After Martin and Ruthie's conversation they decided it was too nice of a day to be inside. While Ruthie was in the bathroom fixing her hair, Martin was putting on a pair of his dark blue jeans.
Today would be a nice day to have an outing with Aaron, maybe have him spend the night. Ruthie and I could pick him up and take him to the zoo and then afterwards the three of us could go to the Dairy Shack for dinner. Martin thought to himself with a smile.
Just then Ruthie came walking into Martin's room. She noticed that he was deep in thought and that he was smiling brightly. What is he smiling about? Ruthie wondered.
"What are you smiling about Mr. Brewer?" Ruthie asked in a playful, yet, curious voice.
"I was thinking, why don't we take Aaron to the zoo today, and have him spend the night with us?" Martin suggested.
"That's a great idea Martin!" Ruthie exclaimed. Just the thought of spending the day with her two favorite men, at her favorite place made her feel so ecstatic.
This is great!!! Oh I can't wait to see the little guy. I love him sooo much. I especially love when he runs into my arms whenever Martin and I go to see him. A glowing look came upon Ruthie's as she thought of the little boy.
Martin couldn't help but look at the beautiful woman in front of him. Knowing that one day in the near future that she was going to be his son's step mom made him feel a sense of wholeness. The two of them have gotten so close within the last two years, it was amazing. Now Martin couldn't wait to go pick up his son.
"I'm glad you like the idea. Ok well lets go get finished and then we can go on over." Martin stated being as both of them have still were not dressed and ready.
About 20 minutes later the both of them were dressed and ready to head on out. They both got into Martin's car very eager to go see Aaron.
"I can't wait to see him. I hope Sandy didn't have any plans today." Ruthie anticipated getting there. She really wanted to spend the day with Aaron.
"I'm sure everything will work out. Besides Sandy enjoys sometime by herself and she loves when we come and take Aaron out. She said the look on Aaron's face when he sees us makes her feel very happy. Seeing him happy brings joy to her, especially when I bring him home and he kinda waddles when he runs to her. That is the joy of being a parent." Martin praised. He looked over at Ruthie with a smile and placed his free hand over her soft, small, delicate hand.
"You're going to make a great mom. But what makes me happiest is how much he loves you. Whenever he sees you he gets this like surprised happy look and that makes me melt, Sandy to. She said that I couldn't have found a better person to be with." Martin swooned.
Ruthie was so overwhelmed by joy with Martin's words. She was happy that Aaron loved her so much. Holding back a few tears Ruthie smiled and said, "I'm happy too Martin. Now let's go and get Aaron before I start bawling and my mascara starts running and I look like a raccoon."
"I didn't mean to almost make you cry. But hey if your mascara did start running you'd fit right in at the zoo." Martin joked and started to laugh.
Ruthie had this shocked, blank, yet, surprised expression on her face. She raised her hand and playfully slapped Martin in the arm. "Martin!!!! That's real nice to say." Ruthie whined.
"Owww…that hurt." He joked. "OK, I'm sorry." Martin apologized.
Ruthie just rolled her eyes and laughed. They pulled up into Sandy's development and parked. Martin got out went to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for Ruthie. Walking hand in hand they walked up the flight of stairs and knocked on Sandy's door.
Inside Sandy had just finished cleaning up the bathroom when she heard a knock at her door. I wonder who that could be, sandy thought as she placed the rag that was in her hand onto her coffee table and opened her front door.
"Martin Ruthie what a surprise. Please come in." Sandy was bewildered. She wasn't expecting them to come over.
"Hi Sandy." Ruthie greeted.
"Hello Sandy. Sorry for just dropping by without calling but, we were wondering if maybe we could take Aaron to the zoo today. Spend the whole day with him maybe let him stay the night." Martin asked. He could tell Sandy was still surprised by them coming over.
"No it's ok Martin. I'm just surprised to see you that's all. And yes of course you can take Aaron, let me go and get him." Sandy replied. She smiled as she walked into Aaron's to see him sitting on the floor watching Baby Looney Toons. Sandy went up behind him and scooped him up in her arms and kissed his cheek.
"Hey there my little munchkin, guess who's here." Sandy cooed to the little boy in her arms.
Aaron titled his head with a curious expression. In his soft little voice he asked, "Who?"
"Daddy and Ruthie are here." Sandy answered. She knew he be very anxious to go see them. With that Aaron wiggled out of her grasp and ran (in this case kind of waddled) to the living room.
As soon as he saw Martin and Ruthie, Aaron's face lit up with joy. "Dada and uthie… (He couldn't say her name that well…)" Aaron screamed as he ran toward them.
