… it involves you too,” I started once we were seated at the island in his kitchen.

“What is it?” he asked, unsure if he really should.

“He wants to… adopt Mason,” I told him softly, unsure of his reaction.

He stared back at me for a few seconds, showing that the gears in his head were turning. Don’t be upset. Don’t be upset. Don’t be upset!

“That’s my son.”

He’s upset.

“I know… and no one will change that. But… there was a moment at the wedding where Mason felt left out because his last name’s Foust,” I tried to explain.

“Exactly. His last name’s Foust. He’s my son,” Tanner kept going.

“I’m not trying to take him from you, Tanner. It’s to help him feel more comfortable. You’ll still get him every weekend like you have been. He’ll just… have a different last name,” I tried to make it seem like it wasn’t as bad as he was thinking it was.

“Does he call Todd daddy?” he asked, making me wish he hadn’t.

I couldn’t tell him. I couldn’t imagine how he would feel. But… Tanner’s gone a lot. It wouldn’t take much for Mason to get attached to another father figure… and call him daddy.

“He is,” Tanner went on once I didn’t speak up.

He pushed himself to his feet and ran his hand through his hair while pacing about the kitchen. Darn it, Tanner!

“Tanner, I’m sorry,” I told him, knowing that those words most likely meant nothing to him.

“For what? This makes you happy. First, you leave me and now you’re trying to take my son away from me,” he shot at me.

“Tanner that’s the last thing I’m trying to do,” I shot back at him, trying to control my volume.

“You and Mason were my life until you walked out that door two years ago. I don’t think you get that. My life, Kylee,” he went off, making sure he drilled it in good.

“You could have fooled me, Tanner,” I snapped.

“I had to go race and do my TV shows to support you guys. There were times when I wanted to stay home with you two. But I couldn’t. And now when I come home, it’s just… me. I don’t have anyone like you do. I come home to an empty house,” he went on.

“You choose for that to happen,” I said, softer than before.

“I was mad. I didn’t want you two to leave. I love that little boy. You’re his mother. Of course I love you,” he replied, softening his own tone as well.

This isn’t something I wanted to hear a week after I just got married. Now is when he has to be saying this.

“I’m not letting another man adopt my son when I’m a perfectly fit parent. If I thought I was doing a horrible job at being his dad, I would gladly go through with this. But I don’t feel that way. And you come in here and want me to just be ok with this? He’s my son, Kylee. My son. No one else’s besides you and I,” he had to drill into me.

“I’m not doing it to take him away from you. I said it so many times before. You’re his dad. All you have to do is look at him to see that, Tanner. I’m doing this for him,” I gave it one more try.

“I’m still not doing it,” he said, starting to glare at me.

I nodded my head before turning and walking out the door, making sure to slam it just a tad. Todd was leaning against the passenger side of his truck. He saw the look on my face and opened his arms for me. I gladly fell into them, letting a few tears fall onto his shoulder.

“It’s ok,” he whispered while rubbing my back.

“I hate this,” I pushed out.

“I know. I hate what it’s doing to you. But you got to be strong now. We got this one to worry about,” he paused to bring his hand to my stomach with a small smile on his face. “And Mason. They both need you right now,” he went on.

I nodded my head as I brought my hand up to wipe my eyes. Before he opened the door for me, he left a soft kiss on my forehead before whispering that he loved me. It made me smile as I pushed myself into his truck.

Sometimes I wished I had a baby without the baby daddy party. It would make life so much easier. Now I’ll always be attached to Tanner until Mason’s eighteen. In a perfect world, Tanner would just be happy. I’d be happy with my family and our lives would go on… but sadly, I have yet to find that perfect world.