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The afternoon was a riot, she had to admit that. They got to the farm at dinnertime, and Dan’s aunt insisted they stay. The little boy’s mother, Cara Ellison, was a gorgeous woman Rene recognized as being a popular face on local New York television ads and game shows when she was younger. Now she was a farmer’s wife, her husband a handsome, almost burly Mexican man who hoisted both boys up on his shoulders and ran around with them screaming bloody murder.
Dinner was fresh farm to table, from the beef to early corn on the cob and a salad to die for. After saying goodnight, they got back into the car, a huge SUV that Dan had hidden in his garage. They started the trip home in silence, holding hands. That was reality.
“That’s pretty much my life. I see my sons daily in the evening. With Margaret, it’s a little different. My relationship with her mother can be contentious, so I tread carefully. When she’s older, I’ll take her more.”
“You do alright,” Rene said. “I don’t have any experience with kids, so I’m a dunce when it comes to childcare.”
“I’m glad you were okay with it. It’s probably why I asked you out for Friday night. It’s ingrained in my brain that Saturday is kiddie day.”
“Tell me about the boys. Margaret’s nanny said it was complicated.”
He glanced over at her. “You might not like me.”
“I like you no matter what.”
“Remember I told you I cheated on my first wife?”
“Yes…”
“That was the result.”
“Both boys live with your first wife?”
“Right across the street, the first place you visited here. If you get to know your cousin Lisa, you’ll understand. She’s so sweet. But she’s a mother tiger. A few things transpired, and she ended up raising Cara’s son.”
“Wait, I think I remember how I know you now! Didn’t you come into the ER with a head wound from a cast-iron frying pan?”
Frowning, he looked over at her.
“She went to jail for that, didn’t she?”
“Yep, and while she was incarcerated, Lisa took care of the baby. I had custody by that time, and when Cara was released, it took her a while to get on her feet. So that’s the story. Ryan, the guy you met at Pam’s, is my closest friend.”
“You said your wife had an affair with your best friend.”
“Not Lisa, that was Julie. She had an affair with a local detective. He just happened to be my best friend.”
“You’ve had your share of pain. I’m sorry.”
“I guess I have. But for some reason I’m always the bad guy.”
“No. I’m not going to allow you to talk that way anymore. I think I can understand why you might have trouble committing now.”
“What’s your history?”
“Ha! I don’t have one,” she said. “I had a serious boyfriend after college, and it ended about ten years ago. I tried internet dating. That was a bust. I dated a doc for a while, but he was a jerk, and I’ve been alone ever since. That is until you walked into Pam’s with that chain hanging off your belt. I wanted to jump you.”
Dan laughed. “Is that right? Why don’t you?”
“Has enough time passed? I mean, if we have sex, will I ever hear from you again?”
“You’ll hear from me again. I move fast. I’ll have you living with me unless you put the brakes on.”
“That’s what I like about you. You’ve got me making all the wrong decisions now.”
She giggled, thinking of her original plan not to move too fast.
“You’re under my skin,” he said, kissing her hand. He slammed on the brakes. “You got me running red lights.”