Ruthie smiled at the little boy. She loved when he tried to say her name. Martin knelt down and caught Aaron in his arms, picked him up and held him in the air like he was flying.
"There's my little guy. I missed you sooo much." Martin stated. Aaron started laughing and waving his arms in the air.
"Hey don't hog him." Ruthie interrupted. Every time they went to see him Martin would always hog him.
Sandy came out of Aaron's room with his over night bag. Martin just laughed as he looked at the mother of his child and his fiancé, and his son. He handed Aaron to Ruthie who was very happy to have the little boy in her arms. Aaron wrapped his little arms around her neck and kissed her cheek.
"How is my favorite person in the world?" Ruthie asked looking at Aaron.
The little boy smiled and replied, "Fine."
"Here is his over night bag. I packed his pj's, change of clothes, toys, and his favorite bedtime book. Also he has had a little of a tummy ache these past two days so I am trying not to give him sweets or junk food." Sandy explained.
"Awww poor little guy." Martin turned to Aaron." Are you feeling ok now buddy." Martin asked in a soft voice.
The little boy nodded his head and reached for Sandy.
"Come here sweetie." Sandy pouted. Taking the child into her arms she said, "You're going to have a good time with daddy and Ruthie."
"He'll be fine Sandy. I have medicine if his stomach bothers him." Martin acknowledged. He looked over at Ruthie and smiled.
I feel sooo bad for Aaron. He's gonna want his mother if his stomach starts to bother him. Ruthie thought.
"Ok bye sweetie, have a good time ok." Sandy cooed. She placed one hand to his head and kissed him and gave him one last hug before he left.
Sandy handed Aaron to Martin and handed his over night bag to Ruthie. "Sandy relax enjoy yourself. He will be fine." He looked at Ruthie then back at Sandy. "We'll see you Monday then."
"Bye Sandy it was good seeing you again. Tell Simon I said hi." Ruthie added.
Sandy laughed and said, "Will do. Oh before you guys leave Simon wanted to know if you guys wanted to go out for dinner next weekend just the four of us." Sandy asked.
"Yea that be nice. We haven't done that in a while." Martin answered. The last time the two couples went out for dinner was two months ago.
That became a thing that they liked to do. Whenever they had the chance the four of them would go out for dinner, talk and just have a good time.
"Bye." They said in unison as they waved to Sandy.
"Bye…have a good time." Sandy retorted as she watched them leave.
I hope Aaron doesn't get sick again. What to do now. Maybe I will call Simon and have him come over. Sandy thought as she went to her room to call Simon.
Martin's car
Martin and Ruthie got Aaron situated in his car seat and got ready to go to the zoo. Ruthie turned her head to face Aaron and asked, "Are you ready to go see all the animals."
Aaron giggled and hid behind the toy that was in his tiny little hands. The toy he had was a toy airplane that Martin had gotten him when they went to the carnival last summer.
Martin who was driving looked in his mirror to see the laughing child seated in the back. Nothing made him happier than to see the two people he cared about most happy. I can't wait till I marry Ruthie. She is going to be such a great step mom to him. Martin thought as he quickly glanced over at Ruthie.
"We're going to have so much fun today. And afterwards we're taking you to the Dairy Shack." Martin stated.
Ruthie leaned in and whispered in Martin's ear. "Do you think that is a good idea with his stomach and all? I mean Sandy did say to keep him off the junk food and sweets, and I would feel really bad if he got sick."
"What junk food Ruthie? He can't eat popcorn because he's too young so he can eat a burger or just a fry." Martin replied. He loved how Ruthie was so motherly to Aaron.
A short time later they had arrived at the zoo. Martin got Aaron's stroller from the trunk of his car and brought it to where Ruthie was standing. Aaron was a little fussy due to his excitement.
"Monkeys first dada." Aaron ordered in a childish voice. Monkeys were his favorite animals.
"Hmmm…he loves his monkeys." Ruthie pointed out.
"Yea he does. He has so many of them at home that he could start his own little monkey zoo." Martin joked.
The three of them headed toward the entrance of the zoo. They took Aaron to see the monkeys just like he asked. In the cage there were five monkeys, two of which were swinging on a branch. The three little ones were picking bugs out of each others hair. This made both Aaron and Ruthie laugh.
"Dada look monkey." Aaron shouted in excitement. He was so fascinated by watching them and their movements.
"Yea buddy. See there cleaning each other. It's a little odd but hey you gotta do what you gotta do to stay clean." Martin said with a chuckle. I am so happy I'm not a monkey; wouldn't want anyone picking through my hair. Martin thought.
