by Rye Hart
“Where do I begin?” I laughed, rubbing my temples. “I've been on a few dates over the last few months, and not a single one has worked out for me. None of them were good enough to introduce to my children.”
“Stop thinking about introducing them to your children for now. That should be the furthest thing from your mind this early on. Try focusing on yourself and just date them,” he said. “No one says you have to get married right away, Marcus. You're not holding auditions for a mom to replace Gina. That's not what this is about. This is about having fun and connecting with another adult.”
I shrugged. “I'm just not finding anyone I connect with,” I said.
“Because none of them live up to Gina?” he asked.
“That's part of it. Gina was something special,” I said. “She was truly my soul mate, and I don't even believe in that shit. But we had something special, something I'm not finding with anyone else.”
Dr. Miller nodded. “You'll never replace Gina,” he said. “Never in a million years. And I wouldn't encourage it even if you could. You shared something special with her that can't ever be duplicated. But that doesn't mean you can't find something equally as special in its own right. And just because she's gone doesn't mean you have to live the rest of your life alone. She wouldn't have wanted that, Marcus. Gina would have wanted you to be happy.”
His platitudes were the same I'd heard from almost everybody since the day I'd lost her. I was almost sick to death of being told she'd want me to be happy. Yes, she would have. I wasn't denying that. But she also wouldn't want just anyone raising our children. I had a right – an obligation, really – to be picky. It wasn't just about me, it was about those two precious kids who deserved a stepmother who loved and cared for them as deeply as a mother would.
They needed someone they could love in return.
No one I'd met off these internet dating sites to that point, had come close to living up to that standard. Sure, I had my pick of women. Being a financially well-off and reasonably attractive man, I received countless messages from women expressing their interest in me. I knew I could go to a bar and pick up any beautiful woman I wanted, but I didn't want that.
I wanted someone who met my standards.
“I'll keep looking,” I said with a shrug. “But as you know, I can't force a connection if there's nothing there.”
“That's very true,” Dr. Miller said. “All I want you to do is keep trying. Keep meeting new people and open yourself up to the possibility of someone new. Open yourself up to the possibility of being able to care for somebody new; of opening your heart to them.”
It was easier said than done, but I'd keep doing what I was doing. I made no promises though.
I left the session focused on the rest of what he'd said, which interested me far more than finding a girlfriend online. I decided that he was on to something. He had a great point about getting out and doing something as a family, something fun and active, something that the three of us could learn and enjoy together.
As I walked out of his office, I decided that we needed to sign up for surfing lessons. Maybe Dr. Miller was right about surfing. We'd start very basic, but it would get us out of the house and on the beach more. It was something that would be good for all of us.
On the way home, I stopped by the local surf shop and inquired about lessons. The man at the counter looked, and sounded, stoned out of his mind, which almost made me turn around and walk out, rethinking my decision.
“Your surfing instructor is rad, bro,” he said, which made me feel better. “She's new, but she's supposed to be really good with kids. You're gonna dig her.”
She. Huh. At least our instructor wasn't going to be the stoner with the tribal tattoo who looked a little too old to be working the front desk of a surf shop. With his help, I picked out surf boards and wetsuits for the kids and myself. Zoey was going to be so excited. And Zack, well, he'd warm up to it.
It felt like the right thing for all of us.
Maybe I didn't need a girlfriend or a wife. I had my kids and we'd get through this together. We'd made it this far, hadn't we?
“When do we start?” my daughter asked, jumping for joy the moment I'd told her. “I can't wait!”
Zack stared at me, a look of fear in his eyes.
“Our first lesson is this weekend,” I said, ruffling the hair on my son's head. “And don't worry, buddy, we'll ease you in to the water. They told me the instructor is great with kids and will take things at a nice, easy pace.”
“I'm not scared,” Zack said, clearly lying through his teeth.
“Good, because there's nothing to be afraid of,” I said.
“I'm going surfing,” Zoey sang as she danced around the living room. “I'm going surfing and I'm so excited!”
It felt nice to see my little girl happy about something for a change. It had been so long since she sang and danced around the room like that. If only I could get Zack excited about our little outing too, but he was more like me – reserved, cautious, careful. My daughter was like Gina – fun-loving, care-free, and adventurous- always willing to try new things, no matter how scary.
“But Daddy has some work to do now,” I said. “Why don't we go in the back yard and play?”
The kids hurried out the back door, and I grabbed my laptop, following them out. There were benefits to my job, one of which was the ability to work from home in the evenings instead of spending all day and night in the office. Though it still occupied me enough that I missed out on time with my kids.
“Can I go swimming, daddy?” Zoey called out.
“Not this late,” I said. “It's getting too chilly. Maybe tomorrow when Emma watches you two.”
Zoey pouted for a moment, but then raced her brother to the swing set. I leaned back in my patio chair and opened my laptop. I heard music coming from next door and glanced over. Between the fence posts, I saw Emma sitting by the pool in a bikini. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes fell to the roundness of her breasts. I didn't even know how long I'd been staring before I realized what I was doing.
