"I could stay with them."
The offer came so quickly that it took him a moment to process.
"Sandra, I can't ask you to?—"
"You're not asking. I'm offering."
"It's the whole weekend. That's a lot to take on."
"Terry." Her voice grew quiet but firm. "Are we a couple?"
The question made his chest tight. "Yes."
"Then there will be times I'll be with the kids. Why wait for some perfect moment when they need me now?"
Terry closed his eyes, leaning against the counter. Through the window, he watched Toby shoot the basketball while Emma curled up on the lounger and read. They were good kids. They deserved better than this. Letting out a long breath, he said, "What if it's too much? What if you realize?—"
"What if I realize what? That kids are work? That they're not perfect angels?"
"I don't want you to think that's why I'm with you. For help with my kids."
"Give me some credit." Sandra's voice carried a sharp edge. "If I thought you were just looking for a live-in babysitter, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"A whole weekend, though?—"
"Will be wonderful. We'll have fun, and everything will be fine."
The certainty in her voice made something tight in his chest loosen. This wasn't just about finding childcare anymore. Sandra was offering to be there for his kids. Really be there.
"You’re sure?"
"I'm sure."
Terry found himself almost smiling despite everything. "Okay. But we need to go over some ground rules first."
"Of course. Should I come over now?"
"Yeah. And Sandra?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. This means everything."
"I know exactly what it means," she said softly. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."
After hanging up, Terry stood in the kitchen for a moment, watching his kids through the window. Emma was twelve going on twenty, all attitude one moment and sweet caring the next. Toby was eleven, still young enough to need guidance but old enough to feel the sting when promises got broken.
Patricia loved them. Terry knew love wasn't always enough when it came second to everything else. Maybe it was time his kids experienced what it felt like to be someone's first priority—besides his own.
"Dad?" Emma's voice called from the living room. "Sandra's here!"
He jerked, surprised at the time passage while he’d stood at the sink. Through the window, Terry watched Sandra check her reflection in the rearview mirror, smoothing her hair beforegetting out of the car. She wore jeans and a soft sweater, moving with the kind of confidence that came from knowing exactly where she belonged.
"I see her, sweetheart."
And for the first time since Patricia's call, Terry felt like maybe this weekend would work out exactly the way it was supposed to.
26
