Ricky sleepily grabbed the cell phone, loudly buzzing on the night stand located beside his bed. It was still dark outside and the bright illuminating screen, made him squint from the brightness. The time on the phone blinked 6:30, which meant it was time to get up and get ready for work. Pressing the dismissed button on his phone, the noise stopped and he rolled over to see a dark haired sleeping beauty still fast asleep. He kissed the top of her forehead and rolled out of bed to take a shower.
By the time Ricky got out of the shower, Adrian had already gotten up and was downstairs making breakfast, talking to John. Quickly he got dressed and made his way downstairs.
"Hey Bud" Ricky said, as he gave his son an affectionate rub on the head, messing up his hair.
"Dad, quit it!, I'm not 3 anymore" John said a bit frustrated. He was getting too old for head rubs and it was a habit his dad can't seem to break.
Ricky ignored this and gave Adrian a quick peck on the cheek, before reaching in the cupboard for a mug to make his morning coffee.
"Dad, what time are you dropping me off at Grandpas today?"
Ricky froze. Not because he had to drop off John with George and Kathleen. He was there almost every weekend. But today was different. Today, Amy was coming home from New York. Which meant a whole lot of things, which Ricky has been avoiding thinking about. Truth be told, it would be best if he never had to think about those things at all. Their lives have been pretty great the past few years, and he would be satisfied with things not having to change. But Amy coming home permanently from New York meant new arrangements.
"Daaaaddd!" John said whining, when his dad didn't reply.
"oh sorry bud" Ricky said, snapping out of his thoughts, "I'll bring you over right after I pick you up from school" Ricky said a bit distracted.
"I wish it was afterschool right now! Then I get to go the airport and see mom!"
"Alright, well you'll have to get ready for school first. Why don't you go and get your stuff together, we gotta get going soon" Ricky told the 7 year old.
As soon as John was out of sight, Adrian turned and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend.
"You alright?" Adrian asked, after John had run of to get his things ready for school.
Ricky rested his hands on Adrians waist and kissed the bridge of her nose "Yeah, it's just from this point on, I feel like things are just going to get weird"
"You think?" Adrian asked staring right into Ricky's eyes.
"Well for one thing, Amy's going to want to revisit the arrangement with John"
Adrian had always tried to respect the fact that whatever decisions were made about John was solely Ricky and Amy's business. Like how much time Amy got him whenever she came down to visit. Or George taking him to New York for a few weeks with only a month's notice. She's never really said anything, even though there were times where she thought that they were bending over backwards for Amy's sake. But this time, she felt the urge to say something.
"Well why do things have to change?" Adrian said. "John has his routine, this has been his life since she left, I think she needs to take that into consideration. Just because she's John's mother doesn't mean she gets all the say."
"Well of course not, no one is saying she does, but things will obviously change" Ricky said.
Adrian was about to say something else, but John walked in with his coat and backpack on.
"okay time to go!" John exclaimed.
"Alright I'll see you after I drop of John with George" Ricky said, quickly giving Adrian a kiss before grabbing his cup of coffee and heading out the door with his son.
