I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. Meeting Bebe and James felt monumental, an explosion I hadn’t been prepared for. When Jason and I were coming to the end, I remember the paralyzing fear of picturing a stepmother to my children. That fear had almost kept me in a lifeless marriage.
“Nat?” Jason’s hand brushed mine, and I instinctively pulled back.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m… surprised,” I admitted.
“I know it’s a big ask, but I think the kids will like her. I think you’ll approve, too. She wants to meet you, as well.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “When did you meet her?”
“In July. We work out at the same gym.”
Of course. How cliché.
“Her name is Brooke,” he added. “She works in marketing.”
“Does she have kids?”
“No, she doesn’t. She’s never been married, either. She just turned thirty-one in September.”
Young, I thought.She’ll probably want children of her own, and Bebe and James will no longer be Jason’s shining stars.
A lump formed in my throat. This is my fault, I thought bitterly. If only I could have gotten past the kiss he shared with his colleague, Shannon, while we were married. If I hadn’t been so wrapped up in my own needs to see how far we had drifted.
Jason must have sensed my emotions spiraling. “Natalie, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Honestly, I figured by now we’d both have found happiness with other people.”
I was jolted by Jason’s comment. He’d already found someone new, serious enough to call happiness? The thought left me raw. I wiped at my eyes, embarrassed by the tears forming.
“If she makes you happy and is a good person, then… okay. The kids can meet her,” I said, my voice thin with reluctance.
Jason put his hand on mine. “I didn’t think I’d ever find someone after you. You’re one of a kind and I took you for granted. You deserve the world.”
It was probably the sincerest thing Jason had ever said to me. This Brooke woman had clearly unlocked a version of him I’d never seen before.
“I should go,” I said, standing abruptly.
“I’ll be by around ten tomorrow to pick up Bebe and James. Thanks for meeting me today—and for being cool about all this.”
I nodded, forcing a smile as I walked out. But when I got to my car, the tears came in waves. My children could possibly have a stepmother. The thought terrified me. I had been so afraid of becoming one myself, and now it was happening on the other side.
I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to snap out of my funk. There was too much to do, work deadlines, packing the kids’ bags for the week, and getting ready for Meredith’s arrival that evening.
By the time I arrived at school pickup, I felt a little more composed. I parked early, hoping to find a moment to call Will. I dialed his number, but it went straight to voicemail.
Bebe and James burst out of the school gate, racing toward me with their usual energy. As we drove home, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was Will. I glanced at the screen, hesitating.
Bebe caught sight of his name on my screen in the car. “Mommy, why didn’t you answer? That’s Ivy’s dad, right? He probably wants to plan our playdate!”
“I’ll call him later, sweetie. We’ll set something up soon.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, Bebe.”
When we got home, I saw a text from Meredith.
Meredith: Just landed. Be there soon!
Forty-five minutes later, the door swung open, and the kids raced to greet her.
