"Yes," I say, my voice going up an octave.
She smiles. "I'll call you once we get home and head that way. You know where Geren Park is?"
"I do," Hazel replies.
She drops a hundred dollar bill on the table to take care of our lunch and follows him. Today is the day. We say our see you laters and get into the car. I let out a long breath.
"You okay?" Hazel asks, starting the car and pulling out of the driveway.
"Are you kidding? I get to meet my son today. This is the best freaking day ever."
Honestly, going into this meetup I was scared that they might not like me, and it would prevent me from being able to meet Jake, but instead, they liked me. Without their approval, I couldn't ever be a part of Jake's life until after he turns eighteen but here we are.
I take Hazel's hand in mine, and don't say a word. If she didn't come to Texas and ask me to write the letter, this would have never happened. Sometimes, you have to take risks to get what you want, and this is a perfect example. Do I wish she would have mentioned it sooner? Yes, but oh well. All that matters is now.
We arrive at her house, get out of the car, and go inside. She sits down on the couch and turns on the television while I pace around the kitchen, waiting for the coffee to finish brewing that I started. Normally, I don't drink it this late in the day, but want to make sure I'm fully awake with energy to play with him at the park. We only get one first impression and I want to make the most of it.
My brothers are going to be livid when they find out that I have a son, and never said anything. Liam will probably hate Hazel for a while, and make it out to be all her fault. I still don't understand why he dislikes her so much. So she turned down my proposal in high school, so what. That was many years ago, and we need to move past it.
The Keurig beeps and I grab my coffee and migrate out to the living room with Hazel. She's watching True Blood and officially is obsessed with it apparently. Not a show for me, but I sit down next to her and use it to pass the time until the Kaser's call.
Before we know it, two hours have gone by, and we have binged three episodes of her show without even realizing it. Okay, so maybe it's not that deplorable, and I should have gotten past the first season. The second season is actually pretty good so far. Although, I'm not a big fan of vampires and the stigma around them being with humans. Girls are into that crap, though.
My pocket starts to vibrate and I pull my phone out. "Hello?"
"Available to meet in twenty-minutes?" Mitchell asks.
I turn to Hazel to confirm the time frame works, since I have no idea how long it takes to get there from here. "Yes, see you then."
After hanging up, my chest gets tight, and my hand flies up to my heart.
"Don't start that now. We have both been looking forward to this. He's going to like you, no worries there."
Hazel is such a sweet girl, and has been good at calming me down, and discovering my potential even when I can't see it myself. I think that's why I've always stayed in love with her, and have never found anyone else. Things between us are worthy of a second chance and after this trip, Hazel will have to make her choice. I'll respect her wishes either way, but might take me a while if the answer's no.
"We better start heading that way."
I wonder if Jake looks like me?
We hightail to the park, and get there with about four minutes to spare, but don't see the Kaser's yet. Good. Being late isn't a great first impression for Jake. Should we stay in the car or sit down at the one of the picnic benches and wait?
"Let's go sit down by the jungle gym. It'll help us look more approachable," I tell Hazel, opening my door.
A brand new Mercedes pulls up, and we look at each other, knowing that's them. A deep breath is taken, and then we stand up and smile. The back door opens and out pops this little boy and a tear falls from my eye. It's him, and he looks like me. Dark brown hair, sparkling chestnut eyes, and a smile that could brighten anyone's day.
Jake waits for his parents to get out, and then takes Mitchell's hand. Did they tell him we are meeting? Or, is this like a surprise situation?
"I'm Jake," he says, putting out his hand.
"I'm Aiden and this is Hazel." I try to contain my smile as if not to be creepy.
Jake looks up at his parents. "So, you are my real parents?"
The Kaser's did make it clear they have never kept the fact that he is adopted from him.
"Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you finally. Would you like to go with us on the jungle gym?" I ask, trying to gain confidence.
Instead of responding, he runs and we try to keep up. All we want is a chance to get to know him, and if it helps him feel better by playing then so be it. I chase behind him, and try to beat him to the slide, but secretly let him win.