Page 26 of From Maybe to Baby

I wouldn’t know.

I once decided to go to Thailand because I liked the font on a travel poster.

Add to list…

10. My longest relationship is with my passport

11. My idea of meal planning is knowing which countries have the best street food

12. The only sticky fingers in my life come from eating mangoes on beaches

13. I write articles with titles like "Why Your Kids Are Ruining My Vacation"

From my balcony, I spot Jonas and his kids heading to dinner. He's got one on his shoulders and one holding his hand, and he's listening to what appears to be a very serious story involving a lot of hand gestures from the boy. He nods at exactly the right moments, completely focused on whatever world-ending drama a kid that size considers important.

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14. He seems to enjoy being a dad

15. His face lights up when his children laugh (most terrifying)

I sigh as he rounds a corner, out of site, and, because I am a glutton for punishment, pull up his Instagram because I'm a professional researcher and not at all stalking him. His profile is exactly what you'd expect from a social media savvy athlete, or at least one whose feed is managed by a savvy PR person—game highlights, workout videos, charity events. But mixed in are other moments—him making breakfast with his kids, teaching his son to skate, his daughter asleep on his chest while he reviews game footage. These things make me feel all funny inside.

I don’t like it.

The comments on his posts, naturally, are full of heart emojis and "Dad of the Year" nominations. The hockey blogs call him "the league's most eligible single dad." The parenting magazines feature him in their "How He Does It All" columns.

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16. Probably expects his girlfriend to be good with kids

17. Might want more children

18. Could be looking for a replacement mom

My own mother's voice echoes in my head, "Never let a man make you small." She said that to twelve-year-old-me the day she left, her suitcase packed with dreams instead of regrets. In no time at all, she transformed from PTA mom to globe-trotting artist, from someone's wife to herself.

But Jonas doesn't seem like the type to make anyone small. He looks at his kids like they're his whole world, but not his only world. The way he mentioned my articles, how they helped him... that's not someone who dims other people's lights.

Still.

Add to list:

19. My brand is built on being child-free

20. My followers come to me for escape, not family vacation tips

21. Pretty sure "dating a source" violates some journalism rule

My phone lights up with a text from the man himself.

Kids want to know if you're coming to breakfast tomorrow. Jace says she'll share her pancakes with you

Followed by:

Full disclosure: sharing food is her love language. You should feel very special

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