“Aunt Meredith!” they shouted in unison.
“How are my favorite people?” Meredith said, scooping them into a hug.
After settling her things in the guest room, she unveiled a collection of small gifts for Bebe and James to squeals of delight.Their joy was infectious, giving me a brief reprieve from the weight on my chest.
I threw together an easy pasta dish for dinner, comfort food for the soul. Afterward, Meredith offered to do the dishes while I went upstairs to start baths and the bedtime routine for the kiddos.
Bebe clung to me as I kissed her goodnight. “I’m going to miss you so much, Mommy.”
“I’ll miss you too, sweetheart,” I said, my heart aching.
I left Bebe’s room, and went into James’s. He looked at me curiously as I tucked him in. “Why aren’t you coming to Thanksgiving, Mommy? I can ask Dad to save you and Aunt Meredith a seat.”
Bile rose in my throat. He had no idea about Brooke, no idea that his dad was introducing someone new to their world. The thought of how it might all play out left me nauseous.
“That’s sweet of you, James,” I said softly. “But Thanksgiving is Daddy’s special day with you and Bebe this year.”
“Okay,” he said, though his face fell. “I think Daddy still thinks you’re really pretty. You could come if you want.”
If only it were that simple. “Goodnight, James,” I whispered, kissing his forehead before retreating to the bathroom, where I promptly threw up. My body was rebelling against the weight of the day, Jason’s news, the idea of Brooke, and the thought of my babies meeting her.
Meredith was waiting in the kitchen with a glass of wine and a neatly rolled joint. “Rough day?” she asked, gesturing to the seat across from her.
I sat down, grateful for her presence. “I met Jason this morning.”
“And?” Meredith raised a brow. “Please don’t tell me he wants to get back together with you.”
“No,” I said, letting out a hollow laugh. “He met someone. It’s serious. He wants Bebe and James to meet her—on Thanksgiving.”
Meredith’s mouth dropped open. “Shut the front door. Are you serious?”
I nodded, my eyes welling up again. “I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I haven’t even had time to process it.”
“Of course, you’re emotional, Nat. Anyone would be.”
“This person could be their stepmother,” I said, my voice cracking. “She’s going to be their Veronica.”
“I think Jason has better taste than Dad did,” Meredith said dryly. “Have you told Will?”
“We’ve been playing phone tag. I was going to tell him, which feels big for me, to share something like this with him. But I know he’s been through this with Kelly.”
Meredith leaned forward, her tone firm. “You should call him, Nat. Let him in. Let him be there for you.”
I hesitated, then let out a deep breath. “Let’s smoke first. I need to relax.”
“Deal,” Meredith said, grabbing the joint and leading me to the patio.
Later that night, after the haze of the evening had cleared and Meredith had gone to bed, I sat with my phone in hand. The events of the day were still swirling in my mind: Jason’s unexpected sincerity, Brooke’s looming introduction, James’s sweet innocence, and the undeniable truth that this was the new normal.
Taking a deep breath, I dialed Will’s number. This time, he answered.
“Hey,” he said, his voice warm but a little hesitant. He sounded like he was asleep.
“Hey,” I replied, my voice shaking slightly. “Did I wake you?”
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“I met Jason today,” I said, pausing for a moment. “He’s… met someone. It’s serious. The kids are meeting her on Thanksgiving.”
