Flashback:
I was sitting on my bed reading an X-Men comic book when I heard a knock on my door and looked up to see my dad poke his head in.
"Hello, kiddo. Did you put your clothes in the dryer?"
"I did. Are we still leaving in an hour?"
"We sure are. Whatcha reading?" He walked into my room and sat down at the edge of my bed.
"X-Men. Tyson bought this for me and we agreed to share some comics with each other."
"I'm glad you're enjoying your comics and I'm glad that you're reading. If you want, I can buy you some more comic books for you to read."
I thought about some other comics I was eyeing at the store not too long ago when I went with Tyson.
"There's three more that I want. Can we please get them?"
"Sure!"
"Okay, so it's Storm, Batman, and more X-Men comics!"
"Noted! Are those your favorite characters?"
"Yes, they are. I really love Storm because she has awesome white hair and she can manipulate the weather whenever she wants to! I absolutely love her! Whenever I'm at Tyson's house, we watch X-Men together while eating popcorn and we have so much fun!"
"You know what? I'm very glad that you and Tyson have gotten along in the past year. You two are as tight as two thieves in the night."
"Yeah, we are best friends and I think we will be friends for a very long time…..I hope?"
"You hope? I can see you two going on trips together in the future and just enjoying life!"
"You think so?"
"Listen: I want you to do whatever you want to do in life with the person you trust. I see you like to skateboard, dance, get dirty, and just live life, Tia."
"Thanks, Dad." I gave my dad a big hug for the kind words. "Now I do have something to tell you: I have a crush on Tyson."
"I figured. I got my eye on him," my dad joked.
"Awww, Dad! He's cool!"
"I know but I'll still have my eye on him! Now let's go make some chocolate banana bread."
"Okay, cool!"
It seemed like eternity that I was sitting down with my dad laughing but man it felt good to reminisce with him again. We laughed, cried, and continued to laugh again as we talked about our respective lives: my dad found himself traveling more whenever he had more spare time away from work. He enjoyed his job but he enjoyed his freedom even more. My mom would go with him on some of his trips but she took solo trips herself. It was very delightful to see my dad light up about living his life to the fullest and share some photos with me of things I never thought he'd do such as bungee jumping.
"I'm glad I got over my fear of that because I had so much damn fun! It was awesome I tell ya!" he exclaimed.
"I can't do that...I'd pass out immediately," I said. "I couldn't do that!"
"Maybe one day you can," my dad said. "You're a very fearless woman and I know I raised a strong daughter."
"One day your strong daughter can bungee jump," I said.
"When you do: let me know so I can fly to your location and help you. How's everything with you and Tyson?"
"It's going well. He has his hands in a lot of things so I'm always there to help him with his schedule. I find myself actually making his schedule for him so that he doesn't end up going crazy. The kids are doing very good as well. I'm still trying to figure out where I want T.J. to start going to school."
"Your babies are getting so big. I can't wait to spoil them when they return from McDonald's."
"I know the kids have Tyson held hostage in the playpen and I'm sure Tyson is going to walk through the door saying that our kids indeed held him hostage."
Like clockwork, Tyson walked through the door with the children who ran into the living room and immediately ran to their grandpa when they saw him.
"POP POP!" T.J. latched onto his grandpa with excitement and showed him the toy he got from McDonald's. "I got a toy! Pikachu! PIKA PIKA!"
"Oh that's a nice toy!" my dad said.
"I got a toy!" Tyra said. "Gandpa, I got one! Gandpa look!" She too showed him her Pikachu toy with excitement.
"Both of you guys have the same toy! Keep up with that little fellow!"
Tyson gave my dad a hug then sat down in the recliner seat and took a breather to himself that I know he needed for sure.
"Those kids wore me out," he said quietly to me when I went to see how he was. "But at least they got their chicken nuggets."
"Well, you can relax because my mother is on her way soon with some food so you can relax now."
"My knee hurts again," Tyson told me. "Did you bring any Epsom salt with you?"
"My mother is bringing some from the store for you."
"Thank goodness."
"Tyson, are you okay?" my dad asked.
"I'm fine just a little worn out is all," he responded.
"I'll take the little ones outside so you two can get some time alone."
The rugrats were finally outside with their grandpa which gave me and Tyson a few minutes to ourselves. I placed my hand on his knee to start massaging it and a small sigh of relief escaped from my husband's lips.
"Feel better?" I asked him.
"Yeah...can you give me a nice massage after dinner?"
"Of course. I'm gonna go outside now."
"Alright."
Dinner time brought back some very good memories for me: the memories of my parents chatting with each other and chatting with me about how our days went or plans to do something as a family. It was surreal being at a dinner table with Tyson as my husband and not as my best friend that I had just met. The kids got the most attention of course but that never bothered me and Tyson because seeing my parents enjoy having dinner with their grandparents was moment I had to capture with my phone. Tyra and T.J. sung their ABC's to their grandparents and told them about how much fun they've been having at their new home.
I grabbed Tyson's hand underneath the table and squeezed tightly and smiled at him. He looked at me with an even bigger smile on his face and we both turned our attention back to the children.
"Thanks, babe." Tyson stretched his leg out so I could massage every inch of his knee.
"No problem. Do you want to visit the doctor while we're still here tomorrow?"
"Nah, I'm good."
"I think you should visit the doctor very soon, Tyson. Your knee has been acting up for almost a month now."
"I'll go tomorrow," he said. "Maybe the day after tomorrow."
"As long as it's before we leave and there will be absolutely no ifs, ands, or buts."
"Okay, but I want you to go with me so that you can know about everything that's going on with me. Please?"
"I'll be right there beside you."
"Thank you. I'll massage you next."
"Thank you for the offer. Now, turn over so I can massage your back."
Tyson did just that and enjoyed every minute of his massage until it was time for him to give me a massage.
Best day and best night ever.