She's just a kid, I scolded myself, forcing my eyes away from her. But truth be told, she wasn't a kid anymore, that much was evident by her ample cleavage and curvy body. She was spreading some tanning lotion on her legs, humming along to some Katy Perry song, oblivious to me watching her.
Don't be creepy, Marcus. Stop looking already.
As much as I'd distanced myself from the opposite sex since Gina's death, I was still very attracted to women. I had needs that were not being met, but I pushed those aside for my children. I wasn't about to start sleeping around just to get my rocks off. Besides, what would I do with the kids while I was getting laid?
It was an impossible situation, and because it had been a while and I was feeling a little horny, I caught myself checking out my neighbor's daughter.
Emma turned in the chair, a book in hand, and caught my eye. She smiled. I gave her an awkward little wave, which she returned. I looked away, focusing on my work and hoped she didn't catch me staring too intently. That would be embarrassing. I was much too old to be looking at a girl like her.
Too old and carried too much baggage.
ooo000ooo
The dream was always the same.
“It's probably nothing,” Gina told me, kissing me. “Just a routine drug test. What are you so afraid of?”
Gina didn't know then the extent of my problems, not until later. In that moment, her big, brown eyes were so wide, so innocent, and so full of love. And so, I'd lied to her.
“You're probably right. I'm clean, I have nothing to worry about.”
“Exactly,” she said, cuddling in close to my body.
We were in my off-campus apartment, curled up on the couch, watching a movie. We'd been together for five months at that point and she thought she knew me. Had she known the real me from the beginning, I have no doubt she'd never have fallen for me in the first place. But I was practiced at it by the point, and
was able to hide the real me very well.
I hid it from everyone.
“My boyfriend is going to play in the NFL,” she'd say proudly. “Maybe you can finally afford that engagement ring .”
But my name had never been called during the draft. Not once in all seven rounds. I'd screwed it all up.
And when I found out that my results came back positive, yet again, and no team would touch me, I was numb. But it was Gina who'd cried the most.
“Who are you? Do I even know you?” she cried. “Cocaine? Marcus, I had no idea.”
But Gina came back to me and she stayed with me. That's when I realized this woman really loved me.
“We'll get you clean,” she said. “Professional football is out, but there are other things you can do. Other career paths for you. I'll help you.”
After those dreams, I'd wake up in a sweat, my heart thundering, adrenaline coursing through my body. My life had literally flashed before my eyes. Depending on how long I slept, the dream would sometimes go on, to the very end, to the moment in the hospital when the doctor told me, “I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do.”
But I was spared for one night; spared of the worst parts of my life. I was only left with the reminder that I'd fucked up in the biggest way possible, that I deserved all the pain and hardship in my life, that I'd done this to myself.
All because I couldn't stay clean.
CHAPTER FOUR
EMMA
“Heard you got a job,” Riley said as I came upstairs.
“Yep, at the surf shop down by the beach,” I said. “It seems my skills can finally be put to good use.”
“Congrats, I guess?” she said.
“Listen, Riley,” I said, joining her at the kitchen table. “I'm sorry I took the room you were wanting, but mom and dad wouldn't have let you have it anyway. We both know that.”
It was just me and her. Dad had left for work already and mom was running errands. The house was quiet for the most part. Riley had some annoying music playing by some band I'd never heard of but was popular with kids her age.
“Why do you say that?” she said, looking at me with an expression of pure indignation.
“Because it would be too easy to sneak your boyfriend in, and they're not cool with that,” I said. “Dad would have sealed up the patio door with cement before he let you stay down there.”
Riley sighed. “It's frustrating,” she said. “They forget that I'm almost eighteen. It's only a few months away, and they still treat me like a child.”
“Because you live under their roof, Riley,” I said. “But you'll be graduating soon and can go away to college somewhere far away. Or not. Whatever you want to do.”
“I don't think we can both live in the basement after high school, can we?” she teased.
It wasn't much, but it was the first time she'd joked with me since I'd been back. Back in the day, we'd cut up with each other, hurling insults and going back and forth with one another. It was a fun time and we'd gotten along really well. I was happy to see my sister starting to come back to me.
“Be like old times?” I said with a laugh. “Nah, I hope I can figure out my life and eventually move out on my own again anyway. I just have no idea where to start yet, but I'm working on it.”
“At least the surf shop is a start,” she said. “You always did love surfing.”
“Yeah, and I get to work with kids,” I said. “And since I have some early childhood education credits and child CPR under my belt, that's a plus.”
“You always did like kids,” Riley said, rolling her eyes. “Which I don't understand. At all.”
“Yeah, I know,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “So, I hear you've been watching the Pratt kids next door sometimes. How'd that go?”
“Terrible,’ she said. “They hated me. Kept asking when you'd come back.”
“So, you don't mind if I maybe start watching them again?”
“No, of course not,” she said. “Have at it. I'm going to get a job at the movie theater with Seth anyway.”
