LOS ANGELES
IVY RIVERA APARTMENT
“Can I get you something to drink? I have lemonade, soda, cola and white wine.” Ivy asked while Ace glanced around as if it was his first time in the apartment.
Ace shook his head slowly. “Can I have wine please?” He asked.
“Sure.” Ivy replied.
“Thank you but where is your sister? I haven’t seen her in a while now.” Ace Clark questioned.
“She went back to our hometown, mom isn’t feeling well.” Ivy responded before she dashed off to the kitchen to get a bottle of wine.
Ace Clark stood up from the couch and went over to a part where Leroy’s frames was hanging on the wall. Ivy came back to see Ace trailing his finger on Leroy’s toddler frame.
Ivy cleared her throat. “The wine is here.” She announced.
Ace turned to look at her and then he nodded. “Seriously Ivy, I am impressed by what you did with Leroy.” He complimented.
Ivy poured the wine into a glass. “Its not a big deal. I just did what I had to do for my child.” She replied.
Ace Clark took the glass from her. “It is a big-” Leroy chose that moment to appear in the room.
“Mom… the teddy bear dad got for me looks great sleeping on my bed. I am going -” Leroy’s voice trailed off as he realized his father was in the sitting room. “Dad! You are here!” He exclaimed.
Ace Clark grinned at his son.
“Now Leroy it’s late you need to take a quick shower and get all the dirt off you and then go to bed.” Ivy’s voice stopped him from going further to meet his dad.
“But moooooommm…” Leroy grumbled.
“No but mom tonight. If you take a quick shower, then we can read a chapter from your book before going to bed.” Ivy said.
“A whole chapter?” Leroy asked with a raised eyebrows.
“Yes.” Ivy replied as she headed to the kitchen.
“Can dad read it for me?” Ivy stopped walking as she tried to cover up the shock the request generated. “Mom let dad read me a bed time story because he has never seen my room and he has never read a book to me. I thought it would be fun just this once mom.” Leroy pleaded.
“Leroy I don’t think that’s okay and I will head out now. I don’t want to mess with anyone’s routine. I will see you the day after tomorrow to meet up with grandma.” Ace Clark blabbed.
Ace would love to read his son a bed time story but he was also considering Ivy. He didn’t want to make her feel pressured or uncomfortable.
“Good night.” Ace headed for the door and then Leroy’s face fell.
Leroy’s chest raised and his expression told Ivy that he was trying hard not to cry. Ivy didn’t want to see her son getting hurt in anyway.
“Don’t be silly Ace… I mean.. You can stay if you want to.” She pursed her lips. “But.. If you have somewhere to go, I am sure Leroy would understand. I mean if you really want to stay and read him a book it’s totally fine by me.” Ivy stopped talking and let out a huge sigh. “Stay Ace.” She said.
“All right, I will read you a bedtime story.” Ace Clark smiled.
“Come on dad!” Leroy was delighted as his father headed up the stairs with him. “So what book are a reading?” Ace asked his son.
“Dad it’s super cool! It is called super book! It’s about Jesus!” Leroy briefed his dad how far they have gone with the story of Jesus. “We haven’t gotten that far.” He said.
“Well it’s good to hear that you are reading something about Jesus.” Ace smiled at his son.
“Mom said I have to know him. And Jesus Christ is my savior because he died on the cross to take away my sins.” Leroy explained.
“Well I would your mom is right.” They walked into Leroy’s bedroom. “So do you like basketball?” Ace asked.
“I love it!” Leroy snapped.
Ace eyes was brimming with excitement when he looked at Ivy as she went over to Leroy’s closet to grab a night wear.
“So are you good at it?” Ace asked.
“Well I am hoping to be a bit taller for my age to be able to join the basketball team at school.” Leroy replied, Ivy laughed as Ace ruffled their son’s curls.
“But mom says -” Ivy fired Leroy’s night wear at him.
“Mom says shower now.” She pointed at the bathroom.
“Momomm -” Leroy grumbled.
“Go and take a shower.. the fastest on record.” Ivy clapped.
“Okay mom!” Leroy pulled his shirt over his head and zipped off his jeans before dashing into the bathroom.
“He’s got great attitude and energy.” Ace commented with pride in his tone.
Ivy nodded in agreement with a smile on her face.
SOME MINUTES LATER
Tonight there was no where Ace would rather be than right here, with his son and Ivy. He wanted to see her laugh again like she did ten years ago. He wanted to see her eyes sparkle with her special infectious joy.
Ace Clark wasn’t sure how long he sat at edge of Leroy’s bed just watching him sleep. He couldn’t believe how beautiful he was – not only on the outside but on the inside as well. Ace wanted more of both of them, much more time to know them. There was still many things he wanted to show his son, many things he needed to know about them.
His phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket – it was a text from him mother.
“Your dad wants to join us for dinner with your family too.” It reads.
“Okay mom.” Ace Clark texted his mom.
There was a gentle knock on the door and Ace looked up to see Ivy’s face. “Is everything okay?” She asked.
“Uhmmm yes I was just looking at him.” Ace Clark nodded.
“Well I do that a lot.” Ivy smiled.
“He is amazing and incredible, I can’t believe how much I already love him. I just wish -” Ace Clark paused his lips to think properly on his next words.
“What do you wish?” Ivy asked.
Ace cleared his throat “I want to know what he was like when he was a baby, as a toddler. Was he easy or did he drive you nut? Tell me everything that happened after you found out you were pregnant.” He added.
Ace was trying to take things slow but he wanted to know more about his son and Ivy. He was starving for information about his son and the woman he has loved for years now.
“Do you want… to see some.. of his baby pictures? I.. I have a lot.. of them.. on laptop.” Ivy stuttered.
“Yeah I would really like that.” Ace smiled broadly.
Ivy nodded then she went over to kiss her son on his forehead before they headed downstairs.