To the Moon and Back

Chapter 21

                                                                        *Samantha`s POV*

          John was excitedly filling me in on every single detail of his talk with Jason. John likes him which is beyond shocking! He never likes anyone trying to date me! He actually punched one guy in the nose, no I wasn’t mad at him that guy was a total tool.  It wasn’t long before I notice Marie`s class entering the picnic area. As they find a seat I lead our little group over to her table. As we get closer I see Ms. Jillian`s face bubbling with curiosity. When she notices Jason and Alice accompanying me her eyes widen, she shoots me a questioning look. While she doesn’t say anything, she was unable to hide her smirk.  I know her  too well as soon as she can get me alone she`ll be begging for all the little details.  “hey miss Jillian!” I yell as I make my way towards the class.   She waves at me and greets me with a smile. Once I’m close enough that I don’t have to yell I  cheerfully ask, “how was your morning?“  she glances over my shoulder at Jason and back to me as she tells me “Oh it was nice, but I have a feeling it wasn’t as good as yours!”  she’s barely containing her giggles as my cheeks heat up. Why am I Blushing? I hope nobody notices. Hoping to distract from the reddening of my cheeks I roll my eyes. From the sound of Jason’s snicker and Alice’s full-blown laughter I assume I have failed miserably. “I simply have NOOO idea what you mean ANYWHOOO, Can I borrow Marie?” after watching her eyes dart from Me to Jason and back to me. I can see the curiosity and excitement dancing behind her eyes, threatening to spill out of her mouth. After a moment she seems to decide that her interrogation can wait till later, when the hot guy isn’t listening.  She turns slightly before yelling “MARIE! Your Mom is-“ she doesn’t even have to finish her sentence before Marie yells “MOM!!!” while running full speed at me. I bent down to wrap her up in a hug. “Hey Princess, are you having Fun??” I ask her as I release her from my arms. “ I GOT TO MILK A GOAT!!” Marie yells excitedly. Her head c***s to the side as her face lights up as she squeals “LOOK AT THAT HORSE MOMMA SHES SOOOOOO PRETTTTYYYYYYY!” I already know she’s talking about Luna, so I point towards the gorgeous animal “Oh her? That’s Luna she is amazing! That’s actually Jason’s horse-“ I didn’t actually get to introduce him as I wanted to. She cut me off mid-sentence “Who Is Jason?”  she now is eyeing me up and down. I swear sometimes this girl forgets I’m the mom. After a silent prayer to the Goddess, I lead her over to Jason Alice and her brother. “Marie this is Jason!”  she quietly and quickly assesses him while looking between Jason and me.  “He’s my new friend!” John tells her. “thanks bud!” Jason says  to John before turning to Marie and bowing down as if she was a literal princess. “ It is my greatest pleasure to meet you Princess” he says as he reaches for her tiny hand to kiss the back of it. After he straightens up from his theatrics.  She giggles her approval clearly enjoying the attention. But it doesn’t take long for her to be back to business, asking the important questions! “Is that really your Horse??”  she asks pointedly.  PRIORTIES! She has them do you?  Jason chuckles while answering “yes she is, ACTUALLY this whole farm is mine! Are you enjoying yourself Marie?”  from the look in her eye, I can tell she is over the moon with this new information, but she won’t show it till she’s finished her assessment of the situation. “Oh yes I love it! Its Beautiful! All of the animals and the air even smells better here!” she answers politely.  Jason seems pleased that all of us are loving his land.  With a great big smile Jason says “I’m so glad you all like it! You guys are welcome here anytime!”  after flashing me a smile that held the promise of equally naughty and nice things he clears his throat focusing back on Marie.  He gets down to one knee so that his Godly tall frame is small enough for him to speak eye to eye with my sweet princess. Goddess this man is literally perfect, there’s got to be a catch, he’s just so perfect.  This absolute poster child for Positive Masculinity is on his knee speaking to Marie “Soo Marie, I like your mom” he looks up and makes eye contact as he says “a lot” before turning his full attention back to Marie. “I would like to take her out on a date.  