The First Time I Met Will .... Junior

This is not a particularly interesting story but some day in the future someone will want to know about it, and the fact that this day did in fact impact my life and touch my heart.

The first time I met Will Jr. was shortly after Will and I got married, Will's ex-wife (Will Jr's Mom) had been calling frantic ever since she received the news that Will had a stroke. She kept asking if he was okay, and if he had someone to take care of him, despite the fact that I heard him tell her probably 6 times (no exaggeration) that he was remarried and that I, his new wife was there to take care of him, she somehow missed the fact and decided to drive down to Fort Hood, even as pregnant as she was.

We got a text asking if we could meet them at Chucky Cheese's because that's where Will Jr. wanted to go. I didn't know the reason and told Will that I didn't mind going there I love it, but can't eat there because of some health issues I have. We ended up settling on going to a McDonalds just outside the Clear Creek Gate that has a play place.

Will and I had to swing by the mall before we met them so we could pick up Will's wedding ring and so we left in plenty of time. We got there early and ordered our food. As I was getting straws for our drinks etc. I heard "DADDY!!!!" from the South entrance, and knew it was Will Jr. Will Jr. JUMPED into Will's arms and Will embraced him as if he would never ever let go! By this time I was next to Will and Luz was standing across from me. As our gazes all turned to one another Luz introduced herself stating "Will obviously isn't going to introduce us, so I'm Lucy." I shook her hand and told her my name. We asked if they wanted food but they had already eaten "because we were late". We grabbed our food and went to the play place.

As Will and I ate, Will Jr.enjoyed the play place. He would frequently run down and tell his Dad something or just come get a hug, ask for a drink, etc. When Will took Will Jr. up to go get a juice at the counter, Luz finally turned to me (Note: I had been  virtually invisible until then.) We spoke kindly and politely to one another. Being very newlywed still our wedding came up and Luz mentioned that she had no idea we were married already, she thought we wouldn't get married until August. August 13th was in fact the date we had set, however with Will's stroke, and need for care afterward we decided to get married Feb. 28th at the courthouse so that we could take care of each other under the Army regulations. Will and Will Jr. returned and Luz resumed ignoring me while telling Will what he needed to do as Will Jr.'s Father. I felt bad but also felt it wasn't my place to step in. After all he is their child, I'm just the step mom. Though I love my step children with all my heart and with no different feelings than those I have for the children I have given birth to, it is still different because they already have mothers, and those mothers have their own relationships with Will.

At one point we heard a child cry from the top of the play place. My heart raced as somehow I just knew it was Will Jr. I had been watching him play the whole time, but couldn't see him at time the crying began. Luz finished her sentence and paused for a moment. "That's William" she said. Will had already been looking at the play place from the time the cry began, in search of his son. Will and Luz went to the base of the play area and waited for their son. I stayed back at the table and watched, as I did not feel I had a right to go. After all to him I was just the stranger sitting with his Dad who had fixed his toy for him. With firm belief in her Mexican heritage and teachings, Luz met Will Jr. with the greeting "Stop crying". This baffled me as I had never before seen the machismo attitude taught in real life. It turned out he was okay and that another child  had poked him in the eye. Will scooped him up without a second thought. I enjoyed seeing those Daddy arms comfort as if that was all it would ever take to make everything all better for the rest of eternity.

Will Jr. went back to playing and was soon told that he needed to get his shoes back on and say goodbye. Will helped his son get his shoes on, and held him as they posed for a couple pictures for Luz and I. Will told Will Jr. "Be good and Listen to your Mom." Will Jr., still in his Dad's arms looked back at his Mom as if to say something along the lines of  "just wait till he isn't here", "do I have to", or perhaps even "yeah, right, you wish". Will put him down and they took the trash to the trash can together as Luz turned to me and said "It was nice to meet you." I agreed. She shook my hand again and to my surprise said "Good luck. You're going to need it." To this day I have no idea what that means.

It has now been about a year and a half, and we haven't seen Will Jr. again yet. We asked if he could come last summer but Luz had plans to take him to Mexico. This year I'm not sure Will even had the heart to try. The health issues and treatments Will faces have made him far less likely to fight for much of anything. He is always tired, and often in some amount of pain. I simply hope and pray that some day all of his children will understand that they have never stopped being loved, and that they have always had a place in our home.

I hope that any reader of this post understands that I in no way hold any negative feeling toward Luz! This is simply an account of that evenings happenings to the best of MY recollection. It should be interpreted as only that!