"You know Martin they kind of remind me of you." Ruthie said trying to hold a straight face and not laugh. But she failed miserably, not even two seconds later Ruthie was laughing so hard she snorted.
"Ha ha very funny." Martin retorted making a face and rolling his eyes.
"Daddy's a monkey?" Aaron asked curiously. He didn't know that Ruthie was joking.
"No…hahahahah daddy's not a monkey." Ruthie confirmed. Trying to make amends with Martin she walked up to him and kissed him. Martin wrapped one arm around her pulling her closer and deepened the kiss. Pulling back from the kiss the two looked at each other and smiled.
After the little monkey scene they took Aaron to see the lions. Even though they were in a cage they were still a little scary to a little boy. The one lion was close up to the cage with his eyes watching all the people pass by. His mane was thick and long, his teeth pearly white.
Ruthie noticed that Aaron was getting a little scared because he was hiding behind his little toy airplane again. Nudging Martin and pointing to a frightened little boy in his stroller, Martin got the message and said, "Why don't we go see the zebra's."
Aww poor Aaron. I hate when he gets scared like that, it always makes me feel bad. Ruthie thought.
"You know what. I think they have the animal feeding a little ways up so why don't we take him there." Ruthie suggested.
"That's a great idea, I'm sure that'll be fun." Martin looked down at Aaron. "Does that sound good buddy?" Martin asked. He could also tell that Aaron was still a little bit startled by the lion.
The little boy clutched his toy and nodded his head slightly. He looked as though he wanted to cry, but held his tears back. Ruthie bent down and placed a soft, gentle, and loving kiss on his cheek. "It's ok sweetie. I won't let anything scare you again, I promise." Ruthie reassured him.
Sounds of little children laughing could be heard coming from the petting zoo. The little children were running around, giggling as the animals tickled their little hands as they ate the oats. Many of the parents watched in amusement as their kids fed and petted the animals.
When they arrived at the petting zoo, Martin went over and bought some food for Aaron to give to the baby animals. Ruthie stood and watched the other parents spend time with their kids. Martin came back with a bag of oats and bent down in front of Aaron's stroller.
"Are you ready to go feed the animals?" Martin asked.
Aaron looked at Martin with a smile and asked in a cute voice, "Will you feed them with me?"
How could he refuse an offer like that? Martin nodded and took his son's hand and they walked over to the animals.
Ruthie stood by the stroller and watched as her future husband and soon to be step son fed the baby animals. It was joyful site watching a father and son bond and spend time together. Martin was so great with him. She wondered how things would be when she became Aarons step mom.
Will everything be the same once I'm his step mom? What if I don't do a good job? I want to be his mom, but am I ready? There are so many things to worry about. What if I say something and he tells me he doesn't have to because I'm not his mom? There is a possibility that might happen. I could do things different then Sandy does, and he may not like that. Ruthie wondered to herself. She was staring off into space in deep thought. So many things going through her head about the marriage and responsibility she was about to take on.
Aaron wasn't her son, but she loved him as though he was. Could she be a good step mom? Before it hadn't crossed her mind, but as soon as she said yes to Martin it did. Was she doing the right thing, would she be good at being a mom? If only things weren't so frustrating. Please let me be a good step mom. I want this to work, I really do. But what if it doesn't. My relationship with Aaron could change, for better or worse. And if things do change for the worst I could lose Martin and Aaron. Ruthie worried. I just have to stay positive and it will be ok.
Over by the animals Martin and Aaron were laughing and having a good time as they fed all of the little animals. Aaron was giggling at the baby goat that was nibbling at his tiny hand that was full of oats. It was one of those moments where you can't help but melt over. Martin turned around to see Ruthie deep in thought. She was just standing there staring off into space. He wondered if she was ok and what she was thinking about.
Mimicking what his father was doing, Aaron turned and waved at Ruthie. But she didn't notice. Martin took Aarons hand and they walked over to her.
"What are you thinking about?" Martin asked curiously.
"Oh nothing…just watching everyone have fun." She lied. And she knew Martin knew she was lying.
"Are you sure?" Martin wondered. Something was up, and she wasn't telling him.
"Yea…I think I'm gonna go feed the rabbits." Ruthie replied as she began walking over to where the rabbits were. As she was walking she felt a tiny pull on her shirt. When she looked down, she saw Aaron.
"Can I come?" Aaron asked.
"Aww…how can I say no to that adorable face?" Ruthie answered, as she took Aarons little hand in hers and walked to the rabbit cages.
Still not sure if everything was ok, Martin smiled and watched as the two of them walked away. But something in his mind was telling him that she was hiding something from him, and he had to find out what it was.
AN: I hope you like this ch…sry it took me so long to post it…