Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.

- Brian Tracy

The current situation that I was in, had to be the most difficult situation of my life. The dilemma was a peculiar one. Either way I went, I would be in for a roller coaster life.

A life with money problems wasn't a life that would be peaceful.

I would probably go old before I paid off my loan and rents. That wasn't a life I had planned for myself. A good girl in her childhood, a good student in her school couldn't have this life after she grew up. No, she couldn't. Things must change.

A life being mommy to a little girl wouldn't be a easy one either.

Firstly, I had no idea how to be a mother. Maternal instincts were natural. Would it be same with me? This choice did have many advantages though. I meant, there would be a handsome stable man waiting on the other end with that little girl. What sane woman wouldn't fall for his looks? He had the look of a Greek god, obviously.

As my love life consist of zero activity, that choice would top my zero activity to a whole new level. At college, I used to spend all my extra time on studying, handling extra cooking classes or in the library to even go out clubbing. And as the college life ended, money problems made me busy. It was safe to say I had no interest on doing anything about my love life. My sister, Chloe used to point out that to me a lot. She still does that.

It wasn't like I was innocent at the dating side of my life. No one that important came in life that would catch my interest until now.

Tyler Sanders.

The name itself brought shivers all over my body. How could meeting a guy for only few hours did that? I thought he was a stranger. Well he was still a stranger but tell that to my body who wanted to just feel that hard but warm body. Damn it. This definitely showed, how I had lack of action in my love life.

It was suffice to say that I had two boyfriends, one in school which was back home in my hometown and another who was in my college. Thinking of the one in college brought the same heavy pang in my chest. I didn't wanted to think about him. I wanted forget there was ever a guy like him in my life.

My both relationships didn't last long so here I was, sitting alone at home, dwelling on a guy who could give me a life that would have-

No money problems.

A readymade family.

A chance to have a proper love life.

Oh well, looked like I already decided what I would do.

Sighing I left my thoughts at that. Resuming my earlier work which was baking cookies, I called my sister Chloe. Since the cookies were in the oven, I had free time on my hand. So why not call chloe? Yeah, I had no friends. Sue me!

She picked up on the second ring, "Hey Claire. What's up?" I could hear the tired tone in her voice. Looked like baby Carrie was having a field day with her mommy. Mommy? Why did that single word remind me of Tyler and Little Ariel? Damn it, I still didn't know her real name. "Claire? You there?"

I jolted out of my thoughts quickly before Chloe, the ever cunning one got suspicious. "Yeah, I'm here. Anyway I called to ask how's my niece and nephew are doing. How are they?"

Chloe huffed on the line. "Oh so you forgot about your own sister but you remember them. Oh Claire, why wouldn't you ask about my wellbeing?"

Did I mention Chloe, the ever dramatic one too? I rolled my eyes at her even though she couldn't see me. "Oh quit it. What is it? Carrie keeping you tired all night or is it Brandon? Huh?"

Brandon was her husband. They always were so in love that it made me jealous as well as sick sometimes. Jealous because I never got to feel that love and sick because they always go mushy mushy at each other. PDA was at the top of their to-do list. They never get shy at their PDA. I always told her to cool it down a notch but she would always reply, I can't help myself when he's around. Love can do many things to you, Claire. You'll only know when you're in love. And I used to always scoff at her reply.

"Oh please, Brandon? We don't even get to do anything now a days. Carrie always cries at night. At night, Claire! That's the only time I get to spent with Brandon alone." Chloe moaned sorrowfully from the other end of the line. I snickered at that. It seemed Chloe wasn't getting any either. "Claire. Don't you dare laugh at me. I swear Carrie does it intentionally. I'm telling you she is a little attention seeker. She won't let me do her daddy."

I could already picture the pout on her face. Oh my. I didn't want to hear what my sister and brother-in-law do on their spare time. "Oh come on Chloe, you already went through this at Luke's time. How is this any different than that? And how is Luke? Is he being a good boy?"

Chloe muttered, "Luke wasn't this noisy. And yeah, he's really happy about having a sister."

"And are you happy? I mean, I know Carrie was an unexpected baby so I was thinkin--"

"Oh Claire. So what? She is still my kid." Chloe said cutting me off. "Yeah, I know I moan about it because some days it gets too tiring with all the school work but I have Brandon with me. We both have a working life but we still manage to work our life together. I love all of them, Claire. I wouldn't have it any other way. Children can change your life. They just makes us adults responsible. I'm happy, Claire. I am."

