Jacob

"The back-up epipen is in his bag and the other you will carry on the plane in his fanny pack. Make sure you have it with you EVERYWHERE you go." Rachel instructs.

"I know." I assure her.

"Make sure if you go outside keep note of the bees in the area."

"Yes i–,"

"I'll give you the bug spray and maybe a puck that can hang on the fanny pack." She interrupts.

"Ray–,"

"Make sure Matty wears the pack and—"

"RACHEL." I grab her arms and turn her to me. "I got it. I'm not dumb. I love him. I have always since i met him. There was always a feeling of connection. I will not let anything happen to him and we will have a wonderful week and i'll bring him back in a week."

Rachel looks away from me, "I just want to make sure we don't have any miscommunication."

I release my grip, "And i know this is the first time that Matty will be separated from you," Rachel quickly looks at me. Smiling at her, "he's my son too and I will make sure he and you are taken care of from now on. Even if Hayes becomes his step dad."

Rachel catches her breath, " Oh let's not go too far ahead."

Her comment took me back, "Rachel you should consider finding someone too. Hayes really does seem like a great guy, regardless of what i have said." I force a smile. Maybe if Rachel is in a relationship it would make this all easier for us.

"Hey!" We hear Zoe at the door, " Dinners ready."  Zoes tone sounded serious.

Jacob looks at Zoe with a smile. I don't want her to worry about Rachel and I" Coming sweets. Just packing Matty's bag." I smile at Rachel as I grab Matty's bag and make my way out of the room.
   
"What was that about?"I hear Zoe from behind me.

"Nothing Zoe. Just finishing off anything needed to know about Matty."

"Wasn't that something that could be talked to before we went to the door?" Zoe snaps.

I stop at the bottom of the stairs and look at her, "If this is going to be difficult for you, tell me now." I stare at Zoe. A protective feeling comes over me. I never really felt this except the time that Billy referred to Rachel as a wildflower.

"No," Zoe answers, "But I want things transparent and i want to be part of all conversations with Rachel. I don't trust her."

I roll my eyes, keeping my patience, "Transparency has always been there and as for conversations , you will be part of them but I can't promise you will always be there." I signed, realizing how Zoe must be feeling in all this. I wrap my arms around her waist, " I promise, we will all make this work. Matty, Rachel, the clothing line and TV show, us."

Zoe kisses me gently, "Good, because I'm not one to quit when I want something, I go hard for it."

"Mmm," I kiss her lips and simultaneously, " and hard is what you're going to get when we get home."
Zoe laughs.

As much as Mama wanted a nice dinner, it was quiet. Even Katie didn't have much to say. The kids filled the empty void as they talked about the next time I and Zoe can come back and what Matty would see in the city.

I take the dishes to the kitchen and see Mama folding an envelope from a drawer, "Mama, can I talk to you?" I ask, sitting on the chair at the table.

Mama comes to me with a big smile, "What's up?"

I rub my hands nervously, " I want you to come with us. Just for a while. I want my doctor to assess you. Get another opinion."

Mama looks at me with wide eyes. It's like she's looking for a reason not to come.

"Mama. Please. Why won't you let me help you?"

Mama smiles at me and caresses my cheek, "Are you happy?"

I look at her confuse, "yeah I am mama, but we're talking about y—,"

"Every parent's dream is to make sure their children are happy." Mama grabs my hand, palm up, and places something in my hand." It's your fathers neck necklace."

I look at the necklace that I had admired since I was a small child. It was my grandfathers. He made it. It's a coin dated 1975. The year he bought this property. He adored this property and gave it to my dad.

"I kept it close until the day you would find out that Matty is your son." Mama said, " I wanted you to wear it and you tell Matty the stories of his grandfather and great grandfather so that he too will never forget where he came from."

"I never forgot where I came from mama," wiping tears from my eyes, " I just knew there was more for me to do."

Mama smiles, " I know. Sometimes in life, we do things to make things happen and for the people we love."

I look at mama, " Mama knows best."

Mama chuckles with laughter, "oh I don't know about that. I'm sure I'm going to make mistakes and take risks. The things we do for love."

I nod, "like Rachel." I look at mama.

Mama smiles, " Rachel protected our family from what she feared would be a disgrace from the pregnancy. I didn't care and when she told me Matty was yours, I begged her to tell you. But she knew that you would feel the obligation to come back and do what I raised you to be."

"Be A good man." I said

"Be a loving man." Mama said holding my hands, "she was worried that you would give up everything you had built and come back to the one place you vowed to never return to and be a miserable Man and father."

I straight myself up, patting my leg, " well I'm here and I didn't run. In fact I'm excited to be a father and I will be the best dad ever." 

Mama glees with joy, " I know you will. Now to answer your question, give me the summer with Rachel. I think she's going to need someone here for her now." I look at mama confused, " Matty's never been away from Rachel. I'm sure she's going to feel... different without him."

"Okay." I reluctantly agreed, " but in the fall, you're coming for a week and we get your health sorted out."

Mama smiles at me, " okay." And squeezed my face pulling to her to kiss.

"Okay." I hear Rachel say in a big sigh, " I guess you have everything you need for Matty." I stand up as Rachel stretches her arms in her pockets, moving around. I can see she's anxious. I pull her in for a hug. I'm guessing her hands are still in her pockets since I don't feel her reciprocated my gesture. "Thank you Rachel for Matty." I whisper in her ear. I feel her body lose strength, "you will always be my Ray of light and I promise you that anything you need for you or Matty, I'm here." I hear a silent whimper come from inside her chest. I wanted to say more but I couldn't. It has to be locked up. I choose this path in my life and it's the way to go but for just this moment in my head I'll say it... I will always love you.

"Thank you Mama Jane for everything." I break from hugging Rachel as Zoe says goodbye to my mama.

Zoe and I hug and kiss everyone. Wiping tears as we grab our bags. I look for Matty and find him in Rachel's arms. Both squeezing the other as tightly as their can. My heart is torn. How are we going to keep this long distance? I thought, but I'm determined to make this work for all of us. 

"Call when you get home!" Mama calls out.

I put the suitcases in the stallion as Zoe helps Matty get in, "I will. I promise." I say jumping into my truck.

I look once more at my family at the door. Mama, Katie and her family and Rachel. "We'll come to visit soon. I promise!" I shout out feeling a new connection to my childhood home as I drive off.

... Of course. I have to leave the stallion with Billy.

"Please Billy, whatever you do, don't let Hayes burrow the stallion. First, Rachel won't go in it, and second, I don't really want to think about what the two of them would do inside her. "

Billy looks at me puzzled, " you don't know, do you?" 

I look at him, " know what?"

Billy looks at me for a moment, "Hayes and Rachel are no longer seeing each other."

My breath hitched, Rachel didn't say anything to me!!!

"Why?"

Billy shrugs his shoulders, "not sure. Hayes says Rachel needed to focus on Matty and this new arrangement with you."

"Me?!?" I jump with the reaction the Rachel's reasoning. "Why the fuck would she give up on building her life with someone for me?" 

Billy looks at me, "not sure my friend but that's what she said." Billy said, packing his car with our bags.

I look at Billy confused. What is Rachel doing?

"Are we all packed?" I hear Zoe coming from taking Matty to the washroom.

"Yeah," Billy responds, closing the trunk, "all aboard everyone." Billy says.