Page 61 of Second Chance for the Single Mom

“Thanks,littlesister,” I teased.

“What about the other two?” Sara asked.

“What about them?”

“At first, you were just having fun. But things are getting complicated. Jordan is Bran’s baseball coach. Now you’re showing Shay a bunch of different properties…”

“Ugh, I know. I didn’t expect them to get tangled up in my life like this.”

“Do you like them?” Sara prodded.

“That’s the really annoying part. Ido. Jordan is so wonderful with Bran, and funny to be around. He makes me laugh. And Shay is this incredible lawyer who helps people, yet has enough money to invest in a bunch of rental properties.”

“Okay, so you like them. Now, do you like them enough to start a serious relationship?”

“If it were any of them individually, absolutely!” I answered. “But since it’s happening all at the same time, I don’t know what to do. It’s like when three people try to shove through a doorway at the same time. They just get stuck.”

“Please don’t make jokes about squeezing through tight places,” Sara said, resting her hands on her belly. “I’m three weeks from my due date and starting to worry.”

“Sorry,” I said. “But I don’t know what to do! The last time I really dated around was in college, before I got pregnant with Bran. Back then, everyone seemed so young. They were all boys. But Jordan is a doctor, Lucas is an engineer, and Shay is a lawyer. They’re allmen,with jobs and power and responsibility.”

“What a terrible problem to have,” Sara said sarcastically. “You have too many flawless suitors.”

“I promise I’m not complaining,” I said as my phone rang. “One second. This is my boss. Hey, Matt. You’re calling late.”

“Wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important,” my boss replied. “Brenda’s sick and can’t go to the conference in Vegas. I know it’s last minute, but do you want to take her place?”

I stood up and paced around the porch, nodding enthusiastically. “Yes! I’d love to! Remind me of the dates?”

“Flight leaves tomorrow afternoon. You come back Friday. I can get one of the new guys to cover your open house on Friday morning. Sound good?”

I glanced at my sister.

“Let me call you back,” I said.

“That sounded exciting!” Sara said. “What’s going on?”

“My boss wants me to go to a realtor conference in Vegas tomorrow. I would get back Friday,” I said. “But I can’t dump Bran on you last minute like that.”

“Why not?” Sara replied. “I was already going to pick him up tomorrow and Thursday while you worked.”

“That’s different than watching him for three straight days without a break,” I insisted. “And you’re almost ready to pop.”

“I’ll be fine. Wouldn’t this be a huge career move for you? You’ve been complaining about how they need to send you to more things.”

“Yeah… but…”

Sara stood up and shook her head. “I understand your reluctance to accept even more help. But you have to go. You’re just lucky this is happening now, instead of next month when I’ll be home with the twins! Besides, Harper is working from home both days. He can help.”

I allowed myself to feel excited. “Okay. But I’m going to insist on helping even more when the twins are born.”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “I’m counting on it, Hales.”

My phone rang again. I thought it was my boss calling me back, but it was a different number. One I had already saved in my phone.

“This is the Worthington Academy,” I told Sara.

“They’re calling this late?” she looked at her watch.

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