Page 1 of Steps

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“Great,” I moan after the door to theapartment opens and slams shut. Footsteps scurry toward my door. I turn nervousin the chair. Mom has suffered yet another heartbreak I’ll have to help herthrough.

She bursts into my bedroom, jumping in her pumpsas she squeals, “I’m getting married!”

Quite the opposite of what I expected to hear.

My body stills. I stare up at her wide-eyed.

“To who?”

She purses her lips. “Well, don’t look sosurprised. Be happy for me for once.”

I’m always happy for you, even when it’s a lie.

“Sorry.” Forcing a smile, I tell her,“Congratulations. Who’s the lucky man?”

“Daniel Kirby, duh.” She waves her hand with themassive diamond engagement ring. “The real estate agent I met five months ago,remember?”

Right. The one she hasn’t introduced me to. Thenagain, what kind of man proposes to a woman without meeting her daughter?

“Isn’t it too soon to get engaged?” I ask instead.“Mom, please tell me he’s not some dirty old man in his sixties. Is that whyyou haven’t introduced us?”

My question draws an eye-roll. “Dan’s forty-five,Toya, and no, it’s not too early. We both know what we want.” She pauses, andactually frowns, showing a bit of remorse. “Sorry you two haven’t met thiswhole time. That’s because I’m now mindful of not bringing another questionableman into your life and have a repeat of the last situation. I wanted to be surethis time.”

I shrug and avoid rehashing the bad memories.“Didn’t you say he has kids? Have you met them? How old are they again?”

Brushing aside her bouncy curls, she peers down ather sparkling ring as she speaks. “Yes, I’ve met his two kids, Alison andVaren.”

“Wow,” I mumble and slouch in the chair.

Mom cocks her hip. “Sorry. As I’ve said, I wantedto make sure. Contrary to what you might think, Toya, I’ve learned my lesson.”

She’s glowing, from her eyes to her caramel skin.

“How old are they?” I repeat, sticking to thetopic.

“His son just turnedeighteen, and hisdaughter is twenty. She’s in law school.” She harrumphs before saying, “Hisfirst wife died of cancer five years ago.”

“That’s sad,” I mutter softly, genuinely meaningit. “She died young. Can’t imagine what he and their kids went through.”

“It took them a while to heal, but Dan’s ready tolove again, and we’ve found something beautiful together.”

I pick at my nails. “Okay. So, when do I get tomeet your fiancé and his family?”

Her toothy smile resurfaces. “Tonight. He’s havingus over to celebrate the engagement since we didn’t earlier. Wear the darkpurple dress I got for your birthday.”

“All right.”Because what else can I say?

Mom moseys out of my room. A long sigh surges frommy lips the instant she shuts the door.

It’s exhausting dealing with the men who come inand out of her life. I never had a good father figure. Never got close to anyof them.

Sometimes they were kind, but they’d remaindistant and eventually made it clear they didn’t want to deal with her kid. Andothers were too nice and wanted to mess with me inappropriately.

Thank goodness I could run away to Gran’s wheneverMom got involved with a moron. It always hurt when she refused to believe me.Yet, I’d forgive her when they’d leave her with a broken heart, and she’d comecrying for me to return home.

Now she’s found herself a rich man. Again, whatkind of man would get engaged to a woman without meeting her daughter? Maybethis isn’t going to last, and once again, I’ll be the one to help pick up thepieces when reality bites her on the ass.

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