"I'm just surprised you wouldn't go back. You're finally able to see Dean and now you don't want to?"
"I do. I just have a lot to do. I have a test to study for and I need to finish some homework."
Her brows rise. "You're choosing homework over Dean? That doesn't sound right. What happened?"
"Nothing. I'll let you get ready." I start to leave, then turn back. "What are you getting ready for?"
"I'm going to dinner." She turns and walks to her closet.
"With who?"
"Canton Mayfield."
"Who's that?"
She turns to me, holding a dress. "You know Canton. He used to play golf with your father."
"The old guy? Why are you having dinner withhim?"
She smiles. "He's not old. He's only two years older than your father. And he's a very nice man. And funny. He has a wonderful sense of humor."
"Wait—is this a date?"
She turns back to her closet and hangs up the dress. "It's just dinner. Canton and I reconnected at lunch the other day and he asked if I'd like to have dinner."
I walk over to her. "So it IS a date. You're dating Dad's friend."
She sighs. "It's not a date. It's just two friends having dinner. And Canton and your father were golfing buddies. They weren't close friends."
"He's been to our house for dinner. More than once. With his wife."
"His EX-wife. He's divorced now." She takes out a red sleeveless dress. "What do you think of this one?"
"If it isn't a date, why do you care?"
"I still want to look nice."
I lean against the wall, watching as she continues to sort through her dresses. "Mom, I don't care if you date. You don't have to hide it from me. And I won't tell Dad."
"I'm sure he'll still find out. You know how gossip travels with those people. But I don't mind if he knows. He has a new wife now. He shouldn't care." She says it with a slight smile.
"That's not why you're doing this, is it? To get back at Dad? Make him jealous?"
"Of course not, honey. I'm doing this because I need to get out there again. Your father's moved on with someone else and I need to as well."
"With Canton Mayfield?" I say, scrunching up my face. "Isn't he kind of boring and stuffy?"
"Maybe a little, but he loosens up after a few drinks."
"You really want a guy who has to be drunk to be fun?"
"That is not what I meant. He just tends to be on the serious side."
"Dad was serious all the time and you hated it."
"I didn't hate it. And I got used to it. Relationships are about give and take. There's no one out there who's perfect. Canton is a very respectable man with a lot to offer. He's intelligent, and he owns a very successful investment firm."
"So he's rich. Is he richer than Dad?"
