Can't we give ourselves one more chance?

Theodore "Theo" Hawkins. 35. Father to Lucy, 10, and Fox, 3 months. Social Worker.

[theo--hawkins]

rosemarie-harmon​

Kids Day was definitely an event that was not suitable for Olivia, her baby still being far too young to really partake in anything. But still, Rose decided to come, if only to watch and catch some fresh air. She was sitting alone in one of the tables but her attention wasn’t on the event. Instead it was on the father who was making a bit of mess, trying to juggle everything. She couldn’t help the laugh that came from her when she watched the diaper paper spill over. Not at him, but more so at the fact that she’s been in his shoes. 

Picking up a stray item, Rose pushed her carrier over to him and handed him an empty bottle. “Here, it rolled over to where I was.” She offered, sitting down next to him. “Do you want some help? I can hold him while you sort out your bag. Liv, my daughter, is still sleeping. I’m Rose, by the way.”

-

Theo looked up as someone held out one of the empty bottles he usually kept in the bag and he took it gratefully. “Thanks. I swear these things can roll a mile when you are trying to pick them up, it’s like magic.” He said with a laugh. “That would be great actually. “I’m Theo and this is Fox, my 10 year old Lucy is over there, hopefully making new friends.” He said as he carefully handed Fox over to his new friend. He leaned down, starting to pick up all the things that had fallen out of the bag. “You would think I would have a better handle on this whole, being out with your child things since this is round 2 for me but no such luck. It’s like everything I learned went out the window. Whoever told me it was like riding a bike was very wrong.” He said with another laugh, starting to sort everything out.

[theo--hawkins]

ahlai-stevenson​

Though Ahlai was nervous to leave her boys behind, they’d been handling the divorce and the move from Australia much better than she had and they were perfectly happy in this new place.  She had been struggling with it, but was in a much better place than when they’d first arrived and she was getting used to being here and living a much more domestic life than she had in the past when her life revolved around surfing competitions. 

“Thank you,” she said with a smile, glad to be getting off her feet. “It’s not so terrible right now, thankfully, but I’m two surgeries in and staring down at least one more before I can get this brace off.  I’ve had to resign myself to the fact that my surfing career is over, but once I’m back on my feet I’ll have a chance to figure out what I want to do next.  It’s very nice to meet you Theo, I’m glad we found some time to do this.  Have you ever been here before? I haven’t gotten out much since we moved here and I don’t know what’s good, so I’ll happily take a recommendation.”

-

Theo winced at the surgeries. “Yikes, I bet you’ll be glad to get that last one done with.” He said and looked over to her for a moment. Surfing sounded cool, something he had always wanted to try but never got the chance to. “I’m sure whatever you do after surfing is going to be great.” He said as he looked over the menu for a moment. “I’m glad we did too. Between work and my kids, it’s hard to get out there and actually do something for myself.” He said and shook his head. “No, I haven’t been here before. I’m fairly new to town myself and been so busy with work and Lucy and Fox that I haven’t gotten out to much but from what I hear, steak or fish of some kind is supposed to be good, or they have lots of vegetarian options of you don’t eat meat.”

The nerves were freely flowing through his body and it was everything Theo could do to stop his own hands from shaking. It had just been a long time since he had been out with a beautiful woman and he didn’t want to mess things up before they even got started. “Did you want any wine or something for the night? I uh..don’t know if you can have any if you have any meds or something for the knee but I thought I would offer and now I’m rambling, I’m sorry....” He said, cheeks turning red slightly.

[theo--hawkins]

Theo had been wanting to get out there and meet other parents and maybe some new friends for Lucy and Fox, even if Fox had no idea what friends were at his age. The city was hosting a kids day in the park thing and Theo had decided to go so that maybe Lucy could make some new friends since he had made her move out of Atlanta and away from all her friends. He arrived and told Lucy to go ahead and get to some of the fun activities. He had to make sure Fox got his bottle before he could join her in hopes the 3 month old would sleep in the baby carrier he was wearing. He found a picnic table to sit at and fished around the diaper bag for the bottle.

Just grabbing the bottle, the baby started to cry and Theo rushed trying to get the bottle ready for him faster. He managed to make it in record time and he got Fox out of the carrier and cradled him in his arms as he fed him the bottle, keeping an eye on Lucy the whole time who looked like she was having fun. He turned and managed to knock over the diaper bag which fell all over someone else. “Shi-oot. I’m so sorry.” He said as he tried to figure out how to pick it up.

@rosemarie-harmon​

[theo--hawkins]

ahlai-stevenson​

Ahlai figured she would get back into the dating game eventually, she wasn’t far off from her divorce, her ex-husband had only signed the papers a few weeks earlier, and she wasn’t feeling particularly desirable in her giant knee brace.  That being said, when a friend from her physical therapy office insisted she would love being set up with a friend of theirs and she agreed to the blind date, if only to get a night out of the house for the first time since she and her boys had moved there.  Her neighbor, Layla, had set her up with a babysitter and she did the best she could to get herself looking good for her first date since she was about 19.

Their friend had set things up at a restaurant in town that she’d never been to, but it looked nice and she’d done her best to dress appropriately, despite the brace.  She was incredibly nervous and she was considering just turning around and going back home, but she forced herself to keep going, tonight could be a lot of fun and there was nothing wrong with her getting a night out.  The hostess brought her to the table where her date was waiting and she smiled at him, “Hi, I’m Ahlai, I hope I didn’t make you wait too long.  I’m moving  a little slow these days.” 

@theo–hawkins​​

Theo hadn’t been on a date in at least a year, since the date that Fox was conceived on, and he was nervous. He was also nervous to leave his kids. He was on paternity leave at the moment and this would be the first time he would be leaving Fox at home while he went out and if he was being honest, he was feeling a little guilty of being out. He had almost cancelled but his friend convinced him to go and have a good time, that he needed the time out. He got to the restaurant, adjusting his jacket a bit as he cleared his throat. He had gotten there early and told the hostess that he was expecting one more. He glanced over the menu while he waited.

Looking up, Theo smiled as he saw someone approach and he stood from his seat and moved to pull her chair out for her. “Hi, no, you are just fine. I got here early, a bit anxious.” He said and helped push her chair in before sitting back in his chair. “I see that. It looks a bit painful. I’ve broken my leg before myself. Leg injuries are not fun.” He said with a small laugh. “I’m Theo, by the way. Theodore if we want to be formal.”