Page 17 of Wes
I laugh. “Fate is a funny thing.”
“Fate?” she asks, her voice cynical.
“We were meant to meet eventually, sweetheart.” I wink, and a little tension leaves her shoulders.
“Maybe.” Her expression tells me she has something on her mind, and I worry where her thoughts are wandering.
I tip her chin and make her look at me. “Why don’t we let this play out and find out in due time?”
“What if this is too much for them?”
I nod. “We won’t ever find out unless we give all of us time. I’m not saying we have dinner together the four of us either. Our boys are our number-one priority, but, Natalia?”
She stares at me, focused and listening to what I’m saying. My own tension loosens at the realization.
“One day they’ll be grown and gone. We listen to their feelings on the matter, but we can’t let them rule our lives either. I’m not in any rush.”
She nods, but there’s a faraway look in her eyes. If I’m to guess, she has an internal battle going on with guilt in the forefront. Guilt is a son of a bitch.
“Come on, let’s get back to the boys.”
Later that evening, I carry a bowl of popcorn to the living room. The TV series I watch with Reece is queued and ready to go. Since we returned from the mall, he’s kept to himself but hasn’t said anything on the matter. I refuse to push or make this a big deal because he needs to come around on his own.
“Do you like her?” he mumbles.
“Sorry?”
Reece turns to face me. “Shorty’s mom. Do you like her?”
“I do.”
“She’s real pretty.”
I smile. “Very.”
“Are you guys dating then?”
“I’d like to very much. So far we’ve only met for coffee and texted.”
“It explains a lot,” he whispers.
“Explains what, bud?”
“You. You’ve been… different?” he says, his face scrunched in thought.
“Oh? Different good or different bad?” I ask and hold my breath.
“Good. After you and Mom split… you were sad or angry. Mom’s been a real b—”
“Reece Wilkins!” I may agree with him, but in no way am I okay with him calling his mother a bitch.
“Beast? Brat? Butthead?” He smirks, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“Well, son, things with your mother turned sour quickly. For that I’m sorry. I hate how you’ve had to witness it too.”
He sighs. “I’m sorry too. You seem happier, so I like it.”
“Well, I feel happier.” I just hope she doesn’t cut tail and run.
