Madison and Grady both looked up from the book.
“Bye, Mommy. Have fun. But don’t kiss him,” Madison said.
Kiss him? Where did she hear these things?
“Okay, got it,” I said.
“Have fun,” Grady said. “And I agree with Sweet Pea. Best not to kiss on the first date.”
“You’d know, I guess,” I said, laughing.
“Hey, what’s that mean?” Grady asked, smiling, but his eyes betrayed him. My comment had hurt him.
“Just that you’ve had a lot of first dates,” I said. “So you’re more experienced than I am.”
“Just trying to find the one,” Grady said.
He might choose a little differently if that was his goal.
“I’ll be back around nine,” I said. “Be good, guys.”
“We will, Mommy.” Madison snuggled closer to Grady.
“Please keep in mind that my algorithms are not fully vetted,” Robbie said. “This isn’t a sure thing.”
“Thanks, baby. I’ll be sure to remember that.” I turned to go, glancing back again to see the tableau that was my family. Grady and Madison back to the book. Robbie crouched over the coffee table, scribbling notes. The scent of Chinese take-out making it feel all that more homey. I would rather stay with them, but I had to do this.
It was time to make my own happiness a priority. If only it could be Grady and not some stranger.
Mark looked exactlylike his photos. Even more handsome, actually. He had an easygoing personality, quiet and thoughtful. He opened the door, let me pick the wine, and was polite to our server. All the things one needed to pay attention to on a first date. He passed every one.
Except he wasn’t Grady.
Regardless, we had a pleasant conversation. He told me about his work at the hospital and his reason for choosing pediatric oncology. He’d had a cousin who died from cancer when they were only eight.
I mentioned my friendship with Alex Garcia, who had invented a cardiac device for children, and Mark had been familiar with his work. All in all, a decent first date. So when he dropped me off, walking me to the door, and asked if I’d like to go out again, I said yes.
He didn’t try to kiss me, which I was glad of, as I didn’t feel ready. I’d dated a few men since my divorce, but nothing serious enough to consider letting them spend time with my kids or allow into my bed. If there was anything between Mark and me, it would take patience on his part. I needed everything to move at a slow pace.
Like a sunflower.
When I got back upstairs, it was only nine. Madison would have gone to bed already, but Grady and Robbie were sitting on opposite ends of the couch watching a documentary on the history of processed food in America. God bless Grady. I felt sure that it wasn’t a subject that interested him much, but he always watched what Robbie wanted.
I shrugged out of my coat. “Hey, guys.”
Grady paused the show. “Hey there. How’d it go?”
“Pretty good. We’re going out again.”
“When?” Robbie asked.
“We didn’t set a date, but he said he’d call me. We’ll see if he does,” I said.
“Did you have fun?” Grady asked.
I hesitated before answering, thinking of the best way to answer. Grady knew me well enough that he’d pick up on any doubts I might be having, and, for whatever reason, I didn’t want to acknowledge them to him or Robbie. “It wasn’tnotfun.”
“What does that mean?” Robbie asked, his nose scrunching as if he smelled something bad.