I wanted to ask if perhaps that would be spending a little too much time with him, especially since they spent just about every other waking moment together, but, that wasn't any of my business. If she was happy, so be it. High school romances hardly lasted very long anyway. And with college coming up for her, and the possibility of her going away somewhere, there was a shelf life on her romance with Seth.
Not that I was the expert on any of that. I'd never liked any of the guys I'd gone to high school with; they were always too immature. My parents always said I was more mature than any of them, and they were probably right. Fact of the matter was, I still didn't care for guys my age.
Now Marcus Pratt next door? That was a man I could see myself dating, at least, if my father didn't murder us both first.
“Well, I'm always here to talk if you need to, sis,” I said. “I'm just downstairs now. A lot closer than San Diego.”
I had to get ready for work, so I went downstairs. It was warm day, so I opened the slider in the family room and could hear Zoey and Zack laughing together in the backyard. Marcus was such a devoted father, it impressed me so much. I loved listening to the sound of their laughter as I got ready for work.
There was a knock on the screen door and I jumped nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned and saw Marcus standing there, looking in at me.
“Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you,” he said.
“It's okay,” I replied. “I was just kind of off in my own little world. Wasn't expecting anybody to knock. What's up?”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” he said sheepishly. “I was just wondering if you'd watch the kids for me tomorrow night?
“Sure,” I said, smiling brightly. “I'd love to. What time do you need me?”
“Maybe around six?” he said. “I might be out late, so you could sleep over in the spare room if you like.”
“It's not far to walk,” I said with a laugh.
“Yeah, but it could be really late and you might want to go to bed before I get home.”
Marcus was never one to be out late. I cocked my head to the side and stared at him carefully, a laugh erupting from my mouth before I could stop myself.
“Do you have a date, Mr. Pratt?”
His face turned a bright shade of red and he looked away from me. “Maybe? I don't know if I'd call it a date, but – yeah, I guess it's a date. Sort of.”
A twinge of misplaced jealousy simmered inside of me, but I pushed it away. “Where are you taking the lucky lady?”
“To a concert at the Hollywood Bowl,” he said. “Her idea. Not mine. She's a big fan of Train, and I guess they're playing tomorrow night. Her friend cancelled on her, so it’s a last minute sort of thing.”
“Sounds like a good time,” I said.
“Suppose so.” He scratched his head and didn't look entirely interested in talking about it. As long as I'd lived next door to him, I couldn't recall him going out a whole lot, especially late at night. “Anyway, thank you. I know the kids will be very excited to have you watching them again.”
“Always love spending time with the little misfits.”
He turned to leave, and my eyes followed him. I couldn't help myself. I watched his ass as he walked out the door and back through the gate to his place. Whoever he was dating was one lucky woman, that was for sure.
ooo000ooo
The next evening, I popped over to the Pratt household at six on the dot, as promised. Zoey was just getting out of the bath when I arrived. Her hair was wet as she ran up to me, hugging me close.
“Yay! I'm so glad you're here with us tonight, Emma,” she said.
“Gosh, I missed you! You're getting so big, Zoey,” I said.
Zack stood off to the side, looking bashful. He'd always been a little more introverted than his sister. He was also freshly bathed and was already in his Superman pajamas.
Marcus came rushing into the foyer, wearing black dress pants and a dark blue bu
tton up shirt. He looked nice. Really nice. Freshly shaven and everything. When he stepped close, I caught a subtle whiff of his cologne and felt my heart doing cartwheels in my chest.
“The kids have been fed and bathed,” Marcus said. “I told them they could stay up until eight to watch one movie with you – just one though – and then it's bedtime. No arguments, right guys?”
Zoey and Zack exchanged a mischievous look that said, “what Dad doesn't know won't hurt him.” Then, they turned to him with wide eyes, the picture of pure innocence, and nodded.
Marcus looked at them skeptically. “One movie and then bed,” he repeated. “Period. Don't even try to convince Emma to let you stay up later. It's my rule, not hers. Got it?”
The kids looked crushed, but nodded. He turned to me, giving me a small grin.
“There's some lasagna in the fridge if you get hungry,” he said. “As always, help yourself to anything in the kitchen. The spare bedroom is made up for you in case you get tired.”
“It's all good, Marcus,” I said with a laugh. “Go, enjoy your date. I got this.”
He flashed me a crooked smile. “Thanks again, Emma. You're the best with the kids and I'm glad you're back.”
“You know I love these munchkins,” I said with a laugh. “Now go. Don't keep your date waiting.”
“She's actually picking me up here,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “A modern woman? I approve already.”
“It's not like that,” he said. “She works nearby and it's just easier – hell, why am I explaining myself?”
“I don't know,” I said with a shrug and a laugh. “Because I'm not judging you. Whatever works these days.”
Not that I had a lot of experience with dating. The problem with being raised by such a strict father was that he had high standards for who could date his daughters. Seth really didn't pass that test, but Riley didn't care all that much. Being the firstborn, I was exceptionally close to our father and always wanted to impress him – including with my choice in men. So, if a boy I was interested in didn't meet my father's standards, he didn't meet mine either.