Page 40 of Sparks with the Single Dad

“Hey, Phoebe.”

A voice startles me, and I turn to find Greg’s lawyer, Ivy, standing in front of me.

“What do you want?” I step back, crossing my arms.

“I wanted to apologize to you. I didn’t know what Greg was doing, and I…” She sighs. “I’m tired of who I’ve been for a while, honestly. But I quit. I couldn’t do it anymore.”

“You quit being Greg’s lawyer?”

“Anyone’s lawyer.” She laughs, throwing her hands up as if she’s celebrating. “Hell, I never wanted to be one anyway. Someone else wanted me to. It wasn’t my dream.”

Her words resonate with me, and some of my anger releases. It does me no good to hang on to it.

“Go in and tell Frank I said to make you a drink on the house.” I jerk my head toward the door.

“Oh, you don’t have to—”

“I know, but everyone deserves a second chance.”

She gives me a small smile before disappearing through the door, and my words echo in my head.

Everyone deserves a second chance.

Maybe even me.

I don’t know about Greg, though. He’s still an asshole. But, we’ve got to figure this out, and I’m tired of being in limbo. I pull out my phone and dial Ava’s number.

“Hey, can you help me with something? I know you’re tired of me asking that,” I joke.

“Hey, I can bill you for it,” she replies with a chuckle.

* * *

I didn’t want to do this in my house, but I figure the olive branch had to start somewhere. Greg sits stiffly in the dining room chair, and I know he hates that I’m at the head of the table. It was always his seat, after all.

Chance is in between us, and although it may be unconventional that he’s here, I feel like it’s the best thing for us.

“So, Chance.” I smile at my son reassuringly. “We all want to do what’s best for you. Whatever you’re happiest doing. Don’t we, Greg?”

“Yes, we do, Phoebe,” he agrees with a sigh, and for the first time, I notice the lines under his eyes. I’m sure this hasn’t been easy on him either, moving his career and parenting without me. That’s a big change.

Chance folds his hands on the table, his lips pursed in concentration. It reminds me of when he was trying to walk. He’d make the same exact face as he tried over and over before he took off at a wobbly pace.

“I don’t want to be away from either of you for a long time,” Chance starts.

Greg glances at me. “You want us to get back together? Because we can talk about—”

“No,” Chance and I say in unison, and I clear my throat.

“Sorry. Go ahead, buddy,” Greg says.

“I want you to live closer together. Can’t you move back here, Dad? Then I can split weekends and see you both all the time.”

“I have work, buddy,” Greg replies. “Maybe your mom can move?”

I open my mouth, then close it again. Our whole marriage flashes before my eyes then, me giving up my dreams so he could have his. Hell, I didn’t even know what to do with myself after. But now I have the café, and I’m not giving it up for him.

“I’m not moving. I have the café now, and it’s the only one location. You had a great job here, Greg.”

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