It had been a month since Tim moved back into Dillon and two months since his knee surgery. He had graduated to a smaller knee brace and a cane. Tim had been going on daily walks for the past week, gradually making it further into town. He was determined to at least make it to the park by the end of the week; his physiotherapist wasn't pushing him hard enough so he had to do it on his own. The house was empty; Billy was at Riggins Rigs and Tim wasn't exactly sure where Mindy was.
After breakfast Tim got dressed, putting on an old Panthers sweater and shorts. He grabbed his I-Pod before leaving the house and plugged his headphones into his ears. It was a warm Texas morning but had a slight chill to the air, Spring was arriving and it was becoming evident by the heat. When Tim finally reached to the point he made yesterday he was exhausted but had his destination in mind.
Tim finally reached the Park and he was beyond exhausted so he decided to take a seat on the bench that was sitting in front of the playground. He chugged half a bottle of water, the sun rising higher in the sky and the heat picking up. He closed his eyes, basking in the rays. Tim missed Texas and the heat, back in Denver it was freezing, something Tim wasn't used to. He did, however, enjoy the snow and mountains but nothing compared to Texas.
"Am I interrupting something?" Tim heard from behind him. He opened his eyes and turned around to see Lyla standing there.
"Just taking in the view" Tim replied glancing over the park as he quickly removed his ear buds. There were a dozen kids running around on the playground. A few dogs and their owners playing fetch on the football field with runners entering and exiting the forest that was lining the field.
"You must have missed the heat while you were in Denver" Lyla said as she walked to the front of the bench and sat down beside Tim.
"You have no idea" Tim countered, laughing a little to himself. "What are you doing here, Garrity?
"Carter wanted a day at the park, he's playing over there." She responded pointing to a little boy struggling to keep up with the older kids.
"Cute kid" Tim nodded as they watched Carter running up and down the jungle gym.
"I kind of like him. So how have you been?" Lyla asked.
"Alright, I've graduated to just a cane." Tim replied pointing to his walking stick that was resting on the bench beside him.
"That's great, Tim!" Lyla exclaimed.
"So what have you been up to since I left, Garrity?"
"Besides the obvious? After you left, I helped my Dad out with the dealership but that didn't work, so we opened a bar and that really took off. Then I met Jordan and we had Carter, I was able to go to school. I am now graduating soon and I'm going to become a nurse and on the weekends I volunteer at the hospital . I couldn't really afford med school and this was the next best thing, I really do love it though. And that's everything you've missed while being a huge football star, Mr. Tim Riggins."
"Sounds like you got it all" Tim responded.
"I do." Lyla said smiling to herself. "How was your football career?"
"What career? I barely had a year in the NFL before I blew out my knee, not much to tell." Tim replied.
"Momma!" Carter cried running towards the bench. His face was red and scrunched up, tears flowing freely down his face.
"What's wrong, baby?" Lyla asked the toddler. Once he was within arm's reach she scooped him up and hugged him tight. He was sobbing and talking incoherently but she held him close until he was feeling better. He pushed himself away from her and finally noticed that they weren't alone. "Carter can you say hello to Mr. Riggins?"
"Hi" he whispered as he wiped the remaining tears from his face.
"Hey, little guy" Tim said as he lowered himself so he was eye to eye with the toddler.
"Carter, do you want to show Mr. Riggins your new football?" Lyla inquired as she pulled a small sized football out of her bag. "He used to play for the Broncos, he's a big football star, maybe he can teach you how to throw"
"I'm a great teacher" Tim said to Carter. He grabbed the football from Lyla and slowly got up to his feet. "Want to come play?" Carter looked up at his mom and once she gave him a nod he jumped up and began running onto the football field. Tim slowly caught up to the little boy, the cane giving him a disadvantage. He bended over the toddler, showing him the correct way to hold his pint sized football and how to throw.
Lyla sat on the park bench for half of the afternoon watching her son and Tim playing a bit of football. Tim first taught Carter how to throw and made his way up to tackling. Carter was running circles around Tim and all he could do was hobble after the boy. After what felt like a good hour of the two playing Tim collapsed, sprawled across the ground. Carter jumped on top of him and started tickling him, begging him to get up.
Lyla took the hint that Tim was exhausted and sauntered over to rescue him. "What are you boys up to?" She asked as she finally reached the two lying on the ground.
"Playing football, Momma, come play!" Carter exclaimed.
"Yeah, come play, Garrity" Tim joined in as he grabbed Lylas' wrist and pulled her to the ground beside him.
Lyla propped herself up on her side and stared at her son, who was now curled up on top of Tim. "Ready to go, baby?" She asked Carter.
"Yeah, I'm beat." Tim replied laughing.
"Tim!" Lyla cried giving him a shove, laughing. "Here I'll take him." Lyla reached out to grab her son off Tim.
"I got him, he may be a bit heavier than a football but I won't drop him." Tim said as he struggled to get up. Once standing on his two feet he held Carter in one hand and his cane in the other.
"I'm parked over there" Lyla pointed to the parking lot, her black SUV was one of the few cars still sitting in the lot. She led the way to her car opening the door when they finally arrived. Carter was passed out on Tims' shoulder so he gently placed him into the car seat, backing away so Lyla could strap him in.
"He's going to be a great football player someday" Tim said while Lyla finished strapping her son in.
"Living in Texas, I don't think he'll have a choice." Lyla replied laughing. "Thanks for everything today, Tim."
"Not a big deal, Garrity." Tim nodded and turned around to start walking home.
"Carter's having a birthday party next week, he'll be four. You're more than welcome to come, bring Mindy, Billy and the kids!" Lyla offered.
"Sure, thanks." With that Tim was on his way home and Lyla got into her car.
Ten minutes later Lyla was parked outside the grocery store, she grabbed her unwilling son from the back and placed him in the front of shopping cart. Lyla guided her way into the store and found her way around, grabbing items from the shelf that she needed. Her son was fast asleep in the seat of the cart and she pushed him around the store effortlessly.
As she was turning down the cereal aisle she saw a blonde woman with two small kids in the buggy and she knew that even from a distance that it was Mindy Riggings. "Hello, Mindy" Lyla said as she approached.
"Hi." Mindy replied rather curtly. Mindy looked tired, like she had been running around after the twins all day, her blonde hair was pulled into a messy pony tail and her shirt had a few stains.
"How have you been?" Lyla asked politely.
"Oh cut the crap, Garrity. I know you have no interest in me or my family and especially Tim." Mindy replied.
"I have no idea-"
"You have to tell him" Mindy interupted. "Tell Tim or I will."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Stop with the little miss perfect act. That boy has the right to know who his father is" Mindy snarled pointing to Carter in the cart who was still blissfully asleep.
"He has a father; Jordan has stepped up and taken care of Carter since he was born." Lyla stated.
"You need to tell his biological father. You thought we wouldn't notice didn't you?" Mindy snapped. Lyla was genuinely taken aback, no one had ever talked to her like this about her son. "Your son looks just like my kids, and the fact that you gave birth not even nine months after Tim left, your so called boyfriend never even showed his face in Dillon until after he was born."
Lyla had had enough of the accusations and turned around to walk away, she was done with the conversation. "Tell Tim, or I will." She heard Mindy yell after her. Lyla kept walking, not bothering to look back. She knew she had to tell Tim the truth and that she even needed to tell Jordan. She had no idea what kind of mess she was getting herself into, all she knew is that she wanted out.
A/N: This is all I have so far, hoping to get the next chapter up in a few days! I finally have a solid idea of where I want to go from here. Please review and I am open to suggestions! :)