Matters of the Heart

Chapter Seven- Family & Friends.

~Tinley's point of view~

The last two weeks have been great. Everything went back to normal. Well, not normal. Patrick Blaine is more attentive than he has ever been. Not just to Zoey but to me too. It's not just at random times. It's all the time. He did do what he said, though. Sometimes he just disappears. I don't have a problem with that. Most of the time, when he does, he goes out back. Even in the neighborhood, we have a huge backyard. It bare. I don't know what he would be doing out there. I let him be.

Today is the last court hearing for Zoey. I am nervous as can be. This means two things. I will officially be Zoey's mom, but I will lose having Vance around two days a week. He has been coming to the races every night after work. He has stayed every night, too; I don't mind it. I don't think Patrick Blaine likes it a whole lot, but he doesn't say anything about it. He doesn't act any different. Patrick Blaine has been sort of flirty and touchy. I don't say shit; Vance doesn't either. He doesn't do the verbal flirting; He will touch me in front of him.

Vivian has us meeting her today, which is Wednesday. Vance is meeting us there because it's not his day. Patrick Blaine and I are riding together. More than likely in his car. He bought a new one because his old one wasn't safe for Zoey. He even bought his own car seat. He has turned into someone I absolutely LOVE being around. He is someone now I never thought he could be. I like the playful side of him.

Patrick Blaine: "You ready to go make us a real family?"

Tinley: "I am."

He blows my mind at times. I wish he did mean a real family. On paper, we will be. We won't be in the physical sense. At least we do live together. That is something earth-shaking on its own. That would have never mattered before Zoey. We would still be where we were.

He takes Zoey from me, kissing my cheek as he does. That has been happening every morning when he wakes up and before he goes to bed. He has been different. Very different. I'll take any good over all the bad. The crappy part of it is when he does touch me; I get the sparks and fireworks. The things I want from Vance, but I just don't get.

As soon as we get in his car, his hand goes to my leg. That has been happening every time we're alone in a car too. It usually ends with me needing Vance to bend me over my desk the moment he walks into my office. He certainly doesn't complain about it. He is happy to make it happen and never questions why. We rarely talk on car rides. I'm thankful for that because my voice would crack from his hand on my leg.

We make it to the courthouse. Vance meets us outside. He comes to me and kisses me, and bends to kiss Zoey's forehead in her seat.

Vance: "Y'all ready to do this?"

Tinley: "I am. I'm beyond excited for this."

Patrick Blaine: "Me too."

Vance: "You two have grown leaps and bounds from where you started."

Patrick Blaine: "Sometimes you don't realize what is right in front of you until it's too late."

Vance: "Ain't that the truth."

We go in. This time it's in the actual courtroom, and I am not the least bit worried. I know we are good. We should be anyway. Vance is the only one who could fuck it up for us. I doubt he would do that. He loves Zoey as much as we do. She is the common goal in this.

I feel weird. We all sit, and I sat Zoey in a chair Vance had pulled over. Each of them lay a hand on my leg under the table. I can bet neither of them knows the other is doing it. This throws my mind into a tailspin. I know why Vance does what he does. I have no idea why Patrick Blaine does. I sometimes question if he does it so he can eventually throw it in my face.