Aleena had grown quite satisfied with her life. She remained optimistic for all her friends. She'd been overjoyed when Kaksha mended her relationship with her parents. She had been downright gleeful with how fast Juliana progressed in her dreams of becoming a physician.
She remained grateful for her best friends, Bonnie and Ananda. Moreover, how their families supported everyone else. She'd grown quite joyful having a boyfriend in Caleb. She'd even been over the moon with her mother's boyfriend's family and their multiple connections.
Everything in her life seemed to be going perfectly. That is until late May. She had received a text from her mother's beau asking to meet after school at a nearby coffeehouse. The thirteen-year-old felt something was off when a thirty-seven-year-old desired to meet you privately. She did know if something wasn't right, she could freeze him.
Even if it exposed her ability to the rest of the world? Then so be it. Clover had instructed her daughter if she ever encountered herself in a life-or-death situation? She should exploit her capabilities to the max to get the hell out of danger. Nothing like that had come up yet. However, it didn't mean she hadn't been preparing for it just in case.
So Tuesday after school, she headed to the cafe. She quickly located Mark sitting in the sun with their order. Hot chocolate and a turkey club sandwich for Aleena. A vanilla latte and a gyro for himself. Nothing seemed too out of place, so she took her seat. "How did you know I despise coffee?" noticing that he'd gotten her hot chocolate.
"I've been paying attention, Aleena. So I've noticed it makes you nauseous when exposed to it. So I'm sorry if my latte is making you slightly nauseous. I also noticed you love turkey sandwiches which is why I ordered it. So I've been doing my most suitable to pay attention to you."
Aleena slowly sipped her hot chocolate, "I don't know if that speaks to how committed you are to wooing my mother or not. Truthfully, Mr. Bailey? I find you to be a respectful gentleman with one unforgettable family.
You genuinely seem to care about others, and from what my boyfriend says? You're a good father and invested in your family and the students at my old school. Therefore, I can't find anything in your character to suggest you're a horrible individual. I'm confident you have an abundance of faults I'm not knowledgeable of since no one is perfect."
The good-looking man smiled before chuckling, "You are quite observant yourself, aren't you, Aleena?"
She raised one eyebrow before calmly speaking, "One tends to be after what my mother's gone through in her thirty-one years on this planet. So why have you requested me here today?"
The young teen wanted them to stop beating around the bush and get to the point of the meeting already. However, she'd already figured out what this was about in the back of her mind.
Mark Bailey confirmed her suspicion. He wanted her approval to ask for her mother's hand in marriage. Likewise, he desired her consent to become her father legally.
Truthfully, Aleena had already been pondering this for months. Ever since her mother came clean with her regarding dating her former principal, she'd had an abundance of time contemplating it. Aleena likewise already knew what her mother's dream wedding would be. So she kept a notebook labeled "Wedding Planner" in her bedside table drawer.
So it was easy for Aleena to confirm to Mark that he had her blessing. Plus, inform him her mother already had everything planned and figured out to the last detail, should she ever get married.
Thus by the end of June, Clover and Mark were wedded. Aleena gained a proper father. The young lady stood by her mother's side at the altar, perfectly happy for all her loved ones for reaching their happily ever afters.
If Not Now, When?
One day you'll wake up and decide its time. The question will be, what is it time for? Write down this question to remind yourself what you've waited for.
So you'll be ready to do, see, or become in your lifetime. Acknowledge that now is the time, and don't let anything stop you from making it happen.
