Page 82 of Mine For The Winter

“Yeah, that would be great. See you on Saturday.” He ended the call and smiled happily at her.

“Morning.” She ruffled his hair. “What’s put a smile on your face this morning?”

“Kris is coming to the father-son match with me on Saturday.”

She stopped mid-ruffle. “He is?”

“Well, he said I had to ask you first.” Cole looked up at her imploringly. “But it’s okay, right?”

She let out the breath she’d been holding. Kris seemed to have a hold over both of them. “Let me think about it.”

“Mom…”

“I’m serious. I need to think.”

“I always get teamed up with one of the coaches. I hate that. It’s like I’m some kind of social pariah.”

“Where did you learn that phrase?” She was pretty impressed that he knew it.

“At school. In Social Studies.”

“Good use of it.” She smiled at him. Her kid was a smart one, even if she was the one who paid the price for his learning sometimes.

“Mom! I’m serious. Please let Kris come. I hate being the odd one out.”

“You’re not the only one without a dad available. And Gramps usually comes.”

“But he can’t play. And this year he can’t even climb in the bleachers to watch.”

He was right. And she hated that. “Maybe I can see if I can get someone to cover me at work.”

“It’s an all guy team,” he pointed out. “Please?”

“Okay.” She was still going to talk to Kris though. It was one thing for the two of them to find some kind of understanding. Or more than that. She didn’t know. Another him making Cole fall for him.

The way she was falling.

“Okay what?”

“Okay, he can come. Now go brush your teeth and get ready or you’ll miss the bus.”

Cole didn’t need asking twice. He jumped up and put his bowl in the dishwasher, a big grin on his face.

Was she doing the right thing? She didn’t know anymore. But since Kris had walked back into town it felt like nothing she knew was right anymore.

Maybe Cole felt the same. And maybe this feeling was inevitable.

And that was okay as long as her son didn’t get hurt.

21

When he saw her name flash up on his phone, Kris knew what it would be about. He slid his finger across the screen and lifted it to his ear.

“Hi. How are you?”

“I’m good. Tired but good.”

Hearing her voice made his chest feel warm.

---