Page 102 of In It to Win It

I nod slowly. Okay, great. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Mom being happily involved with someone else; now I’ll worry about her and Shirley.

“I don’t know if things will work out with Shirley long term. I love her, but we have some things to work through.” She pauses. “I want you to know that she’s not just the only woman I’ve met who I’m attracted to and want to have a relationship with . . . she’s the onlyperson.I truly never anticipated that my feelings for your father would change.” She pauses. “What bothers you more? My bisexuality? Or the fact that I fell out of love with your father?”

“It’s not your bisexuality. That was a . . . surprise, for sure. But . . . I’ve come to realize that it doesn’t matter who you’re with; it’s still heartbreaking that y-you and Dad . . .” I can’t go on.

“I know.” She reaches out a hand and covers mine, squeezing it gently. “I know. This isn’t something I ever thought would happen.”

“It makes me question everything . . . our family, the whole foundation of our lives.”

“I know. I’m so sorry. But I’ll say it again: wewerea happy family. I wasn’t lying or hiding anything from you. That foundation is solid, sweetie. And I’ll always be your mom. I’ll always love you.”

“Like that book you read us when we were kids.”

“Love you forever.” She smiles.

“Yes. And I love you too.”

“When do I get to meet this manyou’reseeing?”

“You did meet him.” I pull back and swipe my fingertips beneath my eyes. “The day I was moving out.”

“Phhht. That wasn’t really meeting him. I do remember he’s very handsome.”

“He is.” My insides warm and soften. “And . . . I like him.”

“Bring him for dinner sometime.” Her eyes shadow. “Unless . . .”

“No, that would be fine. I just . . . things aren’t serious with us.”

“Hmm. Okay. Does he have teeth?”

I choke on a laugh. “Yes, Mom, he has teeth.”

She grins. “Just asking.”

“Should we open our presents?”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

I bought Mom some expensive bubble bath and bath salts in her favorite jasmine scent, knowing how much she loves to soak in the tub and read a book. I unwrap her present to me, a heavy box, and find a beautiful set of bright yellow Fiesta dishes—plates, bowls, and mugs. “Oh! I love them!”

“I thought they’d look nice in your kitchen, with your sunflowers.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

I set the box on the floor and lean over to hug her again.

I spentmost of the weekend at JP’s condo, with Byron, so I went home Sunday evening to watch the game there. The Eagles were in Vegas, and flew home right after the game, meaning they got back in the middle of the night, and I have to work Monday morning.

Monday is busy, packed with appointments. Kids are out of school, so we’re booked up, meaning no time for notes or progress reports or calling doctors to discuss care plans, but that’s okay—we’ll catch up after the holidays. The kids I see are all wound up about Christmas, but it’s so much fun. Right now I’m saying goodbye to Sophia, a four-year-old girl who was born with profound hearing loss. When she was eighteen months old she received a cochlear implant, and after years of working with her, her speech and language skills are almost within normal limits. She’s going to start kindergarten next year and we’re all so happy with her progress. I haven’t personally been involved with her that long, but she’s such a sweet little girl that I may have fallen a bit in love with her.

“We don’t need to see her back for six months,” I tell Sophia’s mom. “We’ll assess for school readiness at that point, and we’ll have the summer to work on things if need be.”

“I can’t thank you enough,” Mrs. Estevez says.

I pick up Sophia. “Did you go see Santa the other day?” I already know she did from her mom, who nearly cried telling me about Sophia sitting on Santa’s lap and being able to talk to him and hear him, such a typical kid thing to do that so many take for granted. I got a little choked up about that too. Things like this are why I love my job.

“Yes! I asked him for a princess tent play castle.”

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