“I’m glad for Seth. We’ll have to trust that you can protect him when he rides.”
“We absolutely can. Others at the collective have kids.”
Gayle reached into his pocket. “I’ve done some calculating.” He read from his phone. “We’d like to see Seth every other weekend and part of his vacations.”
“Every other weekend is a lot. Let’s see what he says.”
“I understood he was happy to see his mother.”
“He was.”
The front door opened and closed. They heard from the foyer, “I’m home, Dad.” Seth rushed into the house, carrying his backpack ornamented with horses. He stopped at the couches. “You’re back,” he said to Evangelina.
“I am sweetie. How are you?”
He looked to his father.
“Go ahead son, talk to your mother.”
“Are you here to see me?”
“Yes. This is my friend Gayle Marchand. He and I are getting married.”
“Okay.”
Gayle said, “Hello, son.”
“Do you have kids?” Seth asked Gayle.
“Yes. Two. And two grandchildren. They’re about your age and I plan to have them with us sometimes.”
“You must be old.”
Gayle laughed.
Seth went to Scarlet and hugged her. “Hi, Scarlet.”
She caught the expression on Evangelina’s face. Envy.
Still standing near her and Joe, he turned to his mother. “Hi.”
“Hi, honey. Can I have a hug?”
His eyes narrowed. “You didn’t want one last time.” He still remembered how she’d recoiled from him.
“I’m so sorry about that. I was scared and nervous.”
“Dad says when people are sorry we should forgive them.” He walked slowly to her and gave her a hug. It wasn’t a generous one but it would suffice.
Joe grasped his hand when he came back. “Sit with Scarlet and me, Seth.”
He sidled in between them.
“First off, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. But your mother and Gayle would like to spend time with you.”
“How much?”
“Every other weekend and some vacations.”
