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Chapter Four
TINA
Each day Calliewent to camp, she enjoyed it a little more. She made a friend on the first day, and even though she was apprehensive on day two, she looked forward to seeing Ava, so she gave in more easily.
Today, she jumped out of the car and didn’t even say bye. While I watched her head for the doors, my phone chimed from the console.
I picked it up, smiling as I read the text.
Kyle: So? How’d it go?
I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel as I contemplatedhow to respond. Kyle and I had texted back and forth last night for the first time since we’d run into each other at the grocery store a few days ago. Somehow, we’d spent forty-five minutes chatting. About everything and nothing at all. It was nice that he’d been thinking about Callie and how this morning would go.
I shook my head and typed out a response.
Me: Perfect. She was excited and didn’t even hesitate.
Kyle: Good.
Kyle: Have you mentioned Saturday to her yet?
I agreed that he could come by on Saturday to start swim lessons with Teddy. When he offered to teach Callie too, I explained that she already knew the basics. He insisted that refreshing and adding to her skills was important. He was going to be there anyway, so I agreed.
“We go to Grammy’s?” Teddy piped up from the back seat.
“Yep. You going to be good for Grammy?”
“I always good.”
With a roll of my eyes, I put my phone down. Then I headed toward my parents’ house. It would give me time to think about what to say to Kyle.No, I’m a cowardwould be the most accurate way to answer, but not the one I was willing to share. We’d had a great morning. Callie was excited, happy, and I didn’t want to give her something else to push back on. Maybe she wouldn’t hate the idea, though. Unlike Teddy, she loved the water.
Moving to Half Moon Lake had always been the plan. I’d just upped the timeline. It was the first of many things Callie had resisted over the last few months. I understood her reservations. Fort Bragg was the only home she’d ever known, andour house there was the home we’d shared with her father. But Levi and I loved this area, and after several trips here to visit my parents, we decided that when he retired from the military, we would settle here. That wasn’t supposed to be for at least another five years. After his death, though, there was no point in waiting. Being near my mom and dad meant more support, and I thought it would be better for my kids too. Callie had been more open to the idea once I’d explained it was her father’s plan for us, but I still wondered if I made a mistake.
My new job, teaching kindergarten at the local public school, was a necessity, though I was really looking forward to it. The beginning of the school year was creeping closer, and today was one of the few days I could access my classroom to set up. I’d planned to take Teddy with me, but my mom insisted she would keep him. Frankly, it would be easier without him in tow, so I jumped at the opportunity to shop and work in my room alone. Next week, the school would be open to staff for another two days, but since my parents were leaving for a week-long cruise, I’d have to take the kids with me if I wanted to go in. But if I got enough done today, maybe I wouldn’t even need to go back next week.
I smiled as my little guy listed all the things he was going to do with Grammy, chuckling at some of the outlandish ideas.
Once in my mom’s kitchen, I poured myself a cup of coffee. I was just bringing it to my lips when she spoke.
“My friend Maria has a son who is recently divorced, and he has a daughter about Teddy’s age. We were thinking…”
“Mom…”
She’d gently broached the subject of dating a few weeks ago, and I was able to easily change the subject. But I shouldn’t have been surprised she was bringing it up again. My mother was not easily deterred. “I’m not interested in meeting someone right now.”
“Honey, I know you loved Levi, but you moved here for a fresh start. You know he would want you to move on.”
“I know, and it’s not that. Not really.”
More than anything, I needed to focus on my kids right now. I missed Levi terribly, but I was coping. And yes, I was used to taking care of the kids on my own. Levi had deployed regularly, leaving the kids and me on our own for months at a time. But the situation was wholly different.
“I don’t have time. In a matter of weeks, I’ll be working full time. And with all that’s going on with Callie, trying to figure out her triggers and how to help, I’ve got my hands full. Don’t get me started on Teddy. I can’t take my eyes off him without him finding trouble. They need to be my focus right now.”
She sighed. “I just worry they will become your only focus and you’ll forget you need to consider yourself too.”
My dad entered the kitchen a moment later, holding Teddy and shaking his head. “Where does he get this endless energy?”
I chuckled. “I better get going before you change your minds and realize what you agreed to today.”
