“She will,” he said firmly. “I promise.”
After he left with James, Meredith found me sitting at the kitchen table, staring into my water cup.
“You, okay?” she asked, sliding into the chair across from me
“Yeah. It’s just weird. Jason being so…helpful.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“No, it’s not bad. It’s just…new. I’m not used to him being so available. It’s like he’s trying to make up for all the times he wasn’t, and it’s throwing me off.”
Meredith smirked. “Maybe he’s finally realizing what he lost.”
“I don’t know,” I said quickly. “He is being a good dad. He asked if Brooke can bring dinner. And honestly, I appreciate it. I need all the help I can get right now.”
She tilted her head, studying me. “Well, it’s big of you to let Brooke step in. But you know what’s bigger? Telling your kids about Will.”
I groaned.
“Nat, you’re juggling a million things, and I get that, but you can’t keep this part of your life in a bubble. They’re going to find out sooner or later.”
“I know,” I admitted. “It’s just…so much change at once. I’m trying to ease them into this new reality, but I don’t want to overwhelm them.”
Meredith reached across the table, squeezing my hand. “They’ll be fine. You’re a good mom. They know that.”
The next morning, sunlight poured through the windows as I stood at the kitchen counter, running through my mental checklist for the day. The house was quiet, James was already at Jason’s house for the week, and Bebe was curled up on the couchwith her blanket and her stuffed duck, quietly flipping through a book. She was still moving slowly, her energy not quite back to normal yet.
Jason stopped by mid-morning, the familiar creak of the front door announcing his arrival. He stepped inside, set his keys on the counter, and glanced around. “I’m here for Bebe,” he said.
“Thank you for being so helpful,” I said, with sincerity. His assistance with the kids made me feel less guilty for being so focused on Pier and Table.
Bebe stirred on the couch, looking up when she saw Jason. “Hi, Daddy,” she said, her voice soft but happy.
Jason walked over and crouched down next to her. “Hey, princess. You ready for a relaxing day?”
She nodded, clutching her duck closer.
“The babysitter is going to come by later to help, and Brooke’s bringing dinner tonight. You just relax and let us take care of you.”
I joined them, kneeling to Bebe’s level and tucking her blanket around her for the car ride. “You’ll have fun, sweetheart. Be good for Daddy, okay?”
“Okay, Mama. I love you.”
“I love you too.” I kissed her forehead and stepped back as Jason carefully scooped her from the couch and carried her to the car.
Once Bebe was settled in her booster seat with her duck and books, Jason turned to me. “I’ll keep you posted on how she’s doing. Don’t stress about anything tonight, you’ve got enough on your plate.”
“Thanks, Jason. For all of this. For being so… steady lately. It’s nice to feel like we’re a team.”
Jason met my eyes, his expression serious but warm. “We are a team, Nat. I know I didn’t always show that before, but I’m trying.”
For a moment, I just stood there, taking in this new version of Jason. This wasn’t the man I’d been married to, the one who was always rushing out the door or distracted by work. This version of Jason felt present and dependable. It wasn’t the same as love, but it was something solid, and something we could build on for the kids.
“Call me if you need anything,” I said.
“I will,” he replied with a small smile. “Enjoy tonight.” His tone was sincere.
As the car disappeared down the street, I turned back to the house. A strange mix of relief and gratitude settled over me. It was bittersweet to realize that Jason and I had finally figured out how to work together, when it was too late for us as a couple but exactly what we needed to be as co-parents.
