Page 78 of Fierce-Michael

Everyone laughed. “I’m sure Cade is secretly doing that to get out of it,” Michael said. “I’m glad those days are behind me.”

“Until you have another,” his father said.

She turned to see Jay sitting by Ty on the couch and looking through the book with him. She found that sweet. Her parents were that way with her. Her father never had a problem spending time and doing things with her.

“I’m not rushing on that,” he said.

His parents looked at her. “I’d like a child of my own, but not in the immediate future,” she said. “I try to plan things out a bit better and I’d like to think we are at a good pace without too much outside pressure.”

Michael laughed. “I love how you just nicely put my mother in her place.”

Her smile dropped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”

“It’s fine,” Susan said, rubbing her arm. “Why don’t you come in the kitchen with me while the guys hang out here? We can chat.”

“Sure,” she said and followed Susan to the kitchen.

“This might be the happiest I’ve seen my son in years,” Susan said. “I want to thank you. He’s had a hard road with Ty.”

“There is no reason to thank me. He’s a slow one though. Boy, I’ve had my eye on him for years and he never seemed to look my way. I understand why though.”

“He told me you more or less asked him out. Trust me,” Susan said. “He wouldn’t have said yes if he hadn’t been watching you too. But he’s cautious.”

It was nice to hear that maybe Michael had been slyly watching her as much as she’d been doing to him for years. Guess it was a good thing she made that first move though.

“I understand why he is. He was very upfront on our first date. Maybe most would have been scared away, but I already knew he had custody of Ty.”

“And he’s told me that you know about the situation with Electra. I don’t want to say there are no secrets between my son and us. Don’t think that. He doesn’t tell us everything, but he tells us the important things.”

“He needed your support when he found out he was going to be a father. My parents would have done the same thing as you two did.”

Her parents had been supportive in a different way when she had her own drama going on.

That just made her and Michael very lucky people.

“And Michael needs someone like that in his life. Michael also told us briefly what happened this morning. I don’t want you to let Electra get between you two. She’s childish and petty and doesn’t think of anyone but herself.”

“I won’t,” she said. “I’ve heard enough to know the kind of person she is like. I just want to be supportive of Michael. I’ll stay out of anything that goes on with them. I just don’t want that drama.”

“Oh,” Susan said and turned to get the ground beef out of the fridge.

She might have put her foot in her mouth and wanted to explain. “I meant that I’m not going to be a jealous girlfriend to add to that drama. I’ll do what Michael needs and wants me to do. I know his time is limited and I haven’t had an issue with it.”

“It won’t be as limited now that Ty knows about you,” Susan said.

“But that doesn’t mean Michael is going to start spending all his time with me and putting Ty off. I wouldn’t want that. If it gives us an extra day a week, great. If not, we are doing well with the way things are too.”

“That was exactly what I wanted to hear,” Susan said. “Michael wouldn’t have brought you here or introduced you to Ty if he felt it would disrupt his son’s life too much.”

“It’s not my goal to do that,” she said.

“But my son should still put the effort in with you too. You need to come first at times.”

She smiled. “I think Michael has a good balance and I appreciate it. I’d like to think that it had to do with being raised well.”

“What a sweet thing to say,” Susan said. “You are exactly what he needs in his life. I hope he can be what you need too.”

Kelly hoped so too.