Reese’sface lights up at my admission.Beforeshe gets too excited,Ibring up my other worry. “Plus, there’s our age gap to think about.”
Reesenods. “Mackenziethinks he’s sixty-four.Twelveyears is a pretty big gap.”
“IfIwas younger,Imight not think it was.Butwork is important to me.”
Reesegives me a sly smile. “Asit is to all driven workaholics.”
ItossReesea look. “It’snot just me.Iget the sense thatHammy’sa ‘driven workaholic,’ too.Butif he’s sixty-four, he’ll likely want to retire soon.I’mstill fifteen years from considering that!Ifhe retired andIkept working for that many years, we’d be living different lives with different goals.Maybeif we’d been married for decades already, our relationship could handle it.Butfor a new relationship?Ican’t see that working.”
“So, are you thinking of ending things?”
“No.Idon’t know.Yes.Notbecause of the age gap—Hammyis a hidden gem and worth it, you know?But…after your dad,”Isay carefully, “IsworeI’dnever date someone who isn’t truthful.Ifnothing else,Ihave to keep that promise to myself.”
Igive myself a nod.Ihave to stay strong.Ican be strong in this.
Mywatch buzzes with a text, soIglance down and then look atReesewith wide eyes. “It’sHammy—he wants to come over.Hereally needs to talk to me about something.”Irespond withYes.Iwant to talk to you about something, also.Tonightis as good as any to put the brakes on our relationship.
Worriesstart to worm their way in andIlook atReese, who’s in the middle of wrapping a ribbon around a present.“Doyou think he’s going to tell me that he has another family somewhere?”
Then,Ipace as panic sets in, and my brain runs through scenario after scenario of what he might tell me. “Maybehe was a rock star in his twenties and he’s coming to tell me that they’re getting the band back together and he’s about to leave on an extended tour.Orhe’s an extreme prepper with an underground bunker packed with twenty years' worth of powdered potatoes and wants me to wait out the end of civilization with him.
“Oh!Maybehe’s in witness protection because he was a mob boss who informed on his fellow mobsters so he could settle down after a life of crime.”WhyamIstressing over this crazy list of scenarios?IfI’mgoing to end things, none of it matters.
Reesestarts laughing. “Ohmy gosh,Mom!I’venever seen you like this before!Saywhat you want, butIthink this means youreallylike him.”
Istop pacing, let out a long, slow breath, and try to calm my heart rate, especially becauseSparkis getting rather concerned—and a little tired from pacing back and forth with me. “Iknow.I’mhopeless.”
“Hopelesslyin looooove,”Reesesings like she’s thirteen and she’s teasing her brother about his first date.
Iplayfully swat at her with some ribbon. “Itwouldn’t matter.Ican’t be with someone who is hiding big things.Nowget.He’son his way over right now.”
Reesewalks to the entryway and grabs her coat from the rack and her keys from the side table. “Okay, butIwant an update the minuteHammyleaves.Idon’t care how late it is.”
“Iam not calling you the minute he leaves.”
“No, seriously.Treatit like whenIwas a teenager and going out—Ihad to tell you about every date the momentIgot home, even if you were already asleep.”
Iput my hands on my hips. “IbelieveI’mthe mom here.”
Reesepauses with one hand on the doorknob. “Andif you wait until morning to report in,I’mgoing to assume he slept over,” she says in that same singsong voice.
“Reese!”
“I’mout,” she says as she opens the door.Justbefore she closes it behind her, she says, “Callme!”
Ishake my head.Kids.
CHAPTER 7
CONFESSIONS OF A NOT-SO-BALDING MAN
Hammy / Abraham
Tonightis warmer than last night, which tells me the predicted snowfall is on its way.Flurriesare already swirling asIwalk toAnnette’sdoor and knock, a bag in my hand and my heart racing like a rookie operative on his first mission.
Sparkbarks just beforeAnnetteanswers the door, her dog in one arm.She’swearing a cozy sweater and yoga pants, and she looks as beautiful and perfect as ever. “Comein.”Sheleads us to her couch where we both sit andSparknestles into her side.
Ilike this room.Thecouch faces a fireplace with two narrow but tall windows flanking the sides of it, andChristmasdecorations are all around.Hertree has a mix of traditional ornaments and ones likely made by her kids when they were young.PicturesofDylanandReeseas both children and adults sit on the mantle.Abigger, framed family picture that includes her daughter-in-law and granddaughter adorns one wall, and acollage of her kids and her dog are on another.It’sclear that family is important to her by this room alone.
