Page 135 of Fielder's Choice

“And now it really is true,” Vi says sweetly.

“Is that why you’re spiraling, then?” Harvey questions. “Because you ran into Jake recently?”

“No,” I reply. “I haven’t even thought much about Jake since. I’m finally putting him out of my mind. There are… other things on my mind, though.”

Violet takes a sip of her coffee. “Like?”

“Like, um…hisdaughtercalledmehermomandImightbeinlovewithhim.”

“Okay, let’s try this again,” Harvey laughs, “but use real words this time.”

I sigh in defeat. “Sage called me her mom yesterday, and I think I might be in love with Lane.”

“She called you her mom?!” Violet practically spits out her drink.

“Yeah, and she doesn’t even know I’m dating her dad. She just thinks of me as her mom.”

“Did you tell Lane she said that?” Harvey asks.

“No,” I breathe. “What if he doesn’t like that? We’ve only been dating for a few weeks.”

“But you’ve known Sage since fall,” Vi states. “You really must be incredible with her if she’s already saying you’re her mom.”

Harvey’s look turns serious as he asks me the question that I’m surprised no one has asked yet. “Liv, do youwantto be her mom?”

“Can I even decide that this soon? I mean, I know I love her, and she’s the sweetest little girl I’ve met. But it all seems too fast.”

Violet places her hand on top of mine in comfort. “Life doesn’t run on the same timeline for everybody. Onlyyoucan decide how you feel about it.”

I let the words resonate and sink in, figuring outwhatI actually feel.

So, I picture my future.

I think about what my life might look like in five, ten, fifteen years, and every single vision features the same thing: Lane, Sage… and me.

Five years from now, she loses a tooth and excitedly shows us so we can make sure it’s secure for the Tooth Fairy.

Ten years from now, she’s embarrassed that her dad is talking to her date for the school dance and is grateful when mom diverts his attention.

Fifteen years from now, she’s graduating high school, and Lane and I cry together as we now have to send her to college in the fall.

They’re both in the future I envision for myself, the future I want to have.

And I think that answers the question.

“I think I might like the idea,” I admit.

Harvey smiles at me. “Then it sounds to me like life is giving you another way to be a mother, Liv. We know how much you wanted that.”

“The universe had you two meet for a reason,” Vi adds. “You were meant to fall in love with both of them, and they were meant to fall in love with you.”

“You sound like Luna,” I laugh.

“My wife knows what she’s talking about,” she shrugs.

I breathe out a laugh. “You guys don’t think this is too soon?”

“I don’t,” Harvey smiles. “Liv, you’re happy for the first time in six years. I know Lane isn’t the entire reason for that, but he’s definitely part of it.”

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