Sitting up straighter, I announced, “I’m actually going on a date with someone else.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes. I made the decision earlier this morning. Tate encouraged it. He offered to babysit. Apparently, he’s already trying to pawn me off on someone else. See? There you go. Nothing to worry about.”
“I find that a bit strange.” My mother drew in her brows. “Who’s the date with?”
“It’s that guy Taylor surprised me with when we all went out to Bianco’s the other night.”
“Do you like him? You didn’t seem all that sure when you came home from that dinner.”
I shrugged. “I like him enough…”
“That’s promising.” She rolled her eyes. “Sounds to me like you’re forcing yourself to go out with him as a distraction from your feelings for Tate.”
I didn’t even try to deny it. “Well, I can’t pine over someone who’s determined not to be with me—and rightfully so. I agree with his stance, all things considered. It wouldn’t be fair to Taylor.”
My mother offered a sympathetic smile. “I don’t mean to antagonize you. Please never stop being honest with me. I so appreciate that you talk to me. And in return, I’ll always give you my honest opinion. I want what’s best for you. You were just getting your life back on track when this came about.”
“None of this changes me finishing nursing school. If anything, I’ll have more help with Nicholas now that he has another parent in the picture.” I paused. “Tate also wants to help financially. He’s insistent on it.”
“Well, financial help should be a given.”
“I told him I didn’t need his money.”
“Why not?” She glared. “Of course you do.”
“I really don’t. We get by just fine.”
“You’ve been living off your savings, Blair. You should start putting money away for Nicholas’s college now, and most definitely his father should be contributing.”
Once again, she was right. I suppose I’d been in denial about my finances.
“Do you think Nicholas senses anything about Tate?” she asked.
“I don’t know. He really likes him. But that’s because Tate’s been bending over backward to spoil him.”
“Well, that gets old fast. It remains to be seen what kind of a father he will be.”
I knew Tate had learned from his past mistakes and would be the best father to Nicholas. But it wasn’t going to be easy to convince my mom. Time would just have to prove it.
“Well…” she added. “I’m glad Taylor chose to get married when he did. Because this situation would only be more complicated ten years down the line.”
I nodded. “That’s for damn sure. As things stand, I think Nicholas is the winner in all this. That’s why I’m okay with how things have played out. If it was a choice between dealing with this situation or Nicholas never knowing his dad, I’d choose this over the alternative.”
“He’s not only gained a dad but a brother,” she pointed out.
Chills ran through me. “As long as Taylor can accept the situation.” I frowned.
“Well, he already loves Nicholas,” she said. “That can only help.”
“That’s gonna be another thing I have to explain to my son someday. HowUncleTaylor is suddenly his brother.”
“Taylor has one other sibling, right?”
“His mom and stepdad have a daughter. So a half-sister, Katy.”
My mother leaned over to hug me. Even if she was a bit critical of Tate, talking to her had made me feel better. “I think the important thing to remember here is that no one did anything wrong,” she said. “And while Taylor is going to be distraught for a while after he finds out, it’s not the same as you knowingly getting involved with his father. If he chooses never to speak to you again or to disown Tate, the punishment certainly won’t fit the crime.”
