“No, Mom. Calm down. She’s not pregnant. She already has a little girl and I thought I was ready to be a father, but then I realized I don’t have any idea how to be one.”
His mom started laughing. “Oh my God, you scared me! Welcome to the world of parenting. Everyone’s in the same boat when it comes to kids. You have no idea what they’re going to do. Or when they’re going to call you up and tell you they’re serious about a member of the opposite sex.”
“That can’t be right.”
“Why not?”
“It doesn’t make any sense. You were a good mom.”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
“You’re welcome. But I’m not just saying that as your son. You were really one of the best mothers in the neighborhood when I was growing up. I’m relatively well-adjusted. What are your secrets?”
“Alexander, listen to me. There are no secrets. Each kid is different. I just loved you and gave you boundaries and then rolled with the punches.”
His mom clearly didn’t know how to articulate what she’d done and listening to her now made him feel a little panicky. How was he going to figure this out?
“What did you do when I was a baby and you had to work?” he asked her. Maybe one solution at a time would be better.
“I put you in a playpen with a few toys so you couldn’t crawl away.”
“That's it? Surely you have some tricks that made me happy," he said.
She laughed in that way of hers that always made him smile. "You were happy on your own once you had something to occupy you. How did you meet this girl?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, realizing he'd never mentioned a matchmaker to his parents. "I went to a matchmaker."
"You did?" she asked with surprise. "Did you say you wanted a single mom?"
"Not exactly, I just...I want a family, and I don't want to wait any longer to have one. Fiona was matched with me because of her other traits too."
"Like what?"
How could he describe Fiona to his mother? "She's kind, Mom and funny and smarter than she like to let on."
"I can't wait to meet her," his mom said.
Thanks, Mom. I’ll see you on Sunday.”
“You’re welcome, son. Bye.”
Alex disconnected the call and immediately dialed Fiona’s number. When she answered, he got right to the point. “I’m sorry for the way I left the other day.”
“Why did you leave so abruptly?”
“I needed some time to think. I hadn’t realized how big a responsibility I have toward Bella Ann.
“In what way?”
“You and I know what dating is about and how sometimes things just don’t work out the way we want them to, but that little girl doesn’t.”
“I know. That’s why I went to the matchmaker. I figured I’d have a better chance of finding a man who had my best interests at heart.”
“That was smart of you, but I didn’t think of the consequences. I realized when you left me alone with her that I had no idea how to handle a baby.”
“I didn’t expect you to know how. I’m still figuring it out myself.”
“I don’t like doing something if I’m not good at it. I talked to my mom and I have some ideas I think will work. Do you still want to pursue a relationship with me?”
