I checked the food to make sure it wasn't burning and began to set the table alongside Tyson who was giddy about Don coming for dinner. I was excited myself to see him but not as much as Tyson: he couldn't stop smiling the entire day. Earlier, when I was doing the laundry that man almost whisked me away back to the living room and told me that he'd take care of it. I had to convince him to let me cook a dish I wanted to make and he needed to just relax for a bit.

"I can't relax!" he told me. "Aren't you excited at all?"

"I am, Tyson, but just calm down a bit. I know you're excited but almost whisked me away to Narnia to tell me to sit down and let you take over everything. Namaste, grasshopper."

"I am calm. I can't wait for him to see the kids...I know that'll make him feel old."

"I'm sure we will both make him feel old."

The food had finally finished, the table was set, and I went back to the garage to put the washed clothes into the dryer then heard the doorbell ring once I entered back into the house. Tyson went to answer the door but I stood a few feet back from him as he opened it and greeted one his favorite people in the world.

"Tyson! How have you been?" Don asked.

"I've been good. Give me a hug!" Tyson responded.

Him and Tyson gave each other the biggest of hugs that I thought would never end. Don stepped in with his luggage, placed it down on the floor, and extended his arms out to me.

"My favorite niece!" he said. "Long time, no see!"

I approached him to give him a hug but Don's bear hug was a lot stronger than mine: he could be a good chiropractor if he wanted to!

"Hey, Don. How's it going?"

"It goes great! You are still pretty, Tia! Gosh, you two are making me feel old."

"Well, we have two little children who can make you feel even more old," I responded.

"I still can't believe you two have children," Don said. "Where are they?"

"They just went into the room to play with their toys but I'm gonna get them so they can eat dinner," I said.

"Sounds great!" Don said. "Where can I put my bag?"

"Right here is fine," Tyson said.

While they talked with each other, I went to get the children for dinner and brought them into the living room so Don so he could meet them.

"Don, this is T.J. and Tyra," I said.

"Oh my goodness!" Don's jaw dropped as if he really couldn't believe we had kids. "Give me a hug, you two!"

Tyra immediately ran into his arms to give her uncle a big hug but T.J. was apprehensive at first. He hid behind my leg so he wouldn't have to see Don but I told him that it was okay and that the person he's scared of is no stranger but he still remained behind me. Tyson saw T.J. hiding behind me and picked him up so he could talk to him and tell him there was nothing to be scared of.

"Who are you?" Tyra had no issue asking questions.

"I'm your uncle," Don said.

"Name?"

"Don."

"Don…okay. Cool beans."

"Where did you learn that phrase?" I asked her.

Tyra looked back at me with a slick smirk on her face, batted her brown eyes, pointed her finger at me and said: "You, Mama. You."

I was stunned at how precise her answer was to me but I couldn't help but be impressed. I taught her well!

"Well, Miss Cool Beans, time to eat," I said.

"You're a smart cookie!" Don picked her up and carried her into the kitchen.

Tyson had already sat down T.J. down at the table and T.J. appeared to be more calm than he was before. Don had handed Tyra back to me and approached T.J. who was now looking at Don with a blank expression on his face.

"Hey, there! I'm your Uncle Don. You don't have to be afraid of me but if you are I also understand. I won't bother you."

"Hi," T.J. responded while waving. "Daddy likes you and I like you, too."

"Aww, thank you, T.J.," Don said.

"Hug?"

"Yup!"

Don picked up T.J. to give him a big hug and say him back down in his chair. He took his place at the table while me and Tyson got the food ready and sat down at the table to finally eat. Tyson couldn't stop talking with Don about the many trips to the aquarium, movies, dinner, the states, different provinces, etc. I was surprised when Don finally asked me about some of my favorite memories I had with him to which I responded: "A lot." Then proceeded to remind him of the story of how I ran away from a peacock that ended up chasing me one time when he took me and Tyson to the zoo.

"Ah, yes! That was a very interesting day," Don said. "I almost lost you at the zoo!"

"I'm glad I was able to hide in the bathroom there so that the darn thing would leave me alone," I said. "But I really did have a great time there."

"I always wanted to make sure you guys had a great time wherever we went somewhere. I loved spending a lot of time with you two when you were children and I wish I could turn back the hands of time for just one day. Maybe I can take the children somewhere if that's okay?"

"Where are you going to take them?" I asked quickly.

"The zoo, the aquarium, anywhere."

"The kids are a handful sometimesu so I'm not really sure if you want to take them anywhere and then tear your hair out."

"Oh, the kids won't be a problem for me at all! Now, if you don't want me to take the kids anywhere, I understand that completely."

"Can I think about it?"

"Of course! By the way: the food is delicious!"

"Thank you."

Energetic, talkative, and couldn't stop talking about the good days along with Tyson: this man surely never changed.

My head hit my pillow, my eyes closed, and I took a few deep breaths as I let my body relax after a long and eventful day. Tomorrow, I had to go over rehearsals for my dance routine with my dancers (thank goodness for Zoom) so I needed all the rest I could get. I felt soft lips pressing against mine which meant that my husband wanted his kisses for tonight so I gave him his kiss when I opened my eyes and gave him a big hug.

"Goodnight," I said.

"Night. Tonight wasn't too bad for you, was it?" Tyson asked.

"No, not at all. If Don wants to watch after the kids, I'm going to have to think about that but I hope he doesn't think that I'm being mean in any way."

"Nah, I told him that we'd have a discussion about letting him look after the kids. If someone offers to watch after the kids, if we're comfortable with them, then I'll let them watch the kids. But this is Uncle Don who wants to look after them, then there shouldn't be a problem. We had fun times with him so I'm sure the kids will have some fun times with him."

"Tomorrow, I'll see where Uncle Don wants to take them and I'll think about letting them look after the kids. Is that okay?"

"Okay, deal."

"Off to sleep we go."

"Turn out your light first you twerp!"

"On second thought: I won't turn off my light and I'll tickle you instead,hmm?!"

All he had to do was tickle my neck to cause me to yelp: "Ah, Tyson! You jackass!"