It’s not my phone because it stays on silent until I get home. Joan pulls hers out of her pockets and groans.
“Kids?” I ask, even though I know the answer. It’s like they have a sixth sense. Twice now they’ve called while we were kissing.
“Sorry.” She silences the phone and slides it back into her pocket. “I don’t understand why Isaac has started checking up on me.”
“I’d do the same to my mom if I were in his shoes.” I can’t begrudge the kid for wanting to make sure his mom is safe. But damn, his timing sucks.
“I guess. It’s just weird. He’s never cared before.”
“Have you always worked late into the night far from home?”
“Not really. My weekday job is about twenty minutes from the house.”
“Don’t hold it against him. He’s a teenager and wants to be the protector. I get it.”
She gives me a quick peck on the cheek. “I should probably go before he starts blowing up my phone.”
“Text me when you get home?”
“Yeah.” One more kiss and a hug before she gets in her car. I watch her drive away, and hope like hell our date this weekend goes uninterrupted.
14
Joan
The kids are gettingready to head out to the game for the day, and I’m staring at the contents on my bed wondering what the hell to pack. I can’t believe I’m willingly staying at Eric’s tonight. Last time it was a fluke because I was too inebriated to drive home. This time…is different. We’re going to spend time together and go on a date. It’s been way too long since I’ve done any of this. Over my head doesn’t begin to cover what I’m feeling.
“Mom,” Abby yells from the living room. “Are you almost ready?”
Crap. Time to go already? Luckily there’s no need to sneak a bag out of the house. They suggested I take one after finding out I didn’t have anything to change into after the last game.
No time to decide now. I scoop up the clothes on my bed and shove them in the duffel bag. It’s fuller than usual, but hopefully they don’t notice. The last thing I need, or want, to do is explain myself to my kids. If things work out, I’ll fill them in. Until then…this is a bit of fun for me.
My door slams open, Abby standing in the middle. “Are you coming?”
“Yep. Sorry I had to get my bag ready.”
She eyes the bag as I lift it on my shoulder and smirks. Perhaps she pays more attention to me than I thought she did. She’s usually holed away in her room on the phone with her friends.
“Grandpa and Isaac already left.” She rolls her eyes, “he wants to get there earlier than he needs to be to practice more.”
Sounds about right. No matter what Isaac always does what he can to be the best on the field. It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t played as long as some of the other kids. He’s determined.
“Why are you wanting to leave so early? The first game doesn’t start for at least forty-five minutes.”
“I’m hoping we can stop and get donuts.”
“That’s not exactly fair to your brother.”
“He does the same thing all the time when we’re at Dad’s. Besides, if I eat it on the way, he’ll never know.” She raises her eyebrows up and down, conspiratorially. She is too much.
“Okay, but if he finds out, it was your idea.”
“I’m okay with that.” She walks toward the door, motioning for me to follow her.
Damn, she’s not even giving me a moment to myself. I hope like hell I have everything. If not, I’ll be making an early morning run to the nearest store.
Within twenty minutes we have donuts and are on the way to the ball fields. We’re stopped at a red light and I take a drink of my water. “So, who’s the guy?”
