Malcolm
The Beginning
After our surprise meeting at school nearly three weeks ago, Mandy left with Jase.
I couldn’t wrap my mind around what had happened until I went back to my classroom, found my phone, and read her text. For a grown man, I couldn’t keep the moisture from blurring her words.
Sorry to bother you at work. I should have told you, but I was afraid. I’m at my son’s school for a meeting with his new teacher. I’m scared, and I wish you were here. He’s a great kid. You’re an amazing man. Can I introduce the two of you? I would love for you two to meet.
Her fear and bravery come through louder than her words. I want nothing more than to hold her in my arms. It may have been fate that brought me to this town, Mandy into my life, and Jase into my classroom, but this was more. This was Mandy’s invitation—what I’d been hoping for—and it came before her two worlds collided.
I texted back: He is a great kid. You’re an amazing woman, and I’m ready for the beginning.
* * *
Christmas music fills the air, playing from the speakers high above the zoo’s attractions. Though the snow has been cleared from the sidewalks, the areas that during the summer contain flowers as well as the trees and bushes are all covered with a coating of white. Lights of all colors create a magical scene as the three of us move with the other families through the holiday displays.
Families.
I turn as Jase’s mitten-covered hand fits perfectly in mine. The first thought running through my mind is that this is real. I’m really here with Mandy and Jase. I never imagined wanting a premade family while at the same time, I’ve never wanted anything more.
“Look, Mr. P.—I mean, Malcolm,” Jase says with a shy grin as he tilts his head toward the polar bear exhibit.
Before doing as Jase says and looking at the bears, I gaze over at Mandy. As our eyes meet, her cheeks rise, making her blue eyes shine. We both know that it’s an adjustment to start calling your teacher by his first name. Jase is finally getting the hang of it. The question will be if he can remember to go back to Mr. P. once school begins again in the new year.
“Let’s go see them,” I say, tugging Jase toward the crowd near the rail.
“You two go ahead. I’ll stay back here,” Mandy says as she releases Jase’s other hand.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
There aren’t words to express what it means to me that she trusts me with her son, even in a crowd at a zoo. With Jase in tow, I wiggle through the people until we reach the Plexiglas rail separating us from a large cavernous ravine. On the other side of the chasm, one large polar bear paces back and forth, eyeing the crowd, as another large bear and a small cub play in what has to be freezing cold water. Having a polar bear cub born in the zoo has been a recent claim to fame for this city.
Jase looks from the bears to me and back. “Why is the one bear walking back and forth? Is he mad?”
“I think that’s the dad bear. He’s probably not mad, just unsure of all the people. He’s protecting the mom and baby.”
Jase continues to stare at the bears. Finally, he turns toward me. His voice is so low I almost can’t hear him over the music and other people. “My dad died protecting us. That’s what Mom says.”
With a lump growing in my throat, I nod. “Your mom told me the same thing. That makes your dad a hero.”
It’s Jase’s turn to nod. “Yep. But don’t say anything to Mom. It makes her sad to talk about him.”
“You can always talk about him. It’s a good thing.”
“Do you think I might ever get a new dad?”
“I think that’s up to your mom. How would you feel about that?”
Jase’s lips come together as if he’s giving the topic some genuine thought. “I think it would be cool. And you know what?”
“What?”
“She’s not sad when you’re here, Mr. P.” He shakes his head. “Malcolm.”
“That’s good,” I say as I ruffle his hair. “I like seeing your mom happy.”
“Me too.”
Neither Mandy nor I were sure how Jase would feel about his teacher dating his mom, but since the first time she invited me to their apartment and the three of us went out for pizza, he’s been our biggest supporter. Granted, with him along, our first night as a threesome was considerably different than Mandy’s and my one night over four months ago. With the three of us, there was no starving or rehydration. My eating was limited to pizza and breadsticks.
Though Jase may be our biggest advocate, he isn’t alone. Mandy’s parents have been fantastic. They truly are a great support system for her. Her mother just laughed when she found out that the Malcolm Mandy has been seeing and Mr. P. are one and the same. It made our introduction easier since I’d already met her mother the first day Jase entered my classroom.
My parents too are happy. They weren’t as thrilled when I told them I wouldn’t make it to Florida for Christmas, but I promised I’d make it down before school begins again in January. If things go as I hope, when I do I won’t be alone.
“What were you two talking about?” Mandy asks as we make our way back to her. She’s all bundled in her winter coat, hat, and gloves, and even with Jase’s hand in mine, I’m awestruck by her presence. The crisp air is giving her cheeks the rosy glow that’s usually reserved for her cute blush.
“Polar bears,” I answer as if I haven’t just received the permission I’ve been seeking.
I know I should ask Mandy’s father, and I will, but it was Jase’s blessing that I sought the most. I hadn’t been sure how to approach the subject. It just so happened he did it for me.
