I stared up at the bright blue sky above me that had me in a very mellow mood, a mood that made me think that I was going to float up into the air. Tyson didn't say anything for a few minutes but I heard the soft snores beside me which meant that he was catching some z's that he needed because he wouldn't stop moving if he didn't need any sleep. I heard his cell phone vibrate between us and I immediately pressed the red button on that thing because I didn't want to hear it. Why is it when I want to relax with my husband, someone wants to call him out of the blue? What is that madness?

"Hmm…" Tyson began to stir out of his sleep then slowly opened his eyes. "Tia?"

"Yes?"

"What time is it?"

"A little after two."

"Are the kids out here?"

"I just put them down for a nap but they should be waking up anytime again."

"Okay...lunch time very soon...what's for dinner?"

"I honestly have no clue."

"Okay...let's just stay here...get a nap in, Tia. Wake me up...soon…"

Within seconds, all I heard was snores coming from Tyson again and my sleepy bear was snoozing again.


Jules and Jackie called me later on after dinner to tell me that they'd visit me, Tyson, and the kids within the next week. I had them on speaker phone so I could see the look on Tyson's face as they made the arrangements for their upcoming visit and couldn't help but to laugh at him rolling his eyes humorously. I know the memories of getting interrogated really did a number on him.

"Hey, is Tyson around?" Jules asked.

"Yes. He's right here," I said.

"Tyson, you better continue to treat Tia right or it will be your ass. Love you, two. Goodnight," Jackie said.

"Goodnight," me and Tyson said.

"Why does it have to be my ass?"

"Because they will put their feet up your ass if you step out of line," I joked.

"Bah! I'm going to take a shower."

"Okie dokie."

"You know, I don't want to take a shower alone though…"

"I see where this is going: What's the magic word?"

"Please, thank you, and right now!"

"Sorry, I have to decorate the house real quick...maybe make myself a snack!"

"BULLSHIT!"

Tyson began to tickle me but I managed to slip away and hurry to the bathroom before he caught up to me. I playfully begged for him to not tickle me but he did anyway and I found myself on the floor, laughing my ass off, and almost screaming out loud when Tyson tickled my ribs but he stopped when he abruptly kissed me on my cheek. When he lifted his head, I beckoned him to kiss me on my cheek again as I gave him a big bear hug because I couldn't help myself: I loved being tickled because it usually ended in kisses or sex. Both were fine for me.

I proposed the idea of taking a bath as I wanted to soak in some hot water as my back was aching just a bit. I laid against Tyson as he gave my shoulders a massage, making sure that he got every single ache that was bothering me. After we got out of the bath, I massaged his back on our bed but the very sight of the dark purple spots from his cupping were bothering me a bit. He was starting to look like a walking and talking hickie with all of those big darn circles on his back but I knew that cupping was helping him with his muscles.

"You want some ice cream?" I asked him as I finished massaging his back.

"I want an entire banana float."

"I don't have any bananas so you'll just get a float."

"Go get some bananas then."

I rolled him over onto his back and straddled him.

"Come again?"

"One root beer float, please."

"That's what I thought. I'm calling my cousins."

"Like hell you will!"


The next day, I went with Tyson to visit his friend at his gym that he just opened. I introduced myself but stepped away to let Tyson spend some time with his friend as I examined the gym and also kept Tyra from climbing onto anything as I walked with the kids to the play area. Luckily it was just us in the building, so I let Tyra run loose for a bit so she could burn some energy off. T.J. wanted me to hold him so I sat in a random fold out chair that I'm glad was left out by whoever and I rocked T.J. back and forth as he relaxed. Tyra kept throwing some blocks towards the wall and when I told her to stop doing so, she let out a pretty big "NO!"

I warned her again.

"Tyra Francis Smith, stop throwing those blocks to the wall!"

"NO!"

Tyson overheard me talking because as soon as he heard Tyra tell me no, he walked to the kid area in a heartbeat, hands on his hips, stood right in front of her, and gave her a very stern look that stopped her in her tracks.

"Tyra Francis Smith, why are you yelling at Mommy?"

Tyra put her hands behind her back and began rocking back and forth on her tiny feet.

"Sorry," she said.

"Don't say it to me, say it to Mommy."

Tyra turned her head to look at me and politely said "Sorry".

"It's okay," I told her.

"You can't be mean to Mommy. That's not nice. Do you understand?"

Tyra nodded her head and slowly turned to resume playing but didn't throw anything else at the wall. Tyson let out a muffled sigh then walked over to me to see how T.J. and I were doing.

"You okay?" he asked me.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Little man is fast asleep so that's good."

"I won't be here long. My buddy had to take a quick phone call."

"Will you work out here? This place looks very nice."

"Yeah, I think I will. Little kid area is nice so when I take the kids with me to give you a break, I'll bring them here with me."

"That offer is lovely."

"Any time for yourself is important for you and I want you to remember that."

"You're too sweet."

"That's why you married me. Hey, um...I need to tell you something."

"Okay."

Tyson leaned toward me and lowered his voice so that his friend couldn't hear us.

"My buddy offered me a position as co-owner of the gym...I may or may not take it."

Sometimes, I wondered why life liked to do this thing where you have to discuss important issues with your loved ones and you can either offer advice that may or may not be taken. Whenever it comes to situations like this one in regards to whether or not Tyson should take a job opportunity, I had to brace myself because it could go either way: a smooth ride or a bumpy one.

Let's see how this one goes.

"You may or may not take it?"

"Yeah."

My husband's face looked sincere as he looked at me. I know that deer in the headlights look by heart because it's the look that only he knows how to make when he's very serious or very confused. He was waiting for me to say something, anything, and it seemed like time was dragging on so I decided to ask him what needed to be asked.

"Are you sure you want to do this? You're already busy enough."

"I can pop in and out to see how everything is running and buddy knows I'm pretty busy so he understands."

"Tyson, baby...I honestly don't know. I want you to be successful but don't overwork yourself."

"I won't overwork myself."

"You've said that before and many days you've been in extreme pain. Many nights I worried about your knee, your back, just everything. Many nights you've burnt yourself out and sometimes you've taken out your anger and frustration on me."

"That wasn't intentional, Tia. And do you think I'm going to start lashing out at you again when I get stressed about work?"

"No, Tyson Smith. But you do get cranky sometimes after work, do you not?"

"Yes, but that's life. Sometimes I get cranky about work but I shake it off and I keep going."

"I know, Tyson. I just want you to make the right decision about this."

"I didn't accept because I'm still thinking about it, Tia. I'm just thinking about it. I'll be back."

As I watched Tyson walk away to go back to his friend, I let out a small sigh and shook my head.

"Please make the right decision, honey."