Page 20 of Stolen Dreams

“Maybe,” I tease.

She hooks an arm around my shoulders. “Say yes, Kaya. What’ve you got to lose?”

A heavy sigh leaves my lips. She’s right, not that I plan on telling her. “Fine,” I huff out. “Yes.”

“Eeeee!” she squeals loudly, and I shrink away. After a quick kiss to my cheek, she picks her phone up and taps the screen several times. Lifts it to her ear and sets reservations for us.

Saturday at seven thirty.

At least I’ll have most of the day to mentally prepare for our night out. And by prepare, I mean meditate for hours.

Clarissa ends the call then dances in place. Infectious as her excitement is, it doesn’t quash the slow-building pang in mybelly. Saturday feels different than our typical night out. More than a bite to eat or drinks as we celebrate another successful year. Saturday feels life altering, and I don’t know why.

Change is good. It wakes you up. Gives you fresh perspective. Makes you question life.

Were my grandmother at my side, she’d tell me to be brave and do what makes my stomach flip upside down.

So, rather than let my jitters consume me, I embrace the unknown. With a smile on my face, I knock Clarissa’s hip with mine and do a little jig. I open myself to something new.

FIVE

RAY

“Sick move, bud,”I call out to Tucker as he rolls past me on his skateboard. By no means is Tucker able to do actual tricks on his board. But he’s come a long way already.

For Tucker’s ninth birthday, I got him a skateboard. I’d noticed him eyeing a few kids at school when I dropped him off at the car circle last fall, a hint of envy in his gaze. I asked him if skateboarding was something he wanted to try. With a shrug and emotionless half smile, he’d muttered, “I guess.”

I may have missed years of Tucker’s life, but I connect with my little man in a way no one else does. DNA isn’t the only thing we share. In so many ways, Tucker is a mini version of me. His smile and laughter. His sense of adventure and willingness to try new things. And his tendency to bottle up his feelings and guard his heart once someone has broken it.

Sad to say, both our hearts were broken by the same person. Unfortunately, Tucker won’t recover as quickly as I did. It’s one thing for me to move on from a girlfriend who slowly slipped away, then carried out unforgivable, atrocious exploitation. Tucker was ignored by his mom for years. Feeling unloved and unwanted by her the entire time, and then being handed off to me, who he didn’t remember because Brianna ran off with himat such a young age and warped his memories… it scars you in a way nothing else will.

Now that I have Tucker, now that he has a loving parent at his side, I’ll fight nonstop to offset the hurt Brianna caused. I will do whatever it takes to give Tucker a happy life. My little man deserves the stars, and I’ll hand him every single one.

Until recently, he rarely smiled. Most were forced. But the days his smiles come easily and shine brightest are at the indoor skate park. I’d bring him daily just to see more of those smiles.

The slap of wheels hitting concrete echoes through the space as I sit on a bench on the sidelines. Tucker glides from one side of the room to the other, arms slightly extended at his sides, eyes darting from the ground to what’s ahead.

On our first day here, a teenager took him under their wing. Taught Tucker the basics and talked him through his fears of falling. Before we left that day, I asked the teen what days they were at the park and if they minded showing Tucker the ropes more.

With a little financial incentive, Jordan happily agreed to spend one or two days at the skate park with Tucker.

It eases my anxiety and warms my heart that Tucker has someone to look up to who’s closer to his age. Someone he can make a lifelong friendship with.

A few weeks back, Jordan declared Tucker was ready to move on to something other than flat surfaces. The idea of Tucker flying through the air on his skateboard made my stomach flip—with thrill and unease. But I put my trust in Jordan’s capable hands, and it was the right choice.

I stare on as Tucker sails past me and heads back to the line for the smallest ramp in the park, one specifically in place for learning.

Waiting his turn with a glowing smile on his face, Tucker inches forward and prepares to take off. As soon as the personin front of him clears out of the way, he kicks off and charges forward. The ramp’s subtle incline teaches him how to build momentum safely. He flies up the ramp, crests the ridge of the low pyramid with a quick hop, coasts across the flat surface, then glides down the opposite side with a blinding smile on his face.

“Yeah, T-Man!” I cheer. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

I have yet to be told by Tucker I’m an embarrassment. So, I cheer him on as often as possible and pray it boosts his confidence.

An hour passes way too soon. We say our goodbyes to Jordan and leave the skate park. Tucker tells me how awesome it felt to dobigger kid stufftoday. In response, I tell him heisa bigger kid.

A few blocks up the street, I park at the pizza place, and we head inside. Order drinks and a small pizza—Tucker’s half with cheese and mine with everything. As the server walks off, I nudge Tucker’s foot with mine under the table.

“You were awesome at the park today, bud. So proud of you.”

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