Page 55 of Someone You Deserve

He holds up a hand to stop me. “No apologies needed. I get it. You’re a mom. Your kids will always come first.”

A sigh of relief leaves my lips. “Thank you.”

“I’m not going to lie and say that I wasn’t disappointed, but I get it.”

“I know. I’m sorry…again.”

“It’s okay, but I had to stop in this morning to fulfill my weekly order for the office ladies. Can’t let a failed date get in the way of making sure my girls at work are taken care of.”

The corner of my mouth lifts. “That’s sweet of you.”

“I’m a sweet guy.” He winks and then rattles off his order. Once he pays, he tucks the box under his arm. “I don’t suppose you might want to reschedule for tomorrow by any chance?”

“I would, but Bentley’s soccer team has the championship game at three, and then his team party afterward.”

Richard nods. “Gotcha.”

“I’ll text you Sunday though,” I say, even though the idea of trying to reschedule our date is making me sweat. The truth is, I think I was more infatuated with the idea of going out thanwhoI was going to go out with.

Nevertheless, his face lights up. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“Bye, Richard.”

“Bye, Astrid.”

I watch him leave and then pick up my phone again, but I don’t call Penn like I planned. I call my mother to check on my son and see if I can get any more information out of him.

“Hello?” My mother answers, the volume of the television on full blast. She must be watching one of her talk shows.

“Mom, turn down the television, please.”

“But Maddox Taylor is on the show right now.” She goes silent for a moment. “I’ve never been one to watch football, but I would watch that man run around in tight pants any day of the week.”

“Mom!”

“What? He’s a handsome man. His wife is one very lucky lady.”

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Can you focus, please? I called for a reason.”

“Okay, fine. But it’s just on a commercial break, so you’d better hurry up.”

“Nice, Mom. Is Bentley around?”

“He’s still pulling the weeds out of the flower beds.”

After I talked with my son last night, and cried myself to sleep over not being able to shield him from the pain of losing his father, I spoke to him this morning about how he’s going to spend his time away from school. A few chores around the house needed to be done, and even though I don’t blame him for hitting that kid for what he said, I can’t condone that behavior as a means to solve his problems and deal with his emotions.

And then this morning, I addedfind a therapistfor Bentleyto my to-do list.

I really think he should talk to someone about everything he’s feeling, especially as he’s getting older. I was also a child that grew up without a dad and it’s not easy. I know it’s affected a lot of aspects of my life, but at least I can help my son process it sooner than I ever did.

“Can you put him on the phone, please?”

I hear rustling in the background, and then the creak of the back door opening. “Bentley, your mom wants to talk to you, sweetie!”

“About what?” he calls back.

“I don’t know, honey. Just come grab the phone.”

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