Page 25 of Everything I Want

Keith and Jason see me struggling to stay on two feet while Scott teaches Oliver to skate with Colton.

“Need a hand?”, they both ask in unison. I swear these two should have been twins.

“That would be lovely, thank you gentlemen.” I loop my arms through theirs.

“You know, Lorelei,” Jason starts, “we’ve never seen our dad this happy before. We’re really glad you two got together.”

Keith nods in agreement. “I know we like to give him a hard time, but he really deserves someone to love him like you do, so thank you.”

My eyes are watering at their sweet words, but love? I barely admitted we are dating to my girls.

“Thank you boys, I think I’ll go sit with Addy over there if you don’t mind helping me get to the exit.” I manage to choke out the request.

Once they leave me at the exit, I’m grateful to be on solid, stable ground again. I wobble over to Addy and pull hot chocolate thermoses out of my bag, handing one to my third baby. Her face mirrors mine and I think we both deserve a little sugar rush pick me up.

“What’s going on with you, baby doll?” I stroke her hair with my free hand.

She sulks into her hot cocoa, “I don’t know, Mom. I see Scarlett and Lacey falling in love, now you, I just can’t help but wonder if it’ll ever happen for me.”

“Oh, baby doll, it already has. I know things didn’t go well, or nearly at all like you planned with Porter. But you’re so full of love to give. I believe it will happen for you when the time is right,” Addy faces me and places her hands in mine.

“Mom, is it the same with Scott as it was with Dad? What if I lost my one great love?” She asks eagerly.

“Oh. Well, no it’s not the same. For one, I don’t know that I’m in love with Scott just yet. Don’t get me wrong I have very strong feelings for him, but he’s so different from your father. Your father was stable, steady, constant. And at a very different time in my life. Scott is fun, sweet, and so affectionate. I think you can have different kinds of love in your life. Don’t lose that hope.” I place a kiss on her cheek, hoping she doesn’t give up.

Out of all my daughters, Adelaide was the one who always wanted the white picket fence, two and a half kids, and a dog.

Unfortunately, the boy she fell head over heels for was drastically her opposite, causing her to butt heads with her father. To the day he left this world, Porter Jackson was the only thing my Andrew and I ever truly disagreed on without compromise. He dug his heels in on the fact that his daughter wouldnotbe with the likes of a Jackson kid.

Adelaide goes back to skating when Oliver skates over and drags her back out onto the ice.

“Lorelei?” Susan, Scott's ex, came out of nowhere seemingly, sitting next to me in Adelaide’s vacant spot.

“Yes, hello Susan. It’s nice to see you,” I say extending my hand.

“It is. I just wanted to say hi. My boys didn’t want me to, but I think they’re just nervous I’m going to mess this up for Scott,” She chuckles lightheartedly.

“I actually asked Scott if I’d get to know you better the other day,” I admit.

“I’m sure he shot that down immediately,” she smiles.

“You’d be right. But if you are staying in town, I think we should get to know each other. I'd like it actually.” I turn in my seat to face her.

“Oh, I’m not -” She gets nervous, “I’m not staying in town. I am going back to Florida.”

“I’m sorry, I thought the boys said you were going to stay. I didn’t mean to upset you,” I apologize as she seems upset.

“No, I just haven’t told them yet. But I’ll be going home in the next couple days. My ex- uh, my boyfriend and I worked things out,” she says looking at the ground.

“I’m sorry to hear that you aren’t staying, but I’m glad you worked things out.”

We both stare out at the pond, watching our children in a comfortable silence.

Keith and Jason come over to the edge of the pond.

“Lorelei, Mom, come join us!” Each of them loops their arms through our own and we glide onto the ice together.

Scott eyes me suspiciously from the other edge of the pond and I just nod my head to let him know that all is okay, he doesn’t need to worry.

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