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Walking up to the sign in table, Ana looks around her former school. She waves at one of her old colleagues, looking back at the receptionist. “Hi, I was told parent teacher night was tonight? I’m looking for my fiancé. Our son Christopher goes to school here.”
“Last name?”
“Diaz?” Ana beams as she looks around. She spots Eddie. “I see him. I’ll just take my name tag and go join him.”
“Uhm, Miss? I’m sorry. There’s not an extra tag for Christopher Diaz. He had three tags and they’re all taken.”
“Well, that’s obviously a mistake. His biological mother passed away.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.” The receptionist looks around, unsure what to do.
“I see my fiancé. Can I just go grab him and he can straighten this out?”
“Ma’am, you can’t go into the school without approval from either a faculty member or family member. I’m sorry.” She chews on her lip, looking around. She spots the man that Mr. Diaz had said was Christopher’s second parent and waves him over, hoping that Mr. Buckley can straighten this out. “Just one moment,” she says as Mr. Buckley starts to make his way over.
Ana huffs, and gestures to an old colleague. “Mary, can you please explain to this... woman that I am allowed to come in?”
Mary wrinkles her nose. “Ana, you don’t work here anymore.”
“I know that. Edmundo Diaz is my fiance.”
Just then Buck appears. “Hey Kandy. What’s up?”
“This lady says she’s Christopher’s parent.” The receptionist, Kandy, bites her lower lip, smiling up at Buck. Everyone knows he and Eddie are utterly devoted to each other, but Mr. Buckley and Mr. Diaz are two of the best-looking fathers at the school, so she always gives him a little flirt.
Buck turns his head, one eyebrow raising. “Ana, I.... Let me get Eddie.”
“Yes, please, Evan. Let Edmundo know his fiancé is here to support Christopher and him. Then you can go home and stop pretending to be Christopher’s anything.”
Buck looks back at where Christopher is showing Carla and Eddie the science project that Chris and he had worked tirelessly on—an actual moving solar system. Chris did most of the work, aside from a few of the electrical things that he hadn’t had the muscle control to complete. He pulls out his phone, not comfortable leaving Ana with Kandy. The young receptionist had just started this year and was still too timid to have to deal with an angry not-quite parental figure. He texts Eddie, explaining that Ana is there, claiming to not only be his fiancé, but also Chris’s parental figure.
Watching as Eddie’s shoulders slump, Buck wishes he was in a position to tell Ana that no, even if she marries Eddie, she won’t be Chris’ mom. Chris neither wants, nor needs, a mother. He likes Ana, but Chris had told him that Ana was overreaching more and more as Eddie’s girlfriend.
Eddie approaches, smiling at Kandy. He focuses on Ana then. “What are you doing here? It’s Parent Teacher night and you are neither a teacher here, nor a parent.”
“Edmundo, we’re engaged. I’m going to be Christopher’s mother soon enough. Now, send Evan home and you and I can continue the night. And we’ll also send Carla home.”
“Daddy! Why would Buck and Carla go home?” Christopher asks as he approaches them.
“Chris, mijo, let me handle this. Buck and Carla were invited, Ana. You were not.” Eddie looks at Buck and raises an eyebrow. “Can you take Carla and Buck back to the science exhibit, buddy?”
Chris nods, glaring at Ana. “Not my mom,” he mutters, holding his hand out to Buck. “Come on. I wanna show Carla how fast the planets spin.”
“Kay, little man,” Buck says, patting Eddie’s shoulder as they walk away.
Ana huffs out a heavy breath. “Edmundo. This is inappropriate. I should’ve been here from the beginning.”
“No, Ana.” Eddie takes her elbow and walks her away from the sign in table and towards the outer doors. “I didn’t invite you because I didn’t want you here. Chris doesn’t want you here. Also, what’s this about us being engaged? We’re not engaged. We haven’t even had sex.”
“We’re waiting to be married.”
“No. We’re not. You’re nice, and this relationship is easy, but we’re not now, nor ever going to be engaged. I don’t love you. I’m sorry to do this here, but you’re forcing my hand by just showing up. You and I are over. I don’t love you, I will never marry you, and you are nothing more than a friend to my son. You will never be his mother or mother figure. You don’t belong at this school anymore. Go home, Ana.”
“Who are you going to replace me with?”
“Right now? No one. I don’t need a girlfriend or a person who I’m just dating and not even remotely sexually attracted to. I have Christopher, I have Buck, I have Carla, Abuela, Tia Pepa, my crew at the firehouse. I have a full and fulfilling life right now. You were... an extra. An extra that I realized recently that I no longer want or need around me and mine.” Eddie licks his lips, taking a step back when Ana slaps him. “That’s your one shot. Hit me again, I call the cops.” He gestures around himself at all the security cameras. “I have proof that I didn’t touch you and I made no motions that would leave you hitting me to be deduced as self-protection. I’m sorry that you feel hurt or angry or sad about this. I’m sorry I didn’t do this in a better way. But it’s over and you need to go.” Eddie turns and walks back into the school. He heads for Kandy, trying to wipe off the scowl he knows is on his face. “Hey Kandy, just an FYI, that woman is in no way allowed to be around Christopher. If she ever tries to come pick him up from school? Call the police.”
“Of course, Mr. Diaz. I’m sorry for this.”
“It’s not your fault. I don’t know how she even knew about tonight.” He shrugs, offering her a smile. “Thanks for not just letting her in.”
“That’s my job.”
“You do it well.” Eddie pats her shoulder, then heads over to the science exhibits. He smiles at the sight of Buck kneeling next to Chris, hand on Chris’ back, supporting him—as usual. He moves towards them, wrapping an arm around Carla’s shoulders. He opens his mouth to say something, but just ends up shaking his head. He’d lied to Ana when he said he wasn’t replacing her. Not that he considered it replacing her when Buck had always been there, well before he’d ever met Ana.
Buck looks up at him and grins. “Let’s show Dad how fast it goes.”
Carla laughs. “Which one of you wanted to make it go fast again?”
Christopher giggles and Eddie beams. “That means both of them, but Buck probably suggested it first.”
“My crazy boys.”
Eddie nods. “Okay, show me how fast it goes.” He bends, kissing Chris’ forehead. Then he looks at Buck, eyes softening. He mouths, ‘Thank you,’ before focusing his attention on Chris again. He’s not sure Buck has the same feelings, but he knows that they’re in this together with Chris regardless. He never has to worry about Buck leaving them, or himself wanting Buck to leave. They’re in this together, forever. Eddie and his family.