Page 37 of Irresistible Second Chance

My voice got stuck in my throat. “No, he isn’t,” I said. I felt stupid arguing with a child. My cheeks were hot from embarrassment.

“Ahh, don’t be shy, Syd, you can admit it,” Chris said teasing me. I wanted to pinch him because soon enough the girls started joining in on the teasing.

“Yeah, admit it Auntie Syd, Chris is your booooyfriend,” Johnna said gleefully.

“Your boooooyfriend,” TJ added, giggling.

I tried not to look at Chris because I was dying from embarrassment, but I couldn’t help it. He grinned at me. I was a sucker for that boyish grin. I got into the car and reached for my phone again. It was becoming my crutch. I didn’t find it in my pocket.

“Everything ok?” he asked me as he double checked that the girls were buckled up.

“Yeah, I just can’t find my phone,” I looked at him and said, “I’ll be right back. I think I left it in the ice cream shop. I’ll be right back.” I repeated. “Girls be good.”

I rushed out and back into the ice cream shop. I found my phone sitting on the counter in front of the worker. She smiled at me and said, “You were so busy with your kids that you forgot it on the table.”

I debated saying they weren’t mine but my chances of seeing her again were slim. Instead, I said, “Thanks for finding it!”

I walked out of the ice cream shop when I heard a familiar laugh and saw my dad sitting at a table with a woman I’d never seen before. He was in the outdoor seating area of a restaurant that was several doors down, but he had one of those big, boisterous laughs that was infectious and could be heard a mile away.

I narrowed my eyes as I made my way towards his table but still trying to stay out of sight. Wasn’t he supposed to be taking it easy? I told myself that I wouldn’t interrupt, but I was too curious to not at least take a peek so that I could call my sister and gossip about my father’s date for hours on end.

But then his date got up to leave the table, and I couldn’t resist approaching him. I walked over to him, poked his arm and said, “Dad, what are you doing here? Are you on a date?”

He looked around sheepishly. “What? Are you following me around now? Yes, I’m on a date. Now go before she thinks I’m flirting with another woman.”

I laughed, “Oh my God, Dad, are you serious right now?” And then I whispered, “I can’t believe you lied to get out of watching the kids to go on a date!” I said a little too loudly. A few patrons turned to look at me. Oops. I was making a scene.

“I know and I feel terrible, but it was blind date and I felt kind of silly about it, and so I didn’t want anyone to know.”

“But weren’t you dating--” I tried to remember his previous “fling” if one could call it that. He had been dating one of the crossing guards outside of the girls’ school last time I heard.

He shrugged, “It didn’t work out. Another one bites the dust, but I think this date might be different.”

He sounded so hopeful; my heart went out to him. “That’s great, Dad. I’m happy for you. Your date seems to be all smiles when I was spying on you guys from around the corner,” I said with a corny wink.

“Stop winking. It’s like a nervous twitch or something. And the date’s going well. I think. What do you think? Does she look bored?”

“You’re never boring, Dad.”

He waved me off, “She’s coming back. Now get out of here. You’re messing up my street cred.”

I laughed out loud, “Do you even know what that means?”

He shrugged, “it’s something you young folks say.”

I smiled harder, “Dad, no one says that anymore. Enjoy your date!”

I walked quickly across the street and got into the car.

“Everything ok?” Chris asked.

I nodded, buckling up as he pulled off. “Yeah, I found my phone.” I lowered my voice, “And I spotted my dad on a date.”

“Oh really?” Chris said, “Well, good for him. If he hasn’t given up on love, then there’s plenty of time for the rest of us.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. “It’s just weird seeing him out with someone.”

“He’s had girlfriends since your mom and he divorced, right? I’m pretty sure my mom mentioned it.”

---