“Make sure you do it soon,” said Sarah.“She’ll be worried.”
“Yeah,” he said.“Sorry I didn’t call in time.”
“As am I,” she said, pulling her daughter into a hug.“Take care.”
She hung up and let Riley cry into her shoulder for a moment, her eyes scanning the horizon for nonexistent whale spouts.Then she pulled her daughter away and looked into her eyes.“Hey, it’s not ideal, but let’s try to enjoy the ride.”
“I hate Tanis,” said Riley.“And I hate the baby.”
“I know you’re angry.It doesn’t feel good that your dad has…” She wanted to saya new family, but instead she said, “… new people in his life.It’s going to take time to adjust.”
“I just wish he would come home,” said Riley.
“He has a new home,” said Sarah.“And you and I are going to have to get used to it.”
“But…”
“It takes time, Riley, but we’ll get through this.We already have Grandma living with us most of the year, and things have been going okay.”
“It’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not fair,” she said, pulling her daughter closer again.“Some things in life just really aren’t fair.”
“Mom, are you going to get married again?”
She felt her daughter tense up, waiting for her response.
“I don’t know.I’m not looking for anyone right now, love,”
“But when I go to university, you’re going to be lonely.”
“You aren’t going for another six or seven years,” said Sarah, smiling at her daughter’s concern.“And by then I’ll be used to it.”
“But Mom…”
“Yeah?”
“Would you like another baby?”
“Another baby?”she considered that idea for a few moments before answering.“I don’t know.I know your dad always wanted just one baby.”Which was why his starting a new family had felt like such a betrayal.
“But now he’s having another one.What about you?”
“Well, I would first need a father for the baby, and… I’m not ready for that.You’re my priority.”She pulled Riley closer again, settling her chin on her head.
“What about Simon?”
“WhataboutSimon?”
“He’s nice.And he likes cats.And he already has a daughter.”
Sarah chuckled.“And you would like a new sister?”
“Yes,” said Riley, nodding.
“Well, first, I don’t know him well enough.”She searched her brain to come up with a second point.She couldn’t say she wasn’t attracted to him, because that was a lie, and she didn’t want to ever lie to her daughter.She also couldn’t say that she didn’t enjoy sharing meals with him.He could cook.He liked kids and cats.He was creative.He was employed, with a secure career that he cared about.
She didn’t have a second point, she realized.“And second, you are my priority right now.”
