Changing Us
Chapter 7: Home
"Daddy!" Ryan opened the door to their New York home to be greeted by a very enthusiastic, now two-year old Robyn. He just came back from a 2-day trip to Albuquerque to meet with the board of his father's corporation. Vance Evans had a heart attack a month ago and though he survived and is doing well, he wanted to sort things out regarding his businesses should anything bad happen to him. The elder Evans hasn't talked it through with his children as to who will take the reins of the business and that's exactly what the whole trip was about.
"Hey there, darling. How come you're still up? It's already past your bedtime," Ryan asked his little girl, scooping her up and walking through the house. "Where's mommy?"
"In the kitchen, giving Jazzy his miwlk." The little girl smiled charmingly at her dad. "Do you have something fowr me, daddy?"
"What makes you think that?" Ryan chuckled at the boldness of his daughter. She's a bit shy around people, like Kelsi is, but brings out her inner Evans in front of her dad.
"Becwause! Grandmewe and Auntie Shalpay always give me something. Silly Daddy!"
"They love you that much huh? Well, they're in my suitcase and if you're a good girl and sleep now you can wake up early tomorrow to see it. Deal?"
"But Daddy…" Robyn pulls the puppy dog look she's learned, at a very young age, her dad couldn't resist.
"Oh, don't give me that face sweetheart. I love you but you have to listen to me this time, okay?"
"I love you too Daddy." She gives him a sloppy kiss just as they entered the kitchen!
At the sight of him Jazz immediately hopped off his seat and ran to him, hugging his legs. "I missed you daddy!"
"I missed you too Jazz," he said, ruffling the boy's blonde hair.
He walked with difficulty across the counter to reach Kelsi because Jazz was still hanging on one of his legs. Dropping a kiss to his wife, "I miss you too, Kelsi."
"One more," she stood on tiptoes to get another kiss and took Robyn from his arms. "You look tired. How was the meeting?"
"Let's get the kids to bed and talk about it." He picked up Jazz from below him and walked them to the children's rooms.
After the kids were asleep and they got ready for bed, Ryan snuggled up to his wife. "The board wants me to take over the company." He said tiredly, pulling an arm to cover his eyes. "Sharpay just couldn't do it with her kids and teaching. And as much as they trust Zeke, he already has his hands full with the restaurant chain."
"Do you want to? I know you love what you're doing now, Ryan. But I also know that you loved running Lava Springs those summers you interned there. You have taken management classes while we were in college. I know you can do it." Kelsi said, looking up to her husband as he gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"It's not just whether I want to or not, because I do. But performing has been what I've always dreamed of doing my whole life. I have projects here and there but the bigger ones would require me to be on tour and I can't leave you and the kids for months at a time. I want to see them grow up, Kels."
"You will. Don't you think this being CEO and all is that perfect opportunity?"
"But it will mean moving back to Albuquerque. And that's a lot of change. You have your job here, the kids are familiar with everything here, and they have friends here as well."
"Ryan," Kelsi sat up and took his face in his hands, "I can write from anywhere. I can just fly in if they need me while recording. Or we can build a small recording studio there so they're the ones who will fly in. And the kids will love it in Albuquerque, they always do when we visit. Yes, they have friends here but they're not really as close to them as they are with their cousins or with the Wildcats' children."
"How did you get so smart?" Ryan wrapped her in a hug. "I guess when you put it that way, it does sound logical. Remember that talk we had before, that we want our kids to grow up the same way we were raised?" she nodded and he continued. "Well, most of our friends are back in Albuquerque except for Troy and Gabriella who are still in California. And I can build you a studio, a recording studio with an adjoining one for dance. Maybe we can have that summer camp we dreamt of having? Where we teach kids music." He was silent for a while. With a low voice he said, "But Kelsi, this has been home for us since we got married. I'm not sure if I can take you away from all that we had here."
"Ryan, wherever you and the kids are will always be home for me, regardless of where it is. It's okay for us to go home if you want to."
"I love you so much. Thank you for understanding." They drifted off to sleep dreaming of the big change that's about to come but one that they are going to do together.
Well, that's it. Thanks for sticking with me. I really appreciate all the feedback.