Loose Ends

Chapter 47

Ricky sat at his dining table eating breakfast and eyeing the last scrapbook that was in the canvas bag. He had decided to look through it while he ate but hadn't worked up the nerve to open it yet, especially since it didn't have a title. Sighing, he finally flipped it open. This scrapbook contained more recent pictures of John but Amy was in most of them as well, leading Ricky to imagine this book would eventually be called Mommy and Me or something similar. He was filled with a sense of calm and peacefulness as he gazed at pictures of Amy with their son. Several pages in he noticed that he started to appear in more of the pictures as well and he smiled. Unknowingly, Amy's scrapbook had captured in pictures their changing dynamic, from a co-parenting couple to actual couple to a real family. He finished looking through the scrapbook the same time he finished his meal and got up to clean his dishes.

Even though he realized how much of his son's life he'd missed out on by not making being there as much of a priority as he could and should have, he hadn't missed out entirely. And thankfully I got my priorities straight while he's still too young to remember all the drama Amy and I went through with each other and in our own lives. Maybe it's time to stop dwelling on what I didn't do for Amy and focus on what I can do from this point on. He set his cleaned dishes in the dish drain rack and dried his hands on a hand towel. Starting with letting her know every chance I get how much she really means to me. He smiled as a thought came to him. And I think I'll start by letting the world know she's my girl.

At Grant High Ashley was sitting in the back of her driver's ed class with Griffin soaking up every word her instructor was saying, having discovered that driving didn't come as naturally to her as she had hoped.

"So remember. You'll need to show up at the driving depot at least half an hour before your scheduled drive so we can double check all your paperwork and get your log files set up." Their instructor dismissed them and Ashley headed out with Griffin close behind her.

"So how'd your first drive go?" he asked as they headed towards his locker. Ashley sighed.

"Got off to a rough start. But I can now say that I am an expert at parking in empty parking spots and driving around the school's parking lot," she said sarcastically, causing Griffin to chuckle. "Don't laugh." Griffin quit chuckling but continued to smile with amusement. "So how's your driving been going, Speed Racer?" she asked mockingly.

"Just wonderfully, thank you." He glanced sideways at Ashley as they continued walking. "My parents have been taking me out every day since I got my permit."

"Show off," she replied, pushing her hair back.

"Don't be so grumpy about it, Ash. If it makes you feel any better, the first time I got behind the wheel I almost took out one of my mom's rose bushes." Ashley laughed.

"How'd you do that!?" Griffin looked at her sheepishly as they reached his locker and he began to spin his combination.

"Well.....My dad was teaching me how to back around a corner and I sorta misjudged when I needed to turn and ended up backing into one of my mom's bushes." Ashley laughed, glad she wasn't the only fifteen year old who misjudged when to turn the steering wheel sometimes. "I've gotta use my allowance to pay to have the right taillight area repainted since the thorns scratched it up pretty good but at least my mom's bush is gonna make it."

"Good to hear," Ashley said with amusement. In another hallway Grace and Grant entered the school holding hands.

"I'm glad you're in a better mood today," he told her with a smile.

"It's hard not to be. That praise session really encouraged me. I know some people doubt that I'm really finding my way back to my faith, but doubters aren't my problem," she said confidently, causing Grant to smile even wider. Where did this girl come from? Confidence, positive attitude, rolling with the punches. She's great! As she and Grant headed towards her locker they crossed paths with Adrian and Grace let go of Grant's hand to hug her. "Hi, Adrian! How was your weekend?"

"Good," Adrian told her with a tired smile. "Although this little one's been tiring me out with all the kicking," she explained while rubbing her abdomen.

"Is she kicking right now?" Grace asked excitedly. Adrian nodded and took Grace's right hand and put it over the spot she'd just been kicked. Grace squealed with glee when she felt a tiny kick. "That's so amazing!" She bent close to Adrian's belly. "Hello, little one. I'm your aunty Grace and I can't wait to meet you," she said in a baby voice, drawing some curious stares from several students who had overheard her. Grace felt another kick beneath her hand and smiled widely while Grant chuckled at his girlfriend. My own personal little ray of sunshine.

Amy was at her locker talking with Madison about their history paper assignment when Ricky came down the stairs. He smiled when he spotted her and made a beeline for her. Amy paused in her conversation and smiled at him when she saw him approaching. Before she could greet him, he pulled her close by her waist and kissed her deeply, not caring who was watching. He pulled away and Madison giggled at Amy's flushed face.

"Morning, gorgeous," he said with a smile, still holding onto her waist.

"I'll see you later, Amy," Madison said, recognizing it was time for her to leave the two love birds alone. Amy was a little breathless and surprised to be greeted so enthusiastically while they were at school.

"Hi," she said when she finally regained the ability to speak. "What was that for? Not that I'm complaining." Ricky chuckled and kissed her again, briefly this time.

"Because I love you and I'm happy to see you." She smiled at his response.

"I thought we were trying to keep things low key at school," she said, spinning around in his arms to retrieve her chemistry book before shutting her locker and turning back around to face him. Ricky shrugged.

"I think it's time we stop worrying about what other people think or say about us. Don't you?" he asked her, arching his eyebrows slightly. She thought about his statement for a minute and then nodded.

"Yeah. Let the paparazzi and gossips do what they want," she agreed with a confident smile. He took her hand and they headed to the band room for class.

As the happy couple headed to class, Ben walked into his English class and took his seat, lost in his own head space. He was still trying to process the fact that his plan to take better care of Adrian and their daughter had failed before he'd even been allowed to attempt it. Henry and Alice were already seated and turned in their seats to talk to Ben before the final bell rang.

"So how'd it go?" Henry asked from his seat to Ben's left. "You didn't call or text last night to let me know."

"Yeah," Alice said anxiously from her seat in front of Ben. "Was it a yes, no, or a maybe?"

"No," Ben told them, his tone sorrowful. Henry squeezed his shoulder.

"Sorry, buddy. I know you meant well," Henry said consolingly. Alice gave him a sympathetic look.

"Sorry, Ben." He looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"You weren't on board with the idea anyway," he told her accusingly.

"True, but that doesn't mean I'm happy when you get your hopes up about something and then it doesn't happen." Ben softened at her words.

"Thanks, Alice."