The seven of us are our own family, chosen and forged through years of friendships and challenges. It doesn’t matter who gives the punishment, the two men beside me are my team.
Right on cue, all three boys step onto the concrete porch looking at their feet.
“Take a seat, boys.” With scrunched-up faces, they take a seat on the couch next to me in three different stages of anger and guilt. As if a flip is switched the moment they sit down, all three start up the argument they began on the lawn. Jett’s quick to throw the blame on Tristan, who says it was Harrison’s idea to play keep away.
It gives me a headache thinking about what they’ll be like in ten years.
All it takes to get them to stop arguing is a whimper from Marie. The one thing they can all agree on is that Marie got hurt because of their actions.
After five minutes of disgruntled silence, the boys say their apologies, clean up their discarded plates, and get back to playing. Marie stays in her father’s arms fighting sleep with dark circles under her eyes.
“So who is she?” Cole’s like a dog with a bone and he isn’t going to let go easily. It’s what makes him a good lawyer, but a pain in the ass to keep a secret from.
Wells snorts knowing that I’m not getting out of it.
“Her name’s Hazel.” Saying her name has her face popping into my head.
Cole’s face scrunches. “Why is that familiar?”
“She’s the girl from the birthday party,” Wells says matter-of-factly. “Tony’s sister-in-law, right?”
“The one who called us that club. What’d she call it?” His fingers tap against the arm of the chair. “The single dad’s club. She’s right,” he chuckles, “it has a ring to it.”
The smile on my face is involuntary.
“Well, we’re happy for you. It’s about time one of us gets back into the dating pool. Five years is a long time.” The faraway look in Wells’ eyes is unmistakable. Five years might be a long time, but to him? At times it seems like yesterday.
“She’s special, I feel it.”
“She have any friends?” Cole jokes. “Wells looks like he could use a night out.” Cole ignores the middle finger flipped in his direction with a snort.
“I think you should be more focused on finding a nanny than worrying about me,” Wells shoots back.
The three of us laugh, the conversation about my relationship with Hazel pushed to the back burner as we fall back into familiar territory.
“How’s work going? Things picking up?” A sweaty Harrison crawls into my lap, water bottle sloshing as he brings it to his lips.
Wells’ landscaping business is starting to hit the busy point of the season and he’s constantly on the job. After the frigid winter temperatures, people are bursting at the seams to make their lawns beautiful again.
“It’s starting to get that way. Remind me that I’ll need to do something for myself before the summer ends. Drag me out if you have to.”
During the spring and summer months, we’re lucky to see him at all. Of course, we still have our get-togethers and hang out with the kids, but he’s fully committed to his business during the rush times. I swear he doesn’t let loose often enough despite our prodding.
“We’ll hold you to that.” Marie sighs in Cole’s lap, her little mouth clucking as sleep starts to drag her under. “I’ve gotta go get this one ready for bed.” With a huff, Cole pushes out of the chair and heads for the door.
“Yeah, we should get going too.” Harrison issues a drawn-out complaint, but he has school tomorrow and if he doesn’t get enough sleep, he’ll be cranky in the morning.
“Us too,” Wells says, ruffling his son's hair as he whines, his little shoulders slumping.
With a final goodbye and a round of hugs for the boys, we’re finally home for the night. Harrison doesn’t complain when it’s bath time and is fast asleep in no time.
Me, on the other hand? I can’t stop thinking about Hazel. She’s been on my mind all day. What would it be like to spend a lazy Sunday morning cuddling on the couch and drinking coffee while Harrison watched cartoons? Even something as mundane as grocery shopping would be magical if she was there.
It’s an odd feeling to be thinking of what someone else is doing with their day. Is she having a good day or does she need a hug? I’ve only had Harrison and myself to keep my mind occupied and I find adding Hazel into the mix has been effortless.
We texted earlier in the day—she was going to brunch with some friends—and I haven’t heard from her the rest of the day.
I need to fix that.
