Page 20 of Fierce-Dane

“I just told Grandma Doreen I wanted to color. She got me some adult books with markers,” his father said.

“Really?” Dane asked, lifting his eyebrow.

His mother shrugged. “I did.”

He rolled his eyes and his kids followed his father into the living room.

“Your idea?” he asked.

His mother pulled a pot out to fill with water, but he took it out of her hands and did that instead.

Vegetables and pasta, pepperoni and cheese came out next so he assumed his mother was making pasta salad that his kids would gobble up with their steak.

“Your father enjoys spending time with the kids. This is quiet time for them.”

“They do like to color. They aren’t fighting or running around while they do that. Good idea.”

“I’ve got them now and again,” his mother said smartly. “Anything new going on with you?”

“Not much,” he said. He turned the burner on for his mother and then moved out of the way while she started to chop everything for the pasta salad.

“Maybe you should change that.”

“It’s a little hard when I don’t know if I’m coming or going half the time. Added to the fact I’m spending the night at my parents’ house a few nights a month.”

His mother grinned. “You don’t have to stay here. You can go out and do something. Or have a night to yourself.”

“First,” he said, “I get three to four nights to myself a week as it is. Second, I don’t see them much and I hate leaving them.”

“If they are sleeping what is the big deal?” his motherasked. “You drop them off before bed, they get in bed and then you get them in the morning. Then you’re sleeping in your own bed on top of it.”

“I don’t want them to wake you if they need something. They rarely get up in the middle of the night and if they do I’m there. I just don’t want them to think that I can’t be there for them.”

“Dane,” his mother said. “Stop projecting the way Melanie felt onto your kids. They are too young to feel that way and you know it. Or do you think she says that to them?”

“I don’t think that,” he said. “At least I hope not, but who knows anything?”

“You know we were all upset over what happened, but we saw it coming too,” his mother said.

He didn’t need to get into this again. “I’ve heard it enough. I’d rather not trash my kids’ mother when they are around.”

“You never trash her,” his mother said. “Maybe you’d feel better if you did.”

“Nope,” he said. “It solves nothing. She says she’s happy and if she’s happy the kids see that. It’s more important they do.”

“You’re right. So take your advice and make sure you’re happy too and the kids can see that.”

“I’m happy,” he said.

“Really?” his mother asked. “Because many would say otherwise. Get out there and have a life and show your kids that it goes both ways. You’re all about setting examples and it’s time you do that. They should see you are moving on too and not just their mother.”

He snorted. “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?”

His mother walked over and patted his cheek. “I alwayshave and always will. I just want my children happy. You say you are, but I think you’re trying to convince yourself of it more than you should. Why haven’t you tried again? Are you afraid of failure?”

“Failure sucks,” he said. “Trust me.”

“It doesn’t mean it will happen again. Look at Chloe.”

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