The day was amazing. I was totally in love with the city, something I never imagined possible. I had always seen myself staying in small towns, living on a large plot of land, but I was changing my mind rapidly now.
We had seen so many sights, from the Ground Zero Memorial all the way to Chinatown. I couldn't even decide what my favorite sight was. I knew my favorite part of the day was just being with John. Honestly, I think with John whatever we had done that day, I'd have been happy just to be with him.
We had stopped at a restaurant he frequented to eat dinner. That was the first time we really talked about us, and what we wanted from the relationship all day.
"So, could you see yourself moving here one day?"
"Yeah. I think Ryleigh would enjoy it here, and we could really be happy. I think it just depends on our relationship. I mean, I can't just go home, grab her, and move here. I think we need to set a time frame for such a move, but I truly think I could be happy here."
"Yeah, I know it can't happen overnight. I agree, it will happen in time."
"Maybe in a few weeks, you could bring Ryleigh out and we can see how she likes it. Does she watch Alice in Wonderland? If so, we can take her to Alice's Tea Cup for a tea party."
"You really are motivated in making her happy too. I love that about you."
"Well, the key to a mom's heart is through her child."
I smiled and rolled my eyes. He always had a way to say the right things, or the thing that would just melt my heart.
"That's true."
"What is the minimum time frame you'd move out here?"
"You know, I don't know. That depends on a few things, but I think in about three or four months I'll be willing to explore that. Why?"
"The lease on my apartment is up in five months, and I figured if it's something you were ready to do, that I should look at two bedrooms. Most places rent out a few months in advance to move in though."
"Let's see how things go this month, and we will look into apartments later. Right now, I think we need to move at a bit slower pace. I mean, it's not going to be easy. Dating me will be a new..."
He cut me off.
"I know, and you're right. I haven't dated a mom before, and I've especially never dated a mom who's child doesn't have a dad figure. I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
"Glad you're committed. Just clarify though, being a dad figure takes more than going to a 'Donuts with Dads' event at school."
"I figured."
We both laughed recalling that time he did that for her. It was a month ago. The Friday before Father's Day, Ryleigh had a 'Donuts with Dad' event at school. She was three, and had started to realize she doesn't have a dad. My heart broke. I luckily operated a travel agency, and didn't have to send her. I had told John how I was going to keep her home, and how it was starting to dawn on me that she was going to catch on that she doesn't have a dad. How could I shelter her from the pictures on the wall with kids with their dad's? John didn't say anything in that conversation. He just listened. Which wasn't unusual, I had leaned on him through a lot of tough times over the years.
That's why when my doorbell rang at seven in the morning, I was surprised to find him at my door. He had told me he had came to take Ryleigh to school, and would stay until breakfast was over. That was the day my heart had really started to open up to him, I wish when he was there I would've moved for a relationship.
***
We went back to his place after dinner, and talked even more.