Page 26 of The Bachelor's Dilemma

Myles wondered if she’d had dreams shattered before their time.

Then he remembered her husband. She’d lost him a year ago, decades before she should have. He didn’t like thinking about it. He couldn’t picture Anna married. Now that he knew her, he'd always remember her as she was tonight.

She was young, pretty, personable. She’d most likely find another man to love. He wondered who had been the one unable to make babies? Anna or her husband.

Perhaps another man would give her all the children he’d want. Myles shook his head, as if dislodging the image of her in the arms of another man. He watched the way she interacted with Zack. She’d be great with two or three more kids running around.

The pizza parlor was crowded. Families and teenagers on dates filled the space. There was a children’s section at the back, with one lone table still empty.

“I’ll grab that table,” Anna said, nodding and urging Zack onward.

They’d discussed what kind of pizzas they liked on the walk.

Myles ordered, getting a pitcher of cola and made it back to the table Anna had claimed. He glanced around. Zack was playing on one of the tot toys in the fake castle.

“He’ll be entertained until the pizza arrives,” Anna said, smiling at him when he set the pitcher down.

Slipping onto the bench opposite her, he nodded.

“I didn’t realize how noisy it would be.”

“Not a place for quiet discussions, that’s for sure,” she almost shouted. “Lots of energy and fun. Did you go out for pizza a lot as a child?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“Not until I was a teenager and bought my own. Many foster parents don’t have lots of money. They spend more on the children than the state pays. Most of them do it for love. Which means money is generally tight.”

“My mother is from an Italian family. She made pizza for us. I still think my mom makes the best pizza around. Next time she’s up, I’ll have her make you one. She loves to cook.”

Myles nodded, wondering how soon that might be.

That opened an entirely new line of thought. He hadn’t thought about grandparents in a long time. Not knowing his own parents, of course he’d not known any grandparents. Tiffany had been estranged from her own parents, but surely that breach would have healed with a grandchild? In the meantime, he was glad his son had grandparents from Anna.

Despite the noise and commotion constantly churning around them, Myles enjoyed the evening. He couldn’t say he and Anna had a meaningful conversation—it was too noisy for that.

Zack dashed back when the pizza was delivered to eat a few bites, then he was off again to play. The conversation was sporadic, Anna always keeping a careful watch on Zack.

“Does he know all those kids?” Myles asked, keeping an eye on the group of preschoolers enjoying the castle and tot toys.

“I don’t recognize any of them. But kids that age love to play with others. They haven’t started being shy or holding back. Having a child is a great way to meet others when moving into a new neighborhood.”

“Tell me about the world’s situation these days. No threats at the UN?” he asked.

Much as he was enchanted with his son, he wanted to get to know Anna better, too. He’d never met anyone before whom he considered connected to. She’d forever be the woman who started his son on the road to maturity, whatever the future held. And she was special in her own way. He wanted to learn everything he could, to think about in the future and remember.

He enjoyed watching her, how she gestured with her hands, the seriousness when she leaned forward to make a point, or the way her laughter rang out when she was amused. And though he knew she was talking to him, she continued to keep a careful eye on Zack. If he were injured or in trouble, she’d be there in an instant.

Nothing untoward happened. Zack had fun, and surprisingly, so did Myles. The pitcher had long been empty and the pizza only a memory when he reluctantly suggested they start for home.

“Oh, I didn’t realize how late it is. Zack usually goes to bed around eight. It’s almost nine. I’ve had such fun,” she said, almost in disbelief.

“That was the point, to have fun,” Myles said, glad he hadn’t been the only one enjoying himself.

“Then it worked. Help me corral my son?”

Zack resisted leaving, but Anna was firm. The walk back to the apartment wasn’t as fun as the outbound one had been because of a cranky child.

“Will he let me carry him?” Myles asked after a block.

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