Another Beginning

• TWELVE •

"Yes, Katie?" 

"Will you watch me dance on Wewesday?"

"Where?"  I asked. I love how their tongue twist every time they say a big word.

"At Miss Leigh's bawey class.  Miss Leigh said that I dance reawy well daddy."  She tells me proudly.

"I'm sure you do sweetie.  And yes, I will come and watch you dance at Miss Leigh's ballet class." 

"You will?"  Enzo asked, surprised.  He lifted his head from my chest and looked at me.

"Yes buddy.  Why?" 

"That means you're staying until Wewesday daddy?"  He asked,  his eyes gleaming with happiness.

"Yes I am."  I tell him. 

My poor son is still worried that I  am leaving them and not coming back.  I have to make him feel and assure him that I am here to stay.

"Enzo, son,  look at me.  Katie come here too."  I sat up and sit them both in front of me.  "Enzo, Katie,  I want you both to listen to me okay?  I am going to tell you something and if you don't understand, I want you to ask me, okay?"  They both nodded, looking at me intently. 

"You know that mommy and I love you both so much and we are happy that we are all together now.  You know that daddy lives in the Philippines right?"  I look at Enzo whose head is down and pouting right now.  I cup his chin and tilt his head.  

"Enzo, Katie,  daddy needs to go back to Philippines because I have work there, but it doesn't mean that I am not coming back.  Do you understand me?" 

Katie nodded, but Enzo remained quiet and still. 

"Enzo? Do you understand?" 

"I don't want you to weave daddy." 

"Enzo, Enzo,  what do you want me to do, to make you believe that I am coming back?"

He just shook his head. 

"Enzo, daddy is coming back.  He pwomised!"  Katie tells her brother.

Enzo remained quiet but I can tell he is thinking.

"Daddy," he finally said, "can you take mommy, Katie and I when you go back to the Phiyippines?" 

I knew he was going to ask this.  My son is so smart and is not taking my promise lightly, he wanted to make sure that I am not leaving.   And I honestly think that this is his only assurance.

"Enzo, mommy and I needs to talk about it first okay?  But for now,  lets not think about it.  How about we just enjoy today, lets play and tell me stories and tell me all the things that I don't know about you?"  I tell him,  trying to make the situation a little bit lighter.

"Okay guys, breakfast is ready!"  I heard Maine call out from the kitchen.

Whew! Saved by breakfast. Thank God!

"Did you hear that? Let's go! Let's eat breakfast!" I lifted the twins on each arm and flew them to the kitchen.

"Look mommy we're fwyin!" Katie said giggling, as we enter the kitchen, her arms spread like wings.

Enzo is giggling too, his legs are swinging.

"You guys! That looks fun!" Maine exclaimed, approaching us.  She started tickling Enzo's side and he started squirming.

"Mommy stop! Hi hi hi hi!  Stop pwease mommy!" 

"Did you hear somebody telling me to stop daddy?"  Maine asked me. 

Daddy, Maine called me daddy and it gave me this overwhelming feeling of happiness inside me. 

I am a daddy, in an instant I have a family. 

I feel complete.  I cannot believe that these three people I've just been with since yesterday made me complete. 

"Hey, you okay?"  Maine asked,  nudging me on the side. 

"Yes, yes.  Sorry,  sometimes I just have to pinch myself  to remind me that  I am not dreaming,  I still couldn't believe that I found you and I have twins.  I am just so happy.  You made me happy."  I tell her.

Maine leaned against me and gave me a kiss on the  lips.  She wrap her arms around my waist, the twins still hanging on my two sides. 

Surrounding me, I have the three most important people attached not only to my body but to my heart and I promise that from this day on,  I am not letting go.