Would you be ok with that?”  I fight to withhold my laughter as Marie looks around Jason to her Brother who has a huge smile on while holding both thumbs up and furiously nodding his approval! I hear a strangled laugh and see Alice fighting as hard as I am to not dissolve into laughter.  After her brother had given his approval she looks to me when she sees my giant smile,  her choice is seemingly made. She turns and addresses him “Ok, Mr. Jason. I like your style! BUT I’ll be watching you! IF you hurt my mommy. Just one time and you’ll be sorry!” Her voice was calm and sickly sweet.  She could really be pretty scary for such a tiny and adorable little girl.  “OH, I Like her!” chirps Alice while clapping her hands under her chin.  Yes A free spirit like Alice would love my little Fierce Princess. With all the curls and spirit of Merida from Brave, one of her favorite princesses.  While Jason and Marie sealed the `deal’ by shaking Jason`s hand.  Jason was pretending she was crushing his hand and her and Marie were giggling happily.  GOOD GODDESS…DID THAT JUST HAPPEN? BOTH OF MY KIDS LIKE HIM. Maybe they just liked the big doofy smile he puts on my face. But watching them laugh and play around it looks like they’ve known each other for years… anyone passing might assume that he was their dad. If only Their dad had such a natural relationship with them. It’s sad really but I absolutely refuse to let him ruin even a second more of today.  I focus back on Jason and the kids talk and play. Even though it seems to be working out I’m still worried I rushed this, I can only hope that the tour he has planned can squash any doubt that I have.  Cause no matter how badly I want to be wit Jason, and if he didn’t get along with my kids then we simply wouldn’t work. It wouldn’t be the first time some one tried to use my kids to get with me. So, I guess really, only time and my babies will tell. With how skeptical the kids usually are when it comes to anyone, the possibility of this going this well never even crossed my mind. Watching them was equal parts heart warming and thigh clenching. I was taken aback by how good he was with my babies. I was so lost in thought(and admiration) that I didn’t even hear Alice creeping up on me. “ Hey” she chirps right next to me “Holy s**t Alice! You snuck up on me!” to which she laughs and shakes her  head “Girlllll I made plenty of noise, you were just distracted!” she  snickers while looking towards Jason n the kids and continues “they look like they like each other!”  “they do don’t they” I say still kinda shocked.  “soooo before I get distracted I spoke to both teachers about you and the kids finishing the field trip with Boss man. That Ms. Jillian is hilarious!”  she finished with a laugh.  She was so easy to talk to and her laugh was contagious, we became fast friends.  She made sure she saved her number in my phone under `My bestie Alice’. Apparently Jason is her best friend and she’s usually with mostly guys, so she was overjoyed at the prospect of a girl’s night. Honestly  Same! So, after we picked a day and time Alice said shed handle the details. She looked so excited that  I just couldn’t argue.  So, we chatted  and ate at one table while Jason and the kids ate at another.  After gossiping and sharing some stories of good times past Alice suddenly sputters out  “OH I almost forgot to tell you Both teachers asked me to remind you that you had to be back by the time the buses board. That you three had to go back to the school on the same buses you came in on.”  “Oh! Yes of course! Thanks Alice! SOOO are you coming with us on this little family tour?”  I ask her while nudging her with my elbow.  “Ummm I don’t think J would like me tagging along!” she says while nervously looking towards Jason.  Pshh I don’t know why she’s looking at him he can’t hear us he’s way too far away!  “OH NONSENSE! I don’t think he’d mind! Not to mention John loves you and I think Marie will too!!” “I Would like to get to know that little spitfire of yours.” She still sounded a bit hesitant, so I had to throw all my cards on the table so to speak.  So, after peeking over to make sure the kids and Jason were still out of ear shot I almost whisper to her “Plus if you’re there it will be easier to sneak a taste of that snack and GIRLLLL I’m Starving”