"That's good to know." I replied thoughtfully.

Chloe was a cheerleader in school. She partied hard in her college days. She was the fun, more laid back kind of girl back then. Everyone said she would never settle down but then she met Brandon. It was a new beginning for her. Marriage and children changed her completely. It was a good change.

As she said, she learned responsibilities through it. Now, she had a loving family. Even though I was a serious student and always the good girl, I was still the one who didn't have her life sorted out. I had no proper job, I had no partner, no loving family of my own.

I sighed and heard Chloe utter something on the line."What?"

Chloe repeated since I didn't hear it earlier, "I said, are you happy, Claire? Are you really?"

Oh Chloe. I badly wanted to tell her about all of my problems. I badly wanted to cry my heart out to my elder sister. I badly wanted her to solve all of my problems like she would have done when we were little. But no, I couldn't. I couldn't because this was my mess and I couldn't drag her into it, not when she was busy and tired while taking care of her own loving family.

Besides I met Tyler Sanders. He was the solution to all of my problems. He could solve it because I couldn't handle my life at the moment. Yeah, I gave up easily but I just need a Brandon who would stay by his Chloe's side through thick and thin. I want Tyler to be my Brandon. I know he could be if I just marry him and be the mother of his little daughter. I could be happy if I just accept his deal. I knew I just met him and he was still a stranger but at this point of my life, Tyler Sanders was the only hope for me.

I smiled even though she couldn't see me. "Chloe, I think I'm happy."

"You think you're happy?" She asked curiously. "Something happened. I can tell. You're not telling me something, Claire."

I could at least sooth her worries. I knew she would worry about that something. "Yeah, It's not something though it's someone. I met someone but before you pounce on me with all your questions. Let me clear something for you." I replied and Chloe squealed from the other end. "I won't answer your questions now. I just want to let you know I met someone. And I will tell you all about him when the time is right. Chloe, you get me right?"

She was silent for a while and I got nervous but then, "Claire, you were always the more sensible sister among us. I trust you. I trust you when you say you'll tell me when the time is right so I'm not asking you anything but Claire, if he makes you happy then I'm happy."

"Did I ever tell you, you're my favourite sister?" I asked her when she finished talking.

Chloe scoffed, "Please, I'm your only sister." I laughed at that. We talked for a bit, catching on some other things then we hung up after saying goodbye. And I was back with my thoughts.

I lied. I lied to Chloe. I wasn't happy yet but I know I would be soon. I just needed to take a few steps forward to reach that card where Tyler Sanders's phone number was written, along with that black box sitting by.

Just few more steps and all could be well.

******

Crunch, crunch. Slurp, slurp.

At this rate, I would surely ran out of my cookies and milk. I was planning on giving some of the cookies to the next door kids but it seemed my stomach needed it more.

The problem was; when I get nervous or anxious about something, I bake and eat. And that clearly showed since I was going through that phase right now.

I was a coward. Simple as that.

I picked up another cookie and started munching on it while moving my head toward right to look over at the living room table. Yeah, Coward.

The black box was mocking me with a better life. I couldn't still muster up the courage to walk up to that table where the card was then how would I say what I need to say when he picked up the call?

Come on, Claire! Just do it.

Yeah right. Just do it. Easy to say but hard to do.

Sure, just don't come crying when the bank comes after you.

"Oh my god, Fine!" I said out loud, throwing up my hands. "Wow, now I'm going crazy. Talking to myself? Wow, Claire." I muttered, shaking my head. "No more crazy talks. Just call him!"

I picked up my phone and walked right to the living room, all the while breathing in and out. I felt like I was about to make a deal with the devil. God knows what I would be getting myself into. Before, I ruled out the advantages only but what about those disadvantages?

Well, too late to think about it since my hands already dialled those number on my phone keypad.

The phone kept ringing and I kept on getting my nerves on a turmoil. After the fifth ring, there came his manly voice. "Hello?"

I tightened my grip on my phone and replied, "Hello, Tyler? This is Claire." I walked around the sofa, sat on it and took a deep breath. I didn't even let him speak anything before I bolted out to him. "And I'm calling because I made a decision. I made a decision regarding your offer."

At first, there was complete silence from the other line and he was testing my patience. But then, the voice of Tyler Sanders finally came from the other line of the call.

"I'm glad you finally came to a decision, Claire."