“We need to get home...it’s getting late,” Mandy says, reaching for Jase’s other hand.
“Will you come too?” Jase asks, looking my way.
My grin grows. “I’d love to come to your place...and at it,” I add softly. “But that’s up to your mom.”
Mandy shakes her head. “To, yes.”
We both laugh, confident by Jase’s expression that our joke is strictly between us and that he missed our meaning.
Three days later on Christmas Eve, I’m again at Mandy’s apartment. Jase is finally asleep, after coming out to the living room nearly a half-dozen times for a variety of reasons—everything from needing a drink to having to go to the bathroom and the important news he forgot to share with us that was so important he couldn’t remember it.
Now that he’s asleep, I’m helping Mandy unload the gifts from the trunk of her car. They’ve all been wrapped, so it’s more of a job of placing them under the tree than anything else.
“I can’t wait to see his face when he wakes up,” Mandy says as the last gift is placed, and she rehangs his filled stocking.
“There’s a reason they have the saying ‘like a kid on Christmas morning.’”
“Would you like a beer?” she asks once all the gifts are in place.
“I can help.”
She waves me away and walks to the kitchen. As she does, I slip my surprise from my pocket into the stocking that says Mom. With the room’s normal illumination off, the colorful tree lights create vibrant globes that reflect around the walls and on the shiny wood floor. After I sit back down, she returns.
“Here,” she says, handing me a bottle as she holds tightly to the stem of a wine glass.
Before she sits, I ask, “What about your stocking?”
Mandy shrugs. “I guess I wasn’t good.”
“Oh, beautiful, I think you’ve been very good.”
“Well, apparently, Santa doesn’t.”
“Are you sure?”
She laughs. “Since it’s empty, I’d say I’m sure.”
As she starts to sit, I stop her. “Why don’t you make sure?”
Her blue eyes grow wide as she places the wine on the table and slowly makes her way to her stocking. “Malcolm, what did you do?”
Time stands still as she reaches into it, her fingers grasping for anything. It’s as she feels what’s inside that she turns my direction. The smile from earlier is gone, and her eyes are glassy with unshed tears.
“Malcolm?”
I’m not sure if this is a good reaction or not, but I’ve made the move so I can’t turn back now. Placing my beer next to Mandy’s wine, I slip from the couch to one knee, at her feet.
“Mandy, I had this all planned. I knew exactly what I was going to say, and now…” I reach for her hand, now holding the diamond ring. “…I’m reminded of the time we were on the gulf and you said words couldn’t describe what you were thinking. I’m going to give it a try, but I know it won’t be enough.”
Her lips disappear behind her teeth as she stares down at me. The tears have now escaped, trailing down her cheeks.
I reach up and wipe one away with my thumb.
“One night with you wasn’t enough. You’re the fiercest, strongest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I’ve been mesmerized by our attraction since our first date. When we’re together, it’s as if I need to touch you to be sure you’re real. When we’re apart, you’re in my thoughts. I’ve known for a long time that it was love, but I respected your wishes and never talked about what I was feeling.
“I can’t do that any longer. Mandy Wells, I love you. I love all of you…that means Jase too. I’ve tried to show it, but I want more. I want to say it. From the first day Jase walked into my classroom I knew he was special. I had no idea how incredibly special he was until the day of our meeting. If you’ll allow me, I want…” I reach for the ring in her grasp and hold it out, ready for her finger. “…you to please agree to marry me, to let me tell you and the entire world that I love you, that you are the one woman who holds my heart in the palms of her hands, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you and Jase.”
Mandy takes a ragged breath. “The rest of your life…” she says softly.
I stand and pull her close. “I can’t promise you one year or fifty. All I can promise is however long it is, I’ll love you until my last breath.” I lean back and tilt my head. “I love you, Mandy. What do you say?”
“I-I…Jase?”
“I want the package deal. And he already said yes.”
Though her eyes are still glassy, her smile blossoms. “You asked Jase?”
“I asked your dad. Jase and I talked in less specifics. He told me that he likes it when you’re happy and that when I’m with you two, you’re happy.”
“Jase said that?”
I nod.
“And my dad?”
“Beautiful, I’ve gotten yeses from everyone but you…and right now that’s scaring me.”
She lifts her left hand and spreads her fingers apart.
It takes me a second to remember the ring. As I approach her fourth finger with the white gold band and diamond solitaire, I ask again, “Mandy Wells, will you marry me?”
The ring fits perfectly. Sally helped me with that.
She nods. “Yes, Malcolm.” She looks down at the ring and back to me. “I love you, too. I have since that first night. I was scared to admit it, even to myself.” The tears are still flowing. “But now that I have, can we promise something?”
She loves me.
“Anything,” I say.
“Let’s not say forever. Instead, let’s say we’ll be together for one night…a night that goes on forever.”