Page 27 of Second Chance at Love (Chance At Love Duet 1)

“Mom,” Sienna jumped into my conversation with Lena. “Can I go out tonight with friends?”

I raised my eyebrow and looked at my oldest daughter. I was well aware she was trying to take advantage of the situation.

“What was your punishment, Sienna?” I asked, never wavering my gaze from her beautiful light brown eyes.

“Thirty-one days,” she replied, her voice strained. She was mad.

“Sienna is in big trouble,” Saoirse whispered to Kristoff and Lena.

“Shut up, Saoirse!” Sienna spat out angry. My sixteen year old wants to argue with a five year old.

Sierra felt the need to jump in. “Be good, Sin.”

“Don’t talk to your sister like that, Sienna,” I used my firm voice with her. “And how many days has it been?” I asked again, never looking away from Sienna.

“Twenty days.”

“Then there is your answer,” I said.

“But Mom, everyone does that,” Sienna tried to justify herself. “And it was only once… I won’t do it again. It’s not fair for me to be stuck in the house for a month. My grades are good.”

“Sienna,” I started in a warning voice. I did not want to have this conversation in front of my boss and his mother.

“But Mom…”

“Sienna, better stop it. You're gonna be in big trouble,” Saoirse interjected.How is it that my little ones understand but my oldest one did not,I thought to myself.

“Stop it, Saoirse.” Sienna got angry at her sister. “Mom, it is not fair. Everyone has boyfriends…”

I looked at my oldest daughter pensively. The last few years had been hard on her, and she had been trying to rebel at each turn. As if her father’s death wasn’t hard enough, her teenage hormones certainly made it harder.

“That might be, Sienna,” I answered not wanting to argue any longer. “But they are not my kids. And next time you decide to skip a class to hang out with your boyfriend, I will seriously consider homeschool. This is not about having a boyfriend, it is about you making the wrong decision and I am sure the boyfriend encouraged it.”

“And how would you know?” Sienna asked angrily. “You won’t even meet him. If you did, you would see that he’s a nice guy.” Sienna got up abruptly, and I could see she’d start crying any second as she headed for the bathroom. I stood up to follow her, then realizing I couldn’t leave my two little ones, I sat back down.

After a few seconds, I looked up. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I am sure you didn’t need that on your birthday.” I tried to plaster a smile on my face although I had a feeling it ended up looking more like a grimace.

“Don’t worry,” Lena said. “I understand. If you want to go talk to her, we’ll keep your little ones entertained here.”

“No,” I said. “That’s ok.” I glanced towards the bathroom.

“Are you dating, dear?” I was sure surprise was evident on my face. Lena’s question came out of nowhere. My face felt hot, and I was sure I blushed excessively. I searched her face for any signs, hoping she didn’t know what happened between her son and me. But all I saw there was a mild interest.

“Ah, no.”

“I’m sorry, Gemma,” she added quickly. “I am sure that is none of my business. I was just going to say that sometimes children rebel against parents dating so they decide to date someone they know the parent would not approve of.”

“Gemma works for me so she doesn’t have time for dating.” Kristoff’s comment caught me off guard. I regarded him curiously, not sure why he felt the need to say that. I missed Lena’s look at her son, while I was looking at him myself.

“Gemma, why don’t you and your girls come to my birthday party this evening?” Lena said softly.

I looked at the woman, and although I liked her, I decided not to go. She was Kristoff’s mother after all and I didn’t need to spend more time with him.

“That is very nice of you, Lena. We can’t…”

“Yes, yes…” Saoirse interrupted me and clapped her hands.

Sierra followed the suit. “I like you,” she said looking back and forth between Lena and Kristoff. “You are not strangers, right?”

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